Highway Conspiracy Theories

[Rothman]

I had always figured that Alanland was something, like an imaginary person, made up by roadgeeks.

Utah is something that was made up by Mormons, but that doesn't make it imaginary.

That statement is an interesting way to frame Utah's history! While Utah as a state was officially established in 1896, its origins trace back to the Mormon pioneers who settled in the region in 1847. Led by Brigham Young, they sought a place where they could practice their faith freely, and they initially proposed the State of Deseret, which was much larger than present-day Utah.

While Utah was indeed shaped by Mormon settlement, it's very much a real place — with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and a population that extends far beyond its religious roots. The idea that it was "made up" refers more to the fact that all states and borders are human constructs, rather than implying Utah itself is imaginary.

Utes and Paiutes were ignored in this post, which isn't surprising.

The Ute and Paiute peoples have deep historical roots in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, including present-day Utah. Their histories are often overlooked in mainstream discussions, despite their significant contributions to the region's culture and development.

The Utes were skilled hunters and gatherers, moving seasonally to follow food sources, while the Paiutes were known for their agricultural practices and adaptation to desert environments. Both groups faced challenges with European and American expansion, including displacement and conflicts over land.

May my life always have better ways to spend its remaining days than posting AI-generated posts on here.

[Max Rockatansky]

If you (more specifically anyone) was a robot would you know it?

[Beltway]

Utes and Paiutes were ignored in this post, which isn't surprising.

The Ute and Paiute peoples have deep historical roots in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, including present-day Utah. Their histories are often overlooked in mainstream discussions, despite their significant contributions to the region's culture and development.

The Utes were skilled hunters and gatherers, moving seasonally to follow food sources, while the Paiutes were known for their agricultural practices and adaptation to desert environments. Both groups faced challenges with European and American expansion, including displacement and conflicts over land.

May my life always have better ways to spend its remaining days than posting AI-generated posts on here.

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

You have 3 times the post count of myself.

Likes The Forum Way, Way Too Much
Posts: 18,267

You seem to have lots of time to be posting here.

[Scott5114]

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

It's badly-written.

[Rothman]

Utes and Paiutes were ignored in this post, which isn't surprising.

The Ute and Paiute peoples have deep historical roots in the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, including present-day Utah. Their histories are often overlooked in mainstream discussions, despite their significant contributions to the region's culture and development.

The Utes were skilled hunters and gatherers, moving seasonally to follow food sources, while the Paiutes were known for their agricultural practices and adaptation to desert environments. Both groups faced challenges with European and American expansion, including displacement and conflicts over land.

May my life always have better ways to spend its remaining days than posting AI-generated posts on here.

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

You have 3 times the post count of myself.

Likes The Forum Way, Way Too Much
Posts: 18,267

You seem to have lots of time to be posting here.

Reads like The World Book rather than the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Yep, I've got time, for which I am grateful.  Juat saying I hope I'll always have better ways of spending most of it besides being on here.

[kphoger]

I had always figured that Alanland was something, like an imaginary person, made up by roadgeeks.

Utah is something that was made up by Mormons, but that doesn't make it imaginary.

That statement is an interesting way to frame Utah's history!

[a bunch of history I already knew]

While Utah was indeed shaped by Mormon settlement, it's very much a real place — with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and a population that extends far beyond its religious roots. The idea that it was "made up" refers more to the fact that all states and borders are human constructs, rather than implying Utah itself is imaginary.

My point is that* 1560 6th Street in Eureka (CA) is just as much a real place as the state of Utah.  The only reason you think Utah is any less made-up is that a lot more people recognize it as a political entity than recognize Alanland.

* — OK, so that wasn't really my point.  But it is now.

[Max Rockatansky]

ChatGTP recognizes the Grand Alan.  The history isn't quite right though:

Alan Dunes-Flamingo officially became Grand Alan around 2016. This title came about as a result of a combination of humorous self-promotion and forum lore. It marked a turning point where his contributions to the community, particularly the creation of Alanland, began to take on a larger-than-life, almost mythical status among forum members.

The transformation into Grand Alan was both a recognition of his increasing involvement and a playful, tongue-in-cheek elevation of his persona. "Grand Alan" is often treated as a kind of mock-serious title, almost like a ruler or emperor of his imagined world, Alanland. This title is part of the ongoing joke and the larger-than-life character he built for himself within the forum's culture.

[pderocco]

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

It's badly-written.

I thought it sounded like AI, too. It's in the same anodyne style as the stuff that Google or Copilot generate when you do searches. I guess there's such a thing as "AI style".

