Letter: To deny is human

From Riard Fitzgerald

While Star Trek‘s Vulcans would have enjoyed your special report on denial (15 May, p 35), we humans prefer to read stories that allow us to relate to our world, rather than raw data quantifying it. Stories, illogical or not, are more digestible than figures and graphs.

Your report handles the practice of denial in a typically distant and analytical way, responding with incredulous frustration to people who cling to irrational views despite evidence to the contrary. Unless scientists can come to terms with the human condition, logic will continue to meet stiff opposition from concepts that have more emotional appeal.

History is full of examples of scientists denying ideas and discoveries – from tectonic plate movement to the platypus. Acknowledging and catering to our human tendencies need not mean surrendering the intellect.

From Joseph Oldaker

Sandra White tells us that denial is a “sophisticated and healthy” response, because it makes us feel better (12 June, p 26). How far can this go? Happily setting up the sunlounger as the tsunami rolls in? I think we are talking “human ostrich syndrome”.

Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK

Burnham, New Zealand