Gene Steinberg's Financial Shenanigans @ Paracast forums
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Standingstones
Celestial
If you go to the UFOTrail blog, all will be made clear to you about Gene Steinberg.Hello - I've been directed to your site via the Paracast forum. I didn't realise that there was quite so much controversy going on with respect to the Paracast. I was really into the scientific aspects of ufology many years ago, but the lack of any progress, the infighting and craziness turned me off big time back then. Recently (particularly following the release of that TicTack ufo video) I was curious as to whether matters had changed much and I chanced upon the Paracast - apparently the GoldStandard. Well it seems that not much has changed in the ufo field really - although the Paracast archive had some real gems from their earlier years. Recent programmes I've downloaded seemed pretty dire by contrast - so it seems to have run out of stream, hardly surprising after a decade or so of weekly episodes. The adverts seem much more pervasive than previously and the hosts not so engaging. But I guess as a free service run by unpaid volunteers then one can't really complain. I've also received some referrals to more scientific sites via forum members, so that was useful.
With respect to begging emails - I must say that I haven't received any at all myself. But going back through this forum here I must say I'm pretty shocked as they seem at variance with the fairly jovial demeanour of this host on the podcast itself. Anyway just some personal observations
Wade
Stare..... They are always staring
And welcome aboard @DavidVincent !
The shadow
The shadow knows!
Welcome to AE! you will find many discussions on UFOs here!Hello - I've been directed to your site via the Paracast forum. I didn't realise that there was quite so much controversy going on with respect to the Paracast. I was really into the scientific aspects of ufology many years ago, but the lack of any progress, the infighting and craziness turned me off big time back then. Recently (particularly following the release of that TicTack ufo video) I was curious as to whether matters had changed much and I chanced upon the Paracast - apparently the GoldStandard. Well it seems that not much has changed in the ufo field really - although the Paracast archive had some real gems from their earlier years. Recent programmes I've downloaded seemed pretty dire by contrast - so it seems to have run out of stream, hardly surprising after a decade or so of weekly episodes. The adverts seem much more pervasive than previously and the hosts not so engaging. But I guess as a free service run by unpaid volunteers then one can't really complain. I've also received some referrals to more scientific sites via forum members, so that was useful.
With respect to begging emails - I must say that I haven't received any at all myself. But going back through this forum here I must say I'm pretty shocked as they seem at variance with the fairly jovial demeanour of this host on the podcast itself. Anyway just some personal observations
You have joined many like you.
And oh yes..NO ONE will delete a message that is posted without a good reason.
DavidVincent
Honorable
Thanks - but it's not something that I really want to get involved in any further. I've got a pretty good idea from here really - and it's not the sort of scam that I'd ever fall for myself. It's all pretty distasteful and disappointing though - the sort of thing that gave this field such a bad name years and years ago
Best wishes to you all
goblin
Noble
Hello - I've been directed to your site via the Paracast forum. I didn't realise that there was quite so much controversy going on with respect to the Paracast. I was really into the scientific aspects of ufology many years ago, but the lack of any progress, the infighting and craziness turned me off big time back then. Recently (particularly following the release of that TicTack ufo video) I was curious as to whether matters had changed much and I chanced upon the Paracast - apparently the GoldStandard. Well it seems that not much has changed in the ufo field really - although the Paracast archive had some real gems from their earlier years. Recent programmes I've downloaded seemed pretty dire by contrast - so it seems to have run out of stream, hardly surprising after a decade or so of weekly episodes. The adverts seem much more pervasive than previously and the hosts not so engaging. But I guess as a free service run by unpaid volunteers then one can't really complain. I've also received some referrals to more scientific sites via forum members, so that was useful.
