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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 5179690" data-attributes="member: 22779">Thus the idea of the "reasonable observer".  You are not the reasonable observer because you're involved in the conversation.  Whether or not I doubt the veracity of the claim of alien abduction has nothing to do with whether or not a reasonable observer would.My own biased gut reaction should not be my basis for believing you.  I should possess the wherewithall to step back and look at the claim with at least an eye for objectivity.  Maybe I REALLY want to believe in alien abduction.  However, again, a reasonable observer wouldn't.  Sure, I can jump right in and say, "Wow, gosh tell me more" but, I should also be having some pretty strong reservations about accepting your claims simply because they are so far out there.I don't think it's all that unreasonable to expect people to retain a certain objectivity when discussing an issue.  That when their pet projects and pet peeves might interfere with that objectivity, and the other person calls attention to the fact that those beliefs are based solely on personal bias, the person should be able to step back and recognize that fact.Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof as the saying goes.However, if we pull back from the extraordinary claims, and look at ones that are probably more in line with every day conversation, then disbelieving perfectly plausible claims based solely on my own experience is a bad thing to do.</blockquote>

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