Coming out of the closet

[UltraBudgie]

What "conspiracy theories" or "fringe topics" are you willing to discuss, in public, without deriding them?

Not "what ones do you believe", because I'm not asking that.  I mean, if you were to talk with a neighbour, some random person at the pub, a junky on the bus, or something, a normal day-to-day encounter, and they started talking about, could you play along and say "oh yeah, I can believe that, I heard such-and-such...."

I collect fringe belief-systems as a hobby, like marbles, because I lost mine and want them back.

So I will happy rant along with about:

• The Illuminati
  
• Science is lies
  
• The moon landing was fake
  
• Time isn't linear
  
• American satinism
  
• They sunk the Titanic on purpose
  
• Nukes aren't real
  
• The pyramids were built with ancient high tech
  
• The pharoses used the Book of Dead to really reincarnate
  
• The past is mutable and different for everyone
  
• Donald Trump's hair
  
• Pandas are fake and were invented
  
• The earth is not a spinning ball
  
• Tesla and his pigeon
  
• The D's and the R's really aren't that different
  
• WWI was started by England and France
  
• Fluoride is mind control
  
• The universe requires consent
  
• Epstein wasn't really killed
  

and many others!  It is like having a bunch of different shoes to wear!

So, do other people do this?  What are you willing to entertain?  What are you not willing to entertain?  For example, I avoid eugenics and supremacist ideologies, because they can be so hate-adjacent.  That's just practical.

I heard this was a splinter of a conspiracy site, but without the mudslinging.  But you guys seem really in the closet?  It is crazy that everyone is afraid of seeming crazy.

[DarkSpace]

What "conspiracy theories" or "fringe topics" are you willing to discuss, in public, without deriding them?

Not "what ones do you believe", because I'm not asking that.  I mean, if you were to talk with a neighbour, some random person at the pub, a junky on the bus, or something, a normal day-to-day encounter, and they started talking about, could you play along and say "oh yeah, I can believe that, I heard such-and-such...."

I collect fringe belief-systems as a hobby, like marbles, because I lost mine and want them back.

So I will happy rant along with about:

• The Illuminati
  
• Science is lies
  
• The moon landing was fake
  
• Time isn't linear
  
• American satinism
  
• They sunk the Titanic on purpose
  
• Nukes aren't real
  
• The pyramids were built with ancient high tech
  
• The pharoses used the Book of Dead to really reincarnate
  
• The past is mutable and different for everyone
  
• Donald Trump's hair
  
• Pandas are fake and were invented
  
• The earth is not a spinning ball
  
• Tesla and his pigeon
  
• The D's and the R's really aren't that different
  
• WWI was started by England and France
  
• Fluoride is mind control
  
• The universe requires consent
  
• Epstein wasn't really killed
  

and many others!  It is like having a bunch of different shoes to wear!

So, do other people do this?  What are you willing to entertain?  What are you not willing to entertain?  For example, I avoid eugenics and supremacist ideologies, because they can be so hate-adjacent.  That's just practical.

I heard this was a splinter of a conspiracy site, but without the mudslinging.  But you guys seem really in the closet?  It is crazy that everyone is afraid of seeming crazy.

i would probably discuss any subject that came up (as long as i am at least remotely interested), i usually listen, and then give my own thoughts about it and the reasons why. i usually avoid telling people are wrong, unless, that is if i am a 110% certain they are. then i tell them exactly that, and the reason why, usually with verifiable sources :)(not talking about online here) :)

[UltraBudgie]

i would probably discuss any subject that came up (as long as i am at least remotely interested), i usually listen, and then give my own thoughts about it and the reasons why. i usually avoid telling people are wrong, unless, that is if i am a 110% certain they are. then i tell them exactly that, and the reason why, usually with verifiable sources :)(not talking about online here) :)

That is very reasonable, thank you, although perhaps somewhat milk toast I guess I was hoping more for examples or I dunno just letting people vent.



Oh, and about that Trump Hair one I was just throwing that in as a kind of joke although it made me think that there is the theory that his hair is in the future a time traveler who goes back in time becomes the duke of orange and writes childrens books!

