From: "Larry McQueary" Subject: Re: PHD RESEARCH PROJECT FOR BILL Date: 30 Aug 1999 00:00:00 GMT Message-ID: Newsgroups: alt.games.bc3000ad,comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.space-sim,comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic I saw the original post from Jackyo, but your initial mention and later defense of KW seemed rather strong for someone with no vested interest. It seems that what has been lacking from this years old flame war is any understanding of accreditation, distance learning, and how they apply to Ph.D. programs. Surely this can be resolved easily through some application of this knowledge. Again, the facts as I see them are that Derek Smart has: 1) Claimed to have a Ph.D. degree 2) Claimed that he received it in less than 2 years time, with substantial application of work experience towards the degree, and with no residency. Since (1) seems to be a matter where no hard evidence will be forthcoming any time soon from Mr. Smart, we are left with (2). I'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone involved that it is not possible to obtain a legitimate, credible Ph.D. under the circumstances noted above. So, it boils down to this: *If* Mr. Smart has the Ph.D. that he alleges, it is a Ph.D. that has credibility only with himself and his "followers". The gentleman has no publication record, is presumably not a member of the ACM, doesn't prescribe psychotic drugs, and does not get any recognition from anyone other than PC gamers ages 12-24. Surely the 'detractors', as I see them referred to, can feel some measure of relief in this knowledge. I admit that I have not spent a lot of time cozying up to Mr. Huffman's web page. Therefore, I don't know the complete history of this skirmish, just the major points of fact. If it soothes Mr. Smart's ego to see the initials "Ph.D." after his name, and no-one is taking it seriously anyway, then what's the beef? He could easily have bought a Ph.D. from the Universal Life Church, which is similarly perfectly legal. Some people need titles for self-validation... so as long as they don't use this for unlawful gain, I don't see the point in bashing them, regardless of their superhuman levels of pomposity and arrogance. This appears to be Mr. Smart's weak point, one which he is unable and unwilling to defend, and therefore it seems to be a dead issue. Entertaining, but dead. Just $0.02 from one of the billions of people who had never heard of bc3000ad or Derek Smart before a few days ago. Larry Derek Smart wrote in message news:37ca8f9c.1446640@news.mindspring.com... > On Mon, 30 Aug 1999 05:24:32 GMT, "Larry McQueary" > wrote: > > >The frequent mention of Kennedy Western University, and Mr. Smart's defense of it, > >tend to make one think that his Ph.D. is from KW, or some school very like it. > > I'd like to contest this. The whole KWU issue came up when jackyO > asked a question and KWU was the first school that came to mind and I > responded. It kinda took off from there. I never have nor do I intend > to defend any school. BH and his cronies have a habit of blatantly > distorting *facts* and treating heresay and inconclusive evidence (if > any) as *proof*. Here is the post that started it all. Now, apologize. > :) > > >Ok, Bill, here is a good research project for you : > > > >I am willing to wager that, the # of REAL accreddited universities/colleges > >in England offering BONA FIDE computer Sci PHD's AND offer Distance LEarning > >are quite small - most institutions in the US do NOT allow you to complete > >your PHD without coming to school, or so several of my colleagues with PHD's > >tell me. I cannot imagine it is different in England. > > > >So, remember - Derek has a REAL bona fide accreddited PHD in Comp Sci from a > >renowned university that offers Distance Learning . I > >bet the list of schools that meet this criteria is VERY SMALL. > > > >This might be a good place to start digging ! > > Derek Smart, Ph.D. > Designer/Lead Developer > The Battlecruiser Series > www.bc3000ad.com > > "It's not everyone telling me it can't be done that bothers me. > It's them interrupting me while I'm doing it!"