Some time into the 1980's, the non-response as a default assent was 
allowed as a means of soliciting participation in research projects. It 
was also a way of selling products through the mail:  If you did not 
respond by the deadline, the seller presumed that you had agreed to buy 
the product, and would send it to you along with a bill.

This form of solicitation for research participation is now frowned upon 
in most Human Subjects Institutional Review Boards, and is forbidden for 
federally funded projects. As a sales technique, it is illegal. In both 
settings, it is an ethically questionable approach, as it is here.

I suggest that those who wish to discuss the issue do do openly, in 
public, and that no one reply in private.


Brad Johnston wrote:
> If I don't hear from you, I'll assume you think all ten are correct, 
> that they're what you'd teach or, if you don't teach, what you hope 
> would be taught as the right way to do it.
>

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