Not at all. You've been around here long enough that I've noted your thoughtful inquiries and responses before, and I think we've even passed a thought or two back and forth once or twice. You asked for the reasons why I found Barger's possibly self-serving testimony likely to be accurate, and I offered both corroboration and anecdotal material in response. No problems there.
In the 30-plus years I've been involved in journalism and newsstory research since 1970 or so, I've gotten reasonably good at sniffing out the wheat from the chaff, which is not to say that I've not ever been snookered, nor that there's always as much clear-cut evidence for every point I've tried to make in every story I've worked on...or every post at FReep.
But I try, and when I hear the thunder of hooves, I usually try to suspect horses rather than Zebras, unless I'm near a wildlife preserve.
And though I can pretty easily be in error, I try really hard not to be surprised by most anything that comes my way, so if additional information or better evidence pokes a pin in a working theory or postulation of mine, no problem.
It's disenheartening to see this situation continue. In the last couple of decades, me eyes have really been opened.
Agreed. Just don't shut 'em completely in fear of some of the ugliness you unfortunately can't miss, or you'll miss the seperate beauty they'll see elsewhere too. An occasional nap to rest 'em is a good idea, though.
-archy-/-