Author Topic: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax  (Read 9087 times)

Offline Dalhousie

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They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« on: January 10, 2023, 10:43:49 PM »
Interesting article in the NYT

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/01/science/moon-landing-hoax-conspiracy-theory.html

I have noticed a trend in the past year or so where between 10 and 20% of responses to anything related to historic or current space exploration, especially of the Moon, is reacted to with laughter, disbelief, denial, or mockery.

This are not the old school HBers, who would argue till the cows came home.  Rather most now seem to be one off posts by people doing it for the "LoLs".  It's often linked to vaccine denial, flat Earth, etc.

A pseudo-sceptical mindset that doubts reality seems to be becoming mainstream.  Plus of course trolling because it is fun.

Offline dandypanty

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Re: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2023, 09:15:06 AM »
Too bad you have to have a subscription to read it. I haven't noticed what you speak of but I don't get out much.

Offline Dalhousie

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Re: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2023, 10:12:47 PM »
Too bad you have to have a subscription to read it. I haven't noticed what you speak of but I don't get out much.

There are a limited number of free views available.  That's what I read it on.  If it is any comfort I can read it again either.

Basically, unlike the old HBers, who were sincere and defended their positions, the new ones basically just troll and if pushed say they are just playing with ideas.  A post truth society.

You can see the phenomenon on youtube and FB on public posts.  Anything to do with the Moon and it's exploration.  Less so on Mars.

Offline Jeff Raven

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Re: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2023, 08:37:11 AM »
Too bad you have to have a subscription to read it. I haven't noticed what you speak of but I don't get out much.

Just FYI, if you're using Firefox, if you click on the link and immediately hit F9 (reader view) you might be able to get the entire article to load before it asks you for your subscription. I don't know if that works on other browsers or on a cell phone, but it usually works on my desktop.

Offline beedarko

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Re: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2023, 11:13:38 PM »
Too bad you have to have a subscription to read it. I haven't noticed what you speak of but I don't get out much.

Just FYI, if you're using Firefox, if you click on the link and immediately hit F9 (reader view) you might be able to get the entire article to load before it asks you for your subscription. I don't know if that works on other browsers or on a cell phone, but it usually works on my desktop.

That is a super useful tip... thanks for that!  I do use Firefox as my primary browser and this worked!

Offline Zakalwe

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Re: They Kinda Want to Believe Apollo 11 Was Maybe a Hoax
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2023, 03:37:38 AM »

 It's often linked to vaccine denial, flat Earth, etc.

A pseudo-sceptical mindset that doubts reality seems to be becoming mainstream.  Plus of course trolling because it is fun.

Crank Magnetism is a thing.
"The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' " - Isaac Asimov