UFO threads are being resurrected, so I have to ask again:

[slowry]

Why are "believers" of alien visitation content with taking polls about it on the Net, wearing t-shirts proclaiming their belief, going to conventions, eating themed breakfast cereals (?), etc? Why has nobody been able to get a clear shot of one of these things? The ratio of sky to alien spacecraft is always 400:1 or so.

Someone, anyone on Earth, buy a serious camera, with serious non-digital zoom, with serious quality, take some photography courses, and get us a honest-to-gawd picture of an alien spacecraft.

Better yet, learn a bit about the scientific method. Devise methods to identify the composition of these crafts, their movement capabilities, their purpose (other than freaking people the FUCK out?), possible ways we might communicate with them -- any of a million unanswered questions about these massively intelligent and capable lifeforms.

You will instantly be famous, rich (book deals, movies, talks, ...?), be referenced in 1000s of new editions of textbooks related to cosmology, astrophysics, history, anything -- and ultimately change to course of humankind forever.

But, no; you're content to bitch about how "science" is holding back such discoveries. Give me a break. Eyes, ears, nose, hands, tongue, and brain. Go.

[pitohui]

1. don't let facts get in your way much, do you?

there are hundreds if not thousands of photos and videos of ufos, nobody gets rich in that business, and i'm surprised that people bother to continue producing and publishing them when all they get is shit -- there is sure as HELL no money in this

i the 90s 1 million people in mexico city saw the ufos over the city, and of course they were filmed, but 1 million witnesses backed up by film is not good enough for you

then i am going to suggest that nothing will ever be good enough for you

while i don't hold the alien visitation theory to explain ufos, claiming that there is no video and no photos at this late stage of the game is just inexcusable, if people don't know anything about a subject and have not even bothered to look into it for 15 minutes they shouldn't start posts about it

[slowry]

4. 400:1, 400:1. A picture might be worth a 1000 words, but all of this is meaningless, if we know

ZILCH about them. You're content "believing"? If I believed aliens from who-the-crap-knows-where, in our mind-bogglingly massive universe, were visiting us, I'd quit my job, sell my condo, and all my earthly possessions, acquire whatever equipment necessary, pitch a tent, and find anything at all out about these beings.

Pictures and video don't mean a thing, if we can't measure them, communicate with them, or even identify them as anything other than zomgGLOWYLIGHTS.

[pitohui]

7. i don't believe anything, you're the one who seems to be worried about it

i studied a bit with a man who worked for hynek and i'm satisfied that we have no idea if these entities are aliens or what they are, frankly because of the light speed limit and a number of other factors i doubt they come from outer space

in any case, what's with the "moving the goalposts" -- in the OP you're angry about the lack of photos, when i point out there are plenty of photos, suddenly photos are no good if we can't measure them, communicate with them, or even identify them...

i don't think you've spent any time looking into the complexity of the issue if you are still fixated on OMFG they are aliens from outer space and i want to get them on my cell phone

there are unknowns in science and sometimes the reason it's unknown is because we're looking in the wrong place


put aside your preconceptions that they must be alien visitors and instead consider that you don't know what they are and neither does anyone else

[slowry]

9. I didn't move the goalposts. We can photograph entire galaxies; why not a bloody tin can in the sky

That video is crap. I can walk outside and make a shaky video of the sky, and overlay a .png too.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Here:

http://youtube.com/user/aceBryan7ox

Do I believe any of it? All of it? Some of it? Hell, I don't know. But I do know someone's taking pictures and videos of something.

[slowry]

6. That looks like a jittery area of sky with something helmet-shaped getting a bit brighter,

in the course of 10 minutes.

Ok?

[LakeSamish706]

3. Well then I guess your post begs a question... What do you think about ...

UFOs, ESP and life beyond the planet earth? I have no factual evidence to back this up, but supposedly when the first astronauts landed on the moon they found signs of past life there... With a Universe that we know about, and a thing labeled infinity out there... Who TF knows what might be there?

I live in an area that supposedly has had sittings of Sasquatch (spelling)... Do I know they exist? No damn way, but I am not ruling them out either....

