Should we permit interviews on non-core subjects, esp AIDS/HIV?

That's completely ridiculous Max, and you're clearly not reading my posts. I'm as socially liberal as they come, FYI. A complete and utter leftist on these matters. If anything, Bauer's ideas have been accused of homophobia, racism, etc*. But it's not on a Social Justice Warrior basis that I'm making my stand on this, it's because there's nothing paranormal about it. Period.

(*see here for example)

Just some small addition, for the sake of fairness - Henry Bauer is not homophobic.

This attacks are based on the views that he gave up long ago:

http://henryhbauer.homestead.com/Iwaswrong.html

(And it should be noted that some of HIV skeptics are themselves homosexuals. Are they homophobic, then?)

No matter what one thinks about the issue in general, this specific attack is baseless.

To prevent further speculation, here I post a provisional plan of the interview, so everyone can understand what kind of questions I will ask to Henry Bauer:

So, these are the kind of questions I will ask him if my interview is approved.

 

Now see, I have no issue with those questions and actually think an interview focused on those things, as long as it contains a bunch of evidence that isn't just HIV/AIDS related, would be of value. Would you consider still doing the interview and just posting it in the "Other" forum?

Just some small addition, for the sake of fairness - Henry Bauer is not homophobic.

This attacks are based on the views that he gave up long ago:

http://henryhbauer.homestead.com/Iwaswrong.html

(And it should be noted that some of HIV skeptics are themselves homosexuals. Are they homophobic, then?)

No matter what one thinks about the issue in general, this specific attack is baseless.

I think everyone has been clear about that. Bauer made homophobic statements in the past, but has since retracted them.

Now see, I have no issue with those questions and actually think an interview focused on those things, as long as it contains a bunch of evidence that isn't just HIV/AIDS related, would be of value. Would you consider still doing the interview and just posting it in the "Other" forum?

Honestly, I have just contacted Bauer and explained him the situation. He understood - it is hardly the first time he deals with fury directed at him because of his HIV-AIDS position - and agreed that it's better to cancel the interview than to provoke a massive conflict in our community.

Asking him to be interviewed once again, just after he accepted the cancellation, would be a bit rude. Don't you think?

For the future: WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER ON CLEAR AND CONCISE GUIDELINES FOR THE UPCOMING INTERVIEWS. I understand that our forum is mainly psi/mind/consciousness related, and some topics are simply not relevant enough to merit an interview here. But one should be informed where exactly the "line of relevance" is drawn.

For the future (2): of course, some debatable "borderline cases" will appear, inevitably. In such situations, it would be better to ask a community whether a guest / topic is acceptable before the invitation, and probably vote.

Yes, I think Skeptiko has a free and open discussion - this place is turning into a 'safe space', you are right!

However, I would still love to head Linda's reply to the challenge that Kary Mullis posed all those years ago. State the paper that demonstrates that the HIV virus causes AIDS!

David

David, I think you missed Ninshub's post here:
http://psiencequest.net/forums/thread-41...ml#pid7685

[Ninshub]

Question for the admins-

Have we ever created a statement of purpose? A charter? or some other piece that describes the purpose of the forum?

No, as I indicated in this post:
http://psiencequest.net/forums/thread-41...ml#pid7524
we've had a private discussion over this matter. That post sums up the thinking for now. But it could be formalized.

AIDs denial is not psi. HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO PSI?

It doesn't! That's what I was saying - we agree with each other .

So we're going to entertain posters like Pssst's cryptic word puzzles related to supposed alien existence/interaction but not interview subject matter experts on the reliability of science generally (with the clear connection to scientific investigation of psi).

Yes, color me highly disappointed with the consensus view here.  (And we're worried about credibility?)

Does anyone have any suggestions for other outlets I might explore?  Again, I will admit I was fully drawn into Skeptiko based on the tagline "intelligent discussion on science and spirituality".  I guess that's my fault for not seeing a "psi oriented" community as being much further away from this than I'd previously thought.

So we're going to entertain posters like Pssst's cryptic word puzzles related to supposed alien existence/interaction but not interview subject matter experts on the reliability of science generally (with the clear connection to scientific investigation of psi).

Yes, color me highly disappointed with the consensus view here.  (And we're worried about credibility?)

Does anyone have any suggestions for other outlets I might explore?  Again, I will admit I was fully drawn into Skeptiko based on the tagline "intelligent discussion on science and spirituality".  I guess that's my fault for not seeing a "psi oriented" community as being much further away from this than I'd previously thought.

1) Psst represents himself, not the community, that's one difference here. 

2) Is Bauer really an expert on the reliability of science? Can't we find another expert without the pointlessness controversy? 

3) What's credible about giving a platform to a person known for HIV/AIDS denial?

[Laird]

So we're going to [...] not interview subject matter experts on the reliability of science generally (with the clear connection to scientific investigation of psi).

Nobody's saying the interview can't take place. Ian proactively invited Vortex to conduct it and post it in a relevant subforum with his (Vortex's) ownership rather than that of the community. The consensus is just that the interview can't take place in the primary interview space which defines our mission.