Penn & Teller: Bullshit!: Alien Abductions (2003)
Season 1, Episode 3
Okay overview of another scam.
13 September 2017
I don't understand people who think they've been abducted, or rather want people to think they've been abducted by little green men from outer space. Ever since I saw my first pseudo-science documentary on TV when I was a kid the whole thing just seemed far out there and kind of creepy. But it also didn't make sense, and as a kid I couldn't tell you why.

And that's really the only short shrift I can offer about this episode of Penn and Teller's TV series, and that is only the most cursory explanation is offered as to not only the psychological reasons of why this issue is nonsense. I think exploring the whole scam was warranted, but probably meant for another show for another time.

I said I didn't understand these people who just make up stories about being molested by aliens, but the truth is, on a more fundamental level, I guess I do understand them. We all like to make up stories at some point. We tell our kids about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, you friend or husband comes home with fish stories ("You shoulda seen da one that got away!"), and a few of us have bent the truth here and there in our everyday lives ... trying to get out of a speeding ticket ... explaining why you were late to work ... stuff like that.

But these people? I'm glad Penn and Teller did this episode, but it's like with all other BS material, it doesn't deserve any more attention than it's gotten (and I guess that's part of the underlying format of Penn and Teller's premise for the show), but at times you need to expose just a bit more to help ram the point home.

Either way it's an interesting watch. It'll kill half an hour if you have nothing better to do.
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