12-03-2014, 02:25 PM
Cliff Varnell Wrote:I think John Simkin mis-estimated the degree with which we Yanks take this JFK shit personally,
and the central part rancor plays in our national discourse.
Not to blame John at all. Who wants to spend all their time bucking the headwinds of the Great American Male Ego?
I think John Simkin over-estimates the value of JFK assassination research -- we (I) rubbish other peoples' research because it is rubbish!
I don't spare myself from the accusation of havin' written reams of inconsequential rubbish in the past.
Not on Deep Politics Forum however!
Over here I'm gold!
::rockon::
You have a point but I take John at his word here. He had the best of intentions when he began the forum. For me it was a haven. A community where I could participate and make new friends. As John would later observe the critical community was a nasty mess. Always has been. The lack of unity bothered me for the start. And when I read John Kelin's wonderful book about the first generation researchers I realized that the infighting began immediately. John has written several times that this was upsetting to him. He attempted in vein to achieve unity. And because he allowed what he called "free speech" - ie the lone nutters and paid agents- the rancor only escalated. Finally it simply became too much. EF has been there for ten years. I will be sad to see it go as there are still many good people. John had the best of intentions and in large part he accomplished a great deal.