I must admit that when I posted my question reguarding the real role of the
immune system last week I was not exactly certain of the response it would draw.
Today looking at the replies I find myself simply amazed. I have before me a
highly detailed and structured response from Polly Matzinger at NIH. This
posting (although originally written for another purpose) begins to answer the
question I posed; however, it is too well organized and
'thought-out.' Presumably PM is an expert in the field of immunology, and I
greatly appreciate the large mass of theory she gave. I was expecting much
shorter posts (perhaps focusing on a
single idea or concept).
In reply to this post, Psycler(TKendric) of NETCOM reposts my original message
but rather than trying to answer it, attacks the post from PM. Furthermore, in
other 'tangent'
posts, Ephraim Fuchs and Ken Frauwirth begin to 'discuss' theories (which BTW
was my original intent) but focus around the big post of PM.
All in all, I feel as if I am but a foolish boy who has unknowingly awakened
RODAN, MOTHRA, and GODZILLA and now the focus centers on a battle of the titans
rather than 'the real role of the immune system.'
When I was but a lad, anyone who asked a question as broad as this to me and my
friends, would have received an endless stream of ideas and concepts from all of
us (whether they wanted to or not). Sure, most would be wrong of even foolish,
but all of us would have participated. I am rather disturbed by the lack of
such responses here. Moreover, I am distressed that no 'original' ideas or
questions were expressed (I know...I know...everyone thinks their ideas are
'original' but in reality they are mostly constructs of what they were taught or
overhead...). Perhaps it would be better to start with a more focused idea:
Why does the immune system even exist?
(and don't give some textbook answer or focus on the human immune system (it is
a very close-minded person that thinks he or she is the center of the universe),
many immune systems existed long before man, and it is doubtless that many will
exist long after we are gone).
Open your minds, think for yourself, but most of all have fun. This medium
provides a means to bring people and ideas together in a different manner than
journals, papers, or face-to-face conversations. Don't merely try to do here
what you can do elsewhere.
I mean no disrespect, and I truly appreciate getting any response at all, but I
DESPISE mediocrity. Inside everyone is a great philosopher, let it out...
Chris Thobur
