The Truth Is Out There?
Apparently, the comments at the Mars Rover Blog have degenerated into the typical pseudo-science/conspiracy theory BS that seems to be much more popular than real science. Apparently, one reader of the blog has had enough, and I have to say that I agree with him:
What you have here is a few people with paranoid personality disorder wrecking this forum. Unfortunately, the topic of possible life on Mars is exactly the sort of thing that attracts them. Read about Paranoid Personality Disorder on this site for starters...
[link]
The posters meet all the criteria...
* They have secret information that only they can "see". They "see" fossils of impossible creatures or objects in every photo.
* They feel that NASA is "hiding" something. If only the world would listen to them. NASA deliberately "avoids" taking the pictures that would prove "their" theories right. The rovers are steered away... the photos are taken at too low a resolution on purpose...
* The other posters are "out to get them" and have "closed minds". Only they have the Secret Knowledge, and it is so clear to them. Even though they are only one person and they may not have any scientific background in this field at all, they know better than the worlds best experts and they are sure of it. If only the others would listen to Them.
* They are easily offended, quick to argue, and irrational in their beliefs. They see slight in every response to their postings. This is very typical of this disorder.
* Unfortunately, because of the nature of this disorder, people that have it don't generally seek the help that they need. Arguing with them will not help, and in cases like this it will just confirm their conspiracy theories.
I'm moving to another forum that has moderation, this one isn't worth visiting any more. It only takes a few people to wreck it for everyone.
As for myself, I've decided to remove the Mars Rover Blog from my blogroll. It's degenerated into just a waste of time.
One story which will no doubt be of interest to the lunatic fringe is the discovery of traces of methane gas in the Martian atmosphere:
Planetary scientists have discovered traces of methane gas in the atmosphere of Mars, but are guarded about whether this is evidence of life on the planet. Two separate surveys have detected traces of the gas in the atmosphere: one by European scientists using a spectrometer on the Mars Express spacecraft, and another by a NASA scientist using groundbased instruments. Because methane in the atmosphere is broken down by ultraviolet light over the span of just a few hundred years, the discovery implies that methane continues to be produced. One possible source of methane is emissions by microbes, possibly living beneath the Martian surface, but the methane could have a volcanic origin as well. Scientists said there is not enough information to determine which scenario is more likely to be correct.
No doubt, this was all caused by Martian cow farts.
File under Space, The Final Frontier.
1:52:55 AM 
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