reply to post by SkepticOverlord
Wow. That's really unfortunate. Not the banning but, the behavior that led to it.
Ya know, I have been thinking a lot about how others view me (and people like me), this forum and people who are attracted to it.
I think 99% of the people here are - most of the time - willing to entertain all sorts of views and opinions. I understand things get heated and I
think I understand why: These are deeply held beliefs that sometimes question our very existence. Are we alone? Is there a secret government, or those
within it that act in secret? What are those strange things we see in the sky from time to time? Has NASA been as open as I like to think they are?
Many, many great questions, speculations and discussions happen here. ATS is a valuable resource that, in my opinion, is infinite.
Why then the seeming implosion(s) of more notable people? Why does there seem to be more damage done to our cause than help? Why are so many hoaxers
drawn to this area of discussion? Personally, I believe that we are a group ripe for the picking. We desire truth so much that we are willing to
believe obvious lies. We are willing to look the other way because we are so willing to believe. We know in the core of who we are that the truth
is out there. It's no different than the bottom-feeders in Mexico who prey on terminal cancer patients by offering "miracle cures". I think
it's human nature to be an easy target. Follow my previous example a little further: people without cancer are far more likely to consider some new
"cure" for what it is because they don't have an emotional/real stake in what's presented. That same person who finds out a loved one is terminal
will flop from a reasoned, thoughtful person to one that will believe just about anything because they emotionally
need to find an answer. I
know my example is rough but, I think you get the idea. We are ripe for the picking because we are looking for evidence about a subject
we have
already drawn conclusions on.
I hope as we discuss these things we realize all of us, me included (a skeptic)
want to believe. I am so ready to believe it hurts. On some
topics I absolutely do. On others, not so much. When someone like me brings up an objection, it's out of a search for the truth. A desire for real,
pure evidence.
It is my opinion that people like Mr. Escamilla
will not be the ones to expose the truth of what's "out there". I firmly believe it will be
a debunker or a skeptic. Someone who does
not have an emotional or more importantly a
financial interest that is often juxtaposed
against honest evaluations of
all of the evidence in
all of it's context.
In this particular thread ATS'ers were asking tough questions of Mr. E almost immediately. I was really hoping he was going to present some
new/interesting information or data or ......... something.
I think it's fair to hold a little in reserve when someone who has a
vested financial outcome is presenting evidence on these kinds of
topics.
I hope that we, as ATS'ers can draw strength from our various slants, backgrounds, political biases, ideas and suggestions. Lets not focus on the
fact that Mr. E imploded, or why. Lets, instead, focus on the fact that most of us are still here, following the rules, throwing ideas around and
searching - together - for the truth.
Fair enough?
[edit on 20-12-2007 by SlightlyAbovePar]