Skeptiko forums other than its show forum to be closed [split from: Happy fourth board anniversary]

Well, I miss the old mind-energy.net forums. That was before Alex led us like the pied piper, away from that place to one where he was in control. I guess it was never about Alex for me, in fact I joined simply to discuss some news which was current at the time (years ago now) about the AWARE study. Having felt ourselves hemmed in and restricted under the new-improved skeptiko forum, some of us - including yourself, moved to a new location. As I recall, there was also a forum set up by @chuck which might have turned out differently. I'd certainly have been happy if that venture had continued, but it was abandoned and so this was what was left. There has never been any obstacle (except perhaps lack of technical expertise) in the way of having forums run by anyone who chooses to.

However, as I said elsewhere, I look forward to the future here with hope and optimism. I've always felt it is the only way to approach anything that we wish to succeed. I also extend the same hope and optimism towards yourself and other members.

I also miss the mind-energy.net forums and I recently went back to look up something and they are no longer archived there. 

I'm glad that this forum exists. I would not have had the energy or interest to support a forum long term. I was just trying to provide a landing point for those escaping skeptiko. 

Sometimes I wonder why I even still read here, as I'm not really interested in these topics any longer. For me these topics were part of a wider lifelong effort to grok the true nature of reality.

Well, there’s theory and then there’s what actually happens. Imo there’s possibly an interesting conversation to be had, but is it one that would be welcome in this forum? After all this topic is hardly PSI related. Or is it? 

That’s why I miss the old Skeptiko. It was a place where almost anything could be discussed.

This is the interesting nuance for me.

When I first discovered Skeptiko the dialogue on the forums seemed to be much more of a questioning and theorizing nature.  What's happened over the past several years in my view is a change to a more proselytizing feel.  Sure, there were folks with strongly held beliefs even when I first joined Skeptiko but there seemed to be a much wider group of folks who were more interested in asking questions, debating/discussing things, and not so much into proving or defending a view (or worldview).

That's lost over there now and has been for some time.  Its what generally led me to somehow be viewed as a troll now, vs a proponent several years ago.  (I'm not sure I'm either actually.)

CT folks have that general challenge in my view.  They've become convinced of an alternative narrative and there is NO amount of evidence or logic that can change their mind.  Its effectively a religion.  Sort of the anti-Skeptiko mindset ironically.

For me these topics were part of a wider lifelong effort to grok the true nature of reality.

Do tell!  Have you come to a conclusion on the true nature?  I feel as if I continue to stumble along in the dark!

Do tell!  Have you come to a conclusion on the true nature?  I feel as if I continue to stumble along in the dark!

I can't really say. After a lifetime of searching and very intense period of 5 years or so of relentless attention something dropped away and I no longer feel any need to consider it. I have a belief of what I think the true nature is, but there is no way to prove it.

That forum is like walking into an insane asylum. 

When I discovered skeptiko, it was probably nearing the end of his run concerning consciousness/nde. I went back and listened to much of the first 250 or so interviews he did involving the subject.

Ok, I get it. Once that subject was exhausted, time to move to other topics. Unfortunately, that was to turn into conspiracy whackjob central, with a forum filled with his conspiracy whackjobbing sycophants. That place is the very definition of forum group think if there ever was one. And, as an interviewer, he certainty loves to hear himself talk. He can't shut up.

Yeah, it will be interesting to watch the evolution over there.  The closing of all but his show forums may ultimately be its saving grace; depending on where he chooses to focus his interviews.  There was next to no extra-curricular discussion of consciousness/psi in recent years.  It was all focused on politics and conspiracies.  Should he evolve past those topics in his interviews (its possible) the dialogue may again prove interesting.

The closing of all but his show forums may ultimately be its saving grace

I'd liken that to making a sauce reduction, in that it concentrates the flavor of what's already there. Therefore, I wouldn't hold my breath. 

Sad to see Skeptiko go down like this. But, for various reasons, conspiracy theories are becoming increasingly dangerous to society as a whole. They need less platforms to draw in the vulnerable. In any case, there were no vestiges of what it once was. Alex has done one hell of a job shooting all the credibility that he managed to muster by bringing in consciousness to the forefront in the leg and has limped on ever since.

[Ninshub]

Off-topic posts concerning the danger of conspiracy theories have been moved. Please keep discussion on this topic in the relevant sub-forum.

And, as an interviewer, he certainty loves to hear himself talk. He can't shut up.

 

Alex has surely done more to advance topics such as NDEs and consciousness in general that any of us here. So I’d crow less and be thankful to him for Skeptiko, for all his and it’s members perceived flaws. 

I would remind people that this interview with Eben Alexander was only a few months ago. 

https://skeptiko.com/eben-alexander-nde-...s-out-504/