"Goodbye" - the forum's fate - Important

[Admin]

I was considering leaving a more carefully planned statement for all forum members and visitors to read, but there's little point. My life has been changing a lot recently, and there's a lot more to come over the next few months. There's no need to go into specifics... in short, I no longer have the interest or time to maintain the website. Paying for the website is not an issue, but considering that I don't use the website much any more, or maintain it at all, I would prefer to save the money in all honesty.

The information on the main website can mostly be found elsewhere. There are some good pictures, a map and a few lesser-known interviews, but most of it is disposable. The forum, however, contains what I consider to be interesting discussion... years of it in fact... and I would not like to see it all lost.

Who wants it? Please post in this thread, or use a PM. If nobody responds, the forum will be have to go unfortunately. With the main site gone (saving bandwidth), the forum will probably cost ~£20-25 per year to run.

Finally, I would like to wish John, Jim, Larry, Halt and all the others the best of luck in finding closure, although I know that few will ever let it drop. I do not resent my previous interest in the Rendlesham case - some of the areas surrounding the forest are unspoilt and beautiful. I do however look on the so-called UFO 'community' with despair - forever battling itself and those within it... it's an endless and pointless cycle which is best avoided.

Edit for clarification: I am not lumping this forum in with the 'UFO community' I refer to - there are plenty of 'good guys' here. And if the forum has to go, I thank you all for your contributions.

[IanR]

I do not resent my previous interest in the Rendlesham case - some of the areas surrounding the forest are unspoilt and beautiful. I do however look on the so-called UFO 'community' with despair - forever battling itself and those within it... it's an endless and pointless cycle which is best avoided.

Well, thank you for your efforts in running this site. I've had a lot of fun, I've learned a few things and I hope others have too.

Although things got tetchy at times they never descended to the levels I see currently on the Justice for the 81st site, which now seems to be populated by the deluded, the dishonest and the plain demented.

Good luck to you,
Ian

[Frank]

I can understand your decision, Admin.
After all discussions and revelations I still think Halt's 1981 memo is the most accurate summary of this case (apart from the date error, of course )
Thanks a lot for moderating this site, I enjoyed it!

Cheers and good luck,
Frank

[Ignis Fatuus]

After all discussions and revelations I still think Halt's 1981 memo is the most accurate summary of this case (apart from the date error, of course )

Apart from the date and almost everything else in the Memo - yeah it was a good story. Accurate? - yeah right.
The wrong man was debriefed - it should have been Cabansag.

Thanks Admin for providing the Forum, sure has been spectacular watching UFOlogy crumble to dust in front of our eyes.

To the RFI PLayers - If you are serious about that Ranch in the Hills - a warts and all confession of your part in the RFI deception may well be your last chance of a decent pay day. People love that shit.

[John Burroughs]

Thanks for putting together this site Admin enjoyed being on it. Ian thanks for the promo on the Justice site glad your checking the site out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb9q1ScC4cg http:/
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-2Bpv7F8Iw&feature=related. Enjoy this clip were working hard to get the truth out my the chips fall were they may. Tantrums are not the way adults do business Pumpkin Head. Sorry to see this site go but you can check out what going on with Bentwaters at the Justice site on Face Book as you can see Ian is a big fan. Right now Nick Pope is talking about the MOD files. Rip this was a good forum to be on I enjoyed the exchanges thank's for getting me on this site Ian. Still waiting for Skip to return from his buisness trip and answer our questions,I guess it was to much for him. And RIP the flying light house was finally put to bed without Ian even showing up to defend it in Dec. Peace Out

[John Burroughs]

This was well done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Dqjaiv ... e=youtu.be

[Observer]

I was on this forum from day one and my name is first on page one. It has been a very interesting and revealing few years with many revellations, many arguments and many laughs.
Good luck to all of you and may you find what your looking for.

