Originally posted by FatherLukeDuke
Alright, lets flip it round. Can you give me one good reason why I should believe him? There are literally millions of posts and web pages out there
making all sorts of wild fantastical claims most of them contradicting each other. Without evidence how should I choose which one (if any) to
believe? Why should I believe the OP's claims?
Even before we get to evidence I would want a story to at least have an internal logic and not be self contradictory. Although writers of fiction
fulfill these pre-requisites when crafting the plot to a novel, the OP's claims don't - yet he (if it is a he, remember this is the internet and it
could be anyone) is apparently claiming this is reality.
I don't personally believe everything he says, but I don't dismiss him offhand, either. What you probably would be best advised to do, is to
consider each statement and claim, weigh them, read the evidence, investigate for yourself, don't go in with preconceived notions, be prepared to
accept the evidence if you feel it's substantiated, read various sides of the issue, find arguments for and against the topic, and take it one item
at a time. That's honest empirical method.
One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the power of popular opinion over what is and isn't the truth. Some people choose the easy road and
don't look for answers or are afraid to read arguments against, their belief systems. But they will still step up to the plate and bash someone who
believes differently than they do, when they don't personally know why they even believe it, other than it's prevailing thought. That's not enough
evidence!
[edit on 7-4-2006 by undo]