Newsgroup: it.discussioni.misteri
Titolo: How to Make Anybody Look Like a Crackpot (even someone who isn't)

 I don't post this to help those who like to qualify people as crackpots,
  but to support their targets. It is good for us to keep a heightened
  awareness of their character and methods, and, consequently, how little
  credibility ought to be attached to their judgements.
 
  Such methods are used by the lesser scientists, who are followers only,
  and not real scientists, in that they are not original thinkers, are not
  truth seekers, and do not have a will and instinct to recognise truth
  wherever it may be found, before it is formally established and proven.
  Real scientists are persons who are able to do these things. The
  followers cannot adopt anything new until some major figure has said
  something in favour of it. When this person is followed by a chorus of
  approval from others, then all the followers simply nod their heads and
  fall into line. In the normal situation they regard accepted theory as
  dogma, overconfirmed by a priesthood acting as an authority.  The
  resulting sense of certainty enables them to concentrate all their
  attention on the methodology that will be able to discredit and brand
  anyone a crackpot who shows any dissent of any kind.
 
  Such persons form an orthodox rabble, which is populated by modern males
  of the worst kind - rabidly competitive triumphalists, reminiscent of
  those tiresome screaming 'champions' that are so often inflicted on us
  via the tv screen. Such people are the least interesting of beings, and
  a fundamental requirement for any utopia or paradise to exist would be a
  guarantee of never again having to have the misfortune to encounter such
  a type of person.
 
  It is a great scandal, however, that an arena supposedly devoted to the
  noble task of investigating objective truth should have fallen into the
  hands of such a gang of triumphalist degenerates.
 
  The following is a description of the kinds of triumphalist rules we can
  see being implemented by such persons every day on science ngs, when
  dealing with anyone who has the temerity to disagree with them
 
  Rule 1: Never concede anything positive to the person, or make any
  positive remarks of any kind. All remarks must amount to negative
  assertions only. If they say something true, ignore it, and look for
  something that is easier to criticise.
 
  Rule 2: Make them answer questions. When they answer, ignore their
  answers, or declare them to be unclear, and ask them more questions.
  Never be satisfied with what they say. Never concede anything, however
  small.
 
  Rule 3: If they use terminology, refine and narrow the terminology to
  the maximum extent possible. This will help to create an impression of
  aberrations in their use of it, and provide the opportunity to make them
  appear not to understand any of it. Don't validate any item of language
  they may use. React to everything as if it is confused and cannot be
  understood.
 
  Rule 4: Characterise all their assertions as guesswork or badly prepared
  fantasies of what they would like reality to be. This will make it
  appear that reality itself is, as it were, on your side, and certainly
  not on theirs.
 
  Rule 5: Never recognise or discuss anything as an original or
  alternative idea. ALWAYS characterise any such idea as ignorance,
  laziness, incompetence, or failure to learn.
 
  Rule 7: Always play the role of an examiner and teacher, not a debater.
  Make it appear everyone has come out of need of recognition, assessment,
  and correction by your supreme competence, which should play a role
  equivalent to that of infallibility. Never descend to the level of
  debate or discussion. Characterise everything said only as competent or
  incompetent, and focus only what you can portray as incompetent.
 
  Rule 8: If anyone does come up with a difficult argument, don't even
  think about it. You are here to triumph over them, not debate with them.
  Either ignore it, or call it ignorant and incompetent. That is always an
  easy and unanswerable assertion where persons of no status are
  concerned.
 
  Rule 9: Always keep recommending that they undertake some basic studies
  of the matter. This will create the appearance that they don't
  understand and haven't studied any part of what they discuss. It will
  thus give them the appearances of novices who know nothing, and speak
  before they have made any proper attempt to learn anything.
 
  Rule 10: No matter what they may have said in the past, always go back
  to the beginning, and speak as if they have never yet said anything at
  all. In this way, always endeavour to bring them back to a starting
  line, so that they can never appear to make any progress away from it.
 
  A LITTLE ADVICE FOR THE INTENDED TARGETS
 
  The above methodology is a tactic for preventing or neutralising dissent
  by anyone who has not received an imprimatur to dissent in an official,
  sanctioned way.
 
  One clearly cannot reply to such methodology of orthodox triumphalists
  in any expectation of changing their minds. The methodology has only the
  superficial appearance of debate, but is anything but a simple exchange
  of views.
 
  Replies to their 'comments', however, can be worth while, in that they
  can be given an entirely different purpose.
 
  If you are a seeker of truth,  and have something to say, the task is
  simply to publish what you have to say. Nothing more is possible.
  Everything beyond this depends on the reactions of others, which they
  alone can determine.
 
  Answering the hostile commentary of orthodox triumphalists, therefore,
  can have the benefit of giving you an occasion to publish additional
  explanations of what your argument is. It also serves to keep a thread
  going longer, and provides an increased opportunity for it to be read by
  any actual, objective seekers of truth who may be passing by.
 
 
 
 
 
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e lallo