David Griffin wrote:Ray - I appreciate you are an engineer and so you'll think some of the language used in the Webre discussion is a bit dippy
Not just dippy... technically inaccurate (and thus misleading). The best example (and the one which will raise the ire of all control systems engineers and pretty much most scientists) is the flippant use of the words "positive feedback loop with the extraterrestrial cultures." I guess since Mr. Webre is a lawyer, and not a scientist, he should be given a free pass for using words incorrectly. But were you aware (perhaps not) that a "positive feedback loop" is actually UNSTABILIZING (and therefore a "bad thing")? This is an often misused analogy for this reason: Negative feedback (the norm) allows you to subtract the feedback (knowledge of a given state) from the desired goal state, thus forming an "error signal" which is used to drive you closer to your stated goal (see edit below). I realize that you may say that I am "missing the point" with such a highly technical assessment. But I assure you I am not. What I am pointing out to you is this sort of definitively a-scientific (i.e. not speaking in the proper language of science) is one more item that will cause scientific people to be immediately turned off... it is not good for your marketing ploys. And I can tell from the "entertainment flavor" of the packaging of this interview that you are concerned about the marketing value.
I gritted my teeth and listened to 10 minutes of it (including the gratuitous "sound bite" introduction) before I couldn't take anymore. Quite frankly, there is nothing of any sort of "hard value" here IMO. Sure, there is a LOT of "feel good" talk, and that may very well draw-in the New Agers who are non-scientific in their thinking. And I must also be honest and say: While Alfred may indeed be a "nice guy", he is just not anywhere near a "riveting presenter". You need a "Tony Robbins" sort of personality to really draw people in. His struggling to get words/ideas out is distracting to me, and I have an ability to focus.
Question: Is there EVER going to be a time when we will NOT be directed to a long video and/or audio? It really is not as effective as you may think in getting your message out to people. You will find that the most highly rated videos on YouTube are those that last on the order of several MINUTES.... not the ones that stretch into an hour or more.
Just my honest criticism... I have seen nothing that is going to attract many people in the sciences, more like frustrate them and turn them off...especially when you are using scientific terms with different (misappropriated?) meanings. Again, nothing personal, but I am still not seeing anything terribly unique, or earth-shattering, or of greater value than what many authors on these topics have already spoken of.
but the first few questions asked relates to what you keep going on about above with re the definition of exopolitics.
Again, being honest: I didn't get it. Maybe I gave up before he finally got it out. Or maybe I didn't get it because all I was hearing was lots of "dippy" sayings with little tangible meaning? I think I understand the basic premise of ExoPo, and I still have problems with it. But perhaps, instead of sending me off to another video/audio, perhaps you (personally) can "correct me" in where you think I am misunderstanding ExoPo? To use a term that Steve mentioned "I don't suffer fools gladly". Get me to the REAL POINT, and get me around all the happy nonsense, fluffy words, and feel-good propaganda. This stuff is even more tedious than Dan Smith's ravings... and those are also pretty tedious, but his thoughts are somehow interesting.

Ray
EDIT: I thought I would provide evidence for the point I am making that "positive feedback loop" is not the kind of PR verbiage you want to use for your movement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_feedback
For a simple example, imagine an ecosystem with only one species and an unlimited amount of food. The population will grow at a rate proportional to the current population, which leads to positive feedback. This has a de-stabilizing effect, so left unchecked, does not result in homeostasis. In some cases (if not controlled by negative feedback), a positive feedback loop can run out of control, and can result in the collapse of the system. This is called vicious circle, or in Latin circulus vitiosus.
Indeed, many things in UFOlogy (and also in ExoPo, I would submit) can succumb to the "vicious circle".
