It was both. He mentions that "if we don't stop them, they'll stop us. And then they'll go out and end other galaxies. Won't someone think of the other galaxies, Shepard!"

I am 100% positive that this particular line was never said. Other galaxies are never mentioned.

Odd, I could have sworn it was. Oh well then, strike that part.

It is precisely why the indoctrination theory holds so much weight. That nonsensical ending sequence after Shepard goes unconcious from the Reaper attack seems to indicate he is in a dream/being indoctrinated when he is talking to the boy-God.

I mean, think about it. Whywould the boy-God be a boy in the first place? If what some people believe about the boy not existing at all earlier is true, then there's the possibility that the Reapers drew from his mind to use the boy's image. I don't think the Reapers were able to project the imagination of the boy into Shepard's mind that time on Earth and each time he slept. And if the boy actually did exist was he a projection of the boy-God the whole time? I doubt it.

A lot of things combine in those 15 minutes that seem to support the indoctrination theory, IMO.

Right but the problem with that theory is if it turns out to be true then we don't even actually have an ending. It would be like if star wars ended just before the fight between Vader and Luke and destroying the Death Star. The theory fits with the dreadful ending we have been given mostly, however it means the game hasn't even ended. It would mean that Shep is knocked out just before reaching the beam, thus him waking up in the rubble in the destroy/fight indoctrination ending. The war is still going on and we are still waiting to see what the outcome is. 

However the indoctrination theory is pretty flim flam and fanmade. It still doesn't explain everything, like how even in some endings after Shep is 'dead' or has resisted the indoctrination you see the normandy land. If he has already accepted indoctrination or resisted it then why would that normandy scene exist? The scene with the old man telling the child about 'The Shepard' etc. 

Seriously people deal with it. It is not the end of the world. Still got a few months to go. Entire gaming internet is raging over it. Blahh.

Die in a fire.

Counter-point; Mass Effect is a pulp sci-fi series which has hitherto shown roughly zero sense of subtlety when it comes to its plot (or themes).

This entire thing is akin to the Zelda Timeline: trying to fit things which were never meant to fit together is ultimately a fruitless exercise.

Steps Three and Four in the Stages of Grief are _________.

I'm afraid you've misunderstood me completely. The first part of my post is in line with your own assertions. The Indoctrination Theory requires the player to peice together a series of small and subtle events to understand the "true meaning" of the series. That would be appropriate if this were, say, Silent Hill. But Mass Effect has not taken that approach in three two and 99%/100% games. There is no reason to think it started in the final portion of a hundred-hour saga.

You also miscomprehend the second part of what I said. I am not comparing the stories of the two series. I am comparing the efforts some fans put in peicing together the Indoctrination Theory to the effort some fans put into peicing all the Zelda games together into one timeline.

But Vertigo-X did, and the post you quoted was a response to him. When I later say "in line with your own assertions," I referred specifically to your statement that "p to this games ending, Mass Effect has been very consistent." Unless I completely misunderstand what you mean by that.