Over Unity (how to get there}

[profitis]

tusk has hit the nail square on the head there.what do we really know.what do we reeeaaally know.what IS to know in the first place.gotta ask oneself these questions.

[Tusk]

Thanks Floor, profitis. I should probably quit while ahead, experience shows that if I stay on stage too long everyone ends up throwing stuff    Oh well, in for a penny....   

Here's my view on the crux of this issue, in particular the forum problem, which after all is the probable launchpad for potentially viable concepts. We can sort the human race any number of ways, one useful dichotomy for us might be pro and anti OU. It's all very well having a balanced discussion but difficult to move beyond ridicule when the other team recognises no bounds (and may even be earning their living doing so - not saying they are, but it's a possibility).

Another cut might be familiarity with the subject itself; not much point trying to explain an 'outside the box' physics solution to someone who doesn't understand much of what's 'inside the box'. Although I'd rather talk to them than the first lot, provided they keep an open mind and are genuinely trying to grasp the material.

So, there might be a few more but I assume that you get the picture. The obvious solution then, is for a small group of members here to set up another forum; not a replacement for this one, more of a safe house for further discussion away from the trolls, shills and casual onlookers. The group could expand membership selectively, based on the posting history of candidates from this forum (and even other similar forums). Such candidates would receive an invitation rather than apply, and this would ensure that the group maintained an acceptable level of honest interest as opposed to hostile disinterest.

Naturally one of the group (with the appropriate knowledge, skills and resources) would need to volunteer their time and effort to host the forum. Perhaps the others could make a small donation towards the costs involved - I would certainly be up for that. While the working principle of the group would be 'round table', the host would exercise the will of the group in regards to how the forum was run. Anyone hostile to the group and intent on gaining membership for nefarious purposes would need to generate a positive posting history here (or on another forum) with only the chance of selection; a somewhat counter productive exercise IMHO. And win - win for the group, since they would need to maintain that disguise else find themselves quickly exposed and ejected.

The above idea, in principle, could provide a positive and friendly environment for the selection of concepts with real potential and their further discussion and advancement, away from the background noise of general disbelief and the spoiling attacks of those who are, shall we say, philosophically opposed to anything good. And since this is Floor's thread, if he was willing and able to act as the host for such an enterprise I think that would be an excellent beginning.

As for myself, I'd be content if my own thesis (the Paradox Engine) were accepted for further discussion on such a forum, even failing my own personal admittance to the group; in fact, now that I look at it from that perspective, generally when a concept is selected for discussion the author should probably have limited access (rather than full membership) in order to participate and offer supportive information.