[slowry]

5. I believe the odds of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is pretty damn good.

And said odds only get better, as we begin to identify other planets (or moons!) like ours, and learn many other things about our universe.

All of that means absolutely nothing, as far as us literally being visited by highly advanced lifeforms.

[LakeSamish706]

8. I agree with you, but on the other hand this may have happened without...

many/most of us not being aware of it... There have been many, many reports of UFO's being spotted and that only means that someone saw something that they could not identify... So I rest my case..

ps: Is it possible that our (silent) Govt. has something that we (GP) don't know about? Now that would be something that I could live with... (or not)

[Cogito ergo doleo]

28. You might be surprised at how many of the more serious UFO

researchers would agree with your statements above. UFO only means it's an unidentified flying object. And the Roswell Incident is a good case in point concerning your p.s. It's almost as though the government is purposely tempting disbelief of its statements by offering up four unique official explanations of the event since 1947. The last explanation came at a presser a few years ago when they claimed that small blue crash test dummies were mistaken as alien fatalities amid the wreckage of a radar target. Someone in the audience mentioned that crash test dummies were not used until the early 1950's, to which the Spokesman (a Col. I think) responded that the reason for the discrepancy in the date was due to "time compression".

When you consider that the Roswell Army Air Field was home to the 509th bomb wing, the atomic warfare group (the Enola Gay was part of that group, stationed in Roswell), it's difficult to imagine that the brightest and the best of the military would not have been able to identify weather balloon wreckage, or that they'd mistake a wooden crash test dummy for a biological entity. None of it adds up, but that doesn't mean the wreckage was extraterrestrial, either.

Why would the government offer such inane responses (time compression?) when they would presumably like to be taken seriously, and close the case once and for all? It seems they have a stake in being enigmatic about the origins of UFOs.

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. It *is* possible for "bigfoot" to exist....

They found a new species of giant ape in africa in 2004. What's to say there couldn't be something similar scattered out across the US?


'New' giant ape found in DR Congo

The new ape has some gorilla (pictured) characteristics
Scientists believe they have discovered a new group of giant apes in the jungles of central Africa. The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees, have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to local villagers, the apes are ferocious, and even capable of killing lions.

The discovery has baffled scientists. There are three controversial possibilities to explain the origin of the mystery apes:

They are a new species of ape
They are giant chimpanzees, much larger than any so far recorded, but behave like gorillas
They could be hybrids, the product of gorillas mating with chimpanzees.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3730574.stm


For other new species being discovered all the time, even in the United States, look here:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS235US235&q=new+species+discovered

[mudesi]

10. Science, science, science. None of these people understand science

Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence

You know when I'll believe that there exist extra terrestrial life forms?

When SETI says so.

It's so simple. Trust science. And no, doctored pictures and video don't count as evidence.

[slowry]

12. Thanks for the reply. I agree, but would furthermore suggest that there's no need to trust

"science". Results may be verified, by anyone willing to put in some effort. New results could be discovered by anyone, at any time.

I would love for us to make contact with extra-terrestrials.

[soothsayer]

19. I heard SETI had gotten some interesting signals

[bridgit]

13. but the term 'UFO' does not per se suggest an "alien visitation"...

just an flying object that cannot be identified, right?

[slowry]

14. Technically, yes, absolutely. Most of the threads here are about actual alien visitors, though. n/t

[trixie]

15. Not being a vocal or even a discusser of UFOs....

Why would you think we are the only life form in the universe? If we are here why can't others be out there?

[slowry]

20. Easy: I don't. There can be. n/t

[TZ]

34. Carl Sagan has a good take on this...

He thinks the possibility of other life in the universe is very likely but he computes the likelyhood of actual contact between us and intelligent lifeforms to be highly unlikely because of the physics and distances involved.
Most skeptics will tell you that they don't think we are alone in the universe, yet the idea that an intelligent life form got on a ship and using technology that doesn't seem to fit the way the universe works (ie the laws of physics) has ended up here to sample our cows is a bit unlikely....