With respect to begging emails - I must say that I haven't received any at all myself. But going back through this forum here I must say I'm pretty shocked as they seem at variance with the fairly jovial demeanour of this host on the podcast itself. Anyway just some personal observations
I believe you make some good points. IMHO it would be hard for anyone to keep a weekly 2 hour UFO themed podcast interesting after so many years. The Paracast does I believe still have an audience though, both of hardcore enthusiasts and I assume a regular churn of new listeners and returning former listeners.
I have my own opinion of why the show is being kept alive and it's not really to satisfy the demands of the audience.
I listened during the Biedny days, and even then was more interested in the non-UFO focused episodes. When it comes to paranormal topics, UFOs are just not my abiding concern. I realize for some it's the topic however. Fair enough.
The show seems to be in a long decline and I would guess a lot of us would be more diplomatic about that if there weren't the whole package of sleaze associated with the undertaking.
Toroid
Founding Member
Welcome to the AE.Hello - I've been directed to your site via the Paracast forum. I didn't realise that there was quite so much controversy going on with respect to the Paracast. I was really into the scientific aspects of ufology many years ago, but the lack of any progress, the infighting and craziness turned me off big time back then. Recently (particularly following the release of that TicTack ufo video) I was curious as to whether matters had changed much and I chanced upon the Paracast - apparently the GoldStandard. Well it seems that not much has changed in the ufo field really - although the Paracast archive had some real gems from their earlier years. Recent programmes I've downloaded seemed pretty dire by contrast - so it seems to have run out of stream, hardly surprising after a decade or so of weekly episodes. The adverts seem much more pervasive than previously and the hosts not so engaging. But I guess as a free service run by unpaid volunteers then one can't really complain. I've also received some referrals to more scientific sites via forum members, so that was useful.
With respect to begging emails - I must say that I haven't received any at all myself. But going back through this forum here I must say I'm pretty shocked as they seem at variance with the fairly jovial demeanour of this host on the podcast itself. Anyway just some personal observations
DavidVincent
Honorable
Well I guess that sleaze aside - and fast forwarding on those terrible ads it might still be worthwhile downloading some more of those great legacy episodes (fewer ads on these it would seem) and looking out for/downloading the occasional future ones which might be of possible interest - e.g. likes of Jacques Vallee ! But repeat episodes of no name forum members/round-tables makes pretty dire listening, they seem amateur hobbyist in the extreme, churning up old old "cases" as "research" with constant references to StarTrek, Day the Earth Stood Still and Marvel Comics - it's not for me. It's bit like listening to some old guys sitting around chatting in a potting shed, or fishing on a river bank. Well it's there for those who might find this nostalgic/comforting.
erickson
Honorable
We are on the past donor list because we are past donors. The false sense of intimacy was part of it.
We started to listen to the Paracast because I liked Chris's book on the Trickster and we had similar opinions about Sean David Morton. We had met Chris before and Gene was part of the package. When we got the first emails from Gene about being in need of temporary help, we felt like it was almost from someday we knew. It did not feel like an internet scam as much as helping an acquaintance.
We did not give him more than we would give any other acquaintance, so I did not think about checking further at that time any more than I checked some of the other people I have helped from time to time. If feel like I have to check on you, I am either thinking about giving you too much or should not be giving you anything because trust has broken down.
In that sense, Gene's guests (some of whom I otherwise respect) make it easier for Gene to beg by giving him a false aura of legitimacy.
I had told Gene he should do something like the Paracast Plus - that I would pay something for an ad free version - so when he started that I became a member.
After we each donated a couple of times, however, it became clear that Gene's temporary situation extended for years, I found David Biedney's post describing Gene's claim of a legal settlement as a hoax - written several years before it was popular.
Some time after that (as I hazily recall), the Paracast had David Jacobs as a guest. The Paracast forums were abuzz. I knew enough about the use (or misuse) of hypnosis to be appalled by what Jacobs was doing and soon found Tyler Kokjohn's work and Jack Brewer's site. Gene and I debated some things around Jacobs and his attitude toward Emma Woods, which also led me to look a little deeper into who Gene was - the decision not to renew my membership was easy after that.
