Documentary - Critical thinking meets paranormal pop culture.

klaus18 · 11th August 2012, 03:32 AM

Howdy folks,
I saw a skeptical documentary 5-10 years ago, and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was. The theme of the show was to study how the normally rational human brain is prone to conclude paranormal conclusions from incomplete data or cultural pressure. It was filmed in the USA, and there are a few details I remember.

The crew staged a “crash site” along the course of a hiking trail. The trail guide explained that the Air Force required them to stay away because of some sort of classified crash, and this was the only explanation offered to the hikers. The tableau included a number of armed guards (who did not interact), bits or what appears to be aircraft or spacecraft, and unrecognizable markings. The show interviews the hikers several weeks later to discover that they have overwhelmingly concluded that they saw a UFO crash site. The remembered details have changed, like the number of guards, the uniforms they were wearing, the type of debris, and even remembering bodies present.

Another social experiment sent a “cryptozoologist” to a small town a week before a local festival where he deliberately spreads the news that he is in town to study stories of a (fabricated) river creature believed to live in the small river. Even though the story was just created, oldtimers recalled seeing this creature in their youth, and many others recalled hearing about a creature with a description identical to that of the Loch Ness monster. The segment concludes with a diver in a monster suit making an appearance at the festival so that the entire town had a chance to make a sighting. Even after revealing the hoax, many stood by their stories of seeing the creature for years.

I’m hoping one of you guys has some insight! Thanks.

gabeygoat · 11th August 2012, 02:11 PM

sounds neat, i hope you get an answer

Beerina · 11th August 2012, 03:16 PM

Never heard of it either but wanna watch.

Accidental Martyr · 12th August 2012, 09:47 AM

I searched every possible thing I could think of and couldn't find anything about this documentary/program. I emailed a copy of the OP to Ben Radford because it kind of sounded like something he and/or Joe Nickell might have been involved with.
His reply:

Quote:

That sounds interesting, but I don't recall seeing such a TV show. It almost certainly wasn't produced by a skeptics group, so it may have been a show that aired on one of the cable networks. If I find out anything about it I'll let you know, but it's nothing I've seen or heard of.

all best,

Ben Radford

_____________________
Some info about Radford if you're not familiar with his work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Radford
http://benjaminradford.com/
I would also like to see this if anyone ever manages to track it down.

klaus18 · 12th August 2012, 02:45 PM

Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it!
J

R.A.F. · 12th August 2012, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by klaus18

Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it!
J

Darn you, klaus...I knew the answer, and I would have looked real "smart" if I had only found this thread 46 minutes ago....

klaus18 · 12th August 2012, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by R.A.F.

Darn you, klaus...I knew the answer, and I would have looked real "smart" if I had only found this thread 46 minutes ago....

Well, I think you are smart AND pretty. I can tell because of... I just know, ok?

Safe-Keeper · 12th August 2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it!
J

Thank you, will definitely give these a look!

11th August 2012, 03:32 AM	#1
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7	Documentary - Critical thinking meets paranormal pop culture. Howdy folks, I saw a skeptical documentary 5-10 years ago, and I cannot for the life of me remember what it was. The theme of the show was to study how the normally rational human brain is prone to conclude paranormal conclusions from incomplete data or cultural pressure. It was filmed in the USA, and there are a few details I remember. The crew staged a “crash site” along the course of a hiking trail. The trail guide explained that the Air Force required them to stay away because of some sort of classified crash, and this was the only explanation offered to the hikers. The tableau included a number of armed guards (who did not interact), bits or what appears to be aircraft or spacecraft, and unrecognizable markings. The show interviews the hikers several weeks later to discover that they have overwhelmingly concluded that they saw a UFO crash site. The remembered details have changed, like the number of guards, the uniforms they were wearing, the type of debris, and even remembering bodies present. Another social experiment sent a “cryptozoologist” to a small town a week before a local festival where he deliberately spreads the news that he is in town to study stories of a (fabricated) river creature believed to live in the small river. Even though the story was just created, oldtimers recalled seeing this creature in their youth, and many others recalled hearing about a creature with a description identical to that of the Loch Ness monster. The segment concludes with a diver in a monster suit making an appearance at the festival so that the entire town had a chance to make a sighting. Even after revealing the hoax, many stood by their stories of seeing the creature for years. I’m hoping one of you guys has some insight! Thanks.
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7

11th August 2012, 03:16 PM	#3
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Never heard of it either but wanna watch.
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

12th August 2012, 09:47 AM	#4
Accidental Martyr Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality and bad poetry. Posts: 1,852	I searched every possible thing I could think of and couldn't find anything about this documentary/program. I emailed a copy of the OP to Ben Radford because it kind of sounded like something he and/or Joe Nickell might have been involved with. His reply: Quote: That sounds interesting, but I don't recall seeing such a TV show. It almost certainly wasn't produced by a skeptics group, so it may have been a show that aired on one of the cable networks. If I find out anything about it I'll let you know, but it's nothing I've seen or heard of. all best, Ben Radford _____________________ Some info about Radford if you're not familiar with his work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Radford http://benjaminradford.com/ I would also like to see this if anyone ever manages to track it down.
	__________________ "Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile!" Kurt Vonnegut

12th August 2012, 02:45 PM	#5
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7	Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it! J
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7

12th August 2012, 03:31 PM	#6
R.A.F. Suspended Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,107	Originally Posted by klaus18 Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it! J Darn you, klaus...I knew the answer, and I would have looked real "smart" if I had only found this thread 46 minutes ago....
R.A.F. Suspended Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 2,107

11th August 2012, 02:11 PM	#2
gabeygoat Muse Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hard Corvallis, Oregon Posts: 668	sounds neat, i hope you get an answer

12th August 2012, 03:51 PM	#7
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7	Originally Posted by R.A.F. Darn you, klaus...I knew the answer, and I would have looked real "smart" if I had only found this thread 46 minutes ago.... Well, I think you are smart AND pretty. I can tell because of... I just know, ok?
klaus18 New Blood Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 7

12th August 2012, 04:18 PM	#8
Safe-Keeper Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sogndal, Norway Posts: 7,116	Quote: Just to touch base, I got an answer for this on another board. It turns out that I was describing two episodes of the Discovery Channel series "Unsolved History." I'm in the process of stealing them right now to verify. The false crash site was part of the "Roswell" episode, and the river monster was part of a hidden creatures one. Thanks to those who have help me to look for it! J Thank you, will definitely give these a look!