Interesting OP. Summarising as briefly as possible: I loved reading myths and legends as a child; how people of different countries lived and about the world from (a) a wonderful teacher, and (b) stories of explorers, and (c) AE info, particular tutankhamen; went to Giza travelling home from Aden; heard about von Daniken and Velikovsky from my father and read them. However, at this point in my 20s and 30s I had already encountered many more practical, sceptical and scientific points of view and was constantly on the look-out for balancing views. Read GH's early books and liked the fact that he would point out then whenever he was speculating. Went to some seminars (1980s I think) and raised the question about amphorae with long slim necks and smooth insides. Did not swallow whole the 'must have been some unknown ultra-sound method'. this wos one of the things which moved me far more rapidly towards the realisation that there is either objective evidence for something or there is not, with some middle grond where the answer is 'we don't know', not'mysterious source of choice'.

I discovered along the way and long ago that reality and the awareness of the difference between fact and fiction gives far more clarity, meaning, excitement, wonder and enormous interest to life than believing that any other something exists.

Sean Carroll's 'Revisitng the higgs-boson' video and the Schrijver's book 'Living With The Stars' (plus plenty of others) consolidated my opinion.

Susan