Why do People Believe Bullshit?

Greetings. The world we reside in holds many unsolved enigmas and fascinating mysteries. Our species has consistently wondered about the possibilities and potentialities, whether from the shelter of a Pleistocene Era cave, or from the comfort of our own air-conditioned homes. As time has moved forward, the situation has morphed into a far less fruitful endeavor. 

2024 has arrived, and the bullshit meter is on full tilt. People all over the planet believe things that are simply untrue, folklore that has been proven to be completely false and firmly grounded in nonsense. Don't believe me? Examine the current situation yourself, don't rely on my skeptical point of view. Millions of people believe the Earth is flat. Many people believe Elvis Presley is still alive and well. Some voters in the United States believe that Democrats eat babies and that Republicans are evil cultists. Some people in our society think that a race of reptilians has infiltrated various world governments, for reasons that remain unknown. Some people even believe that aliens are in low Earth orbit, waiting at our beck and call to come down to Earth and visit us. The so-called CE-5 protocols. Bullshit protocols. The critical thinking skills of the general public is left firmly in doubt. 

This is a completely different scenario than simple ignorance. When people are uneducated about a field of study, or a topic of interest, or an unanswered question, simply taking the time to find valid information about the topic at hand addresses any intellectual shortcomings, usually in a productive manner. I am highly ignorant about a great many things, so the only logical course of action at my disposal is to educate myself by seeking out pertinent information. I have done so in the past, and will continue to do so until I shuffle off this little rocky planet. However, when people choose to embrace untruths, despite the fact that they know in their heart of hearts that their beliefs are misplaced, such a course of action is illogical, an embarrassment, and is completely counterproductive. With the advent of social media and the Internet, the situation has gone in a truly disturbing direction. Since anyone from Egypt to Canada to Tasmania can establish an account, on multiple platforms, they have the ability to write and promote whatever they choose to post, regardless of whether or not the content being shared is valid or nonsensical. Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter,) are peppered with such accounts, all claiming credentials, experience, and/or qualifications, but with the consuming public in the dark concerning the validity, or lack thereof, of the claimed expertise. 

The UFO subculture is an active participant in this sad, sordid, and embarrassing effort. The hoaxed Majestic-12 documents are still believed by some, even researched. Embarrassing. The Aztec, Aurora, Del Rio, San Agustin, and Maury Island hoaxes are still being promoted by some, even written about by some less than credible "researchers." Embarrassing. There is no need for the powers that be to misinform the general public, we do it to ourselves. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.