Obs

[puddlepirate]

Things move on. The forum was great while it lasted but of late it appears the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum so the decision to shut it down is probably the right one. Many thanks to Admin, Observer, Silvertop, Deep Purple, John B, Ian R, Beentheredonethat and the many others who made it a very interesting place. The RFI stands on the periphery of ufology per se simply by virtue of the fact the incident involved USAF personnel, including senior officers. Apart from the RFI and perhaps the Berwyn Mountain mystery, my view is that because of the cranks and general barmpots involved in the topic, ufology is now dead in the water and will never be considered a subject worthy of serious study. It's a shame but there it is..... RIP the Rendlesham forum.

[Daniel]

Thank you for creating this great site and forum Admin. I've read some very interesting discussions and it was great to see input from eyewitnesses, skeptics, experts and enthusiasts. I'd hate to see all this information lost, any ideas on the size if everything archived into a single compressed file?

[Observer]

Is there any body out there willing to take the forum over as the new Admin.

Thanks Admin for all your hard work. Am I right in thinking you are the second or even third Admin this site has had?

Obs

[Admin]

Thank you all for your messages so far.

I'd hate to see all this information lost, any ideas on the size if everything archived into a single compressed file?

The forum's database, when compressed, is just over 6MB in size. I would release it if it were not for the private information within (PMs, etc.). Try one of these: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=website+ripper

Is there any body out there willing to take the forum over as the new Admin.

Yes, I have already had some PMs, but I am waiting to see who else comes forward.

[Daniel]

The forum's database, when compressed, is just over 6MB in size. I would release it if it were not for the private information within (PMs, etc.). Try one of these: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=website+ripper

Thanks Admin, I understand. Does the software have a separate table for posts only? Still if someone is willing to keep this place running then I wouldn't need to worry about obtaining the posts. I just need to find time to actually read through everything.

[Wolf]

May I echo my thanks to admin for this site. It was great and there have been some great discussion on here.

it appears the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum

Unfortunately I agree whole heartedly with the above. There is a huge difference between analytical and evangelistical, and for some reason Ufology (a hobby, not a science) has its fair share of Gospel style Preachers'a' whose Bible Belts are done up way to tight, and it is up to the individual to make an educated analysis of the data rather than just jump on the cart of whoever shouts the loudest. A UFO means Unidentified Flying Object. It does not mean that we we need to up the CON state, secure the ornaments or go into a state of panic. It meens that an Observer saw an Object that was Flying that they could not identify. (nb - It also stands for Ultra high frequency Follow On satellte system) and it does not mean that ETH is real.

There are also far too many people doing way to good a job of muddying the waters relating to the RFI. A far better job than any official agency could ever hope to achieve. Honestly, If the President made an official statement on what happened in 1980 would he be believed? The first question would be why is he making it and if it didn't agree with what was in peoples boxes then it would be a conspiracy.

V/R

Wolf

[IanR]

of late it appears the lunatics have finally taken over the asylum

One less than it might have seemed, actually. As a number of you will already have suspected, the poster calling himself Shearwater was a sockpuppet for David Bryant.

For a definition and discussion of the ethics of sockpuppetry see here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sock_puppet_(internet)

Ian

[Observer]

I whole heartedly agree with Puddlepirate's comments and subsequent posts.

This forum used to be a good place for members to collectively carry out research and investigation in the RFI. We shared ideas and we spent an anormous amount of time and energy following leads. Puddle was a really busy bee getting info from the MoD using the FOA as were other members.

I'm pretty well convinced now that at one point in our investigations several years ago, we came within a hairs breadth of finding out what happened and I don't mean to be disrespectful to Ians 'lights' theory because I think they were part of this incident, but there was something else as well that coincided. It was from this particular point that new members joined up and started trashing our theories. From there on in the waters got extremely muddy, but then I think that was deliberate. I'm sure there were 'stooges' on the forum and i'm sure there were people who were not who they said they were, like Ian's Sockpuppets.

There was also several occasions where the authorities had a look at the forum, namely GCHQ. don't ask.

A helium filled party balloon flying very high up is a UFO [unidentified flying object] and will remain a UFO untill you can get close enough to make a positive identification, don't guess it. The RFI is full of guesses.

