Credible Art guests (and hello)

[skidder]

Hi all,  I've been lurking here for some time but just signed up.

I started listening to Art in the mid 90s when I briefly lived in Florida.  I am now back in the UK where I am from.

Having just downloaded the archive to re-listen and listening to some old shows more or less at random, it got me wondering whether anything I might hear was in any way credible. 

I've always enjoyed Art (yes, even Dark Matter) no matter who he was interviewing, but I particularly enjoy it when there is just the slightest chance that a handful of words spewing out of his guest's mouth may actually be true.

So folks, which do you think are the most credible guests over the years?  Who may have been on to something?

Clearly the handful of actual credible scientists (e.g. Michio Kaku for example, no, not you Hoagland) are a different matter.

[Foodlion]

The great thing about Art was he could have even the biggest bullshitter guest and yet make it worth listening.

[jazmunda]

The great thing about Art was he could have even the biggest bullshitter guest and yet make it worth listening.

Agreed. I listen to classic Art daily and it is Art that makes the show listenable. I would not be listening to the majority of these shows and guests if it was any other host. Surprisingly the shows have aged well which probably has so ethjng to do with my nostalgia for the 90s.

[skidder]

Indeed, Art has proven that it is possible to polish a turd with some of his guests through his interview technique but have any guests over the years struck you as likely to have a kernel of truth in their theories/stories?

[wr250]

Agreed. I listen to classic Art daily and it is Art that makes the show listenable. I would not be listening to the majority of these shows and guests if it was any other host. Surprisingly the shows have aged well which probably has so ethjng to do with my nostalgia for the 90s.

this is very true. when discussing govt, if you substitute "0bama" for "clinton" you may not know this is a 20 year old broadcast. the more things "change" the more they stay the same.

[maureen]

hello, Skidder, welcome to the Bellgab Commonwealth Conspiracy!!! It's good to have you.  Hope you enjoy being had!!

[dan7800]

Most are frauds, but were enjoyable. The only ones who I believe were accurate were Michahi Kaku (sp), Seth Shostak and Richard C. Hoagland.

[skidder]

hello, Skidder, welcome to the Bellgab Commonwealth Conspiracy!!! It's good to have you.  Hope you enjoy being had!!

Do with me what you will 

[skidder]

Richard C. Hoagland.

Good one!

[BobGrau]

Hi all,  I've been lurking here for some time but just signed up.

I started listening to Art in the mid 90s when I briefly lived in Florida.  I am now back in the UK where I am from.

Having just downloaded the archive to re-listen and listening to some old shows more or less at random, it got me wondering whether anything I might hear was in any way credible. 

I've always enjoyed Art (yes, even Dark Matter) no matter who he was interviewing, but I particularly enjoy it when there is just the slightest chance that a handful of words spewing out of his guest's mouth may actually be true.

So folks, which do you think are the most credible guests over the years?  Who may have been on to something?

Clearly the handful of actual credible scientists (e.g. Michio Kaku for example, no, not you Hoagland) are a different matter.

Another fellow Brit! *low five*

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Hi all,  I've been lurking here for some time but just signed up.

Welcome, skidder!  Always nice to have some fresh Gabber blood from across the Pond. Yorkie can be a bit tedious at times. 

I've always enjoyed Art (yes, even Dark Matter) no matter who he was interviewing, but I particularly enjoy it when there is just the slightest chance that a handful of words spewing out of his guest's mouth may actually be true.

Likewise, and that's pretty much the only reason I still listen to C2C. The chances are slight indeed, but it's always possible.

So folks, which do you think are the most credible guests over the years?  Who may have been on to something?

Other than the handful of real scientists, I've always been intrigued by the Coral Castle.  I'm not sure anyone's ever been able to quite explain how it was done, and I like to think Ed Leedskalnin figured out a way to tap some serious mojo.

[Renton]

Fellow Brit here too. Drinking tea too, as it happens.

