In case we haven't beat the UFO debate into the ground yet, here's a new thread. Thought we should start with sts60's last post, since it he does have excellent points.
Quote:
On 2003-03-14 12:37, sts60 wrote:
Timothy,
I didn't say you claimed proof. I just said there was no proof. And there isn't.
As far as "evidence", well, there's a lot of experiences (anecdotes, unexplained sightings, and claimed unexplained radar returns) which could be alien spacecraft. And, let's be honest, that's what we're talking about here. That's exactly what these Project Disclosure types and so on believe they are.
But "compatible with" is a far cry from "evidence for". These experiences are compatible with the way humans process and recall (especially in a suggestive context) data, the fact that our technological aids are not perfect, and the amazing variety of natural and man-made phenomena out there. And this explanation doesn't require aliens.
Given the barriers to interstellar travel, the lack of physical evidence, the pointlessness of alleged alien behavior, and so on, and given the factors above, a very reasonable explanation is that "unexplained" UFO experiences and "alien abductions" have a variety of natural and man-made causes, but no aliens.
No one is going to simply explain this all away as mass hystiara, sleep paralysis, experimental aircraft, stupidity or what have you!
Exactly. No one will convince you otherwise; your mind is made up. "Aha!" you say, "so is yours!" Well, if you show me any proof of alien visitation, or even any evidence that really points in that direction, I might change my mind. What would change your mind?
I certainly believe there is intelligent life elsewhere. I just don't think it's been here yet, when the real explanations for UFO experiences are much richer, more varied, and interesting than the bumbling interstellar anal-obsessives and government-alien conspiracy dreck served up by the True Believers.
|
Unfortunately, I believe that our governments would keep the existence of ET UFO's secret from us, and that is the cause of all this confusion. There is too much to gain by keeping it secret, and too much to lose by making it public. Let's say for a minute that an alien ship did crash in Roswell. What benefit would we have by sharing this with the world? On the other hand, what benefit would we have by keeping it to ourselves? Even with my open-mindedness, if I was President, that baby would be mine, all mine. Remember, the government's goal is not the free exchange of science with the world. It has always been about national security and maintaining our technological edge. I'm not much into the conspiracy scene, but if UFO's are truly ET craft, we would
not be told. We would have to wait until the evidence is so overwhelming that it cannot be denied. I also want to add that I don't believe this policy would apply to projects such as SETI, since finding ET's on another planet poses no threat to us, nor does it give us any strategic or military advantage. But a spaceship in our atmosphere certainly does.