What is the meaning of a tin foil hat?

[kcwayne]

I understand that it refers to conspiracy nuts, but I don't understand why a tin foil hat has significance.

Thanks from someone who has never watched X-Files and is culturally illterate in that regards.

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Tin foil hats...

...block the mind reading ability of aliens.

They touch on the "theory" in the Mel Gibson movie "Signs". Pretty good movie too.

[Renew Deal]

2. The helicopters

They're everywhere

:tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat::tinfoilhat:

[Clark Campaigner]

3. I think it has something to do with kooks

thinking that the government/aliens/illuminati being able to read their thoughts, so they wear a tinfoil hat for protection.

[rogerhall]

4. Tinfoil blocks the microwaves so no one can control you by ...

beaming instructions into your head through your fillings. It also blocks the mind reading devices, and protects against alien probing.

Or so I've been told ... :}

:crazy:

[Clark Campaigner]

6. alien probing?

Better wear a tinfoil diaper for that!

:P

[kcwayne]

5. Thanks All, that's hilarious

I wonder how many people that wear tin foil hats have cell phones?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[hobbes159]

7. It's actually fairly common among people suffering from schizophrenia...

particularly those forms of the illness that include auditory hallucination. The person "hears" voices in their head, which they interpret as coming from outside themselves (beamed in by aliens, the govt., whatever) and the tin foil is supposed to provide a barrier.