reply to post by awake_and_aware
You raise a fine point. With all respect to the OP, this thread isn't about proof or evidence or fact. Words of that nature shouldn't have been
used in the OP. In itself, it's not likely to solve the alien question (of "are they or aren't they here with us now?").
One thing I like to draw from these threads is an exchange of ideas, and an exchange of experiences, opinions. Agreeing to disagree in a respectful
way should be an acceptable result. Too often people want to stamp all over another person's point of view, until it becomes obscured in a blur of
negativity, then they feel that there is a 'victory for common sense' or some such silliness.
That's not aimed at you, it's a general observation from time on ATS.
If any sort of proof is forthcoming as a result of these more relaxed exchanges, then it was all worthwhile. If someone throws an interesting link
into the mix (to information not seen before, either individually or collectively), then it was all worthwhile. If someone sees our conversations and
becomes interested in finding out more - and then they turn up some interesting or groundbreaking evidence in the course of their investigations, then
it was worth it. Someone with the right sort of access to privileged information might just be inspired to dig a little deeper into the stories of
officialdom - simply by the random chance coincidence of reading a couple of posts in this (or any) ATS thread.
If not, and we all just have a good chinwag about it, then it was still worthwhile. It's a good testing ground for our interactions here on ATS.
As with my response to Traditional Drummer, I just don't get what appeals to you to engage with these speculative threads if you dislike them so
much..? I guess your response might be that we need to deny ignorance, and that's fair - but anyone who
can see,
will see - that this
is a relatively loose exchange of thoughts, and not a graduate-level research paper. We can rely on loads of members for more rigid and academic
threads, but I believe these sorts of threads bear relevance and are useful in the hallowed halls of ATS.
Of course, people need to be evaluated as to their motivations. Charlatans are only exposed by healthy skepticism. However, stamping all over people
for subscribing to a set of beliefs (however much we disagree with them), is not denying ignorance, it's downright crappy behaviour. (again, that's
not aimed at you, it's an ATS-related offshoot from my thoughts in response to your post)
People who are less inclined to get involved with the hardcore research threads mentioned above can (should be able & encouraged to) feel more relaxed
about chatting over their experiences on a thread like this. What do you think?