The Skeptical Mind : ZetaTalk, The Grand Conspiracy 1995

Subject: Re: ZetaTalk among the Greats!
From: "Carol Kavanagh" <carolk@anu.edu.au>
Newsgroups: sci.astro

Hi All

Now, while I wouldn't like to call my own parents 'totally foolish,
uneducated, illogical and gullible' as Sarah describes the people who have
bought into this hoax, they are getting on, ergo closer to the wooden box,
ergo seemingly prone to panicking about things like this.

The family bought them a p.c. last Christmas so they have been surfing,
and, somehow or other have come across some stuff about a Planet X that
orbits our planet once every two or three thousand years or so, and is on
it's way again mid next year.

We all told them we would have heard from astronomers by now should there be
any truth at all in this, but they have totally bought into the idea that
the 'authorities' are supressing the info to prevent widespread panic and
anarchy until it's too late. And, also, that the 'leaders' (whoever they
are!??) have had underground bunkers built to protect them. Like they are
sure our P.M. will be going to somewhere at Woomera! (I sure wish he would
:o)

So, whilst personally I'm not particularly into the stars, other than to
look up at the night sky and say 'Aren't they pretty!' I thought to check
into a newsgroup like this where people are interested to see if anyone had
heard about this so that I could put the oldies minds at rest.

Straight away, I can see it is a topic of discussion, and that pretty much
everyone thinks it's a hoax. If the people spreading this are just misled or
confused it's bad enough, but if they are doing this for fun or notoriety,
they are cruel. Anyway, suggestions for what I might say to my parents to
try and calm them down re the approach of potential doomsday would be
appreciated?

Cheers and thanks
Carol (Canberra, Australia)


	Re: ZetaTalk among the Greats!
	Subject: Re: ZetaTalk among the Greats! From: "Carol Kavanagh" <carolk@anu.edu.au> Newsgroups: sci.astro Hi All Now, while I wouldn't like to call my own parents 'totally foolish, uneducated, illogical and gullible' as Sarah describes the people who have bought into this hoax, they are getting on, ergo closer to the wooden box, ergo seemingly prone to panicking about things like this. The family bought them a p.c. last Christmas so they have been surfing, and, somehow or other have come across some stuff about a Planet X that orbits our planet once every two or three thousand years or so, and is on it's way again mid next year. We all told them we would have heard from astronomers by now should there be any truth at all in this, but they have totally bought into the idea that the 'authorities' are supressing the info to prevent widespread panic and anarchy until it's too late. And, also, that the 'leaders' (whoever they are!??) have had underground bunkers built to protect them. Like they are sure our P.M. will be going to somewhere at Woomera! (I sure wish he would :o) So, whilst personally I'm not particularly into the stars, other than to look up at the night sky and say 'Aren't they pretty!' I thought to check into a newsgroup like this where people are interested to see if anyone had heard about this so that I could put the oldies minds at rest. Straight away, I can see it is a topic of discussion, and that pretty much everyone thinks it's a hoax. If the people spreading this are just misled or confused it's bad enough, but if they are doing this for fun or notoriety, they are cruel. Anyway, suggestions for what I might say to my parents to try and calm them down re the approach of potential doomsday would be appreciated? Cheers and thanks Carol (Canberra, Australia)
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