REOPEN KENNEDY CASE

Greetings, 'ROKCers'!

My name is Mike and I'm from Germany.

I just want to (hopefully quickly - edit: no, I didn't manage that) introduce myself, as this is the correct way to join a new community, imho.

First and foremost: I don't consider myself a researcher!

For 6 or 7 years now, I've got an interest in this topic called "Assassination of JFK". I think, the course of our world in the last 50 plus years was severely changed/altered on 11/22/63!

And I am especially interested in Lee Harvey Oswald, as a person as also a historical figure.

Sure, I've watched Stone's "JFK" several times before that, starting as a teenager in the 90s. It was fascinating then, but I didn't know about the amount of research which was done since 11/22/63, let alone the countless persons/organisations/theories/etc. involved in the JFK research field. But, as many people do, I always knew there's more to it than the official story!

When I started seriously reading up, I did google searches etc. and found the Education Forum. Woa, that was a "serious forum for serious people" doing research,discussing theories/names/evidence (or lack thereof) and every tiny topic remotely connected to JFK. A little bit overwhelming at first, but I kept on.

Ok, long story short, I was finally hooked on JFK discussion. More forums & sites discovered, Books ordered, BOP listened to, ctka.net, etc.

I always stayed a lurker, everywhere, for several reasons.

I'm not a native English speaker (maybe that was my biggest reservation), so I thought 'well in this debates so highly scholar and academic I can't keep myself afloat even a tiny bit'. I am much better at reading and comprehension than I am in actively engaging (writing/speaking), as I am missing everyday practice. I've never been registered on english forums/boards before, and I only need German for my everyday job...

(*Quick note: Writing this is a good, but also not-so-easy excercise for me*)

Also, I just hadn't (and still haven't, present tense) the amount of knowledge everyone seems to have on these forums about the case. So, joining and discussing was kind of a No-Go for me.

Living in Germany is also a bit of a hinderance, because the possibilities of engagement with the subject are limited, or let's say limited to almost 'internet only'.

But I think I've learned much in the past years - of course still do! - about the case, about the history of the research, about LNs, "CTs" (as many, I don't like this term, and will not use it except this one time), about critics, politics and 'drama' between different players, etc. pp.

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'Then why does he register on ROKC now??!' someones of you may think right now.

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Well, because I want to show support for ROKC!! (and be it only through one more member on your board)

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I knew Greg Parker's and Lee Farley's (and other's) research on the EF (or parts of), and when the Simkin-farce went down there, I could totally understand you guys leaving. (Or were you booted, can't exactly remember what went on for different people, e.g. Jim DiEugenio and others...)

Then came the PM thread, and - besides the usual trolls and naysayers - this showed (to me) what kind of people some of the most "acclaimed" researchers are. ("A woman with a purse" "a random bystander from DP" and so on...).

I knew your old forum, but still, hadn't got the courage to actively participate _anywhere_ (I'm not even sure, if I've got it now...)

Since Sean Murphy's (well, BK's) EF-thread on Prayer Man, I am very interested in especially this lead of the JFK case. I think Mr. Murphy presented a very compelling case, and it is sad that he opted out(?) of this. But, I think it is a VERY IMPORTANT topic, which is above 99,9% of the rest of written words in any JFK discussion! I share this sentiment with all of you ROKCers!! And I share your view about the ridiculous shenanigans that went on in the last few weeks/days on EF, as also your view about most of the other forums and participants in online 'research'. But who am I, right?

So, reflecting on my first statement, that I am not a researcher:

After only a few years of learning, I am only very slowly feeling to be able to _maybe_ contribute here or there, but I think I will not be able to offer anything of importance as of right now. I hope I can maybe grow more into that in the future. The amount of knowledge and background in the JFK field is still very intimidating to me.

And to discern between the worthwile things and the trash is also not _always_ easy for me, but I think I've done much progress on that one. I am only really starting my own JFK files (a bad shortfall, looking back), I've got a file on my harddrive, but I think most of you guys would pity me for it ;-)

And: I am still not up-to-date on some of the important topics/threads/research here on ROKC, but I'll try to catch up in the next weeks...

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Ok, enough already. You guys have better things to do than reading my stuff!

I thank Greg Parker and Hasan Yusuf for answering my first questions and helping me out, and I am looking forward to being a (hopefully more-than-lurking) member here.

Best regards,

Mike

P.S. I think I got the correct formatting now, please excuse any inconveniences.

Hi Mike, welcome!!!

Glad to have you aboard. You'll fit in just fine here.

I'm not a researcher either. I came here two years ago for many of the same reasons you expressed. I was nervous at first, being in the company of some these folks. They made me feel right at home. This is a hard working, fun loving bunch.

So relax and make yourself at home. 

Stan 

Nice to meet you, Mike.

Welcome to Greg's Dregs.  

Everyone here has something to contribute and we all have our different strengths.  If you have any questions just don't hesitate to ask.  If you have something to say then don't hesitate to post it.

Welcome, Mike.

Glad to see you got your original post re-formatted. I tend to have that problem as well.

Mike,

I came by these internet forums and groups after only having watched JFK and read a couple of books. I started on McAdams board. It was  when I realized - more by gut instinct than anything else - that lies and misinformation were being sold as fact, that I started to "fact-check". That led to finding new information and it all kind of snow-balled for me from there.

I second all the comments here. Very happy to have you on board.

Hi Mike, welcome aboard! Hope you enoy it here as much as we all do!

It was the BBC doc that caught my first attention, the one from back in the 70's, the fam happened to watch it.

Then with JFK screened it aroused my interest and read the books by Garrison and Marrs. The first search term I put in a search engine in 1995 was Fletcher Prouty. Istarted to read a lot but grey disgruntled with it all.

I picked up again a few years ago, made an app, Now 18 mths later I say it's not that good so a complete new version will be built over the course of the next few years.And it's reading that helps me better understand the case. It also takes time to who talks bollox and who does not. ROKC is progressive research, it doesn't stop questioning things.

Oh Greg, on McAdams'' board, bet you have some stories to tel!!!

Hi Mike - welcome and lovely to have you here. I'm a newby too and not a researcher either. I first got interested in the JFK assassination when I saw the Zapruder film on TV in the 70's and have been following everything about it ever since. I have also lurked for a long time before posting online. The fella's here are lovely and doing original research to boot. I agree with you on PM - it's the most important evidence since 22/11/63, in my view.

Kia Ora Mike! (Hello from New Zealand)
You are very welcome. I look forward to your posts

G'day there Mike ....Welcome

I'm a newbie myself. 

ROKC ON!!

Welcome Mike. Lots to digest here, and worth checking out the older forum as well.

Some of us just like to sit and read and learn, I hope you venture forth any opinion you may have.

Best, Steve.