Strawman argument. I already addressed this a few pages back.
Ghost ball is geometrically accurate and geometrically perfect. It is completely sound. Unfortunately, it's not a good practical aiming system, since visualizing an entire ball that doesn't exist is difficult to do. People making devices to assist in visualization of ghost ball are just as guilty of wasting player's times as some other proponents of other aiming systems.
Simplest and best is probably "contact point" or "spot on the ball" type systems. Sure, have to "feel" and compensate since that's not exactly where the CB hits the object ball. But I'm pretty sure no one ever said contact point aiming systems provides a conclusive and definitive line of aim free from adjustment or compensation. Since CTE requires "feel" and some adjustment and compensation...it's no better.
How am I a troll? You're the one that came into this thread and has been hostile with several people. You're the one that has been taking it off topic with all your "wanna bet" bravado. You're the one derailing it by personalizing it. Newsflash JB, this isn't a CTE thread. At least it wasn't. One of your first posts in this thread was a CTE video of yours! If you're looking for a troll, you don't need to search far.
My motivations? Let's see...
1. Discussion, this is a discussion board after all.
2. Seeking enlightenment. Some smart people here, I learn from both sides of the debate. Even from you.
3. Trying to offer up an alternative view point from all the kool aid drinking regarding aiming systems.
And maybe a few others? Nothing sinister though.
Well, that didn't take long. You have not progressed in your ability to debate or discuss an issue in the last 15 years that I've read your posts on the internet. You always default to challenges.
If a non CTE user stomps you, will you give up CTE forever and get on the internet with a video disavowing it and advocating all others do the same?
If you stomp some drunk APA SL2 using CTE, does that validate your claims as the truth?
Since you're making this personal, allow me to HELP you with your THINKING. While you think you may be validating yourself, you may very well be invalidating what might very well be truth by subjecting it to your own flawed, illogical and idiotic standard. Note, your standard is idiotic, I didn't say you were. Please note the difference. Or is your theory true if you win, but if you lose, you're still right? Just curious?
Besides...I never said I'd stomp you. Please produce a quote from me, from this thread where I said that. Otherwise, it is YOU who is putting words in other people's mouth.
Well, I've always been self-aware ...at least as far back as I can remember
I'm not 100% free of all excuses. But I am trying. I try and beat them down like the little demons that they are. That way, I get down to total reality and face up to what I need to face up to. This helps me improve. Rather than believe in BS and stagnate like most players. I can address REAL problems, as opposed to made up problems.
I am not an amazing player, never said I was. I am a grilled cheese player, not a Kobe beef player.
Quite the contrary Mr. B, in your video you made the shots that you made because you already have good aim, fundamentals and stroke. That's my assessment. I don't think you made them because of CTE. Even though you may think so. Now if you were worse before CTE, perhaps CTE did something for you. What CTE did not do for you is tell you where to aim. Because that has been geometrically DEBUNKED. Therefore, CTE must be giving you confidence, or making you more methodical. Something. It's doing something for you, but that something isn't aiming. Some of it may also be placebo effect.
Speaking of confidence, remember the "Custom Cue Mythology" thread? Not a single person could prove that their custom cue, because it is custom-made, helps them make balls on the basis of it's construction. Most people would simply state it gave them "confidence" ...
Likewise, an "aiming system" that does not AIM...can very well provide other benefits. Perhaps one of them is confidence or other intangibles. This was never disputed.
When I read your posts, I cannot help but feel like I am reading someone who is quite emotional, borderline hysterical. Who is "preventing" anyone from doing anything? Am I putting shackles on people's mind or something? Are you claiming I am some kind of book burner?
Good grief! I love the fact that there is a wide open debate on all these things. I am extremely glad that CTE is now out in the open. Now that it is in the open, it can be aired out. Bring everything into the sunlight. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Nothing is better for getting closer to the truth than openness. By all means, expose one's self to everything in pool, just don't accept it because someone says so, that is, if you're wise! Today, I wouldn't think CTE is not a real aiming system if I didn't take the time to understand it and analyze it. I suggest others do the same. How is this "preventing" anyone from trying out things on the table?
If anyone is trying to shut down the doors on people, put blinders on people - it's people like you who attack the skeptics, the very people who are trying to ask questions and get answers! CTE people want to teach a system. Skeptics actually want to know how and why it works. If CTE supporters wanted to know how or why it works, they would be doing what we are doing and asking the same questions. Instead, they accept it and then proceed to try and teach others in lieu of proving it. CTE is like a religion.
I think I will lecture you a little bit about this, because you obviously need it. It is related to science. In science, skepticism is not rejected or abhorred, it is WELCOMED. Bring it on. Scrutiny is loved. Testing. Analysis. Why? Because no one wants to believe in a theory or idea that is wrong! That sucks. Remember when doctors thought ulcers were caused by stress? Oops...now they know its caused by bacteria. Or better yet, hundreds of years ago people were sick because of evil spirits within them!
Yes, you heard me right. It's better to be attacked, criticized, scrutinized etcetera. Because IF, if your theory or idea holds up against all that, then it prevails as TRUTH. And that's what people seek, truth (I'd hope). Those that don't are zealots.
It has happened where a scientist had a theory for most of their life, literally they'd gone "all in" with it, only to be proved wrong after their whole life. And that scientist did not scream and cry foul. But thanked those who proved the theory wrong, for that is where advancement comes from and how truth is found. No one thinks of scientists like that as chumps or idiots after the fact. They are respected and valued too, as people who helped find out what is true and what is not. As Edison said (paraphrase), he didn't fail 1,000 times, he found 1,000 ways not to make a light bulb.
All that said, if your precious CTE is so true, so good, so right, and it works. What are you worried about? You ought to WELCOME all and any scrutiny. Because if it is what you say it is, it should hold up and ultimately prevail. And when / if it does, even then you shouldn't say "I told you so" ..but instead, thank those people who scrutinized it, because they, through their failed scrutiny and testing, served to vet it and prove it bullet proof. Validate it through trial by fire. And if those skeptics prevail, still thank them, for debunking a bad theory or idea, so that we do not dwell (play a game) based on myths or bad ideas. You see, both sides are not enemies. Both sides are actually working toward the same goal. If you would recognize that, you might reconsider your combative stance.
