reply to post by sapien82
I firmly believe ATS is more widely read and influential than most members here realise.
That's why i think it's so important not to ignore important threads like this one, if you support disclosure.
I also think it's important to keep on top of the negative voices that chime in and attempt to derail the direction of these sorts of threads.
They turn up in numbers and fling stars around to each other like there's going to be no tomorrow, even if the post is trivial or petty and of no
real merit, so i suggest we should follow suit and do the same for our like minded friends who post in these threads, and play them at their own
game.
A small but important detail in a quote from Dr. Mazlan Othman, repeatedly ignored and misreported here by Phage yesterday, could make all the
difference to a readers perception of what was truly being said.
Phage, thought of by some as being factually precise and apparently fond of quoting his mantra of 'denying ignorance' to others, said Dr. Othman was
quoted as saying "IF alien communication is received", whereas she was actually quoted as saying "WHEN alien communication is received.
A very big difference in both grammar and meaning.
It's like saying Obama has just said "When we bomb Iran", is the same as saying Obama has just said "IF we bomb Iran".
Two completely different meanings.
Seemingly small 'error's like this can make all the difference to a reader's opinion and interpretation of the facts of subject.
Even when it had been pointed out that he had been wrong in what he wrote, very clearly two or three times, he still only changed his subsequent post
to quote Dr. Othman as having said "IF and WHEN", which was still NOT what she was quoted as saying at all, and has a completely different meaning.
So, Phage was being neither precise nor denying ignorance, deliberately so it seemed to me.
There have been roughly another 15 pages added to this thread since this happened, so in fairness, he may well have finally got around to addressing
his error at last, i'm currently reading through the additional posts to check, although he completely ignored 3 of my posts last night (while he was
in thread and commenting on other posts), informing him of his consecutive 'errors' in quotation.
Ignoring genuine correction and continuing to misrepresent a quotation, looks like posting to further a personal agenda, and is certainly not about
denying ignorance, it's more like reinforcing it.
I feel there are a core of members here more concerned with maintaining the official status-quo and egos, and ignoring anything that may threaten that
agenda. If nothing else, it's very fishy to me when someone posts consistently against a particular subject, regardless of who or what is posted.
This isn't an 'anti-phage' post, although i do not personally hold him in high regard and i am deeply suspicious of his reasons for joining threads
on this subject and churning out relatively short, star laden posts almost one after the other, he has just as much right to post what he likes, just
as any member does, within ATS T&C.
I'm not sure where deliberately misquoting an external source, even after having attention drawn to it several times, falls within the T&C, but there
you are.
This part of my post is to point out, especially to those who may be lurking or new here, that members who apparently refuse to consider that they may
be wrong, or rarely show any indication of the remotest agreement on any aspect of an ET believer's posting, particularly in subjects like these, are
not unbiased and sage like, although many may assume they are.
In my view, a poster who wishes to simply and innocently convey facts as they see them, will at some point undoubtedly find a measure of common ground
with posters from the opposite 'camp' and will occasionally find agreement on certain key points raised in individual posts, even if not in their
overall beliefs on the matter.
Even bitter enemies ceased fighting for a time, and came together to play a game of football during WWI!
The UN is appointing what is tantamount to an ET or alien - Earth ambassador, this doesn't necessarily mean the UN is presently in contact with ET,
as the information we have about this says those concerned with this are stressing this measure is only a 'just in case we do make contact', so they
can be prepared in advance.
Personally i think the 'being prepared' part is rubbish, and they know for a fact ET is around.
This position has more to do with allaying any potential public fears when ET is officially recognized, rather than talking to ET themselves.
It' a 'Look, we've got it covered and we have a UN department and official contact route all set up' public relations exercise.