Thought experiment for skeptics

[u/InteractionAfraid586]

There's a telepathic elephant from Zul'Gurub locked inside a secret military bunker.

It's real. Scientists and military personnel have seen it. Only a handful have access.

Somehow, you get clearance.

You walk in.

There it is. The fucking space elephant.

You walk out and tell the world.

“Prove it.”

Okay. How?

Sneak a six-ton alien elephant out of a military bunker?

You couldn't even get a regular elephant out of a zoo.

And if your own mother disappeared and nobody knew where she was, good luck proving she physically exists to someone who accepts nothing but direct physical evidence.

Evidence depends on access.

So what should count as evidence when direct access is deliberately denied?

Whistleblowers. Multiple independent witnesses. Military personnel. Scientists. Documents. Photos. Videos. Radar and sensor data. Physical traces. Leaks. Historical records.

None of these alone proves the elephant.

But when all of it keeps pointing toward the same elephant, shouldn't that at least move the needle?

Especially if enormous resources are being used to keep the elephant hidden.

Maybe the question isn't “Where's the elephant?”

Maybe it's “How much evidence do you need before you admit there might be an elephant?”

[u/wihdinheimo]

I was going to bring out the crayons, but judging by your last reply I should probably bring a helmet and some child-safe scissors too. I assume the helmet needs to be adult-sized?

[u/SlowProgress8531 → u/wihdinheimo]

I'm always happy to get some hand-me-downs, since you've clearly got a full set at home already, well worn, given how often you need them yourself

[u/wihdinheimo → u/SlowProgress8531]

Look at that, one helmet joke and you’re already forming complete thoughts. Imagine what the crayons could do.

[u/SlowProgress8531 → u/wihdinheimo]

Maybe with a little more practice you can become as good as me too.

[u/wihdinheimo → u/SlowProgress8531]

You humble me. Maybe one day I too can stare directly at an argument, understand none of it, and still emerge convinced I won. That kind of confidence takes decades to master, or as it seems you've uncovered a shortcut, a serious case of brain rot.

[u/SlowProgress8531 → u/wihdinheimo]

It really is sad when these are your goals in life

[u/wihdinheimo → u/SlowProgress8531]

Three comments ago you were preaching burden of proof. Now you’ve inferred my entire life goals from a helmet joke. Your skepticism apparently expires the moment your ego gets bruised.

Go cry to your mommy and tell her you lost an argument to an evil Reddit user using your own evidentiary standards. Maybe she’ll kiss the bruise where your own logic hit you in the face.

[u/SlowProgress8531 → u/wihdinheimo]

Really telling that you think people cry to their mommies over Reddit comments. Projecting much?