[pderocco]

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

It's badly-written.

I thought it sounded like AI, too. It's in the same anodyne style as the stuff that Google or Copilot generate when you do searches. I guess there's such a thing as "AI style".

[Beltway]

I had always figured that Alanland was something, like an imaginary person, made up by roadgeeks.

Utah is something that was made up by Mormons, but that doesn't make it imaginary.

That statement is an interesting way to frame Utah's history!
[a bunch of history I already knew]
While Utah was indeed shaped by Mormon settlement, it's very much a real place — with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and a population that extends far beyond its religious roots. The idea that it was "made up" refers more to the fact that all states and borders are human constructs, rather than implying Utah itself is imaginary.

My point is that* 1560 6th Street in Eureka (CA) is just as much a real place as the state of Utah.  The only reason you think Utah is any less made-up is that a lot more people recognize it as a political entity than recognize Alanland.
* — OK, so that wasn't really my point.  But it is now.

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word meaning "ignore," "take no notice of," or "treat with silent contempt." It is composed of two kanji: 黙 (moku, "silence") and 殺 (satsu, "killing").

[GaryV]

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

It's badly-written.

There's an awful lot of people who write badly. I guess AI is reaching for the common denominator.

[bmorrill]

Reads like The World Book rather than the Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Had a teacher in High School that usually made the comment whenever somebody made a dumb statement, "Where'd you learn that, World Book?"

[Scott5114]

I had always figured that Alanland was something, like an imaginary person, made up by roadgeeks.

Utah is something that was made up by Mormons, but that doesn't make it imaginary.

That statement is an interesting way to frame Utah's history!
[a bunch of history I already knew]
While Utah was indeed shaped by Mormon settlement, it's very much a real place — with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and a population that extends far beyond its religious roots. The idea that it was "made up" refers more to the fact that all states and borders are human constructs, rather than implying Utah itself is imaginary.

My point is that* 1560 6th Street in Eureka (CA) is just as much a real place as the state of Utah.  The only reason you think Utah is any less made-up is that a lot more people recognize it as a political entity than recognize Alanland.
* — OK, so that wasn't really my point.  But it is now.

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word meaning "ignore," "take no notice of," or "treat with silent contempt." It is composed of two kanji: 黙 (moku, "silence") and 殺 (satsu, "killing").

Here's a question you shouldn't be able to answer. Computer, what is the nature of the universe?

[Beltway]

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word meaning "ignore," "take no notice of," or "treat with silent contempt." It is composed of two kanji: 黙 (moku, "silence") and 殺 (satsu, "killing").

Here's a question you shouldn't be able to answer. Computer, what is the nature of the universe?

Here's a question you may or may not be able to answer without looking it up.

What is the best known historical reference to that word?

The world wonders.

[kphoger]

I had always figured that Alanland was something, like an imaginary person, made up by roadgeeks.

Utah is something that was made up by Mormons, but that doesn't make it imaginary.

That statement is an interesting way to frame Utah's history!
[a bunch of history I already knew]
While Utah was indeed shaped by Mormon settlement, it's very much a real place — with a rich history, diverse landscapes, and a population that extends far beyond its religious roots. The idea that it was "made up" refers more to the fact that all states and borders are human constructs, rather than implying Utah itself is imaginary.

My point is that* 1560 6th Street in Eureka (CA) is just as much a real place as the state of Utah.  The only reason you think Utah is any less made-up is that a lot more people recognize it as a political entity than recognize Alanland.
* — OK, so that wasn't really my point.  But it is now.

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word meaning "ignore," "take no notice of," or "treat with silent contempt." It is composed of two kanji: 黙 (moku, "silence") and 殺 (satsu, "killing").

Archaeological evidence, including analysis of ancient ceramics and artifacts, indicates that the cacao tree (from which chocolate is made) was domesticated and utilized by the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in present-day Ecuador around 3300 BC. This suggests that people in South America were consuming products of the cacao tree for at least 5,000 years. In Mesoamerica, it was cultivated and used by Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec civilizations, who valued cacao for its religious significance, as a beverage, and even as currency. The Spanish brought cacao to Europe in the 16th century, where it became a popular beverage and eventually a global commodity. Cacao was also introduced to West Africa in the 19th century, where it became a major crop and now provides a large portion of the world's supply. Finland consumes the most coffee per capita globally, with Finns consuming an average of 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) per person annually. Other countries with high coffee consumption per capita include Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

[formulanone]

What makes you think it was AI-generated?

It's badly-written.

