Why do people fake UFO stuff?

Fakes really are annoying. I just can't understand why people do this and try to pass them off as real. It is so easy to do this now with all of the 3d graphics programs out there. It took me about fifteen minutes to create my avatar with Carrara.

Because we are all a bunch of moronic ambulance chasers with nothing better to do. Move along, nothing to see here. Irregardless of oh, mass sightings, and all them funky do dads in the sky many of us have seen. But, of course, we are all delusional photoshop extraodinnaires. Shhh, don't tell nobody.

reply to post by Larry B.


For any one of many possible reasons, Dear Sir...

Because they can get a few minutes of attention in their otherwise shallow, empty lives.

Because they have a need to belong, to be a part of a group, to be accepted.

Because they have lots of time and no excitement and they can satisfy both needs by fabricating alarmist stories and then "sharing" them with pseudo-virtual friends.

Because they may be after a strong reaction, an adrenalin rush, a spontaneous, Pavlovian response.

Because they are conducting what they consider bona-fide "research" on the human psyche, group-think, or socio-techno reflexes and can informally 'survey' an admittedly biased segment of the population at little or no cost.

Because they desire to believe something themselves so badly that they invent artificial substitutes and then make them more "real" by posting them as such on popular forums like ATS.

Because they have a need to establish themselves as 'expert' or superior to peers and lesser folk in terms of analysis, inside knowledge, computer graphics skills, 'secret' connections, or encounters of experience .

Because they're lonely, bored, neurotic, obsessive, perverted or just diabolical.

Because they like to see themselves in "lights".

Because they've been staring too long into the "lights".

Next Question: Why won't the people who have the real stuff come forward?

Originally posted by jpm1602
Because we are all a bunch of moronic ambulance chasers with nothing better to do.

That is hiarious!! Ambulance chasers buahahahahahahahhaahhaah

Wow 'Outrageo'. Thanks for that clarification into my mind. Shouldn't you be listening to Rush or something. I'll give your regards to the next yellow haze morphing football field object that buzzes my backyard while out for a smoke next time. Man, you just cleared all that up for me! I'm healed! Praise the Lord.

reply to post by Outrageo


I find that discussions like these tend to demonize an entire group, based on the speaker's jaded experience with that group. I have (unsuccessfully) tried to raise the topic of hoaxers and hoaxes here; the lack of responses subsequently led me to abandon the thread -- although I haven't requested that a moderator close it yet.

Because they can get a few minutes of attention in their otherwise shallow, empty lives.

Because they have a need to belong, to be a part of a group, to be accepted.

I disagree with the first statement because I find it to be riddled with personal opinion. No matter how wronged one feels by an individual or group, one must not descend to such insults about another's existence. No one has the right to define anyone else's life as shallow or empty -- again, I don't care how low an observer finds the person in question to be. This attention-seeking argument was constantly presented to me as a thread-ender; unfortunately, it still doesn't fit in my observations.

As (very little) research has revealed, the more recent hoaxes that have plagued the UFO community (and the events that are still 'in question') have been perpetrated by anonymous individuals -- which is why I disagree with the second statement. In the past, hoaxers were more brazen and public with their claims. These days, they seed their hoaxes and watch as the drama unfolds. If one briefly adopts the position of the hoaxer, one would see just how (amusingly) predictable a fanatical group can appear to be. As I've come to realize, it's not about ridiculing what you believe. It's about making fun of how you believe it.

Hoaxes have begun for varying reasons. With the last wave that was witnessed by this site, one can see how things easily spiral out of control. The hoaxer leaves an anonymous video or image somewhere "inconspicuous", and waits for someone to take the bait. Soon, the net is swarming with "CG Experts" and many other swollen egos that are too willing to eat each other, in an effort to prove their superiority.

As the all-too-visible argument between 'believers' and 'skeptics' rage on, the hoaxer remains silent. It wouldn't be far-fetched to presume that hoaxes may begin just to generate such a response.

If any, those with genuine evidence will clearly not come forward because of their anticipated reception. They will be welcomed as the freshest batch of hoaxers, and they will likely be subjected to all sorts of personal humiliation (as indicated by your response, Outrageo). Those who took them seriously would ultimately be too few to count -- unless the various Government/ET-related conspiracies are to be believed, and the revealed evidence corroborated these conspiracies.

Until then, I will stand by what I've said. The more recent wave of ET-related conspiracies have followed a standard procedure, and (from my observation) produced the same results. Perhaps we should all reconsider the way we treat our articles of faith; when you're absolutely convinced beyond doubt, there'll always be someone waiting to prove you wrong.

The moral is to avoid being absolutely convinced, because our civilization still knows far too little to be 'sure' about anything. You can be sure of your gender -- but that's mostly where it ends.

Originally posted by Larry B.
... with all of the 3d graphics programs out there. It took me about fifteen minutes to create my avatar with Carrara.

3d rendering programs will offer them another "weapon" to use to debunk. With advances in technology (very high megapixel cameras and such) the swamp gas, and weather baloon excuse just wasnt going to cut it much longer.

But do not get discouraged... Would you believe the 3d graphics excuse with an event like the Phoenix lights or the '52 DC event? The truth is out there for those willing to accept it.

A gauntlet of actual ufo observations around the world heating up predicated by those of the establishment screaming crazy lunatics. Oh yes, the net will be tightened around thee, it surely will.

I would suspect that many hoaxes are done for the same reasons that a hacker cracks into a secure network - because they can.

