Richard Dolan
Paranormal Novice
Hello everyone.
After reading a few things about me on the Paracast thread, I thought it might be helpful to make a general statement to the group and clarify a few matters.
Honestly, many of the comments make me smile. Not a single one of them, however, seems to have commented on anything that I actually said at the Camelot conference, nor on the contents of my recently published book, something that has taken the last five years of my life to complete.
One person commented that I seem interested simply in making money, or words to that effect. Well, that's not it. But I AM interested in selling my new book. My attitude all year has been to accept any and all speaking engagements in order to get the word out. It so happens that the Camelot conference was the first one in which I had my new book available, and I was very happy to bring it along and -- yes -- sell it!
There have been no shortage of people on the forum who stated that merely associating with Camelot has tarnished me. Here is what I would say to that.
In the first place, I have never, ever gone to a conference and modified my presentation in order to appease those who invited me. I certainly did not do that for Bill Ryan or Kerry Cassidy. In fact, they knew beforehand that I had serious problems with many of the people they had invited. I told them this explicitly in an email. Although I disagreed with their selection of people, I went nevertheless. It was, in fact, an excellent venue and opportunity for me to make some points I had been wanting to make about "Exopolitics." Indeed, my presentation was a rebuke to the dominant direction of "exopolitics" taken by people like Alfred Webre -- a direction generally supported, I think it's fair to say, by Bill and Kerry.
I have been becoming very unhappy over the Exopolitics movement in ufology. However, as they say, politics makes strange bedfellows, it is also true, even in a field as marginalized as ufology, that -- if you are going to be a public figure in any way -- you will sometimes be associating with people that you strongly disagrees with. That's okay; I have done it many times. Although it is not my mission to evangelize the world, or even the UFO community, to my point of view, I do have a perspective, and often by associating with those I disagree with, I make surprising inroads. Moreover, I would caution anyone against becoming dogmatic in this field. I have been researching this topic for 15 years, and am still learning. Undoubtedly, I have been wrong on matters in the past, and I reserve the right to be wrong in the future.
The other point I want to mention is that by speaking at Camelot, the Youtube hits on my presentation reached 30,000 views. That's not high for some people, but in fact it's very high for me. I knew that this would happen. Whether you like them or not, Camelot does extremely well on Youtube. I wanted, and still want, maximum coverage for my ideas and research. That is my decision, and anyone of course is free to dispute the wisdom of it, or even -- as some remarked, foolishness. I am very pleased over the outstanding feedback I continue to receive from people over that presentation. Incidentally, that presentation is embedded at my website, Richard M. Dolan
What it comes down to, as I see it, is for me to get my message out. I worked very long and hard on a book that I believe does come through on what I wanted it to do all those years ago. I wanted, and still want, to promote it. Criticize me all you want for that, if you wish.
A note to David and Gene. Guys, we do private email frequently enough, but since you both have opted to make public statements on some of this, I will do so as well.
I have NO problem with either of you criticizing my statements or philosophy on Ufology. None at all. On previous shows, we have engaged in positive and spirited discussion, not always agreeing fully, but still generating a productive discourse. It seems to me, however, that in your recent criticisms, neither of you actually commented on the content of my presentation. Which makes me suspect you never listened to it. David, you in particular seem to make the guilt by association argument and leave it at that. I believe that I deserved a little more from you on that score.
Secondly, there is the matter of the review copy of my book. I gather the impression now that neither of you even believe that I sent you both review copies. Despite my strenuous private statements to you that I did -- I gather that you actually do not believe me. To which all I can say is, wow. I distinctly remember inscribing the books for each of you. Karyn tells me they went out with other books in the mail. This was quite a while ago. It has happened -- very rarely, but it has -- that the Post Office has held and then eventually returned books to me. Apparently it has to do with the weight of the book. I don't really get their logic all the time. Still, the books went. Maybe one day I will get them back, or you will get them with various postmarks from Langley, VA or Antarctica.
Now, that leaves me in the position to decide what I will do. To my surprise, you have indicated that I will not be invited to speak as a guest on your show until you receive your books. Correct me if I have misinterpreted. So, no books, no interview.
That being the case, I am inclined to let the matter stand as it is. You can decide to invite me or not, or, at this point, purchase my book or not. I am not disappointed in the remarks of the paracast community, but I am by this position of yours.
Please correct me where I am mistaken, gentlemen. No matter what, I certainly wish you both well. Ditto to the rest of the Paracast community.
Oh, I should mention that although I will try to respond to statements if I absolutely need to, there is a good chance I won't be able to post again. It's not a boycott, or anything of the sort. Just a question of time.
