Never before seen UFO photos - Debunkers?, page 18

Oh man, wow. I read this entire thread. Well, at around page 15 I just started skimming. To be honest, around the middle I stopped having a full grasp on what was being argued about. At one point it go into a semantic debate and...I think the basics of it after a point was "here's why I think the OP is a jerk"/"here's why I don't think the OP is a jerk." At any rate, I feel the need to comment on it because I spent so much time reading it.

First off, the OP seemed to be relatively modest in his attempt. As far as I can see, he wasn't looking for respect, attention or to be seen as a golden god that damns the easily mislead. He was trying to make a point, one that may have been made before, but most points have.

As it went on, it seemed those constantly arguing against him were trying to become respected and revered themselves. They seemed to obsessively feel some need to protect some group like internet-age Tom Joads. I'm not saying that is how it is, I'm just saying how it seemed to me.

Let's also keep in mind that gullibility is not a positive trait. Should the gullible be picked on? No, but that doesn't mean they should be crusaded for. On a site dealing in the matters that ATS does the gullible are just as dangerous as those that look to bilk them.

Now, the OP, while he had a good intent, did create photos that very well could make their way out into the world and be heralded as real by some unknowing person. That's not so good. In retrospect, the main goal probably should've been "Hey, look how many people don't fully read a post" rather than "Hey, look how easily UFO photos can be faked." I think everyone would agree that's a good lesson and it might have still raised hell, but not in the manner it has. Also, it would've been aimed at believers and skeptics as we saw both of them take the bait in this thread.

My favorite part of this thread was the people who claimed that the OP wasted their time. It wasted...maybe five minutes of their time on a message board, which is usually something you go on when you don't have anything pressing to do. No one was trying to defuse a bomb, saw this post and said, "WHAT? NEW PHOTOS?" What was better was when some of the folks who said their time was wasted continued to waste their time on this thread.

Which brings me to my last point. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and reaction to this thread, but going on and on about how low-down and dirty it was doesn't help or hurt anyone. There was no debate on whether it was real or not, because we were told they weren't. No rules were broken because the mods took no action. In real life, an injustice (real or imagined) requires attention, it's the only way a resolution can be worked toward. On the internet, everything feeds on attention. You can't kill something like this by continually going back to it and trying to make your point stick. If anything, those fighting against it made it worse by making the thread grow because it'll attract more attention.

Again, I'm not saying those upset by the thread are wrong, I'm just saying that in the future maybe don't fight so hard, not only is it counter-productive but it devolves into arguments that have nothing to do with the merits of the OP. Also, I'm not saying never to dissent or agree fervently, just to say your piece and leave it be. At least in a case like this.

Now, that said...CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE INCREDIBLE NEW PICS? Finally, PROOF!

[edit on 7/31/2010 by SaulGoodman]