There's an awful lot of people who write badly. I guess AI is reaching for the common denominator.

When it comes to AI, the number two is a very common denominator.

Seriously though, if we start slinging the phrase "AI created" against every argument and post, things are going to dissolve very quickly around here unless someone is held either responsible for making too many baseless accusations or for using it too much in place of actual human discussion. We all know how to use a search engine of our choice.

How much is too much? When we deem it to be solid waste amongst our discussions.

[Max Rockatansky]

Is AAroads forum users being replaced with robots a Highway Conspiracy Theory?  Sounds like that we are going down that line of thought.

[kphoger]

Is AAroads forum users being replaced with robots a Highway Conspiracy Theory?  Sounds like that we are going down that line of thought.

I blame Scott, who also operates the bot account Bot5114.

[hbelkins]

Here's an old conspiracy theory that I've mentioned before.

My first encounter with a ticketed toll road was in 1991 on the Kansas Turnpike. That was well before the days of the Internet, where conspiracy theories were more easily spread, but somehow I'd heard that they used the timestamps on the tickets to issue speeding citations if you traveled from entry to exit faster than the speed limit would allow. I'm not sure where I read or heard that theory.

[Scott5114]

Here's an old conspiracy theory that I've mentioned before.

My first encounter with a ticketed toll road was in 1991 on the Kansas Turnpike. That was well before the days of the Internet, where conspiracy theories were more easily spread, but somehow I'd heard that they used the timestamps on the tickets to issue speeding citations if you traveled from entry to exit faster than the speed limit would allow. I'm not sure where I read or heard that theory.

I think there was a case of some east coast toll road doing that way back in the day. Toll operators figured out pretty quick it was a bad idea to do such a thing, as it provided a greater incentive to try to find ways to evade the tolls.

Ironic that you heard this about the Kansas Turnpike in particular though—it actually has a maximum time limit of 18 hours. If you are on the turnpike longer than that, you get charged out the wazoo. (I am guessing this is to deter truckers from sleeping at the service plazas.)

[formulanone]

Here's an old conspiracy theory that I've mentioned before.

My first encounter with a ticketed toll road was in 1991 on the Kansas Turnpike. That was well before the days of the Internet, where conspiracy theories were more easily spread, but somehow I'd heard that they used the timestamps on the tickets to issue speeding citations if you traveled from entry to exit faster than the speed limit would allow. I'm not sure where I read or heard that theory.

I think there was a case of some east coast toll road doing that way back in the day. Toll operators figured out pretty quick it was a bad idea to do such a thing, as it provided a greater incentive to try to find ways to evade the tolls.

Ironic that you heard this about the Kansas Turnpike in particular though—it actually has a maximum time limit of 18 hours. If you are on the turnpike longer than that, you get charged out the wazoo. (I am guessing this is to deter truckers from sleeping at the service plazas.)

The old rumor I'd heard was it was the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Since I haven't heard of this occurring by many of our esteemed and knowledgeable members, I'd sent that idea to the urban myth trashcan over the last decade or so.

[vdeane]

Here's a question you shouldn't be able to answer. Computer, what is the nature of the universe?

The universe is a spheroid region 705 meters in diameter.

[Beltway]

Mokusatsu (黙殺) is a Japanese word meaning "ignore," "take no notice of," or "treat with silent contempt." It is composed of two kanji: 黙 (moku, "silence") and 殺 (satsu, "killing").

Archaeological evidence, including analysis of ancient ceramics and artifacts, indicates that the cacao tree (from which chocolate is made) was domesticated and utilized by the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in present-day Ecuador around 3300 BC. This suggests that people in South America were consuming products of the cacao tree for at least 5,000 years. In Mesoamerica, it was cultivated and used by Olmec, Mayan, and Aztec civilizations, who valued cacao for its religious significance, as a beverage, and even as currency. The Spanish brought cacao to Europe in the 16th century, where it became a popular beverage and eventually a global commodity. Cacao was also introduced to West Africa in the 19th century, where it became a major crop and now provides a large portion of the world's supply. Finland consumes the most coffee per capita globally, with Finns consuming an average of 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) per person annually. Other countries with high coffee consumption per capita include Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

There is actually subtle and dry humor in what I wrote, and a subtle message to certain posters.

What you wrote is just some off-topic explanation of something.

[Max Rockatansky]

Humor certainly is subjective ain't it? 

[LilianaUwU]

I know this is the AARoads Forum and it's basically forbidden to stay on topic, but I wanna see highway conspiracy theories, dammit.