Dear Angry Student,

I am so happy to hear from you! And so early in the quarter, too! Why, I have only given two lectures, and I have already deeply offended you. I couldn't be more pleased. Usually I only offend people at the end of the quarter, when I determine final grades.

Thank you for sharing your belief system with me, but I'm afraid I don't see its relevance to the scientific method, which was the topic of yesterday's lecture. Does the prospect of thinking frighten you? Do you anticipate having to objectively evaluate evidence that you would prefer to ignore? Does your particularly kooky world view forbid you from the free exchange of ideas or respecting dissenting viewpoints?

You ask that I take your feelings into account in future lectures. How do you propose that I do this? Must I, perhaps, reverse the objectives of the course? Should I teach all my students that it is appropriate to accept demonstrated fraud as fact, or that confused, credulous thinking is acceptable in scientific enterprise, because to do otherwise might hurt your feelings?

Finally, thank you so much for suggesting that I have no feelings. Surely someone as skeptical as myself has never really loved anyone, or experienced the death of someone I loved. Because if I had, as you point out, then I would be able to understand your point of view.

Sincerely,
Angry Professor, Instructor
ESP and Aliens