What is your approach when you read about these topics?

I guess I'm looking for how people feel or think when they read about conspiracies. How do you approach the subject of conspiracy theories in general?

I feel that my own thought process, especially when i read about UFOs, goes like two paralell lines of thought. One line is open and recieves the material that is being presented. It ponders, reviews and contemplates it.
The other line is telling me that this is all a bunch of bunk. And these two lines of thought always move paralell to each other.

reply to post by Metallic Monk

We sound a like in that regard. I'm an INTJ, and this type of thinking is in line with the attributes of that Meyers-Briggs "personality" type.

I believe ufos exist but not the aliens. I think all ufos are made by humans and flown by humans. In this day and age, I wouldn't doubt it if they went as far as reconstructive surgery to make people look like aliens.

One of the reasons that I do not post often is that I skim the topics and find things that seem interesting. I will occasionally get baitied into a comment or find something interesting to remark on,but usually, I am just reading storing and compiling data. I take this flood of infromation and let the connections form in my head. Eventually, a fabric of truth will begin to emerge.

This took some years for me to learn how to not take everything at face value.

Originally posted by iamnot
I believe ufos exist but not the aliens. I think all ufos are made by humans and flown by humans. In this day and age, I wouldn't doubt it if they went as far as reconstructive surgery to make people look like aliens.

So how does this explain the UFOs that were depicted in drawings as far back as when humans were living in caves?

It's very much the way you described when it comes to my perception.

My first reaction, a relic from my teen years, is to simply believe whatever I read at face value. I still have this "I want to believe this" reaction in almost any thread I open, and I find it helpful.

Needless to say that with the years this nagging symbolic voice in my head grew stronger and stronger, saying things like " This is inconsistent", "This is a poor argument", "This does not follow", "This is misinterpreted" etc. I try to read everything like I believe it, but then some things always pop up in my mind... I have institutionalized an internal skeptic. And that's not just with threads on ATS but also with the stuff I write for work and school and so... It isn't always helpful. But it keeps you interested and it keeps you on the run, always knowing more and learning new things.

So overall, I guess, I have a skepitcal approach to threads by the time I've made up my mind to post a reply, after my initial "principle of charity"-belief has waned.

reply to post by NichirasuKenshin


I agree, I find it very helpful at work, especially when determining that a client is not telling you something.

I do consider myself an open-minded skeptic. I don't take sides much and I believe that just because something CAN be shoved into a known slot, that doesn't mean it should be. Too many things over the years have been "proven" and then turn out to be something else.

The only thing I know is that I know nothing.

Two rules

1) If it's really a conspiracy no one should know about it.

Most, if not all conspiracy theories fail on this level.

2) What is it about this conspiracy theory that appeals to me emotionally.

Subscribing to a conspiracy theory because it meets some emotional need, is also grounds for dismissal. For instance theories about education appeal to me on this level because I had a couple of bad experiences. But that in no way validates a theory, in fact, to my mind it increases the likelihood that it is propaganda aimed at me.

This second rule wipes out the remaining theories.
In thirty years of investigation and research
I have discarded over 8 thousand theories.

Only two remain as possible.
The missing 14th amendment,
and the confiscation of technology for 'national security.'




.... in my opinion.




David Grouchy

The word "conspiracy" or "conspiracy theory" has been purposefully turned into a mocking pejorative, synonym for wacko or nutjob.

Except of course if you conspire with another person to to commit a crime. Then the government will have no problem charging you with a conspiracy in a nanosecond.

Just remember, "conspiracies" don't apply to them.

reply to post by babybunnies


Can you believe there are still people living like those cavemen today?
There is nothing new under the sun.

reply to post by Metallic Monk


I try to keep an open mind. however, its very difficult not to have a jaundiced eye toward conspiracy theories. i want to believe, and yet i don't see the evidence to substantiate it.

I'm not a skeptic when it comes to conspiracies or UFO they both exist, my thing is trying to separate the kooky stories from what's true and get some usable material from it
sort of a know your enemy thing

NWO conspiracy is real but the perpetrators aren't ten feet tall and bullet proof and they screw up just like everybody else

aliens may or may not exist but since I have seen plenty of weird entities and UFOs
I'm not worried about whether they exist, but what are they and how do they fit into the whole reality matrix.

reply to post by inivux


Well, it seems like the first one to post in my first thread is a fellow INTJ. I guess you're also here as an interested/open minded skeptic?

Originally posted by babybunnies

Originally posted by iamnot
I believe ufos exist but not the aliens. I think all ufos are made by humans and flown by humans. In this day and age, I wouldn't doubt it if they went as far as reconstructive surgery to make people look like aliens.

So how does this explain the UFOs that were depicted in drawings as far back as when humans were living in caves?

1. This is OT.

2. This is highly speculative in my view. Yes Wondjina carvings in Australia are strange in some sense but they are supposed to depict spirits and not other biological beings.
Wondji na

reply to post by Metallic Monk


Yes I believe in spirits, and aliens are what are referred to as devils in the bible. I believe they are spirit beings that do not need mechanical devices to transport in, what they need are hosts - human bodies. Humans trade up, give their bodies over to the spirits, in turn for knowledge of these devices amongst other things.

reply to post by Metallic Monk


Well, I'll let you know what I do step by step.

When I first come on to ATS, I click on "Recent Posts", and then I scan from top to bottom. Every time I see a title that sounds interesting, or a topic that strikes me as potentially important, I open it in a new tab, and keep scanning.

When I get to the bottom of the list, I close the tab, and then I go through the other topics I've opened one at a time. I read the OP, and if it turns out to be lame and presents nothing new or interesting, than I close it. If it's an interesting topic, I read the the first page of replies. At this point, if I have a strong opinion about what anyone has said, or I have relevant information to present, I hit the "Reply To" button, and say what I think. If I have no strong opinions, or don't think I know enough about the topic, but still find it interesting, I go to page 2.

That's pretty much it. I don't follow particular forums, topics, or users. I just peruse, and occasionally comment; either when my emotions or stirred, or where I feel I have something useful or important to say.

Sometimes when thinking about a topic I'm replying to, I get so caught up in some tangential aspect that I decide my reply needs to become its own topic. I abandon my reply, start writing a new topic, get bored or lose interest, and then go play internet chess.

I play until I lose, then come back to ATS and start all over.


Not a half-bad way to spend an evening.

reply to post by NichirasuKenshin


Good for you! That means you are making progress, learning how to use critical thinking.
most people rarely use critical thing, few take the time to hone it.
it means you are learning how to process information, theres more to it than just reading.
don't rely on the internet too much. I think you will find books a valuable resouce you can consult over and over in a way the internet does not meet.
good luck. you seem smarter than the average bear.

Originally posted by iamnot
reply to post by Metallic Monk

 

Yes I believe in spirits, and aliens are what are referred to as devils in the bible. I believe they are spirit beings that do not need mechanical devices to transport in, what they need are hosts - human bodies. Humans trade up, give their bodies over to the spirits, in turn for knowledge of these devices amongst other things.

That one I never hard of. Interesting.