Originally posted by Willard856Yes, the motto of ATS is "Deny Ignorance", but the simple fact is, those who want to believe what John
says will, regardless of any facts and figures that I or anyone else can throw at them.
But see that whole "Deny Ignorance" thing... Skeptic use that phrase as if only they are "Denying Ignorance" in other words they assume they are
correct and therefor anyone who disagrees must naturally be 'ignorant'
If on the other hand it were to turn out that NASA was lying about even ONE thing... then would the skeptic who is sticking to the 'party line' not
be 'ignorant' while the person presenting the facts that NASA was indeed deleting records and hiding the truth (The Airplane Report Incident
) is
now "Denying Ignorance"?
Sadly many use that phrase in the sense that deny everything that differs from your opinion, or any one who happens to disagree with you...
AD made one comment... that has been echoed by many other skeptics... that quite honestly I did find 'annoying' It was the labeling of anyone who
would dare believe anything John says as a 'follower' or a 'cult member'
So because someone shares another's viewpoint... that makes you a 'cult member'? And this was not mentioned once, but repeatedly to the point that
'supporters' are identifying themselves as belong to the 'cult'
Now I have had mail from 'someone' that tells me skeptics here have been 'talking' ... so should I now automatically assume that they are forming
a 'gang' to wear us down?
What surprised me most was that the comment was made that the skeptics are here because deep down they truly want to believe...
Well if this is indeed true... and I have no reason to doubt this... perhaps a change of tactics is in order?
When it comes right down to it ... there are only three sides here...
Those who Believe...
Those Who do NOT believe
And the thousands of others who are not sure and come here to learn and understand
A believer will never convince a skeptic, nor visa versa... this has been true for thousands of years and millions have died trying
But there are many who come away from these threads and have learned something and go on to research on their own...
My ,ail box is stuffed with replies of thanks for opening their eyes... yet they are not suddenly 'cult' members... merely those that are looking
deeper before making up their OWN minds
Perhaps this is what the skeptics fear... that we will convert these 'innocents' LOL. I don't know
AD singled out ArMap as a great skeptic... I would agree and add JRA... they remain polite and work as hard as we do looking up data to support their
side of the issue... and sometimes... even help the cause
One other point made was that John and his 'followers' should state emphatically that everything we believe or talk about MAY be wrong...
Well that is utterly ridiculous and unreasonable... and if I were to do that I would expect the same from any one of the skeptics to say the
same...
I have threads about the Mars missions... the two Rovers are on Mars, they take photos...
This is a fact... how I interpret the images... I can say I MAY be wrong... so to make a blanket statement like everything I say may be wrong? Well
sure heck why not... for all I know the Universe may be a matrix and EVERYTHING we THINK we KNOW is totaly wrong and the Gods or ET are laughing their
heads of at the little ants trying to understand...
So which skeptic out there will be the first to say that he/she just MAY be wrong on their belief?
Sceptics are in the minority here.
Well CT'ers are a minority at Bad Astronomy... I wonder how they get along all just supporting each other...
Without either side there is no debate, no conversation and frankly little purpose in posting... But skeptics a minority? Hmmm maybe but they are
certainly heard
But that said, I personally don't WANT to believe that it could be anything else.
Does this not directly conflict with your above stated desire to "Deny Ignorance'? And if your mind set is such that you don't WANT to believe,
then I truly have difficulty understand why you would enter into a topic. Nothing against you... I just truly do not understand why...
if nothing is to actually be gained by chasing John and his merry men around ATS,
See? It just never stops does it? I bet you didn't even think about posting that... it 'just came out'
Your explanation below does not address the need to 'chase' us around the board... perhaps deep down your subconscious knows we are on to something
and you are drawn to us...
Now THAT would be a true 'cult member'
then why waste the time and energy doing it? That was my epiphany. I don't need to prove anything on here, and I'd much rather have access to ATS
and discuss the things that actually do matter to me, than get banned due to frustration over a topic that I find laughable. Will I still point out
problems and inaccuracies when I find them? You bet, as this is the "duty" of every member. But you can take or leave my input, the same way we can
John's.
