A tin foil hat is a piece of headgear made from one or more sheets of aluminium foil or similar material. Alternatively it may be a conventional hat lined with foil. One may wear the hat in the belief that it shields the brain from electromagnetic fields; to prevent mind control and/or mind reading; or to limit the transmission of voices directly into the brain.
The concept of wearing a tin foil hat for protection from such threats has become a popular stereotype and term of derision; the phrase serves as a byword for paranoia and persecutory delusions, and is associated with conspiracy theorists.
This stereotype is popular in pop culture, with tin foil hats making appearances in movies such as Signs and Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder.
Read more about Tin Foil Hat: Origin of Concept, Scientific Basis
Famous quotes containing the words tin, foil and/or hat:
“Another one o’ them new worlds. No beer, no women, no pool parlors, nothing. Nothing to do but throw rocks at tin cans. And we gotta bring our own tin cans.”
—Cyril Hume, and Fred McLeod Wilcox. Cook (Earl Holliman)
“the stars turn slowly
in the blue foil beside them
like the eyes of a mild savior.”
—James Tate (b. 1943)
“Did Johnny look flashy?
Yes, his white-on-white shirt and tie were luminous.
His trousers were creased like knives to the tops of his shoes
And his yellow straw hat came down to his dark glasses.”
—David Wagoner (b. 1926)