Dad was a marketer and Stepdad was a psychologist. Maybe I just have a propensity to analyze things most people don't.
I don't know, do any of the regulars really ever disagree or debate Craig or Cecil? It sure doesn't seem like they really do based on the threads I've been reading through. If someone does, then it's dog-pile time. You guys appear to discuss and debate gun matters fairly well, but when it comes to the ECQ stuff, it seems to be a matter of just defaulting to whatever the Shivworks guys say, plus they apparently have a monopoly on moderating the unarmed combatives sub-forum as well.
Asking for evidence that would convince a skeptic something works sure seems like a legitimate question to me. If I asked for proof that the ammunition in your carry weapon is effective, you would probably be able to provide me with quite a bit of hard evidence to prove its effectiveness, rather than question my motives. The Gracie Challenge and subsequently the UFC were used as a means to demonstrate the effectiveness of GJJ/BJJ and it was ultimately a very convincing and influential marketing tool.
There seems to be a lot of articulate and well-trained individuals on this forum, but the same could be said about another forum that's moderated by a guy who fancies himself as some kind of pirate and the seemingly well-trained devotees are always in perfect sync with whatever he dictates is the way to go, which seems to change as often as whichever direction the wind blows. I see some similarities here with the whole SME concept, although to a lesser degree. I think it better that people think for themselves and alternative viewpoints be welcomed and considered. Plus with Internet forums, you often never know who you're shouting down.