It is invigorating to see such a renewed interest in my research, and with some great points from both sides. I cannot thank my colleagues enough for taking up the arguments for the purpose of educating the sceptics.
Other theorists seem to be doing well fielding technical queries, many of which have familiar answers which have occured at length throughout this 6-year research project. It is a pleasure to see them disseminating the important nuances of this crucial scientific finding.
I would like to raise a few of the conceits I have noticed in the latest posts, on the part of interlocuters who doubt the veracity of this exciting field of study.
Some common preconceptions, which I think deserve questioning:
The Idea of Linear Progress
Living in such a technological age, we are often inclined to think of progress as an increasing linear curve with few setbacks. However, I argue that enlightenment and knowledge occur not in increasing measure throughout history, but in pockets - rafts if you will - of ephemeral and temporary insight in an ocean of intellectual darkness. When the Library of Alexandria was burned, many important documents were lost for centuries, and the medieval world was plunged into an age of superstition, ignorance and globularism which lasted for almost a thousand years. I would remind you that the scale of this catastrophe pales in comparison to the near total bombardment of the Earth with asteroids, and it should not surprise us if the technological setbacks to terrestrial animals is accordingly greater. So - do not imagine that all historical periods before ours have been so many orders of magnitude behind ours in thought and science.
Human Exceptionalism
Really, this is just another form of racism. All to often I hear the same tirade - "animals can't do this, animals can't do that" - however, just because they don't live in houses there really is no reason to smear animals as crude or ignorant brutes. Many animals are adept tool users, and can solve a multitude of problems which are really not so different from our own (feeding ourselves, finding a mate, escaping predators) - the sorts of problems which in fact, our own technologies singularly focus on accomplishing. Otters, for example, routinely break open shellfish with stone implements during their long fishing trips on the open ocean. Are you capable of opening shellfish whilst swimming in the middle of the ocean? Probably not as capable as an otter. And probably not as capable as a dinosaur either.
Pessimism About the Ocean/Fear of Boats?
A common line of argument which occurs in discussions of this nature is that crossing the ocean is far too difficult for a dinosaur to accomplish. People who think this, I fear, are projecting their own insecurities about boating onto the noble dinosaur. It is true, the sea is not for everybody - but that is no reason to shrug your shoulders and declare ocean crossings impossible. Building boats is actually very easy and fun, and so is navigating them. Do not let your own hatred of sailing and the water cloud your honest assessment of the possibility of getting over the sea.
I hope these insights are helpful. Overcoming the cognitive biases which I have outlined ought to help readers address the problem in a whole new light.