Originally posted by tallcool1


I don't believe anyone who has an issue with the OP is debating the "be civil to one another" part. It just appears to some of us skeptics that whenever we reply to a "proof of alien visitation" thread with skepticism, there is always the attack of how stupid we are for doubting or how "arrogant" we are for not believing there are aliens out there when, I believe, most of us do not doubt there are aliens "out there" - we just do not believe that they are visiting us and as of yet have seen no evidence that these lights and other out of focus videos are alien.

yes, i think that the O.P. and thoughout the thread, this is what is being said has to stop. it does not matter what side of the fence your on.

my experience in the u.f.o. threads have been different. i find it almost impossible to point out the flaws in some skeptic/debunkers 'debunking' and you are called gullible for not believing their 'debunking' and daring to question it, almost as though i must believe something that does not fit the evidence or does not makes sense just because in their mind it is more logical to believe than what the O.P. proposes.

i do not think the O.P. in this thread is limiting any one side, it applies to everyone, so it would cover your example and my example and any other example.

If you are serious about investigation and have an ethic of scientific and careful evaluation, you don't even have an opinion until you have evidence. To insult someone or call them anything but a co-ATS user is evidence you do not have the chops to evaluate anything.

I must admit, I waste so much time keeping the flies off a good thread just so I can ask the right questions of the OP or a basic intelligent conversation, that I gave up several months ago. Just back. Same stuff happening.

Too many scared people defending their fear that their world is not Andy of Mayberry any more and that we are approaching a critical mass of knowledge that we are not alone, and maybe never have been on this planet.

Fear will make you angry and turn your cognition to mush. Keep a steady rudder and step back to cool off before you expose yourself for what you are. Angry and afraid.

ZG

Dear OP

I see this completely different. If I see another extreme cheap fake of an UFO or the moon, or a reflection, I take the poster serious. People that post such fakes almost know they are fakes. They just want to hose someone, stand in the middle point or they wanna show their perfect 3DS Max skills. And then they come up with a fake, even a chimp can see it's a hoax. And you are telling me now, I have to give them special respect, because they are no experts? I think thats a bit naive, sorry. Good input anyway - universal love - understanding each other - discuss, not debate. "The Art of Fight" - OK I get it.

---

---

And when the first Atomic Bomb was tested Oppenheimer quoted a phase from a Hindu Scripture 3500 yrs old which goes like this in English.
"Behold i am death destroyer of worlds" how did the Indians come to know of Atomic explosion and effects if they were not visited by some one from outer space guys.

Originally posted by eniranjanrao
And when the first Atomic Bomb was tested Oppenheimer quoted a phase from a Hindu Scripture 3500 yrs old which goes like this in English.
"Behold i am death destroyer of worlds" how did the Indians come to know of Atomic explosion and effects if they were not visited by some one from outer space guys.

First off, what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?

Secondly, though Oppenheimer was quoting the Bhagavad-Gita, in that particular passage it is not describing anything like an atomic-explosion; rather, it is Vishnu intimidating someone.

Originally posted by Thepreye
I don't recall anyone being targeted, some posters recognised themselves from the descriptions of post types, subsequently they put themselves in the unpleasant group of their own accord and responded as such, it is a self selected group that any poster can leave simply by posting nicely, problem solved!

Perhaps you forgot that two of the threads were addressed towards skeptics? Beyond that, you have completely missed the point. The problem is not the call of for civility but how it is being handled.

Bleh, forget it... See the post above.

Springer...

Originally posted by Springer
Why do you continue to ignore what I've said at least TWICE now? The term "Skeptic" in this context is ANYONE who disagrees with the premise/topic of the THREAD they are posting in.

It has absolutely NOTHING to do with one's beliefs in general on any subject. Is it really that hard to comprehend or are you intentionally being obtuse?

Wow. Is it any wonder why members have concerns?

You got hung up on one particular semantic phrase and completely ignored the entire point of my post, continuing the exact behavior described, behavior that is only exacerbating the problem. You are making no attempt to listen to member concerns, only attacking and condescending.

