I agree that any claim should be supported by proof or at least evidence, especially if it is a novel claim. Furthermore, the responsibility for doing so falls

I agree that any claim should be supported by proof or at least evidence, especially if it is a novel claim. Furthermore, the responsibility for doing so falls upon the 'claimee'. I will also observe that default skepticism can easily become entrenched skepticism. An example: in 1867 the youngish James Clerk Maxwell presented the theory of radio waves to the esteemed old men of the Royal Society. They dismissed his idea, claiming it to be a form of induction, despite being presented fairy strong theoretical and practical evidence to the contrary. To quote Arthur C Clarke: "If an elderly but distinguished scientist says that something is possible, he is almost certainly right; but if he says that it is impossible, he is very probably wrong." Or to quote Shakespeare: "There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy".