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A Mars One Finalist Speaks Out On the "Dangerously Flawed" Project

superboj writes Dr Joseph Roche is one of the finalists to go on Mars One's much-hyped mission to the Red Planet. And yet he says he's never had an in-person interview, had to organize his own physical exam, was only tested on prepared questions, and is being encouraged to give more and more money to the group. That's why he's decided to quit.

6 of 169 comments (clear)

  1. It's a scam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I, and many others, have been saying this was a scam from the start. It's not "dangerously flawed", because there will be no voyage. They're just preying on dreamers.

    1. Re:It's a scam by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Duh! What part of "is being encouraged to give more and more money to the group" gives that away?

      Wait... Scientologists are going to Mars???

    2. Re:It's a scam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wait... Scientologists are going to Mars???

      Where can I donate money to that mission?

  2. clarification from the story. by nimbius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mars one is a not-for-profit not-for-profit organizations may include a membership roster which does directly benefit from the income of the organization. its basically a way charities distance themselves from lawsuits or legal repercussions of outright greed in the face of a noble goal or humanitarian ideal.

    its been known for quite some time that Mars One is the equivalent of Kony 2012. The goal is great, but the project is a heel dragging competition to see how long investors and C-levels can jiggle a hotdog in front of a hungry public before disappearing into obscurity with close to a million in cash so far.

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    Good people go to bed earlier.
  3. Very True But It Is a Useful News Item Nonetheless by eldavojohn · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most people who follow space stuff already know that Mars One is either a scam or simply delusional... although I suppose it's nice that other people are starting to notice this too.

    I think it's important that a possible change of heart internally is seen by any of the other members. A lot of time when I read about instances where people get sucked into, say, a Nigerian money scam or worse Scientology, it often becomes a serious issues because they were first tricked into giving a little bit of money and then a little more until it's a sizable sum in total. At that point it's very hard to get out because you're mentally holding yourself prisoner there with the logic that if you quit now, you've lost that investment and you're going to look like an idiot. But, through inaction, you maintain the outward appearance of knowing what you are doing and your investment is still good -- hell, it's even growing because they need another small to medium sized payment. And down down down you go into the trap. It takes a lot to not chase your bets and to say, "I fucked up by giving them the $99 applicant fee but better quit now than waste anymore time and resources. Lesson learned."

    And I think the fact that a DOCTOR (no matter what kind or what validity) says, "I paid the money, I saw they were preparing me for the biggest snuff film ever and I got out." Well, now the average person involved in this project can say, "He is right, I came to the same realization, I'm no stupider than this academic." This is why there are support groups out there for gambling problems and cults escapees. The ideafication of your exit is sometimes important than your ability to make your own decision ... because without that your decision only has one option and it's the wrong option.

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    My work here is dung.
  4. It's a big scam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The whole project is a money-grabbing scam. Nobody's going to Mars. Besides, when the Apollo astronauts first went to the moon aliens were right there, and after a few missions to the moon (by Apollo 17) the aliens finally said enough is enough..No more humans on the moon or anywhere else beyond Earth orbit. So nobody is going to the moon, Mars or anywhere else. Only robots are allowed. And probably any robot that starts drilling into or disturbing the life in the oceans of the Jovian and Saturnian moons will be stopped before it can do any damage.