Dated June 29:

http://markosrigakis.blogspot.com/20...-attitude.html

"Good Astronomy, with a Bad Attitude!

(.....................)

I have emailed Mr. Plait a few days ago, to try to make him respond to three simple questions not answered on his site.

Why wasn't the spaceship destroyed by the high speed asteroids that travel in space?

Why wasn't the film that the astronauts used to make the famous photos, destroyed by the high level of radiations on the Moon?

How did the astronauts survive the great temperature changes during their stay on the Moon?

Well, I am still waiting for the answers.

Before I say anything, I would like to make clear that I do not know personally Mr. Plait. I have nothing against him but I have to use him and his site as an example. Sorry for that Mr. Plait. You are recommended by NASA, you should expect some critique.

The thing is that I did some further reading on his site, and I noticed some strange things.

First, there are many scientific errors on his pages. Mr. Plait himself admits it and in fact he has corrected many of his errors after some of his readers made him notice them. Example, he claimed that it is impossible to take pictures of the Sun's corona from Earth! Even I new you can and I am no astronomer. Everybody who has watched a couple of BBC's space documentaries know that as well I guess.

Second, he sells t-shirts and stuff! on his website. I don't know, but it is difficult for me to imagine Einstein selling trousers and hats on the site he publishes his Relativity theory...I try to imagine the slogan: "Buy some cool t-shirts and you will receive God's thoughts for free!". It doesn't help the credibility.

Third, the people that have doubts on the whole thing, are not treated so kindly on Mr. Plaits site. I can understand, that if you are a scientist and you have to listen to these ridiculous claims, you might get mad. But I don't think that you achieve much, by insulting people. The point is not to make the fans of your site to see how cool science is. They already know that! The point is to make those who doubt, to rethink and get convinced about the truth. I have never seen that happen by insulting your listener.

When Hoax supporters make mistakes, they are justified by their lack of scientific education as they rely only on their common sense in order to analyze photos, video footage etc. When super intelligent scientists make mistakes though, even if it is human to make errors, it does not help with their credibility and it just makes things worse. I guess that the fact that millions of people believe that the Moon landing was a hoax, instead of making scientists laugh, it should make them think on why so many people don't believe them. I think that this is part of a more general mistrust that people have towards the governments, scientists, doctors etc. Besides, the Watergate scandal started as a two nut journalists' crazy conspiracy. But before you laugh at the face of the people who make up such stories, I would invite you to reflect on the "why" and remember that doubt is the fuel that gave birth to science and it made it grow to its today's level.

It is sad to say that these kind of web pages do not help very much to put an end on the Moon Hoax controversy and maybe the saddest thing of all is that are recommended by NASA! Well, thanks NASA for telling me that the Moon Hoax conspiracy is finally resolved by a scientist who doesn't even know that you can photograph Sun from Earth, but he'll insult you alright! Nice Job!

How Bad. At least he thinks too that Armageddon sucked!

And by the way...What about my three questions?"

http://markosrigakis.blogspot.com/20...-attitude.html

Fasten your seatbelt, dear blogger ! You are in for a ride in the BABB-mobile !

So let's sum this up.
- I don't trust Nasa, so I don't trust you.
- You're not perfect so you must be wrong.
- You conveniently didn't have the time to answer all the questions.
- You refuse to seek out all the questions.
- The BBC knows better than you.
- Once you learn things, you should be smart enough to know all the facts, and shouldn't have to refine you knowledge.

Hurry up and answer, its been almost a day already. Aren't you just sitting by your computer hoping these questions com in?
:roll:

I posted a short comment on his blog.

__________________
papageno


"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)

"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

"I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about!" - Zapp Brannigan (Futurama)

"...because the logic of the lines traced from reality is as poor of aesthetic value as it is strict in consistency. " - Paolo Bozzi (Naive Physics - free translation)

Wow, sounds like he knew Einstein personally. I are impressed.

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You're a coward and a liar and a thOOF - Bart Sibrel

Maybe he helps Albert maintain his website.

That is a very odd blog. He states that he thinks that we have been to the Moon, but after looking at some of his statements, i.e..."you just have to trust NASA to believe the landings took place"... and I'm not quite sure what he believes.

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"The facts gentlemen, and nothing but the facts, for careful eyes are narrowly watching." Isaac Asimov

I think that he just wants some attention.

__________________
papageno


"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)

"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

"I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about!" - Zapp Brannigan (Futurama)

"...because the logic of the lines traced from reality is as poor of aesthetic value as it is strict in consistency. " - Paolo Bozzi (Naive Physics - free translation)

ditto.

Yeah it was pretty irksome, i just wish i could remember the source of his involvment in endorsements which the blogger seemed to find unbelievable.

edited: to correct stupid typo!

JayUtah has answered the questions on the blog (using the name Clavius). 8)

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papageno


"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)

"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

"I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about!" - Zapp Brannigan (Futurama)

"...because the logic of the lines traced from reality is as poor of aesthetic value as it is strict in consistency. " - Paolo Bozzi (Naive Physics - free translation)

What high speed asteriods? If he means micro-meteors, then the ship had up to 13 layers of mylar and cloth over the LM and a similar casing inside the outer sheel of the CM to take care of any hits. If he really means asteriods, well they occur infrequently and far apart and are easy to avoid, as well as to see coming.

