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--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "victoriatangoman"
wrote:
>
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Richard" wrote:
>
> > > That's quite the rejoinder. It's apparent that your threshold for
> > > proof is so high that only going to Mars, implementing your
dream, and
> > > failing at it will be convincing. Or will you then offer us the
> > > socialist excuse, "well, we just didn't do it the right way, so we
> > > should try to do it again but the right way this time . ." ad
> > > infinitum until the end of time.
>
> > > Tell us what level of proof you require.
>
> > Going there and looking things over.
>
> > You remind me of the Greek philosophers that could argue for hours
> > about how many teeth a horse had in his mouth and never look.
>
> A: We should go to Mars and build a civilization there.
>
> B: It's too far from Earth for us to trade efficiently and we'll never
> survive without subsidies.
>
> A: Well, I'll believe that when we actually go to Mars and start our
> building.
>
> B: Why do you have to do that? Don't you see that it doesn't make sense?
>
> A: Once we start building a civilization on Mars it may make trade
> more efficient with Earth.
>
> B: Like how?
>
> A: I don't really have clue, but maybe Mars' orbit will shift and
> we'll come closer. Anything is possible. Just because it hasn't
> happened it shouldn't be a reason to rule it out. First we need to
> start building Robinson City on Mars and then we'll worry about
> whether it makes sense.
>
> B: I have absolutely no idea how to respond to that. Boy, Zubrin and
> his crew sure are good at PR.
>
> > > > I can just see Tangoman in space attempting to singlehandedly

> > > > blockade Mars and shoot down anybody trying to go there.
>
> > > The ad hominem attack, the last refuge of the logically exhausted
> > > debater.
> > >
> > > > Can't you see it is way too early to decide?
>
> > > Absolutely not. The time is ripe to squish the Mars meme before it
> > > ruins us all. Someone should have done the same with the Dutch Tulip
> > > Mania in the 1600s, or the Jim Jones Cult in Guyana. Some things
> > > simply don't make sense and a Mars civilization and terraforming
> > > clearly falls into that category.
>
> > Talk about ad hominem attacks.
>
> Ad hominem is an attack against the person. The above is an attack on
> the Mars Fantasy. I'm not ridiculing you.
>
> TangoMan

Really? Could have fooled me. You are getting over the edge when you
have to erect straw men and knock them down.

A minor quibble has occurred to me. You state that Earth and Mars are
composed of the same elements. So what?

Most elements are not found in a pure state. I seem to remember
something about combinations in the moon rocks being different than
any on Earth.

Mars being in beween the Earth and the Moon in both gravity and
atmosphere may have its own ores.

I feel that it is the height of stupidity not to go and take a look.

You can rant on all you wish. I doubt it will change the minds of all
of us that feel we should give Mars a good looking over rather than
reject it out of hand.

Rick Brooks