like Ooh-Aah and several others here, I have a rather sensitive BS detector, and I suggest that those who MAKE claims about meta/para-physical phenomena read carefully what we usually say.

When claims and discussions are held in a public forum, they ARE fair game.It is obvious that no one can force a believer/'experiencer' to change their minds, and in my case my objections and sceptical comments are written partly to be sure that both sides of any position are reasonably represented for those who might be reading!

Some of the issues that get chewed on here are minor and personal...but sometimes there are areas which affect the general welfare..(such as whether G. Bush uses conservative religious principles to make political decisions)...and the MINDSET that tends to believe (or SEE, if you wish) paranormal and New Age claims carries with it a tendency to view many other issues in a different way, potentially affecting the whole of society. If we are to have a fair, balanced, open comparison of opinions, then the sceptical viewpoint MUST, whenever possible, appear directly beside the various positions that concern us.

If those who espouse New Age or Religious or Para-psychological or Para-physical or Conspiracy or ....etc.. theories wish to compare thoughts in forums where they are NOT challenged and asked for proof and explication, those forums exist by the bucket load! 'Round here, podner, they get poked and prodded.

I know, personally, several of the people I debate with here at Mudcat, and like & enjoy them (and hope to meet others)...and when we meet in person, we tend NOT to get into these issues...we play music or compare recipes, or discuss computers....but IDEAS posted here are fair game! I try very hard to be fair, non-combative and reasonably polite, but still advocate my cause.

On either side, it is best to avoid name-calling and sentences that begin "you think that". I HATE it when anyone tells me what I think. Tell me what YOU think, and tell me why my analysis is wrong, if you can.....but don't expect me not to respond when I see something that streches my credulity.

Scepticism, properly applied, is NOT 'making fun of' people you differ with, but a carefully thought out way of testing unusual ideas and avoiding the worst errors of analysis.

Almost everyone uses scepticism in some ways, they just get testy when it hits their favorite notions.