Richard Dolan
Author, UFOs and the National Security State (2 volumes)
Richard M. Dolan
After reading a few things about me on the Paracast thread, I thought it might be helpful to make a general statement to the group and clarify a few matters.
Honestly, many of the comments make me smile. Not a single one of them, however, seems to have commented on anything that I actually said at the Camelot conference, nor on the contents of my recently published book, something that has taken the last five years of my life to complete.
One person commented that I seem interested simply in making money, or words to that effect. Well, that's not it. But I AM interested in selling my new book. My attitude all year has been to accept any and all speaking engagements in order to get the word out. It so happens that the Camelot conference was the first one in which I had my new book available, and I was very happy to bring it along and -- yes -- sell it!
There have been no shortage of people on the forum who stated that merely associating with Camelot has tarnished me. Here is what I would say to that.
In the first place, I have never, ever gone to a conference and modified my presentation in order to appease those who invited me. I certainly did not do that for Bill Ryan or Kerry Cassidy. In fact, they knew beforehand that I had serious problems with many of the people they had invited. I told them this explicitly in an email. Although I disagreed with their selection of people, I went nevertheless. It was, in fact, an excellent venue and opportunity for me to make some points I had been wanting to make about "Exopolitics." Indeed, my presentation was a rebuke to the dominant direction of "exopolitics" taken by people like Alfred Webre -- a direction generally supported, I think it's fair to say, by Bill and Kerry.
I have been becoming very unhappy over the Exopolitics movement in ufology. However, as they say, politics makes strange bedfellows, it is also true, even in a field as marginalized as ufology, that -- if you are going to be a public figure in any way -- you will sometimes be associating with people that you strongly disagrees with. That's okay; I have done it many times. Although it is not my mission to evangelize the world, or even the UFO community, to my point of view, I do have a perspective, and often by associating with those I disagree with, I make surprising inroads. Moreover, I would caution anyone against becoming dogmatic in this field. I have been researching this topic for 15 years, and am still learning. Undoubtedly, I have been wrong on matters in the past, and I reserve the right to be wrong in the future.
The other point I want to mention is that by speaking at Camelot, the Youtube hits on my presentation reached 30,000 views. That's not high for some people, but in fact it's very high for me. I knew that this would happen. Whether you like them or not, Camelot does extremely well on Youtube. I wanted, and still want, maximum coverage for my ideas and research. That is my decision, and anyone of course is free to dispute the wisdom of it, or even -- as some remarked, foolishness. I am very pleased over the outstanding feedback I continue to receive from people over that presentation. Incidentally, that presentation is embedded at my website, Richard M. Dolan
What it comes down to, as I see it, is for me to get my message out. I worked very long and hard on a book that I believe does come through on what I wanted it to do all those years ago. I wanted, and still want, to promote it. Criticize me all you want for that, if you wish.
A note to David and Gene. Guys, we do private email frequently enough, but since you both have opted to make public statements on some of this, I will do so as well.
I have NO problem with either of you criticizing my statements or philosophy on Ufology. None at all. On previous shows, we have engaged in positive and spirited discussion, not always agreeing fully, but still generating a productive discourse. It seems to me, however, that in your recent criticisms, neither of you actually commented on the content of my presentation. Which makes me suspect you never listened to it. David, you in particular seem to make the guilt by association argument and leave it at that. I believe that I deserved a little more from you on that score.
Secondly, there is the matter of the review copy of my book. I gather the impression now that neither of you even believe that I sent you both review copies. Despite my strenuous private statements to you that I did -- I gather that you actually do not believe me. To which all I can say is, wow. I distinctly remember inscribing the books for each of you. Karyn tells me they went out with other books in the mail. This was quite a while ago. It has happened -- very rarely, but it has -- that the Post Office has held and then eventually returned books to me. Apparently it has to do with the weight of the book. I don't really get their logic all the time. Still, the books went. Maybe one day I will get them back, or you will get them with various postmarks from Langley, VA or Antarctica.
Now, that leaves me in the position to decide what I will do. To my surprise, you have indicated that I will not be invited to speak as a guest on your show until you receive your books. Correct me if I have misinterpreted. So, no books, no interview.
That being the case, I am inclined to let the matter stand as it is. You can decide to invite me or not, or, at this point, purchase my book or not. I am not disappointed in the remarks of the paracast community, but I am by this position of yours.
Please correct me where I am mistaken, gentlemen. No matter what, I certainly wish you both well. Ditto to the rest of the Paracast community.
Oh, I should mention that although I will try to respond to statements if I absolutely need to, there is a good chance I won't be able to post again. It's not a boycott, or anything of the sort. Just a question of time.
Richard Dolan
Author, UFOs and the National Security State (2 volumes)
Richard M. Dolan
