The Dangers of Being A Microbiologist

Anonymous Coward writes "Globe and Mail is running a story for all the paranoid conspiracy theorists among us: "Eleven microbiologists mysteriously dead over the span of just five months.... Throw in a few Russian defectors, a few nervy U.S. biotech companies, a deranged assassin or two, a bit of Elvis, a couple of Satanists, a subtle hint of espionage, a big whack of imagination, and the plot is complete, if a bit reminiscent of James Bond.""

Comments

Disbelievers and their habits. . .

[Fantastic Lad]

I've had the clear impetus over the last two years during which I've been studying in depth all things New Age, Occult, Mystical, Magical and Fantastik, to observe trends in how people are conditioned to respond to any form of thought which falls outside the accepted norms.

Really neat!

With the advanced warning that Fantastic Lad's views on these matters come with a heavy bias, since I have become utterly convinced that prevailant forces beyond the understanding of conventional science are at work all over the place all the time, here are my observations. . .

1. Most people who have embraced what I affectionately call, 'The Programming' automatically assume a position of denial and disbelief, regardless of their actual feelings. Even if they are fascinated by an alternative idea and might even be willing to accept it, the conditioned reaction seems to be one of ridicule and scorn designed to hurt the person sharing the information.

This is really weird, because it even happens to me! After friends listen to me blathering on about Chem Trails, aliens, and Chi, sometimes they come to me and relate weird experiences they have had or esoteric theories they have read, and my automatic response is to doubt and scorn them! I actually have to work in order to listen without automatic negative judgement!

2. People shed their programmed disbelief in weird levels. I've talked with astrologers and channelers who believe entirely in their 'craft' (I put 'craft' in quotes because, while these phenomena are without any question in my mind perfectly legitimate, they remain fields nonetheless filled with MOUNTAINS of crap, disinfo, charlatanism, etc.), while accepting these things fully, nonetheless automatically reject ALL aspects of things like free energy theory, UFO's, conspiracy theory, Chi, etc. --You can pick any combination of these subject headers for such an individual and distribute them randomly beneath "Believe" and "Disbelieve". --And I'm talking about TOTAL belief in one area with TOTAL denial in another. It should go without saying that this seems remarkably peculiar to me.

3. The "Re-Boot" phenomenon. When you provide a powerful experience to a disbeliever, (such as knocking them on their asses by tapping their crown Chakra, pointing to a plane dispersing a chem-trail, Dream walking into their sleep and describing to them in detail their dream the next day, knocking over a chair or lighting a candle with focused Chi, etc.) -the average disbeliever will walk around stunned for a day or two, unable to process the experience, and then, if they are unable to find a rational sounding way of dismissing the new information will actually deny any memory of the event! --I've actually seen this happen several times. (I don't know if people actually don't remember or not, but when you press, people will actively avoid the subject in conversation with anger. I've never seen it reach the point of violence, but it seems to me quite possible.)

4. Geeks and technically savvy individuals, who I believe are critical vectors in the determination of the current state of this reality paradigm, have by far the most powerfull 'blanking' programs and 'rationalization' programs installed, all sporting the most vehement emotional reactions when pressed. (It should be noted that 'rationalization' is very much in quotes. A look at something like the Skeptic's Dictionary shows a wide array of Mis-informed Straw-Man bashing, Half-baked logic, and Plain Old Ridicule used to fortify the 'Official Line'.) --All of which, of course, in my mind, suggests that special care has been taken in this sector by The Powers That Be.

Anyway, I've found the whole process of making these observations utterly fascinating, and I know there are some out there who might also be interested. And of course, Caveat Lector should be employed at all times when reading my stuff. While I tend to know WAY more on most of these topics than a bevy of New Age morons, I'm still only on the lower parts of the knowledge mountain myself! For every bit of verification I find, I run across 25 lies and bits of fabricated sensationalist crap.

-Fantastic Lad

Re:Satanists != Pagans!

[Kintanon]

Now you are talking out your ass with no regard for facts. The term Pagan was coined by christians to refer to the Druidic, pantheistic religions in Britain and Europe at the time. The term is almost exactly as old as established "Big Church" Christianity. The religions which it was applied to predated christianity by a long margin, but those religions have almost nothing to do with the current crop of "Pagan" religions. The current incarnation of "Paganism" is a hodgepodge of eastern philosophy, european mysticism, and native american totemic beliefs. It originated around the late 60s, early 70s and has begun to gain widespread popularity due to the increasing unpopularity of "Big Church" christianity. But no, the current incarnation of Paganism is not older than christianity. No, it doesn't have anything to do with satan.

Kintanon
Disclaimer: I am a christian, my wife is a pagan. I am not a "Big Church" christian.