Who do you share your opinions with?

Hi everyone,

As I said in my last thread, I'm working on a project for a class to try to learn about people that believe in so called "conspiracy theories". The original thread can be found here:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

What I wanted to discuss in this thread is how open you are about your opinions regarding extra terrestrials.

1. First off, who do you share your opinions with? Is this something you only discuss on the internet or is it something that you discuss outside of the internet as well? If so, in what situations have you discussed your opinions?

2. How have people reacted to you sharing your opinions (on the internet or otherwise), and how do you think the "typical" person would react to your opinions?

3. Why do you think people have reacted (or would react) this way? In other words, what do you think is the cause of how people tend to react to opinions that involve extra-terrestrials?

Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. Feel free to add any of your other thoughts and opinions to the discussion.

Thanks,
Hoffness

reply to post by hoffness


I have a question:

When you're done with your project will you present your paper here for analysis?

Originally posted by converge
reply to post by hoffness

 

I have a question:

When you're done with your project will you present your paper here for analysis?

I would have no problem posting the paper, but I'll have to check with the three other people I'm working on the paper with to make sure it's okay with them. I don't think they'll care, but I'd better check before I say for sure.

reply to post by hoffness


It's very simple for me, I ask everybody I meet one simple question, if they answer correctly I will talk opinion and belief, if not, I will talk fluff.

How Many Lightbulbs, Does It Take To Change A Lightbulb?

Answer me this fellow ATS'ers, although I'm sure most of you will be quick to answer correctly.

~Keeper

reply to post by hoffness


The question is, are you really doing a paper, or are you a sleeper agent for the NWO, mason branch, to search out wack jobs?

JK

1. I discuss UFOs with my wife and kids. I don't bring it up around others unless they bring it up. My best friend and I were witness to a (UFO/plane that we aren't supposed to know about) and he doesn't like to talk about it.

2. My family listens to me and humors me, and kind of believes, but I don't think 100% as they have never had a sighting.When I hear other people talking about it, it kind of seems as if they are mocking it but aren't quite sure.

3. I think the average person has been told what to think by the way the media portrays a believer. (tin foil hat, loony, crazy)

Good luck with your paper or points.(or both)

reply to post by tothetenthpower

A: One, if it knows its own Goedel number

Please don't make my head hurt. I thought for almost 1.5 minutes before I googled it.

1. I discuss my ideas on aliens and UFOs with my close friends and/or those I feel very comfortable with...who won't judge me and who already know me very well. I don't talk about it too much though, as honestly it's not always on my mind

2. My friends either have an open mind like myself, or they are just being nice and nodding their heads in agreement, or looking amused. Honestly though, the typical person in the area I live would most dismiss the idea. Many of the folk in this area are close-minded, very religious, and devout Christians. I'm not bashing on them, I'm just saying that they have the same mindset as their parents, grandparents, etc. I basically live in the middle of nowhere, USA.

3. Well, as I stated in number 2, they are very close-minded and don't want to even THINK about the fact of life on other planets. This may be because they simply don't believe it based on their faith or other ideals, or because they are scarred of the idea.

Hope your paper goes well, and I hope I contributed enough

reply to post by Mason mike


Unfortunetly that is the wrong answer friend, try again.

Google won't help you...

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


now my head does hurt, I thought that was where you were going with that.

second line for amusement purposes only.

reply to post by Mason mike


U2U me and I will give you the answer, I don't wanna ruin it for everybody else.

You're not far off from the answer however, you'll understand once I tell you.

~Keeper

1. First off, who do you share your opinions with? Is this something you only discuss on the internet or is it something that you discuss outside of the internet as well? If so, in what situations have you discussed your opinions?

I share primary with my husband, and on occassion, with friends on the internet. I try to keep the subject lighthearted and sometimes I've been known to just "toss ideas around" without provocation in a joking manner to see if anyone else picks up on it.

2. How have people reacted to you sharing your opinions (on the internet or otherwise), and how do you think the "typical" person would react to your opinions?

The types of people I tend to associate with (online and in real life) are pretty open-minded, but there is still a fear of the unknown if the conversation gets too deep too quickly, and we usually change the subject soon afterwards.

As far as the "Straights/Normal" people go - you might be surprised how many will actually jump in with personal stories, dreams or opinions when they hear me and my buddies having a conversation. I may just be blessed with the good fortune to have finally made my distance with the rude, condescending crowd. Can't say for sure...


3. Why do you think people have reacted (or would react) this way? In other words, what do you think is the cause of how people tend to react to opinions that involve extra-terrestrials?

I think a lot more people are open minded to the possibility than the "mainstream media" would like to have us believe. In fact, I've met people from almost every walk of life with a story or dream to share on this subject.





[edit on 3/23/09 by GENERAL EYES]

It's interesting that all of you so far are saying that you talk to some people in real life about this kind of stuff. I guess I had kinda assumed that because people didn't talk to me about aliens that people just generally don't talk about this stuff. Apparently I should have stuck it out for the second semester of calculus.

reply to post by hoffness


Mother, dad, sister, bros, friends, EVERYONE around.

It is not easy to share, but it depends by how do you present the subject matter. Do you feel ashamed of it? Or do you TRUST in it? This is the difference: go and share your experience with everyone: but don't fear, dont feel ashamed. Often, our behavior is our killer.

reply to post by hoffness

1. First off, who do you share your opinions with? Is this something you only discuss on the internet or is it something that you discuss outside of the internet as well? If so, in what situations have you discussed your opinions?

