I think most hoaxers and just people who have too much time on their hands and think it would be funny if they tricked people into believing they have a picture or video of something.

Little do they know people on ATS have super hoax seeking vision.

Or the hoaxes are actually the government trying to discredit UFO sites and making people think they are fake.

I think in part it is knowing that there are gullible people who will help support your claims. I am amused by the fact that there are whole threads where renown CGI / PS experts have indicated a photo "hoax" and yet people will still carry on debating it. The C2C "Drones" are a classic example. I suppose in some ways you have to admire their tenacity and belief.

Some peoples belief in a subject outweighs their objectivity. I can remember a picture if a seagull that I could see as a seagull from the off. Now that could be because I come from a seaside town and have photographed many birds (feathered and otherwise) in my time and thus could immediately say seagull. It could have been common sense. But out there somewhere someone believed the photo worth $30,000!! And some here on ATS could not see the seagull. I always think back to that photo with amusement when I see threads like the C2C Probes.

I think you need positive proof and I don't think that a photo can really give it. You need more corroborating evidence. I think we are better off saying case "not proven" if there is any element of doubt. Better that than to keep saying this is the real deal each time. My burden of proof is higher, I believe. That's why I don't believe in god or the tooth fairy until I witness them or some incontestable burden of proof comes my way.

I get peed off with threads titled "This is the smoking gun" and such. Each time I know it will be bull. Perhaps we are tackling it the wrong way. Maybe we should just ignore posts that are obviously fake and the kiddies will go somewhere else!!

It could be that they are just using ATS to hone their skills. Its like a hoaxers school here, with photoshop experts as the examiners of your coursework...bit like a supervisor to a PhD UFO Hoaxology student. Who knows if this crud keeps up some Uni may even start to run a course

I sometimes get the uncomfortable feeling of some social inadequate, loner in his bedroom sitting at his PC, trousers by his ankles, getting off on the fact he is getting attention!!

Mind you it is balanced sometimes by the thought that some lad is getting slaps by his mates, because they told him it looked crap before he started his hoax!!!

All I know is they must have a lot of time to waste...shame they can't do something more constructive...Still a PhD in Hoaxology might be useful........

What drives the mind of the hoaxer? This pathology is crucial for anyone wanting to really understand the UFO phenomena.

One or more of three main things.

MONEY (greed)
ATTENTION (look at me!)
CRAZY (not institutionalized crazy, but definitely a few fries short of a happy meal)

MONEY - They are out to make a few bucks on it. George Adamski was an example, as I suspect Meier was (you'll see why I say was).

ATTENTION - These are the folks who do it for a feeling of importance or just to get others' goat, etc. This is actually by far the largest reason, from the cases I've looked at.

CRAZY - Usually starts out as one of the above, then they believe their own schtick. Meier is likely now in this category....as is Greer

Just my opinion of course.

Originally posted by T Trubballshoota
I sometimes get the uncomfortable feeling of some social inadequate, loner in his bedroom sitting at his PC, trousers by his ankles, getting off on the fact he is getting attention!!

Well, join some clubs....maybe some kind of church function, or the local library. Whatever you do.....pull up your pants, get out of the house....maybe take a walk. Develop a new hobby maybe. Cheer up!! I don't think you're a socially inadequate loner!

Interesting!

It would be fun to dig into the psychology behind hoaxes and hoaxers.

Basic greed. Money. Fame. Control issues. Acceptance issues. DELUSIONS in which they believe their own hoax. Fantasy worlds.
Some get a kick out of pulling something off on others... they think
they are smarter then others. Having fun. Power. Building a fan base.
Like being adored. etc etc etc

Pick one (or two, or three) .... add your own thoughts.

I'm sure each and every hoaxer has his/her own reasons for doing it.

I think people who hoax current UFO subject matter are just doing it for practice of whatever medium they like to use(photographers and CGI artists alike). If you can fool thousands of people with your art, there is a big chance you will get hired by any effects company. Within some CG graphics circles, hoaxing is used for bragging rights, to see who is actually the better artist by seeing how long they can string people along. I actually wanted to start a thread on how easy it is to make a hoax using CGI on a shoe string budget(and how to identify it as well). But some of the UFO proponents act like it is a diservice to the UFO community because it makes people think everything is hoax.

hoaxing seems as good a hobby as any other, in fact it seems much more interesting. Plus you are blurring the line between reality and fiction -nothing is more fun!!

Originally posted by enjoies05
Or the hoaxes are actually the government trying to discredit UFO sites and making people think they are fake.

Couldn't be .gov agents intentionally spreading disinfo in those cases, to divert aspiring freethinkers in the wrong direction?

All they do is make me laugh, which is fine by me

[edit on 24-5-2007 by Id123]

Originally posted by Ellen Oneironaut
hoaxing seems as good a hobby as any other, in fact it seems much more interesting.

This makes plenty of sense. It's would be a hobby that really promotes creativity, and with the Internet, you have a huge audience for your stuff. Plus, you will not have to ask for any help on how to make your stuff better. Just post it up, and the pros will quickly show you your mistakes.

Pranksters have been around for a long, long time. Technology makes it easier, and gives you plenty of options.

Id also like to know what goes on in the minds of people who believe these hoaxers without question.

How can people be so gullible even after its been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the claims are false?

I think the more interesting psychology is in those who believe the hoax. Sometimes a hoax is not easy to detect but I think we have seen plenty of obvious hoaxes that are believed by many people. So what is it about a certain hoax that makes people want to believe in it? I have always said the method is easy. Tell people what they want to believe or already believe in and there is little chance that they will question the story. Hoaxes continue many times because no one challenges them. If you tell a Catholic that a statue of the Virgin Mary cried tears of blood they will believe it. Tell a UFO believer an incredible tale of an alien abduction and they will believe it. Tell someone who dislikes the government that the government is up to something sneaky and they will believe it. Tell someone what they want to hear and they will not question the story. The doubt usually comes from someone who does not believe in the topic.

Originally posted by Gazrok
One or more of three main things.

MONEY (greed)
ATTENTION (look at me!)
CRAZY (not institutionalized crazy, but definitely a few fries short of a happy meal)

Good list but I'd like to add one.

DISINFO (Intentional hoaxing to discredit all information on the topic)

If we are flooded with hoaxes no one will take the real information seriously.

Originally posted by zerotime
Tell someone what they want to hear and they will not question the story. The doubt usually comes from someone who does not believe in the topic.

I agree with people believe what they want to, tell anyone religious that a miracle occurred and most will believe it without question. Even if its proved false, some of them will still believe.

I question everything even if its something I want, if someone wants to give me something, I immediately ask why unless I trust the person.

This is why Ive never been conned and why conmen find it so easy to con greedy or gullible people, even though the Nigerian 419ers have been around years, they are still getting suckers every day.