Hi Makayla, thanks for reading, watching the video (amazingly fewer than 1 in 10 readers watch the explainer video), and commenting.

I’m going to correct several misconceptions you have about my article and video. First, on conspiracy theories, and second on racism.

True, whether or not a theory is about a conspiracy is not necessarily related to the strength or veracity of the theory. I consider the lack of evidence for the ancient astronaut theory separate from how the theory is then used to buttress a broader conspiratorial mindset. This article is, please remember, an expansion of an example I used in my earlier article, What Lurks Behind Conspiracy Theories. The Ancient Aliens show does constantly imply that there is a deliberate cover-up of evidence that proves their theory, which is fodder to feed the general mindset of a mistrust of all experts that is an aspect of conspiracy theories. That the ancient astronaut theory has next to zero evidence is obvious, and has been refuted multiple times by archaeologists. I’m a philosopher, so I don’t seek to duplicate what reputable archaeologists have said. I seek to point out how the social phenomenon of the Ancient Aliens show connects with broader social trends. The show’s phenomenon is a blending of absurd theorizing devoid of solid evidence with the conspiratorial mindset. Are the theory and the allegations of a cover up separate things? Yes, but that they are employed together in this show is significant.

The Ancient Aliens show does indeed have something to do with race. No, not everything that happens is because of racism, but ethnocentric condescension does have something to do with race. Again, I am not the first to discuss the racism inherent to the Ancient Aliens show. Nor am I the first to discuss the racism present in archaeology, anthropology, and history. The notion that non-Europeans are less intelligent and less capable is an old and deeply entrenched reality that has affected science and history. That the Ancient Aliens show buys into this entrenched notion is worth pointing out, because its racist condescension is what makes their weak theory of ancient astronauts possible.

I think it’s important to take a serious look at the Ancient Aliens phenomenon, and how its condescending racism and its conspiratorial mindset fits in with broader social trends. That’s because, among other reasons, you are correct that our society now has a confused view about what aliens could be.