Please, take the time to re-read your response to me. If any member had addressed you the way you addressed me, they would see their post removed and maybe a warning issued, and rightly so. As Site-Owner, is that really the face you want to be presenting? It is hard to make a case for civility when those pushing it seem to be unable to abide by it themselves.

I hope you re-read what I wrote in my earlier post and take it into consideration, especially in light of your response to me.

Alright, I've tried to stay away from this thread for a while now, but I feel the need to opine once again on this. Please bear in mind that these are my opinions only, and do not reflect the site's views... (Terrible that I have to have a disclaimer in my own posts. What's this world coming to?)

I find it REALLY hard to believe that this thread could have gotten this far out of control, all over a simple word. Everyone here, and I mean everyone is, in one way or another, a skeptic in some topic. To deny this would be lying to oneself. With this in mind, the term "Skeptic" in the title could easily be applied to any and everyone here.

My consternation with all of this is spawning from the apparently intentional misdirection and obtuseness being expressed by some of the members in this thread. I find it to be, quite frankly, exactly what this thread is encouraging everyone to avoid!

I just cannot understand how a call for everyone in the A&UFO Forum to remain civil in their posting here can cause this much of a ruckus, unless those complaining are doing so just to piss off certain people. The request was made in an effort to curb the overtly negative responses being received in some of the threads being posted by members. Some of these members posting these videos are new to the site, and do not understand how the whole site is structured. But that's not even the point here, now is it?

This thread is about being generally civil to people in your posting habits, regardless of WHOM you speak to. As I've already said, we're ALL skeptics in one way or another, so the thread title applies equally to all. What's so damned hard to understand about this very SIMPLE concept? Would anyone here seriously walk up and talk to someone that makes a claim such as the ones being targeted by this OP in the way that we're seeing in this forum? I seriously doubt it. Some call it the D-Ego. I call it the E-Ego. We're all virtually anonymous here, and some take that as a license to do whatever they want, even though they are going outside of the T&C's that they agreed to when they signed up. I'm just absolutely perplexed by this backlash to such a simple request.

Be civil while posting here, and everything will be okay. Anyone can disagree with anyone they like. It's all about HOW they address said disagreement that gets them either a good discussion or a closed thread. It's as simple as that. To try and obfuscate it anymore than this is to become obtuse. And that leads me to suspect that it's intentional.

But, that's just the way I see it from here. Perhaps I'm missing something in the black and gray type? I'm willing to be proven wrong, but do it with civility.

TheBorg

Originally posted by TheBorg

I find it REALLY hard to believe that this thread could have gotten this far out of control, all over a simple word. Everyone here, and I mean everyone is, in one way or another, a skeptic in some topic. To deny this would be lying to oneself. With this in mind, the term "Skeptic" in the title could easily be applied to any and everyone here.

If it were really that simple, why specify a belief structure at all? Why even mention the word "skeptic"?

The shame is that this thread points out one very specific group of people in such a derogatory manner if what you say is true, and it's actually just a tactic to get everyone playing nicely, isn't it?

Springer knew who he was talking about, and so do a lot of us users. This isn't a call for everyone to be nice, this had a specific target, and the target's gotten naturally defensive. That'll happen. Unfortunately, it could have been turned around very early, but instead everyone got defensive (about their opinions, remember) and now offenses are being tossed about relentlessly from all sides.

Originally posted by Springer
I'm really sick and tired of the absolutely HORRID manners some of our "Skeptics"/"Debunkers" are showing regarding YouTube Videos of alleged UFOs here on ATS.....

.....Seriously, I have been trying to keep the peace here by warning the True Believers about their snarky comments and ridiculous "you are blind/close minded, etc..." statements too, but you guys (YouTube Skeptic's Attack Squad) are NOT helping me.

....This is the INTERNET, NOT the University of Logic.

I have been repelled by this "attack squad" too, they seem to pounce on UFO topics like those Squiddies in The Matrix upon detecting the presence of the Nebuchadnezzar.

But what is more annoying are the sign off signatures following the point by point patronizing and sarcasm, such as "kindest regards" or "with the greatest respect" or whatever. eghh