in case you don't know who Ralph Epperson is (wondering why you clicked on this thread... other than boredom?), check out this link
Anyways, after seeing a few recorded lectures from the 1970s, I looked up Ralph Epperson on the web ( http://ralph-epperson.com ), and with minimal effort, came across his website, and eventually his email. After realizing that his website was not much of a place for information but rather an online bookstore, I thought it wouldn't be out of line to send an email. This is what I sent:
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just wondering why you offer such little information on the website, and put a price on everything. I understand nothing is free, but if you really believe in everything you offer, as with anyone with knowledge that holds truth, you should put all of this out for the public, not just for your customers.
I thank you for all of your work, despite the main method of delivery to the public.
this is what I got in response:
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What an amazing idea!!!!! I have probably spent over $200,000 accumulating this information!!!! Every bookstore charged me for the books that I bought for my research. When I make a video, I have to hire staff and pay for room rentals!!! When I write a book, the printers want their money before they will print one page!!!! When I speak somewhere to educate others, the hotel wants to be paid BEFORE they will rent me the room!!! When I buy advertising for my seminars, the newspapers want payment BEFORE they rent me the advertising space!!! When I go to a restaurant during one of my seminars, the restaurant wants payment for their food (At least they do not demand it up front!! I have to pay for it before I am allowed to leave!!!) When I rent a car to go to the seminar, they want to get paid BEFORE they rent me the car!!! When I get gasoline for the rental, the gas station wants payment!!! WHY DON'T THESE ENTERPRISES UNDERSTAND THAT I AM TRYING TO SAVE THEIR BUSINESSES FROM HAVING THEM TAKEN AWAY ......... AND GIVE ME THEIR SERVICES FOR FREE????? AND YOU WANT ME TO GIVE MY MATERIAL AWAY WITHOUT GETTING PAID!!!! What an amazing idea!!!! PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU GOT A FREE COMPUTER TO WRITE TO ME!!! PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU GOT A FREE CARRIER TO ALLOW YOU TO SEND ME YOUR EMAIL!!! PLEASE TELL ME HOW YOU GOT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY TO GIVE YOU YOUR LINE WITHOUT PAYMENT!!!!! HEY, I GOT AN IDEA, WHY DON'T YOU SEND ME MONEY TO GIVE MY MATERIALS AWAY FOR FREE!!!! thanks for writing ........ by the way, how do you know HOW MUCH MATERIAL I GIVE AWAY FOR FREE???? Amazing psychic ability on your part!!!! If you had asked, I would have given you what you asked for, within reason!!! Thanks for writing ........... Ralph LET ME END WITH THIS QUESTION ............... JUST WHAT IS YOUR FREEDOM WORTH TO YOU ??????????????? many have died so that you would be free to ask me your question!!!! we know what they paid for it!!!!
there was some crazy formatting like all those words at the end were in 72pt font and etc.
anyways, I immediatly realized (after a few words) that he took great offense, so I replied again:
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I apologize, I meant no offense. I just happen to be of a different generation, that thrives on the flow of information. I do not know how much you have spent putting everything together, and I do commend you for making it your life's work. Again, I mean no offense, however I was just trying to be frank.
I would never expect anyone to start printing and distributing material for free, because in the process you would create such a financial burden, it would eventually prevent the message from getting out. I understand this well. As for videos and etc, I do understand what the process takes, as I do video post production for documentaries and music videos, and those are never less than a few thousand dollars each, just to shoot.
I also understand that the topics you speak about do not exactly attract sponsors, which just adds to the burden of everything. Although I can not directly relate to your frustrations, I do appreciate them, because I agree that these companies and places of business should be covering your costs, however the entire system of money was created as a tool by those that you so strongly oppose, so its also understandable why spreading this type of message proves to be such a complex task.
I do know that many have died for my freedom, I was in the military myself and have many friends who are no longer with us due to combat that is still going on today. As far as my own costs, I am in no place to ask for anything for free; however I would like to offer suggestions, if you are willing enough to hear them:
First, you mention the costs of writing a book, and giving printers the money. You also mention advertisements for seminars in newspapers, etc. You seem to be ignoring a large group of people, and ignoring a good way to spread information. By putting the text online in digital formats, not only would it be indexed by search engines and spread throughout the internet, but it would also remove all costs of printing copies.
You might think this would keep people from purchasing the book, but keep in mind that printing out that many pages requires lots of ink and paper, whether its on a home printer or at Kinkos... and in cases where someone wanted the entire book to read away from a computer, it would still be cheaper to buy a published version than it would be to print it out. So those who would have bought the book, still will.. and those who would not have bought the book (and please believe me, in my generation alone readers are a minority) will still get a chance to come across it, one way or another.
The same applies to video, however those who can download video may not purchase it, so of course you offer small samples of the video.
All of that being said, I think it would be in the best interest of everyone, and everything that is at stake, you would offer the knowledge to the public in its raw form, text. If that were the case, I would be more than happy to donate website space, email accounts, etc. even update your design and everything, but as it stands now the website appears to be more of a bookstore than a library, when in fact it could easily be both.
I was a computer programmer / web data analyst for the US Air Force, and currently I design website and software, record music, produce videos and set up security networks for large companies and popular banks. Many of the websites I work on are #1 search results on Google.com, and my own personal site gets almost 7 million hits per year. Again, I have no intentions to come across rude or anything of the sort, I am simply trying to speak one professional to another.
I do have many questions, but I feel it would be a waste of time to just answer questions of individuals one at a time, when you could be showing both the questions and the answers to the entire world.
I appreciate your response
he managed to send back one final email, however it was not in response to my "apology," it was sort of an extra tidbit:
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Oh, one more thing ......... you didn't mention how many books I have sent away FREE to prisoners .......... perhaps you didn't know????
Here's my question: was I out of line with my original message, or did I catch a rant from a tired guy venting?
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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You should ask the mods to move this to the pub. It's funny (unprofessional on his part) exchange and more about your exchange then, the subject matter of the author.
I can see why you got miffed with his site. It is a total tease to get you to buy.
I also think what he uncovered should be made public knowledge free of charge to the public.
Yet, I see from his side, how does he get reimbursed for the time he spent, investigating all of this stuff and putting it together.
Look at it this way, if he got the info by searching, so can the regular public. Would you rather take all of the time he did to find and compile it all or just buy the book and reimburse him for saving you the time and effort?
I see why he took offense and YET, his reply mails to you were totally Unprofessional.
Yet consider, this guy is already probably under a shit load of HEAT for publishing this stuff, and considering the nature of the material he drowns himself into becoming aware of, he is most likely, a highly paranoid mental case by now. 
I like a good conspiracy theory revealed now and again, but I can't handle digesting them 24/7 like he must live and breath them.
I'd cut his emotional outburst some slack.
Out of curiosity, have you tried goggling some of his conspiracy topics to see if anyone else has some info posted on the net for free?
-------------------- Ahuwale ka nane huna.
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