Asking for evidence or proof vs research

This thread would probably be a good spot to post ideas and reasonable explanations as to why it is futile to ask for evidence or proof in a text-based Board; but more importantly should asking for proof or evidence take the place of actual first-hand research? Moreover, should inability to observe or measure a potentially viable event be the closing of the book on the IDEA that it supports or should it be dismissed as non-existent. Basically, should we use our imagination to discover the unknown and become self-aware, or rely solely on observation and measurements to continue our exploration into our already rich and fulfilling lives?

>>6
Are you for real? So we can cum up with great ideas, discuss them, but we can't or shouldn't do any work to support our own or other's ideas? Jeez, that's what original religious nuts used to do in the dark ages, try to prove someone or your idea by experimentation and Poof up in smoke and flame. The difference nowadays is that it's mostly people putting you down. Until you finally give up. And die in shame