Honestly, today was going to be about the Iranian attack on the oil tankers. It’s interesting, it’s topical, and it addresses an important point in conspiracy theory: the value of maintaining credibility.
Unfortunately (or, arguably, fortunately) TheStig covered the basics of what is already fueling conspiracy theory on the matter, and did so masterfully. I felt it appropriate to address the counterpoints in the comment section. Having posted a few hundred words on the topic, it seemed redundant to do so again. If you’re in the mood for some analysis of what is likely to be the topic du jour of conspiracy theorists, go read yesterday’s post and the comment section.
Today, instead, I’m going to discuss alien cats.
This is a topic about which I first heard roughly 25 years ago, during a question-and-answer session with Whitley Strieber at one of his book signings. An earnest middle-aged man raised his hand and asked, “Do you think cats were sent here by aliens?” He proceeded to present his proof: “I buy little alien-head white chocolate lollipops, and I noticed that whenever I have them around my cats, my cats bow down to the lollipops.” (To the layperson, this is often known as stretching.)
At the time I thought the question was uniquely bizarre, and I appreciated the aplomb with which Mr. Strieber handled it. He treated it seriously and gave a waffling answer which satisfied the questioner, who was obviously pleased not to have been mocked for his curiosity.
It wasn’t unique, though. As I was to learn, this is an actual belief held by a thankfully small segment of conspiracy theorists, people like professional biologist Timur Baisalov, as recorded at Earth Chronicles.
The “proof” behind the theory is that cats have a number of unusual physiological developments, such as their superior night vision, their purr, and their ability to land on their feet.
Each of these is easily explained by their position as hunters; cats are anything but alone in the possession of helpful traits to aid in their pursuit of survival. That fact is the cornerstone of everything from evolutionary theory to creationism.
There’s not much to debunk on this one. Either cats are provided with special powers and placed here by aliens to spy on us… or they’re not. There is no proof that they have been, and the very traits which are supposed to evoke concern are mirrored by other animals – not in the trait itself, but in the physiological oddity factor in general.
So, that said… go back and check yesterday’s thread for a discussion of something that might really have some meat to it, and is at least somewhat open-ended.
Or enjoy a laugh.
