Reply #198: I agree -- in fact, I think the free and unfettered airing of ideas is the

[Emillereid]

best way to assure that truth will emerge. Any form of censorship is anathema -- I mean who gets to decide that an idea is kooky -- some kooky ideas have won out in history. I think people on DU often get their knickers in a knot over silly stuff -- if you consider an idea kooky, don't respond and just let the matter die of its own accord. Or vigorously argue and inform -- but don't get so overexcited that you feel some kind of self-censorship is in order. Censorship is stifling and always damaging to the real pursuit of truth. Ideas -- even strange ones will not harm you; their suppression will.

 "The growth of knowledge depends entirely on disagreement"
         (Karl R. Popper, 1902-1994)            


"Concepts which have proved useful for ordering things easily assume so great an authority over us, that we forget their terrestrial origin and accept them as unalterable facts. They then become labeled as 'conceptual necessities,' etc. The road of scientific progress is frequently blocked for long periods by such errors." - Einstein

Think out loud; think long and hard and often -- it's good exercise for the brain! Let all the wild ideas swirl and fly -- perhaps to catch a ride on a star and be seen by all -- as immutable and eternal.