[DarkSpace]

That is very reasonable, thank you, although perhaps somewhat milk toast I guess I was hoping more for examples or I dunno just letting people vent.



Oh, and about that Trump Hair one I was just throwing that in as a kind of joke although it made me think that there is the theory that his hair is in the future a time traveler who goes back in time becomes the duke of orange and writes childrens books!

oh don't get me started on that "man" :P his hair probably is an alien influencing him to do stupid things :P

[ANNEE]

What "conspiracy theories" or "fringe topics" are you willing to discuss, in public, without deriding them?

Not "what ones do you believe", because I'm not asking that.  I mean, if you were to talk with a neighbour, some random person at the pub, a junky on the bus, or something, a normal day-to-day encounter, and they started talking about, could you play along and say "oh yeah, I can believe that, I heard such-and-such...."

I collect fringe belief-systems as a hobby, like marbles, because I lost mine and want them back.

So I will happy rant along with about:

• The Illuminati
  
• Science is lies
  
• The moon landing was fake
  
• Time isn't linear
  
• American satinism
  
• They sunk the Titanic on purpose
  
• Nukes aren't real
  
• The pyramids were built with ancient high tech
  
• The pharoses used the Book of Dead to really reincarnate
  
• The past is mutable and different for everyone
  
• Donald Trump's hair
  
• Pandas are fake and were invented
  
• The earth is not a spinning ball
  
• Tesla and his pigeon
  
• The D's and the R's really aren't that different
  
• WWI was started by England and France
  
• Fluoride is mind control
  
• The universe requires consent
  
• Epstein wasn't really killed
  

and many others!  It is like having a bunch of different shoes to wear!

So, do other people do this?  What are you willing to entertain?  What are you not willing to entertain?  For example, I avoid eugenics and supremacist ideologies, because they can be so hate-adjacent.  That's just practical.

I heard this was a splinter of a conspiracy site, but without the mudslinging.  But you guys seem really in the closet?  It is crazy that everyone is afraid of seeming crazy.

Thank you for an interesting thread.

When I look at the advancement of computer animation today — I think, “Yeah, that could be us” — considering the age of universe advancement.

Everything is energy. Energy evolved with consciousness. Energy consciousness creates.

I think there are probably layers upon layers of simulated worlds.

[UltraBudgie]

Thank you for an interesting thread.

When I look at the advancement of computer animation today — I think, “Yeah, that could be us” — considering the age of universe advancement.

Everything is energy. Energy evolved with consciousness. Energy consciousness creates.

I think there are probably layers upon layers of simulated worlds.

Oh, that is a good one!  Simulation theory has really "come out of the closet" in recent years.  It used to be just lol you think you're living in the matrix crazy stuff.

Now games get more advanced and chatbot npcs and tech growth curve and things becoming more secular of course and people are much more willing to go "hmm" and have interesting conversation about such.

Also and here's you just made me think about elon musk, because he said that stuff about simulation.  So mainstream figure legitimizing, kinda.  But also most important, you can say like "oh musk said that blah blah" about it, and it kind of gives people an "off-ramp" in the conversation.  If they're not following or don't want to think outside the box then they can just latch on and go "oh that guy! grr spacex such a scam!" or "he turned twitter into shitter!" or some such, and then they're like returned to "default-mode" conversation rather than uncomfortable don't know what to say.  Like making jokes about trumphair rather than the very legitimate concern that he may be a reptilian haha.

[FlyersFan]

I openly admit in public to being interested in -

UFOs
Mandela effect/time shifts
Ghosts
ESP
Political conspiracies - (Kennedy assassination, payoffs, backroom deals, "zero year curse")
Vatican conspiracies

And although it's not 'conspiracy' or 'alternative topic' ... I'm very interested in phenomenon in the Catholic church ... Fatima, Medjugorje (I've been there), Betania (I've been there) and other apparitions of saints ... and phenomenon having to do with the saints such as bilocation, incorruptables, gifts of prophecy, odor of sanctity, etc etc

[Byrd]

What "conspiracy theories" or "fringe topics" are you willing to discuss, in public, without deriding them?

