Commentary on Controversy

So I had a small conversation with someone today regarding a controversial presentation on some aspect of biological research. The person seemed extremely put off by the views presented, particularly taking umbrage with the mere fact that it was so controversial. That got me thinking...there are so many people out there who are so set in their image of reality that they aren't even willing to open their eyes to a new viewpoint or idea. Just because something is controversial doesn't mean it is something to overlook altogether. Our world is full of so many wonderous things that we are only beginning to understand, and it is very arrogant of us to assume that we know everything and that things are always as they appear. Were it not for controversial, forward thinkers, we could still believe the world was flat. We could still consider the idea that many illnesses are brought on by microorganisms to be unfathomable. We may never have begun to understand the workings of molecules and chemical processes. So many of the obvious facts of today, not to mention many of our modern conveniences and progresses would never have been realized. Just because we seem to think we're so advanced today doesn't mean that we've already discovered everything there is to know. What worries me most is that so many scientists subscribe to their pet paradigms and often go so far as to throw out data that may indicate that things are other than as they believe. There are many examples of such things in all fields including biology, archaeology, paleontology, physics, and so on. We need scientists, heck, everyone for that matter, to open their eyes and open their minds...there is an amazing world out there that we have yet to discover, and pooh poohing someone's potentially innovative idea outright may hinder the acquisition of such things. I'm not saying we should agree with everything and not question whatever is told to us...quite the contrary! ALWAYS question what is told to you! However, don't just disregard someone else's hypothoses without serious, honest testing yourself. Just because it may not fit into your world view doesn't mean that things aren't that way. We live in a mysterious world, and only by opening our minds will we facilitate paving the road to discovery.