Thomas D. wrote:
Aprositus Nesos wrote:
Spartacus Paraclete wrote:
Hi Paul,
Great job, btw, helping expose Ben's form as a hoaxer (it was you and the Nessie expose, right).
I have nothing to hide here:
I first heard of the allegations about Loch Ness from a 'Richard Paul' (on Facebook) but doubted them because he was using an assumed name. I then contacted Adrian Shine directly, and politely asked if there was anything to it, and if so, could he elaborate. Much to my disappointment, Adrian Shine
did confirm the salient points of the allegation, including a detail not mentioned in Andy's post... witnesses had reported one or more wet suits drying in Bill Wilkinson's camper van.
I had a bad feeling things were about to get
very ugly, and I made a few calls (to Sandy and others.) Sandy and I had several conversations about what the appropriate thing to do was, and decided that Bill Wilkinson needed to take Sandy to the 'tomb' for a live filming, and
soon. Then the allegations appeared on this Forum, along with something that gobsmacked us both: this bit about the ark (note the lowercase 'a'.)
Sandy then upped the ante with Ben, and threatened to go to the tomb herself, with or without him.
I offered to assist. Here is what I wrote her:
Hi Sandy,
If Ben makes excuses about taking you to the site I will go with you.
My conditions:
1. You do not tell anyone in advance that we are going. I do not want a confrontation with Ben or Pat.
2. We do nothing more than dig it out enough to get a camera down the shaft, get some good film, and allay your fears.
3. We disturb nothing and certainly we do not take anything.
4. We reseal and conceal the entrance.
If you prefer, I will go to the site alone, retrieve the footage, and keep you entirely out of it. I have a rough idea where it is and could likely find it with a few days effort. What would happen next would depend on what is found.
I will do this because I love you, but it must be done honorably and properly. We began planning a trip for May. I informed my wife and began assembling kit. I told Sandy this past Saturday (via Skype) that I doubted we would ever find a real tomb, but if I was wrong, I would put up a substantial amount of my own money to see it properly excavated. Further, I would apologise to 'Ben Hammott' for ever doubting him.
That was the day before his half-assed confession broke.
At first, I felt some level of pity for Bill Wilkinson. That is gone.
Hi Paul,
Many thanks for that, at least that explains your sudden return to the Forum.
The confession went to great lengths to insist that only Bill W bore any reponsibility for the fraud perpetrated.
BTW seeing as you're so close to the arrangements can you confirm whether bill was sole author of the piece or was it dictated to him, written on his behalf ?
Can you see the problem that some may be labouring under in this instance?
The issue is whether anyone actually believes that Sandy has spent much of the last decade vociferously snarling at anyone
who dared to question the tomb and dear ol'Ben's work without seeing the slightest shred of tangible, verifiable evidence herself.
Earlier I quoted her statement from the book (p610) in which she makes it clear that she is at the heart of a team that will be proved right.
If she is the resourceful and tenacious researcher that some would have us believe then why this ten year black hole in her research?
It would appear that if this is taken at face value then why would anyone bother reading Redhesium (sp) again as its compiled by a researcher who has used her naivety and guillibility as a defence in this case?
Who would listen to someone who couldn't or wouldn't apply any kind of critical faculty to see beyond Bens amateurish attempts?
Why would someone with pretensions to be an archeologist turn up to a meeting with alleged relics so valuable as to be beyond
price in a plastic carrier bag? My recollection of that evening is that despite Bill k's wilder flights of fancy she sat in silence smirking
rather than offer any kind of professional restraint?
That kind of behavior would even embarass tony Robinson !
TD
C'mon TD, you seen the video of her and the team doing "real archeological research". It was like watching grade school students at science camp.