As an academic with a PhD I see this stuff as entertainment (I listen to it most nights if my mind is buzzing and I can't get to sleep). But, I also find it fascinating when guests have PhDs and/or come from major research universities. Art does surprisingly well getting Ivy League types on his shows.  There's also something fascinating listening to people weave the most elaborate stories and how enormous conclusions are reached on virtually no evidence. I'm not saying that the guests are liars or in some way wrong, but the journey they take you on can be pretty spectacular. If you listen to it long enough though you'll find people contradict themselves if they are regular guests. Malachi Martin is a classic example.

[WildCard]

Clearly the handful of actual credible scientists (e.g. Michio Kaku for example, no, not you Hoagland)

Heh.

The great thing about Art was he could have even the biggest bullshitter guest and yet make it worth listening.

"My function is to raise the possibility, 'Hey, you know, some of this stuff might be bullshit.'"
- Robert Anton Wilson

Agreed. I listen to classic Art daily and it is Art that makes the show listenable. I would not be listening to the majority of these shows and guests if it was any other host. Surprisingly the shows have aged well which probably has so ethjng to do with my nostalgia for the 90s.

Reported!

hello, Skidder, welcome to the Bellgab Commonwealth Conspiracy!!! It's good to have you.  Hope you enjoy being had!!

Haha!
maureen,
For the longest time I thought your AV was some tropical fish. Only to find out it's a vase of flowers. Or is it?

Other than the handful of real scientists, I've always been intrigued by the Coral Castle.  I'm not sure anyone's ever been able to quite explain how it was done, and I like to think Ed Leedskalnin figured out a way to tap some serious mojo.

Skeptics say - "block and tackle". I dunno.
Has anybody built anything half that creative since Leedskalnin?

My vote for "Credible Art guests" - Robert Monroe.
Sadly, like R.A.W. Art only interviewed him once. But he's had a-lot of OBEers since - William Buhlman, Robert Bruce, Albert Taylor . . . who am I forgetting?

Terence Mckenna, of course. Despite the 2012 stuff.
Same deal with Malachi Martin. He really believed 'the end' was just around the next corner, but I don't think he'd say he experienced something or read something, like The Third Secret, if he hadn't.
Edit: What Renton said.

[Uncle Duke]

GIS, at least during his time on C2C.  Whether you believed in ghosts or the afterlife, no question the GIS were not scammers or delusional.  What you heard was what they recorded.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

GIS, at least during his time on C2C.  Whether you believed in ghosts or the afterlife, no question the GIS were not scammers or delusional.  What you heard was what they recorded.

Do they do EVPs, Duke?  I'm undecided about ghosts and keep an open mind about the subject, but I just can't take EVPs seriously because anyone with a tape recorder can make them.

[Uncle Duke]

Do they do EVPs, Duke?  I'm undecided about ghosts and keep an open mind about the subject, but I just can't take EVPs seriously because anyone with a tape recorder can make them.

Absolutely, and they are some of the best EVPs I've ever heard. 

[b_dubb]

There are two GIS.  Pre-Chunga GIS and Post-Chunga GIS. 

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Absolutely, and they are some of the best EVPs I've ever heard.

I know you're a reasonable, common sense kind of guy, so if you're impressed they must be way better than most.  What is about them that makes them so good in your opinion?  Thanks!

[maureen]

Wildcard, my Av is indeed flowers from my garden... with a butterfly wing!! Avatar of a zen hyperbolist, pacifist Luddite. 

[Uncle Duke]

There are two GIS.  Pre-Chunga GIS and Post-Chunga GIS.

That's why I specified GIS from Art's C2C, vice DM, days.

[Tarbaby]

I think we need to take a closer look into Mel's hole. I am checking my old Rolodex here to see if I have Yorkie's phone number. Maybe I can get him to volunteer? ;-)

[dan7800]

Fellow Brit here too. Drinking tea too, as it happens.

As an academic with a PhD I see this stuff as entertainment (I listen to it most nights if my mind is buzzing and I can't get to sleep). But, I also find it fascinating when guests have PhDs and/or come from major research universities. Art does surprisingly well getting Ivy League types on his shows.  There's also something fascinating listening to people weave the most elaborate stories and how enormous conclusions are reached on virtually no evidence. I'm not saying that the guests are liars or in some way wrong, but the journey they take you on can be pretty spectacular. If you listen to it long enough though you'll find people contradict themselves if they are regular guests. Malachi Martin is a classic example.