What high level of Radition? Cis-Lunar radiation isn't all that high unless there is a Solar Flare and there weren't. Assuming he has it confused with the VA Belts, well those particles were mostly stopped by the CM's make up and the films were stored in a lead box for extr protection both ways.

What great temperature change? The moon didn't heat up signifcantly during the time they were there, in fact the ground was still quite cold just under the surface. The suits were designed to be an excellent insultor as well which protected them against the cold and heat they faced.

__________________
Howling from the Shadows

It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. --- JayUtah

You can't reason an irrational person out of an irrational belief. --- Noclevername

Apollo: The History and the Hoax
Enter the World of Athran

Welcome to the board, Blog Hunter. I hope you hang around a while and keep us filled in on the vastness of the Blogosphere.

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Living on Earth may be expensive, but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun.

Thanks ! Yeah, I think that the blogs has a multitude of info, often overlooked. I have fallen in love with the BLOGS tab at www.mrsapo.com especially the tabs linking to Technorati, Feedster and Icerocket (technorati.com, feedster.com and icerocket.com).

The comments section is developing in a fascinating direction. Skip over to the website and have a peak:

http://markosrigakis.blogspot.com

no, it sounds like he new Einstein personally.

I like how he starts out his complaint about the treatment of Hoax Believers by listing three questions he sent to Phil, and demands to know why Phil hasn't responded to him yet, then wonders why he gets treated as a HB. Did he ever think it might have something do with essentially saying 'What about this? Huh? HUH?!' while questioning peoples credability all with the undertone that the person being questioned has a holier than thou atitude.

I just want to know why they let him run up long distance charges at the group home. He needs to go back to the reservation.

Reminds me of a TV commercial we used to see in California, produced by California cheese producers. A grand dame of California smugly derides her audience as a bunch of Johnny-come-latelys. To emphasize her point she rhetorically asks, "You've heard of Monterey Jack? Well, I knew him personally!"

That wasn't Mel Brooks (The 2000-year-old Man) in drag by any chance? IIRC Reagan used to make jokes like that (i.e., personally knowing Lincoln without the aid of Nancy or Shirley MacLaine).

Perhaps "new" was used because the writer only knows the meaning of its homophone in the biblical sense? :wink:

__________________
A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

The Earth has an ESB-style asteroid feild, and NOBODY TOLD ME!

Where's my spaceship? I'm gonna go for a Joyride, In Space!

If there is so much light in space from the sun, wouldn't that Over-Expose all the film, and make all the photo's pure white?

The LM has A/C, and the Suits had temperature regulation. NASA did NOT take my car to the moon.

Edit: I should add that the CSM/LM flew through space like a hot dog on a grill. The ship was spinning so that it would heat evenly.

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You have a grandstand seat to one of the greatest on most momentous occasions in the history of science

Nah, they used a Winnebago

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Howling from the Shadows

It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. --- JayUtah

You can't reason an irrational person out of an irrational belief. --- Noclevername

Apollo: The History and the Hoax
Enter the World of Athran

Plus they picked up a few passengers along the way...

__________________
A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

Bah!
The guy edited his original comment, but still will not address JayUtah's requests to justify his position.

Now, that's bad behaviour.

__________________
papageno


"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)

"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

"I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about!" - Zapp Brannigan (Futurama)

"...because the logic of the lines traced from reality is as poor of aesthetic value as it is strict in consistency. " - Paolo Bozzi (Naive Physics - free translation)

Woah..........i just replied, i didn't notice that.

No kidding. "I reserve the right to criticize anyone I please," and then "Why do you all treat me so badly?" Talk about being full of yourself...

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"Facts are stubborn things." --John Adams
Clavius Moon Base

i'll bet he has a wonderfull bedside manner tough!

One of the latest gems.

His "argument" to justify his behavioral advice to scientists, seems to boil down to "Because I say so!".

Despite his claims, he does not seem to consider the possibility that he was wrong in his original comment already.

He also seems to think that pointing out mistakes is being rude. :roll:

__________________
papageno


"Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?" - Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)

"It's all about context!" - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)

"I've never heard of such a brutal and shocking injustice that I cared so little about!" - Zapp Brannigan (Futurama)

"...because the logic of the lines traced from reality is as poor of aesthetic value as it is strict in consistency. " - Paolo Bozzi (Naive Physics - free translation)

That would make fighting the HBs impossible while being polite. #-o

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"Who does not know anything, must believe everything."
Baroness Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach 1830-1916
our animal welfare board and organisation

Yep, unless he's pointing out the mistakes. Then it's OK... :roll:

__________________
Hanlon's Razor - "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity."
Asimov's addition - "Or ignorance."

"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-- Charles Babbage

Welll...... he does have a point. A small one, but still.

The issue isn't really about morality/proper behaviour etc, but about effectiveness. How do we communicate with the fence-sitters most effectively?

I may represent a minority, but I find that I have much easier to reach opponents and undecided people by simply ignoring the various insults and so forth during a debate. Meeting them with counter-arguments tends to derail the debate into a "Are too!/Am not!" exchange, which seldom goes anywhere. Even saying 'whatever' or something to them is giving such things more attention than they deserve anyway, so I tend to remove them from quoted replies entirely.

That said, I completely disagree with his views on merchandise - he seems to expect scientists to be self-funding and provide education to the public "pro bono". The view reminds me a little of how politicians worked in republican Rome... :-?

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"We do not require reality to conform to the expectations of the ignorant"