I express my opinion on the matter to anyone willing to discuss it, when the conversation arises.

2. How have people reacted to you sharing your opinions (on the internet or otherwise), and how do you think the "typical" person would react to your opinions?

"Typical" people seem much more open minded to the claims of the UFO community than I am.

3. Why do you think people have reacted (or would react) this way? In other words, what do you think is the cause of how people tend to react to opinions that involve extra-terrestrials?

Likely because they just hear the odd claim or see a program on the "History" or "Discovery" channels, and assume the claims are accurate for being shown on "Educational" channels. The History and Discovery channels are nothing but entertainment... with a general focus on educational topics. Technically, even "New Scientist" isn't a reputable scientific publication because it's not peer reviewed. While leagues more reliable than History or Discovery, they tend to speculate quite a lot - which has kind of given them the label of peddling "Scientific pornography".

To clarify my views.

1. I believe that life beyond Earth certainly exists within our Universe. Likely within our solar system.

2. I believe that intelligent life is extremely likely in our universe.

3. UFO's are real, in the strictest sense. People do see phenomena in the sky that sometimes cannot be explained. It has yet to be substantiated that they are controlled by Extra Terrestrials.

4. It has yet to be substantiated that alien intelligences has visited this planet to give free colonoscopys to uninsured rednecks as a part of the galactic health coverage plan our Govern't signed in the 50's.

I firmly believe there are other species of life out there. I find it probable that some of that life are intelligent species. I concede that it's possible that intelligent life may be visiting Earth. However, I see no good reason to positively believe that they have visited Earth before, nor would I defend that position.

Originally posted by hoffness

1. First off, who do you share your opinions with? Is this something you only discuss on the internet or is it something that you discuss outside of the internet as well? If so, in what situations have you discussed your opinions?

2. How have people reacted to you sharing your opinions (on the internet or otherwise), and how do you think the "typical" person would react to your opinions?

3. Why do you think people have reacted (or would react) this way? In other words, what do you think is the cause of how people tend to react to opinions that involve extra-terrestrials?

Thanks,
Hoffness

1. I only share them with people I know have the same beliefs. I have 3 friends who I share my opinion with. I also have recently come here to listen to other peoples experiences and thoughts.

2. Well I have told my family and other friends in the past and they just think I am weird so I dont bring it up to them at all anymore. The typical person would think I was insane..lol I read a lot of things and take most with a grain of salt. I do have my beliefs on some things though.

3. I think people react in that way because they are lead to believe it;s not real and it's all fake. Also seem to be afraid of the unkown, where I myself am not. If people knew the truth they would probably freak out. I know a few people that if they met an Alien they would have a heart attack.



I dont mind talking with people who think along the same lines as me and are open to other possibilities. This is why I only talk to 3 people in person. If I do happen to talk about it infront of others who think I am let;'s say "crazy" I dont really care. I am entitles to my beliefs.

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Just off the top of my head, I'd say two. The burnt out bulb and the fresh one. The answer could be three, if you believe in the invisible metaphysical lightbulb from the 5th dimension that lights up when you get an idea. Or, the answer really could be one. Since a burnt out "Light" bulb no longer emits light. So it cannot rightly be called a "Light" bulb. It's merely metal, glass, and a broken filament.

reply to post by Lasheic


You are correct, it requires two. Just because a lightbulb no longer functions, still makes it lightbulb, it is the word we have created to describe such things, there is no word for a burn out lightbulb that doesn't involve lightbulb haha.

Good mind, and I enjoy the possibly of 3, however most people are at a complete loss to understand such a concept.

Good Job!

You are worthy of my opinions .

~Keeper

reply to post by tothetenthpower


The symbolism in that riddle is interesting. We might have to find a way to reference this in our paper.


In response to Converge's question, it's alright with the other people I'm working with to post the paper when it's finished. That probably will not be until late April or early May, though.


Also, we are still hoping to get more people's input. The responses we've gotten so far have been very useful in trying to understand things from your guys' perspectives. We would like to get more responses so that people's experiences that are different from the norm here aren't left out also. Also, to be frank, our assignment requires that we get a certain number of responses, so even if your views have already been said by someone else we would appreciate your input.

Thanks

In my day to day life, not much if at all, other than to espouse the belief that there exists life somewhere in the universe other than this planet.

on the internet...
the above, also that i think they may be intelligent and visiting our solar system, though i haven't quite made up my mind on it as a whole. there are some cases, floating around on ats, that seem to have no other reasonable explanation.

how have people reacted? on the internet, and in daily life....from total disbelief to total acceptance. there are some people, on the internet and in daily life that think those who even think about such a possibility are idiots, stooges, totally gullible etc.

why do people react in those varied ways? for varied reasons. it's the same for any topic really, especially those that are as confusing as the ufo subject. you would do just as well to ask why people react the way they do to any subject. and it would require books upon books filled with psycho-analysis, and fourty seven different "authorities" on the subject.


to be frankly honest (as opposed to susanly honest), most people you meet, whether on the internet or in daily life, just don't have the required knowledge base of the subject to properly discuss it or opinions on it. thankfully this isn't so with the majority of atsers who visit the aliens and ufo forum.

so really i'm not sure that my post has been helpful at all. oh well

reply to post by optimus primal


Interesting. If I'm understanding you correctly, you tend to not bring up discussions in everyday conversations not because you think people will react negatively but because you just don't feel most people have enough knowledge to discuss it. That was probably just obvious enough of a possibility for me to overlook.

Sorry about the 4 day delayed response. Floods are very inconvenient.