Not "what ones do you believe", because I'm not asking that.  I mean, if you were to talk with a neighbour, some random person at the pub, a junky on the bus, or something, a normal day-to-day encounter, and they started talking about, could you play along and say "oh yeah, I can believe that, I heard such-and-such...."

I collect fringe belief-systems as a hobby, like marbles, because I lost mine and want them back.

So I will happy rant along with about:

• The Illuminati
  
• Science is lies
  
• The moon landing was fake
  
• Time isn't linear
  
• American satinism
  
• They sunk the Titanic on purpose
  
• Nukes aren't real
  
• The pyramids were built with ancient high tech
  
• The pharoses used the Book of Dead to really reincarnate
  
• The past is mutable and different for everyone
  
• Donald Trump's hair
  
• Pandas are fake and were invented
  
• The earth is not a spinning ball
  
• Tesla and his pigeon
  
• The D's and the R's really aren't that different
  
• WWI was started by England and France
  
• Fluoride is mind control
  
• The universe requires consent
  
• Epstein wasn't really killed
  

and many others!  It is like having a bunch of different shoes to wear!

So, do other people do this?  What are you willing to entertain?  What are you not willing to entertain?  For example, I avoid eugenics and supremacist ideologies, because they can be so hate-adjacent.  That's just practical.

I heard this was a splinter of a conspiracy site, but without the mudslinging.  But you guys seem really in the closet?  It is crazy that everyone is afraid of seeming crazy.

I'm a hardcore skeptic, but I'm willing to discuss almost anything.  Gobekli Tepi, the Tartaran Mud Flood, Earth/pole flipping -- however, I'm likely to drag ancient sources into things as well as mathematics (I'm no mathematician but I can stumble along in geometry and in physics) and I'm picky about sources.

I do get a little testy on some of the ancient Egyptian topics (like the "light bulb" or the "helicopter" "Great Pyramid Ram Jet") but I'm willing to at least read the introductory material.  (I can read SOME hieroglyphs, which means I'm really willing to point at them and say "no, this is what this thing says."


...except when they want me to watch a video.  Give me text and something solid to back it up with.

I won't be harsh or nasty -- I always try to be polite and respectful, even when disagreeing.

[UltraBudgie]

I openly admit in public to being interested in -

UFOs
Mandela effect/time shifts
Ghosts
ESP
Political conspiracies - (Kennedy assassination, payoffs, backroom deals, "zero year curse")
Vatican conspiracies

And although it's not 'conspiracy' or 'alternative topic' ... I'm very interested in phenomenon in the Catholic church ... Fatima, Medjugorje (I've been there), Betania (I've been there) and other apparitions of saints ... and phenomenon having to do with the saints such as bilocation, incorruptables, gifts of prophecy, odor of sanctity, etc etc

it is very interesting you mention religion because it reminds me of faith and for example the hairgel preacher types saying no no evil for you to doubt or explore here is what you need to believe not anything else ignore that.  because to me that is the opposite of faith because faith is like a firm foundation if thats your thing a safeharbor and in fact it allows you to go as far away as you want because it will always be there and is thus freeing rather than constraining, so go ahead and read buddah or puzzle over the church or whatever

And in a similar fashion, I take issue with those who say "don't be unreasonable".  Reason should not constrain hypothesis; in fact the exact opposite is true.  Reason is built from exploring hypotheses, and doing so require building new systems of explanation, and really inhabiting them, to see if they hold water.  Then, objectively discussing that, sharing observations, etc.  By exploring in the mind, if you will, these territories of belief by actually embracing them, seeing where they lead -- I think that is a very scientific and rational attitude.  Doing so builds the facilities of the intellect.  Yes, many of the more "out there" stuff has underlying assumptions that are contradictory or appear outright false.  But, I am actually able to keep track of those, and be flexible.  They're not poison to be avoided, but rather the diet of a true skeptic, avoiding closed-mindedness or cynicism.

