'Tinfoil Hat'?

Surreal · April 29, 2002, 3:06pm

Exactly what does the expression ‘tinfoil hat’ refer to? I’ve noticed it’s used here quite often, in an accusatory tone.

Arwen · April 29, 2002, 3:15pm

http://www.trilobyte-mag.com/tinfoilhat.htm
http://tinfoilhat.shmoo.com/

Typical timfoil hat wearers believe that the aliens are coming to get them, using mind-rays, and their aluminum hat will protect them. Usually it’s just a creative way of saying “you’re crazy”.

whitetho · April 29, 2002, 3:57pm

Also, Cecil Adams himself recently discussed the phenomenon in: Do tinfoil helmets provide adequate protection against mind control rays?, although that of course was two years ago, so who knows what sort of advances in hat design have been made since.

White_Lightning · April 29, 2002, 5:51pm

That column is a modern classic. Essentially, referring to the tinfoil hat is the cool way to insinuate that someone’s a loony.

Arnold_Winkelried · April 29, 2002, 6:36pm

Don’t listen to the skeptics. You can find the facts here.

Why_A_Duck · April 29, 2002, 6:40pm

Part of me wants to know how Arnold found that excellent link. Part of me is off alerting the boys with the tight fitting jacket and the really long sleeves.

mnemosyne · April 30, 2002, 2:27pm

Warning signs of psychotronically affected pets:

* Does your cat stare intently at empty space as if watching something?
* Does your dog follow you around as if keeping track of you?
* Does your goldfish seem content to merely swim around in a little bowl observing you?
* Does your parrot say things that you never taught it to say, especially pro-NWO slogans?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Arnold_Winkelried · April 30, 2002, 6:30pm

I felt somehow compelled to go to that site. My fingers were saying “no! no!” but my brain was saying “yes! yes!”

Winnowill · April 30, 2002, 10:03pm

Of course, if you have faith in Conspiracy Theory, you already, of course, know that the shiny side is treated with a dangerous chemical. Yet, Arnold’s site wants me to put this chemical in DIRECT CONTACT with my cranium! (Although, further reading of that site advises that I should add a further piece of foil, with the dull side down, to keep my brainwaves from escaping.)