I really have nothing against annonymous hoaxes, big deal. If someone gets some annonymous fame from their creation, then good luck to them.

What I loath, is when hoax Cults start to recruit members and generate profits based on the lie. Bold faced public deception for self-serving reasons is not cool. Then again, governments do it every single day of their elected term, right?

How can it be all the hoaxers fault? Since we are doing psychobabble today, I tell you what, people who incessantly whine about the fakes and hoaxes really need to look in the mirror someday. If it wasnt for all of the panting "bleevers" falling over each other to claim every stinking story that blows their way as the gospel truth without lifting a finger to investigate the facts of any given case, hoaxers and fakers would have nothing to do, maybe they would go get jobs or start a family.

Its not all their fault, there are people everywhere who are the sole target for these guys who are skimming the net for the next bunch of gullible, blind followers to try their wares out on. It happens on a consistent and regular basis here and will continue to happen as long as there is enough people around that will swallow the crap they hand out whole without a second thought.

Look on the mirror for the enabler in you....





[edit on 1-10-2007 by Lost_Mind]

Yes ALL hoaxes. For some absurd reason millions of people about the world want YOU to somehow except the fact of ET. We see what we see, if you don't, you don't. Cool.

I think the reason is because it so easy and requires such little effort. In some cases it may like a 'class project' much like the English classes that set up a contest to see how many letters they can get into Dear Abby. The one about the gentlemanly guy who had only one fault is my favorite. He insisted on being served a martini with seven olives. He would then take each olive and sniff the juice up his nose before eating it. That's a classic and was re-printed many times.

Here on ATS all you have to do is pick a bad video and say, "Look at the shape-shifting reptilian in this video!" Immediately you will have dozens of people saying, "Oh, wow! This is so amazing! It's the proof we've been looking for!" Or you can say something like, "I happen to believe the moon is inhabited, has a breathable atmosphere and has 2/3rds of the gravity of earth.' Once again you will have people jumping up and down with this new 'truth' and claiming NASA lied once again. I happen to believe that is unethical behavior, but obviously some people get off on it. And, of course, you can hide behind the word 'belief' and say you are not promoting it as 'truth.' Although there are some shining exceptions here, it does put proof to the point that "Deny Ignorance" is an oxymoron. Ignorance is not being denied so much as it is being promoted.

Just my belief and opinion, of course. Your mileage may vary.

Oy vey shuyler, I give you credit. You do a fine job to your creed. Only time will tell.

reply to post by Outrageo


Outrageo, the last line of your post, for me, is the most poigniant of all:

Next Question: Why won't the people who have the real stuff come forward?

I believe the answer lies squarely with, though not solely because of, the hoaxers. The perpetrators of these intensley annoying videos are propagating and feeding the barrage of disinformation that is already saturating the entire UFO field.

"So, you believe in those UFOs, then?"

"Yes, I do. I do believe in a phenomena that is regularly witnessed by sane, rational people. I do believe in a phenomena that has been investigated by both the American, and British Air Force. If they studied it, there must have been something to it, don't you think?"

"What, like in the XFiles?"

"No..."

"Little green men...?"

"Err, no..."

"Yea, I saw one of those UFOs on Youtube. And that was a fake. It's all a lot of b******s if you ask me..."

Our continuous supply of negative, or ridiculing feedback from those who know the truth, and those who wish to gain fame vicariously, is really weighing the whole subject down. Pity anyone with real, genuine footage. Because if there is some lucky soul out there who has captured on film the definitive, unquestionable footage that will define a moment in human history, who can blame them for not setting foot into this minefield?

If it was me, I'm sorry to say I'd think twice, too.

Because they can.
Because there's gullable people out there that will believe anything they see or read. Just like the evangelist can go out to all these towns and cities and rake in the cash by others believing they can heal you with a touch of their hand. Just like magicians can go out and trick everyone with their skills of illusion. As long as there's people out there that don't understand it or believe it without question then people will always want to deceive others.

Who knows why. I just dont get it.

I dont think that they understand that the more hoaxes there are around, the less credibility the topic gets. Its a sad truth

reply to post by OzWeatherman


They dont give a rats bumpus about credibility - it never had any credibility to them in their minds in the first place. Unless they are trying to bolster thier own credibility in the CGI arena. I think they fully understand that they can damage the public image of Ufology and its people. They more than likely love frothing over everybody going gaga with the ferocious intensity that people use to analyse their product, so next time they can create a better product, harder to discern from reality. They giggle like schoolgirls about it....

[edit on 2-10-2007 by Lost_Mind]

reply to post by Lost_Mind


Very well said there mate. Sounds like Attention Deficit Disorder

Some good reasons so far, but I think we forgot one group.
Those who intentionally create hoaxes to sell something, or as a marketing campaign. We had one group here that was doing this to sell a DVD, and the person who was on this site propagating the hoax just happened to be the producer of that video, and his band stood to gain some notoriety for doing the soundtrack on the video as well. This group crosses over into many other areas of conspiracy as well, you can find them in the paranormal, and even in the 911 truth movement.

Because the tinfoil wearing UFO community are so willing to believe, that it is an opportunity that mischief makers could not turn down.

As for fakers...people will fake anything.

This sitehas some pictures of guitars in the hands of famous characters in paintings and photos. I think it is a competition. Maybe there is an underground skeptical, anti-tinfoil competition out to fool the UFO community...who, lets be honest, are their own worse enemies!!