I have noticed a rather interesting little similarity between those that we would call conspiracy theorists and dyed-in-the-wool skeptibunkers. It's a similarity about how they build something towards a conclusion that manages to swamp the listener or viewer with enough information that they feel an overwhelming sense of "they must be right!"

In all honesty, it works within the realm of dealing out disinformation. It is a form of manipulation to the extreme because it allows a person or group to put forth a theory but to present that theory in such a way that the person receiving the 'information' can do nothing more than simply accept it and in the infinite hope of the theorist or skeptibunker... buy into the theory so deeply that perception, or reality, has been changed. Part of the reason that we have such an endless supply of these theories is because of the mediums of communication. Television, print, and even most radio programs offer no interaction. Its a medium whereby the viewer, reader, or listener, has to become a sponge and receive the information, instead of being allowed the opportunity to question it.

But how do the theorists and skeptibunkers do what they do? Simple, they construct an ending and then they choose and filter all the information out there so that they present only the things that support their theory. If there is not enough information like that, they bend some of it to fit... kinda like hammering a round peg into a square hole... not the right object for the hole but, use enough force and it can fit. In some situations the poorer theories actually will include some out and out lies, and some comments, that are nothing more than somebody offering us their opinion.

In today's terminology, we call these type of people 'spin-doctors' because they manage to spin the information out in such a slick way that they make it palatable for the masses to believe.

But why am I talking about this? This past week there was posted, on the UFO UpDates List, an article written by Timothy Quinn from New York. The title was cute, "You're Reading This? The World Didn't End Last Thursday."

In the article, Mr. Quinn began by debunking a prediction that the world was going to end by being hit by some rogue star or mysterious planet within our own Solar system. And to illustrate that point he utilized some scientific data to show how the tenth planet or Planet X or Nibiru is nothing more than a myth.

Now that would have been fine and good if Mr. Quinn had left it there, but he decided that would have been too short a story - he's probably paid based on the wordsize of articles, so he needed some filler.

He added comments about Nostradamus, believers in the Moon Landing Hoax, The Alien Autopsy and other shows that were shown on the FOX network and then commented about Area 51 and Roswell and people who believe that UFOs exist.

Now with some of those other items, he actually went into detail, to illustrate how they were unbelievable but with Area 51, he merely touched on it, stating that believers in UFOs think Area 51 is going to be the staging area for an Alien Invasion. Of course, he didn't bother discussing any of the many inexplicable sightings of UFOs - unidentified flying objects - that have been spotted around Area 51.

But my most favourite was when Mr. Quinn touched on Roswell, stating that Mac Brazel was calling, what he found on the ranch, "a flying saucer" and that it was nothing more than a weather balloon, even though the U.S. Air Force had already published that it was not a weather balloon but was a top secret Mogul Balloon.

Remember what I said. Sprinkle some facts, like an apocalyptic prediction and some faked stories like Alien Autopsy, along with some preposterous theory of NASA not landing on the moon, and how Area 51 is an alien landing zone and then add an out and out lie like what was on the Foster Ranch was a crashed weather balloon and Voila! You have a theory that shows that all of these items are not worth scientific examination.

Make sure, when any theory is presented, by either a conspiracist or a debunker, that you examine all the facts - and make sure their T's are crossed and their I's are dotted because otherwise, you might be being manipulated into believing White is Black.....

But that's just my take on it.....