We’re all guilty. At some point throughout the day there is a very good chance that if you participate in some form of Social Media, you probably find yourself scrolling through posts, watching videos, or listening to your favorite podcasts, sometimes for hours on end without break. The benefit of such platforms cannot be understated when it comes to the vastness of information one has at their fingertips, just a few clicks or swipes away. Correspondence that once took hours, days, or weeks to deliver is now instantly available to read and respond. ‘Friends’ and ‘Follows’ from all over the world now have instant access to conversations about interested topics to consume and add their voices with ease. Where this idyllic way of thinking about social conversations and their potential for the subsequent progression of ideas begins to break down is multifaceted and deserves a closer review.
Firstly, the topic being discussed may be in itself controversial or highly debatable and can elicit strong responses and polarizing positions.
Secondly, the information or opinion being presented about a topic can be speculative or unfounded, given the possible lack of credible information available or from misinformed premises, and thus the conclusions drawn from it become divisive and can lead to fervent advocates or an outright dismissal of a topic’s validity or viability altogether.
The Topic of Conversation
As a site whose focus is on unexplained phenomena, this topic provides a wealth of examples to parse down how such conversations devolve as commentary progresses. Conversations about UFOs/UAPs, non-human entities (NHE’s), time travel, inter-dimensional facets, etc. all have aspects that some find agreeable, some disagreeable, and have the ability to generate a powerful emotive response from those who ascribe or deny various claims advanced.
Those interested in learning more about various unexplained phenomena are met both online and in person by their friends, family, and coworkers with differing levels of acceptance and engagement, along with a myriad of opinions that divert in some cases quite dramatically as the subject is further examined. With a mixture of informed, uninformed, beginners, veterans, believers, and skeptics, the topic of unexplained phenomena by its very nature remains controversial and polarizing as we continue to seek and find new information that builds the foundations of our understanding. Given that, we are left to look at the information itself being presented and how we analyze, accept, or reject the position offered and how ‘what is said’ matters.
The Information Presented
You’ve probably read a post or tweet or similar at one time and thought, “This is spot on,” or “This is rubbish.” Maybe you fell somewhere in between, “This is almost right,” or “I think (this part) is true but (this other part) is false.” The information or opinion expressed comes under scrutiny as those engaging it seek credibility and/or validity in the statements offered. Explorers seek credible sources or data to formulate their own opinions on the matter. What makes for a credible source or credible data? The answers you are given will undoubtedly vary. The reason falls back on trust.
Some will point to government officials and the positions once or currently held as a justification of credibility. Others will look to those same individuals with skepticism, usually referencing back to some alleged misinformation or disinformation incident or incongruence as reasoning for their doubt. Still others will point to veteran or ‘connected’ researchers, ‘established voices’ whose body of work, diligence in vetting sources, and (this point does not get enough attention) whether that researcher’s position aligns with an individual’s own opinion as a basis for agreeability response. Scientific researchers, both those conducting the experiments and those interpreting the data, are also cited as credible or spurious. As we build our knowledge, this process is likely to continue until answers to our questions begin to find solidity.
Moving Forward
The topic of unexplained phenomena is a polarizing and frustrating topic due to its sheer credulity given the lack of verifiability so many of its facets contain. I applaud the many researchers out there who are speaking with individuals, following breadcrumbs, and trying in earnest to put together one of the most phenomenal puzzles of our history. When considering information presented online in social media posts and chat forums, it is important we understand our biases influence our initial reaction (whether we are aware of it or not). Be curious. Be skeptical. We can be wrong. We can be right.
This is part one of a two part article. The second part can be found here.