[dweller]

16. i dunno

ask him: http://www.meta-religion.com/Psychiatry/Analytical_psychology/symbolism_of_ufos.htm

then ask your neighbors.
dp

[gulfcoastliberal]

17. The 6 UFO Sightings They Can't Explain

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/air_space/1282476.html?page=2

[StClone]

18. No Fake

You Tube Video not fakes:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw

And the real shocker!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FIdxa59JfeI&NR=1

[defendandprotect]

22. The SOUND gives it away -- they're usually silent ---

[slowry]

24. Whoa... ! lol n/t

[StClone]

26. I just about wet my pants

The 2nd vid struck me as so off-the-wall humorous after watching the first. LOL!

[defendandprotect]

21. FIRST, many people have gotten pictures of UFOs-- fantastic photos -- !!!!

and I would imagine that the best of them end up in government hands --

How about the Mexican sightings a few years ago -- unbelievable ---
did you see that on MSM . . . ????

How about Phoenix Lights . . . great film . .. did you see that on MSM . . . ????


Are you imagining that it's simple to do these things?
Most people, IMO, are taken by surprise when a UFO appears and aren't necessarily walking around
with cameras under their arms.
Especially a video camera.

Again -- when there are photos, you're not likely to see them.
"Sightings" used to be a great program to keep current with sightings, but it's long gone.


HERE'S a story that has always amused me . . .
About a decade ago, the NY Times ran a story on their front page -- below the fold -- about sightings of UFOs in China.
There was a one column story which continued within the paper --
On the front page there was a small photo of a female pointing up to the sky ---
where you could see nothing -- she was pointing to where she had previously seen a UFO.

"Chinese take thousands of photographs of UFO sightings " ---

Then something like "Wave of UFO sightings across China" ---

However, there wasn't one photo of a Chinese UFO in the story --
not even in the larger area of the continued story --- NO PHOTOS

What does that tell you????

[StClone]

27. I have had four sightings

A black balloon-sized object that hovered briefly then zipped straight up out of sight in seconds.(2002)
A dark barrel-shaped object seen about half a mile away that drifted balloon-like but "against the wind" for several hundred feet then vanished before our eyes! (1998)

Twice I saw a silent huge row of six lights come on in the night sky one at a time until all were lit than go out in reverse sequence. (2001)

At the time each one of these were very real UFOs, but I have found after time an explanation that satisfied what I saw -- none Alien.

I have had a deep interest in Flying Saucers/UFO since about 1969. A roomful of videos and books on the subject is all that is tangible of my once keen interest and now skeptical view.

[defendandprotect]

30. Well, hard to imagine, because the information coming out is so much more . . .

extensive -- and believable.

There is a lot more known now -- whereas previously only investigators knew the true extent of the multitude of sightings among pilots, for instance.

And, on your "sightings" . . . maybe you've been trying too hard?

I've never thought I've seen a UFO . . . but I fully understand that what a couple of million people -- 3 million? -- and more in America alone have experienced is worth listening to.

[Swamp Rat]

23. .- .-.. .-.. ... -..- ... - . -- ... --. --- .-.-.-

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. UFO= Unidentified Flying Object

I have seen many in my life... satellites, balloons I could not identify... you know things like that

Most UFOs, when you look into it, can be identified post facto

There is this little small percentage that cannot...

That said... there is life in the universe... to think otherwise is quite unscientific, in fact ignorant.

Now the question is... will that be intelligent Life? Given enough time I suppose intelligent life can emerge on any planet capable of bearing life

Now can we expect to be visited by those Aliens? Highly unlikely....

There is this thing about stellar distances and under OUR current technology, BZZZZZT cannot be done. Unless you want to pack a lunch and a stasis chamber. (Operative words though OUR CURRENT TECHNOLOGY)

But to think that there is no life beyond this planet is ignorant to the nth degree.

And sooner, rather than later, if we don't nuke each other, we will find we are not alone

In fact, Frank Drake (you may know of the Drake Equation) and founder of the SETI project, would like to question why you are even questioning that there is life out there, yes, even intelligent life. And Sagan questioned Alien visitation on the technology basis and that stellar distance problem and FTL... which under current knowledge cannot be broken either... again that thing about CURRENT I'd like to point out

Then there is this little thing about the world being flat, and the spheres went around the Earth that was the center of the Universe... yep at one time Ptolemy was state of the art.