Obs

[AdrianF]

I'd like to voice my appreciation to Admin, for running the forum over the last few years and doing so without loss of temper or pushing of opinion. It's certainly been interesting at times.

The forum has become a part of the Rendlesham story in a way, so it would be a shame to loose this part of the website for good. Just a suggestion, but if a suitable taker isn't found, would it be possible to have the site community run, maybe 2 or 3 designated admins or mods and a chip in via donations to keep the site up? I'd donate a few quid for starters and would offer to help out if need be.

Whatever the outcome, I just want to say thanks for all your efforts and would like to wish you all the best for the future.

[IanR]

I just want to say thanks for all your efforts and would like to wish you all the best for the future.

And thank you for your contributions, Adrian.

For me, three points stand out. You found for us the fact that both the Special Edition of Close Encounters and Hangar 18 were showing in Ipswich in the weeks leading up to the Rendlesham event, which helps establish the mindset of the witnesses.

You took some interesting test shots of the lighthouse flashing as seen from the forest, which helped flush out the Lighthouse Deniers who still claim it isn't possible.

And your most significant finding, in my opinion, was to track down the planting map for the forest which finally explained what was meant by the 'clearing' referred to by the first-night witnesses. We can now better understand where they were when they parked the jeep and why they could see so well to the east as they began walking towards the flashing light:
http://www.ianridpath.com/ufo/rendlesham2d.htm

Of course, J&J completely overlooked your finding so they were unable to retrace their own steps accurately last December and ended up in the wrong spot. Never mind – we know which route they really took back in 1980!

Cheers,
Ian

[Matt Lyons]

Hi all,
Please keep the board. I have only recently joined and the posts are massive in terms of debate, the witnesses and a lot of food for thought over all the issues. The running time it has been in operation, has produced some very interesting discussions righ back to 2006 and I know there are detractors and egg-throwers, but in the main, this board is a good one. Please don't let the age of the case leave a 'sell-by' date printed all over it.
As Larry recently remarked, the witnesses are still here, unlike Roswell where they are all but gone and you never knpw what may turn up, whether it's a new way of looking at the case or new civilian or miliary service people that may still come forward.

Thanks admin for the work, I hope someone will be a torch bearer.






Regards

Matt

[Open Mind Ed]

I just want to say thanks for all your efforts and would like to wish you all the best for the future.

And thank you for your contributions, Adrian.

For me, three points stand out. You found for us the fact that both the Special Edition of Close Encounters and Hangar 18 were showing in Ipswich in the weeks leading up to the Rendlesham event, which helps establish the mindset of the witnesses.

You took some interesting test shots of the lighthouse flashing as seen from the forest, which helped flush out the Lighthouse Deniers who still claim it isn't possible.

And your most significant finding, in my opinion, was to track down the planting map for the forest which finally explained what was meant by the 'clearing' referred to by the first-night witnesses. We can now better understand where they were when they parked the jeep and why they could see so well to the east as they began walking towards the flashing light:
http://www.ianridpath.com/ufo/rendlesham2d.htm

Of course, J&J completely overlooked your finding so they were unable to retrace their own steps accurately last December and ended up in the wrong spot. Never mind – we know which route they really took back in 1980!

Cheers,
Ian

Whilst I respect your research into a lot of other points in this case Ian, the point in bold is not really evidence, any more than the presence of a Space Invaders arcade machine at Bentwaters would prove the mindset of the witnesses. .

Anyway to more important things.

I really hope this site can be kept going. I honestly do not have the time and resources to do this myself. But I would gladly support whatever solution is made to keep the forum online.

[AdrianF]

And your most significant finding, in my opinion, was to track down the planting map for the forest which finally explained what was meant by the 'clearing' referred to by the first-night witnesses.

Thanks for the kind words Ian, but I did get the idea to go and ask for this via this very forum and a long thread which ran on the landing site. It was Robert MacLean who then suggested that this planting map may have still existed, when I met up with him around that time. I just asked for the map