The more emails I got from Gene, the more I started digging deeper until here we are today . . . If I had received two or three emails in one day - every day - I might have looked more carefully when I first donated. But the donations were easy in part because I had already invited Gene into my home (metaphorically).
One of the main reasons for Gene to remain on the GCN network (which ultimately drives people away with the ads) is to get at people before they start to wonder why he is sending out multiple emails on a regular basis for years. Today, at least, there is more infomation that make it easier to learn about him.
I don't regret giving a little to Gene, and can even have a bit of sympathy for him - but I also have sympathy for some murderers I have known so perhaps it is more of a sadness about how Gene has lived his life. I regret what Gene has done. To paraphrase today's emails, he needs a Plan B.
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erickson
Honorable
Gene - if you read this - it is the essence of your problem. It has been several years since you were sued when you could not pay back loans. After that you were first evicted. You lost at least one car through repossession and even a $44,000 "loan" did not help. You eventually went into bankruptcy and were evicted several times. Throughout it all, you claimed the problems were temporary and clung to the hope that either the Paracast or the Night Owl would turn your fortunes around.
After living in a motel for most of the past year and going through one "crisis" after another, you recently wrote that "it has come to this." And now you write that you have no Plan B.
This is delusional. There are things you can do to make your life better. At this point, you should have at least a Plan B, and probably a Plan E.
Standingstones
Celestial
The delusional part is that Steinberg has been given plenty of sound advice on how to get his life back on track. The problem is he has ignored every last bit of that advice. “That would be the end of me,” is his normal reply.
If Steinberg would take some local or government aid, it would probably mean he would need to be transparent on his finances. He refuses to do that. His financial shenanigans would probably come to light. So he has chosen to live the life of living hand to mouth (at least we the public have been led to believe this).
As stated, he will only try his Plan A. Plenty of other plans are available but he won’t or can’t give them a try.
humanoidlord
ce3 researcher
welcome!Hello - I've been directed to your site via the Paracast forum. I didn't realise that there was quite so much controversy going on with respect to the Paracast. I was really into the scientific aspects of ufology many years ago, but the lack of any progress, the infighting and craziness turned me off big time back then. Recently (particularly following the release of that TicTack ufo video) I was curious as to whether matters had changed much and I chanced upon the Paracast - apparently the GoldStandard. Well it seems that not much has changed in the ufo field really - although the Paracast archive had some real gems from their earlier years. Recent programmes I've downloaded seemed pretty dire by contrast - so it seems to have run out of stream, hardly surprising after a decade or so of weekly episodes. The adverts seem much more pervasive than previously and the hosts not so engaging. But I guess as a free service run by unpaid volunteers then one can't really complain. I've also received some referrals to more scientific sites via forum members, so that was useful.
With respect to begging emails - I must say that I haven't received any at all myself. But going back through this forum here I must say I'm pretty shocked as they seem at variance with the fairly jovial demeanour of this host on the podcast itself. Anyway just some personal observations
GhostofBiedny
Celestial
NotSteveySteveySteve
Adept
Welcome and you will find this forum is much more active. I look forward to seeing your contributions outside if this thread.
GhostofBiedny
Celestial
GhostofBiedny
Celestial
Gene complaining more about someone else complaining.
goblin
Noble
"Or maybe even a real scammer who can be exposed?"
Wherever might they find one?
Standingstones
Celestial
From the Paracast forums...
DavidVincent
Skilled Investigator
Today at 4:47 PM
#13
“Mind you there really doesn't seem to be very much at all going on in these forums currently?”
BTW DavidVincent, you mentioned bringing David Biedny back on the Paracast. I seriously doubt that will happen. Biedny and Steinberg aren’t exactly on friendly, speaking terms these days.
SilentRunning
Honorable
The Doctor would become real before anything of the sort ever, ever, ever happens.
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