[defendandprotect]

31. The presumption is that these visitors -- probably different ones at different times ---

have been visiting us -- and perhaps genetically engineering us -- over hundreds of thousands of years . . .

They may actually be among us but in a different dimension --
like channels on your TV.

They may be based at the moon -- ?

They may be coming back and forth to underground areas?

They have obviously been trying to warn us about Global Warming since the early 1960's . . . or even earlier?

And about nuclear destruction --

They may have done similar damage to their own planet -- their own DNA??

This may have something to do with their own survival -- ?

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Well after having listened to Art Bell for a couple hours on time travel

and dimensional travel today... who knows?

He is fun from time to time

By the way NOT all who have seen UFOs have seen little gray men or time travelers or anything like that

I have one personal experience that I cannot explain from when I was a young kid

And it was a UFO... but from beyond the stars?

If it was... then they have far better technology than we do... that's for sure

I choose to be open minded about these things

You know why? There are things that we can't explain

But I also write sci fi...

And what would be sci fi, especially space opera, without Aliens?


Wait, The Foundation Trilogy (Asimov) or Battletech. (Minis game)

[defendandprotect]

35. Well, it sounds like you would have more interesting stuff to say on this than I do ----

I understand there were at least 12 different types of aliens visiting us ---
and maybe dozens of different types -- ???

The grays were once thought to perhaps be robots --- but evidently now recognized as a type.

Suggested the moon as a base -- but simply as a traveling stop over ---

Were you abducted ???

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. Nah, my sister and I woke up what at two in the morning

there was a very strong white light behind the house. That place used to be an open field back then. The trees, they were black in contrast with the light

There was no sound.

It could have been a chopper, except for the no sound part... but all we saw was an incredibly strong white light

We went back to sleep and that was it.

Now my sci fi though uses some of the UFO (as in aliens) Mythos... I admit the TAL are loosely based on the worst of the Grays... yes I have read on the subject and after that one I got my paws on anything I could get in Spanish. Another one of the species is bases on a highly psychic one, mostly in ancient mythos, and I have two who are used by more advanced species.

Bear in mind in Mexico the subject is far less controversial... and you have to wonder why.

But from a 100 percent scientific view... waht I saw was a UFO, and that's that... an unidentiied flying object

Why all the denials bother me...

But, but, but...

There are UFOs, all the time

And as I said, as a sci fi writer, I do follow the UFO mythos and at times listen to Art Bell since they can be sources of material.

[shireen]

29. i'm SO SICK of all this bickering over UFOs

so let me resolve this once and for all.

People, you are all part of a mega-reality show, being broadcast on the planet ZyP8ghhrrgo (don't even try to mangle it with your primitive larynx).
The ZyP8ghhrrgoians are laughing their socks off all 7 feet, they are howling so hard that all 11 bellys ache like hell. Yes, we find you all very very funny.

We occasionallyy have to send our techs out to adjust cameras and transmitters. Yup, those are the UFOs.


Now get back to your little lives, you have ZyP8ghhrrgoians to entertain....

:wow:

[Vinca]

33. Re UFOs. I've been trying to remember incidents that happened

along the east coast in the 1960's. I remember visiting an aunt in Dover, New Hampshire. Her husband was in the military - Strategic Air Command - at Pease Air Force base. All that summer there was talk about lights and sightings off the coast and I seem to remember the Air Force going on alert over it. Does anyone have any recollection of this? I was kind of young and not particularly interested at the time.

[defendandprotect]

36. No -- but your library or the internet may turn up something for you --- ????

[Skip Intro]

38. huh?

you don't address the extreme unlikelihood that we are the only sentient beings in existence in this universe - the odds of you being right are overwhelmingly against you.

given that, if you can be given that, the odds that we are the absolute peak of technology is a rediculous belief.

The sheer mathematics of it, the sheer odds, would indicate that there are others.


so the question becomes, are they able to come here


we got some moron standing on the deck of a war ship declaring mission accomplished


makes me hope for intelligent life elswhere