trainedobserver

The will to believe can't be overcome by reason or evidence, it must be supplanted by the desire to know the truth.
RP

The difference between a true skeptic and a debunker is this. Skeptics are skeptical of their own conclusions debunkers are not. Debunkers are guilty of what John Alexander calls cerebalcentrism, were they believe that they are smarter than anyone else, or at least they are smarter than the person holding a different opinion than theirs. They also, unlike a true skeptic, assume that something can't be true therefore it isn't. This applies both to UFOs and the Paranormal as well as things like the events surrounding 911. I often ask myself where do I fall in this? Am I skeptical enough of my own conclusions and thoughts? Am I informed enough? What have I not considered? Am I just another asshole with a borrowed opinion?

Not-knowing is true knowledge.
Presuming to know is a disease.
First realize that you are sick;
then you can move toward health.
Lao-tzu

The "Trained Observer" username is a bit of a Ufological joke. In UFO literature references are often made about the lack of any "trained observers" around when UFOs show up. As far as training goes, I'm trained to operate the remote and to program the DVR and observe the results.

The UFO community and related organizations are stages on which sock-puppets act out carefully crafted plays designed to mold opinion and control the perception of activities involving the development and weaponization of new technologies. I could be wrong of course but that is my tentative conclusion.

Cast to earth from the tail of a passing comet, possessing strange powers and abilities that give him a slight rash upon use, he fights a never-ending battle with an ever growing comic book collection.

Science Over Superstition. Skepticism Over Credulity. Critical Thinking Over Ambivalence. Hope Over Despair.