What is your PhD in? Mine is in CS. I know nothing about physics, astronomy etc.... but it always angers me to hear folks like RCH use totally unscientific methods to come up with their conclusions.

Many of the PhDs Art had on received them in things like Witchery though, be careful when he calls someone "Dr."

I do agree with you though, the "real" phds he has on were typically very good guests.

[Catsmile]

I think we need to take a closer look into Mel's hole. I am checking my old Rolodex here to see if I have Yorkie's phone number. Maybe I can get him to volunteer? ;-)

Y'all can check his hole out, I'll just hold'em while you do.

Pray for Goatse.

[Uncle Duke]

I know you're a reasonable, common sense kind of guy, so if you're impressed they must be way better than most.  What is about them that makes them so good in your opinion?  Thanks!

Perface these comments again, talking about the GIS from Art's days on C2C, not the GIS that showed up on DM.

First of all, they were not selling anything (books, T-shirts, CDs/DVDs, equipment etc) or shilling for a TV or radio show of their own.  They seemed to be the most down-to-earth group of its type I personally ever saw/heard, if their EVPs didn't make sense they would say so.  I liked the fact they'd play an EVP, readily admit the members of the group had different interpretations of what they heard and would give the various interpretations.  Finally, they were very open to opinions and comments of the callers, even when they seemed to run counter to their own.

How good was the "original" GIS?  They were even outstanding when they were on with George Noory.

[skidder]

If you listen to it long enough though you'll find people contradict themselves if they are regular guests. Malachi Martin is a classic example.

As much as I enjoyed Malachi Martin he outed himself as a nutjob with all his believing in God business.

[b_dubb]

Not a lot of activity here. Hmmmmm.

[WOTR]

As much as I enjoyed Malachi Martin he outed himself as a nutjob with all his believing in God business.

This is the perfect lead-in to what I was going to suggest.  Who is or is not credible depends 100% on what your beliefs are.  If you believe in UFO's and honestly think you have been abducted Whitley may well be "credible."  If you believe in ghosts and the afterlife the GIS may be your thing.  Believe in voodo, curses and the occult?  Evelyn was your woman.

The thing is that Art was good at allowing us to suspend disbelief; even if it were just for awhile.  I do not believe that we have been visited by little green men from mars- but I would listen to MOST of his shows (though there were some that just got to be too much.)  However, I would consider precious few guest as having "been onto something."  Now, if I did believe in them already, maybe Hoagland is onto something with his photographic proof and moon bases?

Your disbelieving Malachi Martin based on your disbelief of his beliefs (wow, does that even make sense?) demonstrates how the question of which guest is credible reflects more on the poster who answers than the guest themselves.

[skidder]

Yes, I completely take your point. It was a cheap joke re malachi though, couldn't resist.  In practice his interviews were always a great listen.

I don't really bite on any of the topics as I am probably a little too boringly objective to.  That said I have seen something in the sky I couldn't explain once, although no doubt if I  had all the info it would have a horribly tedious and mundane explanation.

[Renton]

What is your PhD in? Mine is in CS. I know nothing about physics, astronomy etc.... but it always angers me to hear folks like RCH use totally unscientific methods to come up with their conclusions.

Many of the PhDs Art had on received them in things like Witchery though, be careful when he calls someone "Dr."

I do agree with you though, the "real" phds he has on were typically very good guests.

Hello Dr! My PhD is in the social sciences (though I draw much influence from philosophy, so I often cross in to the humanities). You made by giggle with the Witchery comment! I was reading Barry Taff's biography last night and he seems legit (well, his PhD seems to be).  It's funny how the credibility (e.g. education) of guests is emphasised in the absence of public data.

RCH bugs the crap out of me too - I think he sometimes gets to Art as well.

[Renton]

As much as I enjoyed Malachi Martin he outed himself as a nutjob with all his believing in God business.

Hahaha!