A silver lining to the 2012hoax

Summary:

Surprisingly, the hoax helped me awaken my inner sceptic.

A silver lining to the 2012hoax

Greg Kling 17 Oct 2011 03:47

From about the time I was 9, I was an avid watcher of the History Channel. From its documentaries on the past, to its……well…other documentaries on the past, I was hooked. But when I started to get older, I noticed a shift in the emphasis of its programming. It started to change from focusing on the lessons of the past, and their applications in the future, to what could only be called, tentatively at that, more theoretical and abstract concepts. A prime example that drove me up the wall, because of what I can now articulate as large leaps in assumptionary logic, was and to this day is Ancient Aliens. The posing of a question that, while on paper may seem innocent, is in reality posed in a manner that suggests the answer that the creator of such a program already has seemed to be the methodology of the show, and it never sat well with me, these fallacies in logic were anathema to me, as at the time, I was discovering my own love of logic and interest in debate and the examination of statements. As the shift in programming became more complete, I can clearly say that there is little I recognize about the History Channel as it is today, when I compare it to what I admit, sparked my interest in the past. That having been said, I will also openly admit that this shift also sparked my skepticism; as I remembered the lessons about thinking for one's self and the dangers of blind obediance to authority (Nazi Germany and Stalin ring any bells?), I began to question what the man in the suit on the screen was saying. "Why should I assume that aliens must have built the pyramids, seeing as you don't think that humans had the capability?" Though I couldn't articulate them at the time, these questions amd concerns regarding logic distressed me, and I got the notion into my head that well, if one authority (and I now cringe when using that word regarding anything on the History Channel, given the incredible gaps in logic it now perpetuates) can be wrong, why can't another? These feelings, while unarticulate, birthed what would become the dominate characterization of what I identify as myself today. A sceptic, and a lover of logic.

I'm an aspiring philosophy major, and the 2012hoax sparked my inner skeptic.

Re: A silver lining to the 2012hoax

TheGreatJuju 17 Oct 2011 09:06

Hi, Greg. Thanks for the comments. I never majored in philosophy, but I consider myself a reluctant philosopher of sorts (or maybe an "armchair philosopher") and think I know exactly what you're talking about.

For me the journey all those years ago was more about religion, though I went through a similar process of having nonsense — which I did not consider nonsense at first — ultimately serve as a catalyst toward what I think about many things today. I suppose "silver lining" is one way to look at it.

The History Channel is known as the Hysteria Channel around here. It hasn't just gone downhill, but has gone down a borehole.

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"They tell you, but do you believe it? If so, why?"

http://www.undeadrufus.com

Re: A silver lining to the 2012hoax

2012hoax 17 Oct 2011 18:21

… has gone down a borehole.

… that has been used as a cesspit for a major city. How's that for a visual?

Re: A silver lining to the 2012hoax

Chez86 23 Dec 2011 17:45

Same here, I am still a bit of a conspiracy theorist, but I do not go so far as to sell fear with my theories! Mine are more intregues like perhaps aliens (NOT FROM NIBIRU!) have indeed dropped by Earth sometime during our evolution, and helped us along a bit. I am talking good aliens, with good intentions for us, perhaps wanting to trigger a similar evolution to their own on another world. Lone and behold, these 'aliens' may even be humans themselves and we are the second generation of their kind, wouldn't that be amazing!

I am however learning to be much more of a skeptic too since the 2012 stuff really did upset me, which is what drove me to find this site, to find more about about the scams behind it.

I believe in ghosts because I have seen them with my own eyes, I believe partly in UFOs because my mum and sister have seen one close up while driving one evening, when I turned to look, it was gone!.

However, crazy stuff like rogue planets populated by the annunaki is where I draw the line, because it conflicts with my basic knowledge of space and astronomy, and registers in the 'impossible crap' section of my brain! lol.

Humans were the only thing that built the pyramids, because we ARE capable of such feats, we still are. You have to begin to understand just how advanced humans are, we are not useless, machine age lazies, if we wanted another pyramid and had no machinery, we could indeed build one using sheer strength and manpower. That's my example anyway.

Re: A silver lining to the 2012hoax

obaeyens 24 Dec 2011 00:12

I actually was interested big in ghost stories and alien astronauts long time ago.
And somehow I still am. I have this curiosity towards the unknown.

However I can separate reality from fiction, and most ghost claims and UFO's claims are not worthy to even view since they are complete BS.

Re: A silver lining to the 2012hoax

Tomy2011 23 Dec 2011 18:48

Hello, Greg. As you say, the History Channel was worth watching. But not anymore. To be honest, I can't watch two hours of The History Channel without hearing the words "doomsday" and "prophecy". Like you, I became more skeptical when watching their documentaries, even the ones which are not about doomsday, as they also focus on aliens, conspiracies… and paranormal.
Sometimes, when I hear the name "History Channel", I ask myself "what history"? So, their focus is not on history anymore, but on fearmongering and sensationalism.