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Conspiracy Theories and Incredible Tales 75

Conspiracy Theories and

Incredible Tales

Continued from Page 74

None of this was revealed in Greer’s
early UFO days when he appeared on Larry
King Live in 1994. When King asked him,
“How did you get into (UFOs)?” He said he had
an uncle who worked on a project for an Apollo
mission, was himself interested in space, and
that he had a UFO sighting himself
(StevenGreerArchive 2013). He makes no
mention of multiple sightings, no mention of
being taken up in space, and no springing down
the mountaintop in a body of light. Furthermore,
when King asked him if he’s made any contact,
he said, “We have had limited exchange by light
signaling and graphic signaling . . .” one over on others, to not hurt others’ feelings, two things: first, it’s pretty cool (to this author)
(StevenGreerArchive 2013). Then, after and so forth. What I’d like to focus on that and second, the vaguer and more unverifiable
explaining the signaling, he says, “there have appears the most relevant to this study is what is the claim, the less likely it is to be proven a
been reports of more advanced communication called “pseudologica fantastica,” otherwise fraud. It’s the same game played by
but . . . any craft capable of getting here from known as pathological lying. televangelists. Someone who claims to have
another star system is not gonna have This has been defined as the repeated been in contact with aliens or to be speaking to
technology that would be used by AT&T so we utterance of untruths; the lies are often repeated God holds all the cards. You can’t ever with 100
have to keep an open mind about what over a period of years, with the lies eventually percent satisfaction conclude a fakery, unlike
modalities of communication might be out becoming a lifestyle; material reward or social someone who may fib research results in a lab
there” (StevenGreerArchive 2013). advantage does not appear to be the primary that can be easily duplicated and retested by
Wouldn’t this have been the place for motivating force but the lying is an end in itself; other scientists. Making claims that you were
Greer to have told King what he tells us in the an inner dynamic rather than an external reason once allowed to review secret dossiers and
2006 book? When King asks him how he knows drives the lies, but when an external reason is reports of contact with aliens, claiming you
extraterrestrials have no hostile intentions and suspected, the lies are far in excess of the handled UFO wreckage but couldn’t keep any—
wish to establish a liaison with them, instead of suspected external reason; the lies are often all of these are difficult to prove conclusively
telling King what he tells us in his 2006 book, woven into complex narratives. (Dike et al. one way or the other. Plus, in regard to UFOs,
Greer answers that he knows this because he’s “. 2005) the mythology of a military/government cover
. . personally been within a few hundred feet of There may or may not be a neurological up has been in place since the beginning of the
these craft …” and then the talk about signaling. defect behind why someone would engage in modern UFO era—1947. All one has to do is
Finally, King takes a caller from Petoskey, this behavior (Ford 1999, 136; Dike et al. 2005). plug their narrative into it. It already has an
Michigan, who asks if there is proof of alien In other words, perfectly “normal” people, even audience.
abductions where people are taken and returned. those with true and proven accomplishments, Are Phillip J. Corso, Robert O. Dean,
Greer says, “I think it is extremely rare that may engage in this behavior. and Stephen M. Greer engaging in make-believe
anyone is taken onboard (UFOs) . . . It is much As an example, witness Judge Patrick as described above? I don’t know. Either they
rarer than what UFO followers would have you Couwenberg who in 2001 was investigated by are telling something truthful or they are not. It’s
think” (StevenGreerArchive 2013). Another the State of California Commission on Judicial quite possible all three truly believe what they
missed opportunity to have discussed his own as Performance for constant lies during the course are saying and not consciously lying. But in any
told in 2006, I guess. of his duties and for outright lying to the case, it is up to them to bring forth the evidence,
Greer claimed he had the opportunity to Commission, claiming he was employed by the which they have not. If their extraordinary
“brief” CIA director James Woolsey on the CIA, taking part in operations in Southeast Asia claims are false (and they appear to be), then the
subject during a dinner party, but Woolsey, along and Africa and that he had a master’s degree in only explanation appears to be a psychological
with three other signatories to a letter on the psychology. None of this was true (Dike et al one speculated here, a need to embellish a rather
matter, explained that Greer took polite 2005). “normal” career, a need to make their lives more
conversation and questions as affirmation of his Also witness another judge, Judge Jack exciting than they actually are perceived to be
view when in fact, it was not (Letter to Greer Montgomery, in the State of Alabama. Through (by them), a wish fulfilled.
1999). Why would a CIA director need Greer’s an FBI investigation in 1992 and subsequent I remember my time in college, bright-
briefing anyway? But that’s not all: He told trial for taking bribes, he was found to have told eyed, out to change the world. I imagine lots of
podcaster Joe Rogan that he was asked by some outlandish lies. He claimed to have been young people have the same world outlook.
“someone senior involved with (President the first herpetologist at the Birmingham Zoo College or military or none-of-the-above, we all
Obama’s) team (to provide a UFO briefing)” and to have been a tortured prisoner of war in want great things for ourselves when we journey
(PowerfulJRE 2013). China in the Korean War. None of this was true into adulthood. Is it possible that once we move
To my knowledge, none of the people I (Ford 1999, 134). into the real world and most of us feel like we’ve
have discussed here started out with tall tales. Some people do embellish their already led “normal” or otherwise “uneventful” lives we
None of them, to the best of my knowledge, impressive careers and lives with fantastic start making stuff up? If we take financial gain
fibbed on their resumes to get into the military adventures and accomplishments, and they seem out of the equation, the only other solution as to
or medical school. We’re talking about people to do so for no other reason than for the sake of why this happens is that the person is making up
who already had impressive resumes who telling the lie itself. So, when you hear that a for a perceived failure to be part of something
seemingly needed to embellish their work and wild story must be true because the person is not greater.
life afterward. Why? Since no proof has been out to seek financial rewards or might actually To answer my question that started all of
provided to substantiate the above-noted claims, risk a social standing, those factors aren’t a part this: yes, sometimes otherwise accomplished
our answers will have to be sought elsewhere. of the equation. people will invent tall tales for any number of
There are many reasons people lie: to So why would anyone embellish their reasons. Some choose great war stories; others
avoid punishments, wish fulfillment, as acts of lives with UFOs? It works great for those choose to embellish their personal narratives
aggression, to gain favor, to feel powerful, to put making up a unique life. It accomplishes at least with great adventures with UFOs. []