# Intelligent Believers in Moon Conspiracy Theory **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 12, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587 "2002-08-12T19:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/848f3c/32.png) [@JohnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnM)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/1 "2002-08-12T19:41:39Z")
This weekend I was at a friend’s party; large outdoor event, good food, good drink, plus a trebuchet with a 20 foot arm in the back yard. All in all a great time was had by all. However, I found myself in a discussion with about a dozen people, and the topic of strange beliefs came up. Thinking I was using an example that no educated, intelligent person would disagree with, I said, “Well, there are still people who don’t think that we landed men on the moon.” Two young teachers, both grad students and otherwise seemingly bright people, expressed doubts as to whether we had actually landed on the moon. I was floored. I pushed a little bit, and they both came down not in the denier camp, but rather argued that it is just as likely that the Apollo program was a hoax as that it actually happened. And yes, in the interest of good manners and being a good guest, I dropped it there. What could I, or should I, have done differently (in the name of fighting ignorance, of course)? Have you faced examples of such invincible ignorance yourself? Why do I feel like I let Cecil down? ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/2 "2002-08-12T20:00:21Z")
In order to be polite but still argue, you might have suggested they look it up on line at [badastronomer.com](http://badastronomer.com) to see how the various arguments for the hoax hypothesis have been debunked. Otherwise you did the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/3 "2002-08-12T20:13:47Z")
You should have asked them where they bought the sharpe Nike’s and how the “at-home castration” scar is healing. And why they weren’t wearing the tin-foil hats. (it in the handbook, people!! MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES!!) * * * Overheard at the Shakespeare production: MAN: What the hell did he just say? WIFE: He shouldn’t take “No” for an answer. MAN: Why the hell didn’t he just say that then! WIFE: Its “Artsy-Fartsy”. MAN: Its “Fartsy”. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/4 "2002-08-12T22:21:28Z")
That silly documentary was aired on UK terrestrial TV last night and as usual brought out the usual rash of people who kid themselves that they are being objective and critical when in fact they have just been spoon-fed an unsupportable minority view. It’s self-fulfilling prophecy all the way: anyone who scrutinises the crumblingly poor evidence put forward by the deniers is labelled as part of the clique or merely brainwashed. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bad_Astronomer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/5 "2002-08-12T23:05:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by photopat \* > \*\*In order to be polite but still argue, you might have suggested they look it up on line at [badastronomer.com](http://badastronomer.com) \*\* Not to be picky or anything, but it’s [badastronomy.com](http://www.badastronomy.com). Specifically, [this page that debunks the Moon Hoax show by Fox](http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/tv/foxapollo.html). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/6 "2002-08-13T21:59:30Z")
[Putting on Pretend-Moderator-Hat] All you lunar-landing hoaxists: Just please stop. Now. [Taking off my Pretend-Moderator-Hat] ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/7 "2002-08-13T22:25:49Z")
Sorry Bad Astronomer. I like the site, but I have it bookmarked and forgot exactly how it parsed. A dozen lashes with a wet noodle do I deserve. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intelligent-believers-in-moon-conspiracy-theory/123587/8 "2002-08-13T23:48:59Z")
Buzz Aldrin said the greatest pickup line was to look up at the moon with the lady and say, “You see that? I’ve been there.”