>    >> The "skeptics" do not have to provide any
 >    >> special evidence to back up their own claims (e.g. "I won't do your
 >    >> researc for you.")
 >  RT>
 >  RT> I think that is fair...  the believer is the one making the claim.  
e
 >  RT> should be the one backing it up.  Convenient for the skeptic, no 
doubt,
 >  RT> but nevertheless, thats the way the world works.
 > The believer is making a claim when he says that a UFO he saw was
 > an alien spacecraft.  However, the skeptic is ALSO making a claim
 > when he says that that the UFO was a weather balloon.  Or that
 > USAF officers didn't investigate a specific UFO sighting.  Or that
 > nobody, in the centuries-long history of telescopes, has ever seen
 > a UFO through one.  If one person is required to back up his
 > claim, why isn't the other?
Troy, I have to agree with Ron on this one. ...But there are ways to
avoid the demands for evidence with key phrases like "What if," and
"It could be" or "Maybe" or "IMHO." As long as the believer sticks
to his disclaimers that he is only speculating, there is no need for
the skeptic to make demands for evidence. ;-)
Regards,
Jack
--- FMail 1.22
---------------