Msg: #5508  Sec: 1 - UFOlogy
      08-FEB-88  06:51 PM
Subj: #5481 - Lear's Text
From: Brad Langton
  To: Steve Gresser

Hi Steve,

I'm not sure you've been up on Lambda, but perhaps you have read my rather
caustic response, LANG.RES regarding the Lear issue. I have reason to believe
that my initial reactions were inappropriate. I have been enlightened
regarding the mission of these forums. Our impatience to get all the info
yesterday has led many, including me, to be premature in drawing conclusions.
I'm not sure we haven't pressed this issue too hard too soon without awaiting
reaction time.

I have interviewed Mr. Lear and while I have many questions regarding the
nature of his material, I'm willing to give him a chance to present his case.
I have found him anxious to do so, and I'm sure he would be open to developing
a similar arrangement with Alpha. We're supposed to be acting in a
professional manner on these issues, yet we tend to forget that we're human
beings with fears, reflex reactions, an imprecise language, and whether we
like it or not... our own biases regarding the UFO issue.

At one time I too experienced a sighting, with witnesses, which I recorded on
paper at the time. I never released it because I was afraid of just the
reaction Lear.txt has received. Ironically, I was one of the first to put my
emotions before my head in dealing with the issue... not a good position for
the sysop of such a BBS! Why? Because Lear's contentions conflicted with my
idealized view of benevolent beings from space being necessarily commited to
the same values and ideals as we here in western civilization. Examples from
our own world, even our august group of open minded skeptics in the Paranet
system, have altered this view. If we can't
 take the time to give the guy a chance to support his views,, then what are
we doing this for in the first place? Are we all, as Jim pointed out, fantasy
prone even at the level of discussion?      John has agreed to share this
resource of evidence with Lambda in the next few days by mail. 
Perhaps Alpha will be afforded the same opportunity if the climate here
was a little less hostile. It took a few days for Lambda to come around,
but we have... and now, with an OPEN mind, we're going to have the
opportunity to see just what Mr. Lear has to share.
 
It can't hurt, as one of Lambda's and Alpha's users has said, "its time to
put up or shut up." That's what were about... that's why we're here. I
will keep you up on events from this end, but it would be nice if we all
could view the evidence that he is willing to share. To quote a rather
cliche'd science fiction character, "the decision rests with you."
 
Brad Langton
Paranet Lambda
716-377-3986
300/1200/2400 baud  /  24 hours

My error on the last message, that's my answering service number!
 
Paranet Lambda / 5th Generation BBS
716-377-3985
300/1200/2400 baud   /   24 hours
 
Brad Langton