Citizen Pawn

Feb 7 2008, 10:17 PM

I lurk the JREF site sometimes. Sometimes to see what "weird" news stories I have missed, pop up. Sometimes it's to get the other side of the story before I make a conclusion. I can honestly say that scenario 2 is rarely accomplished, due to the tone of the...what I can only describe as a personality cult.

I don't think they're interested in the facts. Well that's not true entirely. They're interested in the demolition arguments, NIST data, CD theory, anything involving the architecture and engineering aspect(the make or break argument HANDED to them time and again)

They have interest in the easily debunked, which I am grateful for. But they put a lot of stock in these as proof that "it all" has been debunked. Many of the "Gravy's in training" and their little offshoot websites attack the obvious, many times the Straw Men, many times the parsing of words, many times the irrelevant, many times the character, many times the profession (when their Moses is a Tour Guide?)

They attack grammar, spelling, innocent dialog or curiosity as...."only a Woo would dare think such a thing".

They have little regard for the declassified material or historic record of past "conspiracy". Usually it's all thrown attacked with a "well what does that prove" or when it really comes down to the clinch they will excuse it off as a necessary evil or alliance(Pomeroo) and it never was that great of a conspiracy to begin with...because now it's declassified(as must all be?).Or at the last, they will ridicule, spin off into a misdirection or taunt, bring in some cartoon or "funny" avatar to gather the flock under some childhood lunchroom flogging, or just leave the thread altogether and wait for the smoke to clear or people to lose interest in the thread.

Most of what I've seen at JREF, let's say a good 3/4 ratio, is an attack on the minute, personality, career,appeal to authority, group think, kangaroo courting of intellectualism, etc.

I haven't really gained much from the JREF experience. I'm not saying that all members there are pseudo skeptics. Many are real skeptics and do not tow a line or rehearsal. But the main characters seem to be anything but what the site motto claims. It seems like they are a "debunking" cult, rather than a true group of people holding true to the philosophy of rational or critical thinking(which has it's merit and place in the world).

I appreciate true skeptics. Many true skeptics are in the "truther" movement. JREF'ers do not have a lock on the philosophies of critical thinking, whoever told them that, and from what authority do they demand that? It's arrogant at the least.

No, JREF for the most part is not what it claims, at least the "conspiracy theory" sub-forum from my experience...other sub-forums are included...but that's another story entirely. I think the "skeptic" community is a farce while a JREF mindset is at the wheel...bad Captain of the Valdez. I usually held in my disgust for them, because I wanted to give them a fair shot before I fell victim to my possible bias. After lurking their site for months and giving them a "chance", they confirmed all my suspicions about their general M.O.

I think it's a cult. At least it has many cult aspects at the minimum. Same can be said about certain parts of the "truth movement", but not to that degree. Every "school of thought" attracts fanatics and zealots. JREF claims to have the ultimate authority under the umbrella of science or historical record. They claim this authority but demonstrate the opposite. It's disappointing, because the world needs more good skeptics, and not a bunch of rehearsed professional debaters with a scripted line dictated by a would be Theocracy of a handful of online personalities.

If they plan on "reaching" the online community with their "debunkings", I think they will find many will be turned off by their overall nature. Even if they had the "facts" ,you have to sift and wade through waist high arrogance and childishness to get to it. And by then, you don't want to go forward anymore with them.

Sad bunch they are IMHO.