ittr> when people like CommonBlackbird think critically about POET, it's easy to interperit this as them being cricital of us ... gets hostile when skepticism is displayed.

sorry, I don't buy it -- but then again, I am a skeptic (just ask dash).

imo, there wasn't much critical in the thinking, or even thinking in the thinking, really.

what was there, was just a ton of targeted repeated questioning and supposition that tends to suggest ulterior motives: to instill doubt, fear, uncertainty, etc.

that's not being a skeptic, it's being a cynical* predator.

you'll notice that I leaned on the wiki cliche to call for [citation needed], and that's very important. it's right up there with keeping things clean, civil, and on-topic. it's perhaps one of the hallmarks that sets this forum apart, in a sea of other Internet nonsense.

I don't mind contrary positions, as long as they're well supported with fact and demonstrate at least some effort. contribute to the community in a non-disruptive fashion. make a reasonable and intelligent argument, and it won't as easily be dismissed as trolling.

somebody wandering in and yelling "snake oil!" in the hope of reaping benefits from the fallout?

that won't pass muster here.

GLAL,

R.

* cynic: "one who knows the price of everything, but the value of nothing." -- Oscar Wilde. Lady Windermere's Fan. 1892, Act III.