There is no evidence Mars One is not sincere in their attempts.
How about this quote from an article dated March 16 2015.
So, here are the facts as we understand them: Mars One has almost no money. Mars One has no contracts with private aerospace suppliers who are building technology for future deep-space missions. Mars One has no TV production partner. Mars One has no publicly known investment partnerships with major brands. Mars One has no plans for a training facility where its candidates would prepare themselves. Mars One’s candidates have been vetted by a single person, in a 10-minute Skype interview.
What more evidence do you need?
Lets look at the article "refuting" the criticisms.
This is simply a polite request asking them to continue their support of Mars One, as they are now very close to being part of their project.
The subtext being that if they do not donate they will become less " close to being part of their project".
Even though it would be desirable that Mars One corrected every false statement, they cannot be held responsible for how the media interpret and phrase their reports about Mars One.
For statements like this it is the responsability of Mars One to correct such big misconceptions. But they will not as te false information helps them.
Whether they completed the application process to the video stage may be where you begin to see different numbers.
So anyone who clicked on "apply here" is counted in their numbers. That is completely skewing the numbers and they know it.
It would have consumed inordinate amounts of time and money to go through rigorous testing for 660 Round 2 candidates.
It is strange that the couple of million dollars to interview 600 candidates is too high but the 3,000 time that amount to get to Mars is not. They also told round 2 candidates there would be interview and then changed. That is a classic bait and switch.
The primary source of finance is to be an investment firm in the first stages of the mission (leading up to and including the first manned mission).
Where is this investment firm? Why won't you name them? Do they even exist?
The $6 billion in revenue was never stated to be entirely funded from one source.
While this is factually true, it plays on the use of absolutes. If even 0.1% of revenue comes from other sources that statement is true. According to the Mars One site their major sources of income would be Media and IP. Notice they never say just how much they expect to receive from each source. They just show the numbers for the Olympics. Had they shown the number for Big Brother it would be more accurate.
Scam implies profit. If Mars One is a scam, show who you think is getting rich.
The executives running Mars one are getting paid an unknown amount.
Show who is being cheated/harmed when all of the candidates are participating voluntarily and are aware of the low probability of success?
Here are some things and people being harmed;
Other space programs who's funding is being wasted on Mars One.
Future similar projects will always have to deal with the "Mars One" stigma.
Any future large crowd funding will have to deal with the "Mars One" stigma.
Anyone who was ever on the list will be ridiculed for falling for the "Mars One" scam.
