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comment by user-inactivated
user-inactivated  ·  2251 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Roman Coins from the Falls of Ohio

I actually had a similar conversation with a friend the other week. They like this TV series called Oak Island and are totally into it. Personally I'm skeptical about the show. Anyhow, allegedly the treasure hunters on the show found a thousand Templar Cross and he says that that points to Templars being on the island a thousand years ago. I had to say "No, all it means is that they found what could be a Templar Cross that is possibly a thousand years old. It could have been brought there any time between now and when it was made by anyone."





historyarch  ·  2250 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I remember reading about Oak Island as a kid. I used to love all the UFO, Atlantis, alternative history, etc. stories. That show on tv now is obviously for entertainment purposes only. Every week they have a different theory or artifact they are looking for. Nothing ever actually gets found that can be verified. There used to be a ton of stories about places like Oak Island, isolated caves, etc. where gold and treasure were buried. Often they were guarded by a spirit/ghost. Many of these local stories have faded into oblivion as people become less superstitious. Oak Island has survived because it was not a ghost story.

'I enjoy these stories, they are interesting to think about. Plus, every now and then something unexpected happens. There were "big foot" stories in Africa in the late 19th century that were viewed as the same sort of pseudo-science until gorillas were discovered. The Romans could have come to America, Captain Kidd could have left a huge treasure on Oak island.

There likely is intelligent life on other planets in this vast universe. They might have even visited Earth. The one I know is false: aliens had nothing to do with building the pyramids.

OftenBen  ·  2248 days ago  ·  link  ·  

user-inactivated  ·  2247 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Said friend once asked me my opinion on those ancient aliens television shows. I told them I found them highly offensive because mankind has made some absolutely mind blowing achievements in science, math, and art, and to use spurious, hand wavey explanations that attribute those achievements to aliens robs those cultures and societies of the credit they deserve for their knowledge, ingenuity, and creativity.

A similar time, someone tried to tell me that everything from computer chips to cellular phones were the result of reverse engineering stolen alien technology. I told them flat out that that's absolute bullshit and even a know nothing guy like me could trace back developments in science and engineering to the very origins of these technologies, with names, dates, organizations, and all. I sure as hell nipped that one in the bud.