RE: "Quite frankly, my perception of the arguments between Barry and some contributors to this bbs is that it's from those who are diametrically opposed to the idea of life on Mars and those who favor quick human exploration of Mars."

I don't know of anyone who is opposed to life on Mars let alone diametrically if you mean against the concept. The most against the posibility is Gary Allen and It hink that's a matter of belief in a theory that pretty much rules it out not fundamental discomfort with the concept. In your stereotyping the rest as in favor of quick exploration of Mars you overlook the numerous examples of people who have little to say on that topic, but simply resent Barry's unscientific approach to the issue. When has RL ever shown vigorous support for manned Mars missions? Larry has also been dissmissive of a direct path to Mars as flags and footprints. You also overlook the fact that Keith Cowing who was the worst in engaging in nothing but tit for tat insults with Barry also came down hard on Zubrin's infamous oped piece.

I have personally tried to diffuse this issue by pointing out that I think life on Mars would lengthen the minimum time we would reach Mars do to concerns over contamination in both directions but increase the long term odds that we will eventually send humans to Mars. I believe that we could get to Mars in 10 years if we committed now. I believe if we found life now we would want to study it for about a decade with robotic probes therebye delaying manned missions by nearly that amount of time although planning could start earlier. However, beyond that I think the odds of committing to a manned mission is much greater because robots are no substitute for real hands on scientists who can adapt equipment and techniques on the spot to answer immediately the questions robotic probes always find and then have to wait 1 to 3 generations of probes to answer. I think Barry's Mars life versus manned missions stance is just as artificial as EP Mars versus NEO detection.

None of this fits your convenient stereotyping.

As far as criticizing NASA we have heard it first hand. As far as hurting their feelings, there aren't a lot of overly sensitive people here besides some of the females and Raoul. The anger comes from mangling science and damaging the potential for real science in the process, not hurting anyone's feelings.

If you want me to take your opinion on Barry seriously apply the standards of pseudoscience detection to Barry and call him on it. Coming from you who I consider to be his most logical supporter and a pretty loyal one, it might have more impact, although your the one attempt I've seen you make to correct him seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Regards,
Mark