Rich,
Interesting that you would mention Foulepointe. I had nothing do with it, but it is my understanding that Foulepointe was just as much Ran's doing as it was Tom's. Neither of them took kindly to those who freely "borrowed" from the hard work and research of those who post on this site without properly crediting those responsible for the work, so they planted false information to expose those people for what they are.
I've often thought of "Foulepointe" in the context of these discussions. It is really not my style, but had I been more cunning, I would have included one Foulepointe-false-fact in the information I privately provided Phil when I was successfully proving to him that many of the key elements of Ian's original St. Andrew's story were false. If I had, I don't think we'd still be having these discussions. In my opinion the false fact would have very likely found its way into the alleged diaries.
But unfortuately, I am neither as smart nor as cunning as Tom was. Like a fool I trusted Phil and went to him with the honest intention of helping him extricate himself from what I consider to be an ugly situation, and I freely shared all of my information with him.
It never occurred to me me that he would go behind my back and provide all of my research to the person who I believe was responsible for the false information which has been passed off here as irrefutable fact.
Live and learn, which is why I am not inclined to provide Ian with more of my research than I already have.
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Mark Pearce,
While I appreciate and share your concern with the tone of the discussion, I think that perhaps your admonition is directed at the wrong party, or at the very least ought to go both ways. Review the posts, particularly Neil's. In the past few days I have had more than a few insulting and nasty comments directed at me. I have had my methodology questioned, my skills maligned, my motives challenged, and have been called a number of rude and childish names.
For the most part, I have tried to ignore this juvenile nonsense and stick to the issues. Admittedly I haven't been perfect in this regard, but I am only human, and when repeatedly attacked I occasionally hit back.
I'll try harder to ignore it in the future. But if you want a better tone, then perhaps someone ought to have a private word with Neil.