Viral Memetic Infection - The Psychological Stumbling Block of the Paranormal Community

Zeal. Fervor. Blind Faith. Unswerving Belief.know something even if they have to make it up
These are the symptoms and attributes thatso as to establish some sort of safety or
denote the ugly side of religion. Religion being thatsecurity net even if that same net is tied to
which is a system or enacted operation of ideasimaginary posts.
that are anchored into one's psyche and therebyThere are many cults of personality in the
act as a format or basis of day to dayParanormal Community and it is becoming so
functionality in one's own life. We all have aaccepted as such that the acceptance of these
religion, be it in the accepted wisdom traditions ofviral memetic infections is yet another submeme
the world, science, atheism, agnosticism or anyof the acceptance itself. It is very subtle and it is
structure whereby one has devised a foundationrife with myriad nuances and almost imperceptible
of principles to govern one's self by.subconscious beliefs of its own also based on
A meme.perceptively real fears. It is all a very confused
There is nothing inherently wrong with a memeticand convoluted mess and each interwoven layer
mindset unless the mindset is one of division,is yet another virulent and infectious meme.
polarity or a superiority complex in nature. TheseMemes themselves are an oddity in that the
tend to be harmful as brother against brother andhighly subjective nature of one's own perception
sister against sister exact a very real andwould almost seem like a fail safe against them
principled physical or mental judgment of crueltyas each and every perception is unique with no
on one another with both sides thinking they areexception to that rule yet here it is that someone
right in their zealotry to reaffirm their beliefscomes up with a compelling idea and subsequently
within themselves in a self righteous way. I givealmost without fail, others, not experiencing the
you the condition of the world today as anoriginator's point of view or perception, blindly
example of this infectious memetic polarityaccept the idea unquestionably and thus are
brought about by religious divisiveness in whichensnared into following with no more thought to
others suffer at the hands of anothers beliefs.their act of following than a "this guy is right"
What I wish to address in this article is viralperception and mentality.
memetic infection in which an idea spreads like aAm I the only one that finds the obviousness of
disease from mind to mind from it's source orthis running rampant throughout the Paranormal
origin that is accepted unquestionably as is with noCommunity and UFOlogy in particular? I should
thought of potential harm to one's self or anotherhope not but then again, I don't want you to take
with the other idea that by following, one is doingmy ideas as wrote and start following me or my
a greater good. Many cults of infamy such as theline of thinking. I have tendencies toward being a
Peoples' Temple of Jim Jones, Heaven's Gate ofhermit and wish no one to be that close to me. I
which I lost a distant family member of mine andwould rather you thought for yourself! It is only
the Unification Church are all examples of a massbecause I am personally affected by the invasive
viral memetic infection.thoughts and actions of the self perceived self
All it takes is a somewhat educated Alpharighteous that I right this at all. It is a selfish
Personality with a megalomaniacal ego and aindulgence, I know. So be it. My motivation doesn't
penchant for power to instill a plausible but stilltake away from the validity of the point being
askew set of ethics and ideals into the mushymade in any way.
minds of the "lost" or low self esteemed seeker.You are alone in all of your perceptions and
Does this sound familiar to you? Let's take awayexperiences. Only you can ascertain a direction of
the rituals of obvious religious overtones andaction should there be any to take, point being,
change the names of the memetic seed plantersmake sure that you are clearly deciding for
who love to find the feeble minded that don'tyourself and not blindly following the unproven
think for themselves to build a cult of personalityideals, principles and contructs as outlined by the
upon full of just as much zeal, fervor andunclear thinking of another.
unbending faith as any fundamentalist religion andThe ultimate pointing out and intent of this article
call it UFOlogy.is simple. I can't, nor can anybody else tell you
I think that this is a valid assessment andwhat to think or how to think. This is impossible.
observation although not a new one. TheEverything that comes into your mind is there
obviousness of it, however, is more on the nosebecause your either
today than it ever was.A) Created it, or
Their are two major infectious memes plaguingB) Allowed it to be put there
the Paranormal Community today and they areYou have a choice. All I ask is that you exercise
easily recognized as the two camps known as thethat precious ability of choice. The bottom line is,
True Believers and the Debunkers leaving thenobody has any answers for YOU. Nobody has
precious few Skeptics scattered haphazardly andthe truth for YOU. Nobody knows something that
thinly throughout the middle somewhere. Both areyou don't because there is nothing to know!
highly zealous in nature. Both have an unswervingLiterally!
faith in their beliefs that allows them toThink for yourself. Decide for yourself. Act for
preconceive an entire notion or decision withoutyourself. These are brave and courageous deeds
reviewing any other possibilities, evidences orbut again these are foul, vicious and heinous times
processes. The only difference between theseand no less an ethic will assuage the unfounded
viral memes is simply one idea. A belief. Otherassertions of a self proclaimed prophet or power
than that, both seem to be terrified of themonger.
prospect of not knowing. They are hellbent toFree thyself for thyself...