And I think that that is a perfectly fine policy for UT! -_-

I started a thread on the role of 'alternatives' etc, *About* astronomy, actually, 'about' science.

Can we continue to discuss topics like the ones TheMessenger raised in that new thread?

A good policy Fraser
However I notice the "Moon Hoax" & "Solid Sun" crackpots are coming into your site via the google adds at the top of your page
This I believe detracts from the credibility of you site.
Can they be stopped ?
I often recommend your site to 100's of people via our #1 forum in Australia iceinspace.com.au & my own mailing list.
I would hate for people to be led up the garden path of Psudo-Science with the fairys & pixie's of these foolish ideas.

I'm sorry, gaa_ian, I cannot support your view...

As fraser said, all ideas are welcome... and I would add that all 'crackpots' (er, 'alternative' thinkers) are welcome ... provided they (as with everybody else) are polite and pursue the topic in the appropriate thread or forum ... there is an entire forum just for 'wacko' ... ahem, I mean 'alternative' ideas ... to allow them, I believe, only increases UT's credibility as a serious science-based place to thrash out debates and examine ideas, and where no idea is, or should be, dismissed out of hand ... it's just possible that a revolutionary new way to view the universe (or some aspect of it) which stands up under intense scrutiny and reconciles the data may spring up or evolve out of one of these discussions... and in the meantime, if nothing else, they might be good for a laugh

anyway that's this 'crackpot's' opinion ... h34r:

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Good point Cran ... I agree that thinking outside the square should be encouraged too ....
But ..... Advert's that promote the "Moon landing was a hoax" books or DVD's, go beyond discussion, and into the realms of ligitimising these "alternitive" theory's as science! :blink:

All the more reason to let them in, promote their case and supporting 'evidence'; and then gently show them the error of their ways - by kindly but firmly tearing every little foundation they cling to into small unsupportable fragments... and then countering each point with as much 'hard' evidence as required... either that person will keep the blinkers on, and eventually go away frustrated, or that person will accept that pseudo-science just doesn't stand up, and we will have one more promoting reality over fantasy - either way, we can't lose!

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