I do get a little testy on some of the ancient Egyptian topics (like the "light bulb" or the "helicopter" "Great Pyramid Ram Jet") but I'm willing to at least read the introductory material.  (I can read SOME hieroglyphs, which means I'm really willing to point at them and say "no, this is what this thing says."

Me too! I mean, handbags. Really? Well, okay -- but the very fact that some people are fascinated by this, means they're looking for something. There are dots they want to connect. And yes, the ways may look silly, but the psychology, archetypes, mythology, gaps in historical record that are unsatisfying -- those I am very accepting of considering.
 So that's the level I engage at.

...except when they want me to watch a video.  Give me text and something solid to back it up with.

QFT

[Maxmars]

What "conspiracy theories" or "fringe topics" are you willing to discuss, in public, without deriding them?

...

So I will happy rant along with about:

• The Illuminati
  
• Science is lies
  
• The moon landing was fake
  
• Time isn't linear
  
• American satinism
  
• They sunk the Titanic on purpose
  
• Nukes aren't real
  
• The pyramids were built with ancient high tech
  
• The pharoses used the Book of Dead to really reincarnate
  
• The past is mutable and different for everyone
  
• Donald Trump's hair
  
• Pandas are fake and were invented
  
• The earth is not a spinning ball
  
• Tesla and his pigeon
  
• The D's and the R's really aren't that different
  
• WWI was started by England and France
  
• Fluoride is mind control
  
• The universe requires consent
  
• Epstein wasn't really killed
  

and many others!  It is like having a bunch of different shoes to wear!

So, do other people do this?  What are you willing to entertain?  What are you not willing to entertain?  For example, I avoid eugenics and supremacist ideologies, because they can be so hate-adjacent.  That's just practical.

I heard this was a splinter of a conspiracy site, but without the mudslinging.  But you guys seem really in the closet?  It is crazy that everyone is afraid of seeming crazy.

Excellent idea for a conversation! 
 
Because of my compulsion to entertain and dissect lists, I was immediate confronted by how many different direction in which it could evolve...  I will reject my natural tendency to address your OP point by point... I think the central idea was sound and clear.

There are many reasons for exploring these ideas, and many of them aren't mine so it is difficult to do them justice; especially if your hoping to tease out any sincere deep dive into specificity.

I have found that there is no person I have ever spoken to or corresponded with, who wasn't a conspiracy theorist in some sense.  A "human life" is a string of conspiracy theories... we live to understand, our first human instinct is to 'learn' through observation.  The "curation" of our individual realities starts there, without exception.  "Conspiracy theory" is just observations... Fringe Ideas are 'usually' connected to conspiracy theory... in some natural way.

Few like to admit that they acknowledge this.  From the flatly manipulative "it's all craziness - you should fear and reject conspiracy discussions" to the ironic "conspiracy theories are conspiratorial"  we are 'dissuaded' socially from approaching the ideas... and I find that should be a very telling component of socially distancing oneself from them. 

Why the knee-jerk rejection to conspiracy theory? 
What exactly do they 'damage?' 
Why "hide" your interest? 
Why distance yourself from it? 
What judgment are you avoiding? 
From what is it that you are protecting yourself?

The 'closet' in this case is the idea that despite a genuine interest, we must frustrate our own inquisitiveness... because "only a fool would believe [insert theory]?"  Yet we watch soap operas, and fantasy films, read comic books and easily participate in WWE-style political theater, or worship the imagery of talented celebrities... even knowing that almost all of it is a bouquet of lies and bluster.

Personally, I was never "in the conspiracy theorist closet"... I very often was the one to add "Hey, how about this... [insert observation?]" to be met with "Oh! You're one of those?" inflected to deliver the verbal eye-roll.  I got used to it.  The older I got, the less the social knee jerk response bothered me... now I can proudly say that "Yes! I am a conspiracy theorist, aren't we lucky?"

I would like to address some of your examples... but it would really be beside the point I'm trying to share.