For some unknown reason, most people seem to have remained with ideas which they learned at an earlier age (probably a very early age). From the moment of acceptance, further change becomes virtually impossible for most people. For others, changing one's viewpoint is exciting if faced with new ideas which have been demonstrated to be correct.

I, myself, love change, but only if the facts leading to that change are rock solid (whatever that means).

We can argue about science (in this case -- astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology) until we are blue in the face, but a change in viewpoints is highly unlikely and seldom occurs.

Therefore, I think that it is important to be aware that anything which any of us writes is not going to sway anybody else who holds an opposite viewpoint on the particular topic.

I do not see anybody altering his/her/its ideas. For this reason, I dislike joining the fray since I expect nothing to come from it. The only people who can be swayed by any of us are those who have no idea about astronomy, astrophysics, or cosmology, etc., and who are willing to learn. However, sadly, they, too, eventually will become entrenched in some viewpoint or another somewhere in the future.

I, myself, love it when something new comes along to force me to change my ideas. However, the facts causing such change in my ideas must be rock solid. "Rock solid" to me could be "flimsy evidence" to another person.

This is not to say that some ideas are much better than others. The better ideas have as much trouble being accepted by the general public as the foolish ideas. Of course, "the foolish ideas" are always those held by the other person... Of course... Naturally...

I will not hold my breath for any great agreement by most of the members of this (or any other) forum. If everyone agreed, then it might be boring indeed. We could all sit in front of our computers and pat ourselves collectively on our backs... ZZZzzzz...

ljbrs [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] ZZZzzz...

_________________
*Nothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error.* Goethe

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ljbrs on 2002-12-24 22:16 ]</font>