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“What is astonishing in the realm of science is the opposite of what is astonishing in the art of the conjurer. For the latter wants to persuade us to see a very simple causality. Where in truth a very complicated causality is at work. Science on the contrary, compels us to abandon belief in simple causalities precisely where everything seems so easy to comprehend and we are fools of appearance. The “simplest” things are very complicated, a fact at which one can never cease to marvel.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
–Friedrich Nietzsche.<\/p>\n
I don’t always agree with Nietzsche but this one seems to be an astute observation of the boundary layer between many paranormal advocates, and those who keep an open mind on the subject.<\/p>\n
It’s also spot-on regarding some types who examine the Empire of the Odd web page and the Odd Emperor.<\/p>\n
Sometimes; while I edit the Odd Empire I run across the singular individual. He or she is utterly convinced that the Odd Emperor is personally out to get them. That the Odd Empire web page and to some extent this weblog is an attempt to go after specific people, to systematically defame and destroy them in the UFO biz or to a lesser extent, the fields of the paranormal.<\/p>\n
Nothing could be farther from the truth.<\/p>\n
Two individuals in particular have come up recently.One ; Alfred Lehmberg of Alien Views<\/a> and R. Lee who writes the UFO Bits weblog<\/a> and manages the Origon Fortunia Page, THE PUMPKIN ORANGE ORB<\/a> or whatever she’s calling it this week. I wrote some frank critiques on both their pages. In R. Le’s case I got sucked into a self-serving moderated inverted trolling newsgroup; <\/a>bizarrely run by Ms. Lee herself.<\/p>\n
Both of these people react to the Odd Empire in a similar fashion. Lehmberg recently said to me “aren’t you an officious little popinjay with a freepers sensibility who wouldn’t remotely _have_ (that-which- could-be-described-as) a function… but for the persons\u00c2\u00a0 you chase around busily to ineffectively mock? <\/em><\/p>\n
He was being nice here. Al gets pretty funny when he gets wound up.<\/p>\n
Now on one hand the Odd Emperor is not really vulnerable to such slights although one of these was an implication by Ms Lee that the Odd Emperor is a rapist. Even the implication of such a thing seems very irresponsible. I think my concept of what is and is not libel is pretty well developed but, really!<\/p>\n
This of course leads to the conundrum regarding the use of a nome de plume, (I.E. The Odd Emperor.) The use of a pen name is a conscious choice which I won’t go into here. However one of the consequences of that choice is, I cannot react to public jibes as if they were directed at a specific person.<\/p>\n
To the credit of Mrs R. Lee she did pull the statements after being remanded how serious such accusations are. (BTW, from experiences in publishing I think it’s usually a good idea to *retract* misstatements of that sort, not simply pretend they did not happen.)<\/p>\n
The fact that she’s probably still making such remarks privately is a little troubling but, only a little. The statements, while libelous are not really directed at the writers of the Odd Empire, simply at a cartoon character called the Odd Emperor.<\/p>\n
Or are they?<\/p>\n
Now, I don’t really resent some of these people for speaking in this manner. The Odd Empire is a critical and satirical review page which is hosted simply for the amusement of its editors and readers. The fact that a few people (a very few people BTW) seem incensed enough to try an defame the Odd Emperor is rather astounding. It seems to me that when a person is so upset that their only expression is a mass of incoherent insult (read here – much of Mr. Lehmberg’s response to even a mild challenge<\/a>.) it’s suggestive that they might have of a singular lack of cohesive thought in the first place.<\/p>\n
It does suggest that, not only is the Odd Empire on to something. It’s sugestive that the the Empire of the Odd is probably an effective tool. A tool for what is an open question but, I have noted that a number of people have abruptly pulled “questionable” material off of their pages after being publicly called on it by the Odd Emperor.<\/p>\n
Coincidence?<\/p>\n
Not effective?<\/p>\n
Perhaps *very* effective.<\/p>\n
On the other hand the Odd Empire web page is not an attempt to defame anyone. It is a platform whereby certain opinions can be placed into the public purvey, as a public service.<\/p>\n
Or it’s just a stupid rant page, take your pick.<\/p>\n
Some have said that this is nothing but reflexive-skepti-bunkerisom or some other colorful made-up term. That’s fine, keep thinking that. The people who habitually make irresponsible statements all over the Internet have a reason to be upset at the Odd Empire. Those who cannot look beyond their own petty “cants” will continue to get upset at the Empire of the Odd. They will quickly resort to all manner of logical fallacies to “defend themselves from the Odd Emperor’s attacks.”<\/p>\n
Because that’s all they have.<\/p>\n
One thing that I find ironic? The two people that have been the most nasty have also, very recently (and simultaneously) said “It’s not my fault UFOlogy is a circus! ” It’s not me! It’s those…..those other people. Don’t blame me for the chaos in the UFO field, it’s those Dr. Evil skeptics!<\/p>\n
They are the culprits!”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
That kind of responsibility shedding warms my dark little heart! It proves my point far better than I could.<\/p>\n
When one is part of any system, it’s important to remember that one *is*<\/strong> part of the system. In reality, it’s everyone’s fault. It’s not the skeptics, it’s not the believers, it’s not people like my pal Lehmberg or Ms Lee.<\/p>\n
It’s not just my fault.<\/p>\n
UFOology is a circus because it’s been allowed to get that way. It’s been allowed to get that way by anyone who’s bothered to participate. As I said in a previous post, the clowns have taken the center ring like it or not.<\/p>\n
Conflicts in UFOlogy are inevitable because of the unstable, illogical nature of the subject. A subject which attracts some very good people but it also attracts people who are quite frankly, a bit out there. The “out-theres” seem to have very radical ideas which they defend with a spectacular fervor.<\/p>\n
In this they perform exactly to type. It’s funny that the two that I mention and a couple of others have never successfully debated the Odd Emperor. They try but they simply do not have a logical tool set. They get more and more angry, then they hang up.<\/p>\n
I’ve seen them go at it with dozens of people and they’ve always come out of the process and even more embittered and anguished while people like the Odd Emperor come out of the conflicts stronger, more determined.<\/p>\n
It’s no wonder that people like Lee and Lehmberg go silent when they are challenged. All they can seem to do is rattle the bars of their cages, bars of illogic and disgust that they have forged with their own words.<\/p>\n
Just as a personal note; I get quite a bit of mail at the Odd Empire, much of it very positive. Some is critical and some–downright bizarre. I republish some of the bizarre ones because I don’t believe email can ever be completely private. I welcome comments positive or negative and don’t really have a problem with either.<\/p>\n
In this I differ, with almost everyone who’s ever had a problem with the Odd Empire.<\/p>\n
So what’s my real problem?<\/p>\n
What the hell does the word “freepers”? mean?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
“What is astonishing in the realm of science is the opposite of what is astonishing in the art of the conjurer. For the latter wants to persuade us to see a very simple causality. Where in truth a very complicated … Continue reading