Comments on: How to Talk to a UFOlogist (if you must) http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: tensorthedino http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-60324 tensorthedino Thu, 04 Aug 2011 02:25:03 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-60324 Well they were sworn to secrecy because it was probably a government proto-type as I would assume many "UFO's" are. It's my understanding that there is more than likely life else where. But if they are more advanced than us, they would have NO interest in us. Well they were sworn to secrecy because it was probably a government proto-type as I would assume many “UFO’s” are. It’s my understanding that there is more than likely life else where. But if they are more advanced than us, they would have NO interest in us.

]]> By: Paranoid Schizophrenia Symptoms http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-57122 Paranoid Schizophrenia Symptoms Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:26:57 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-57122 I'd suggest looking at Drake Equation, it would probably be of interest to a lot of people here. I’d suggest looking at Drake Equation, it would probably be of interest to a lot of people here.

]]> By: Tony http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-56210 Tony Fri, 13 May 2011 11:15:00 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-56210 SETI have spent millions of dollars in "research" over the last 40 years. To this day, they have succeded in only one thing: Spend money. Assuming how far behind schedule we are in the cosmic evolution compaired to potential ET civilizations, I think it is quite pretentious to claim we are the one who will make contact. Scientists are indeed needed, but when it comes to ET life, their failing attempts to analyse and interpret is really only based on what they are mentally able to comprehend. What would have said any scientist, even just one hundred and fifty years ago, to someone who claimed possible the sending and receiving of data (being either text, photograph, film or sound) anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds? So, regarding the time it would take to traverse the distances between the stars, it is really up to the technology implied. None of the Phds, who spend more time writing books than actually genuinely researching anything, have a clue. SETI have spent millions of dollars in “research” over the last 40 years. To this day, they have succeded in only one thing: Spend money.
Assuming how far behind schedule we are in the cosmic evolution compaired to potential ET civilizations, I think it is quite pretentious to claim we are the one who will make contact. Scientists are indeed needed, but when it comes to ET life, their failing attempts to analyse and interpret is really only based on what they are mentally able to comprehend. What would have said any scientist, even just one hundred and fifty years ago, to someone who claimed possible the sending and receiving of data (being either text, photograph, film or sound) anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds? So, regarding the time it would take to traverse the distances between the stars, it is really up to the technology implied. None of the Phds, who spend more time writing books than actually genuinely researching anything, have a clue.

]]> By: MarvelFan http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-55052 MarvelFan Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:54:31 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-55052 LOL! ^_^ This thread took a deep dive into Geek Zone, didn't it? I regularly attend a convention that has a annual "Miss Klingon Beauty Pagent", although I find it unusual that outside of the films/TV shows most klingons (male and female) tend to be a bit overweight 9_9 Also at this convention there are 'hard science' panels and "Paranormal" panels; not much attendees to the former though (although I've felt like attending the Paranormal panels as a vocal skeptic, but just haven't had the guts to do so). One thing I will say is that I love reading about UFOs, Bigfoot, and the like because it is a kind of Pseudo-Science Fiction, which unfortunately some people actually believe. To point out how geek I am, I am someone who plays Role Playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. One in particular that deals with paranormal happenings is called Delta Green, which does a good job of mixing modern day conspiracy theories with, of all things, H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos :-): http://www.delta-green.com/ One final thought: I find it kind of funny that Streiber is responsible for one of the most lampooned aspects of UFO Abduction: The Anal Probe (even in the movie "Paul", the alien wonders why everyone expects him to do that :-) LOL! ^_^

This thread took a deep dive into Geek Zone, didn’t it?

I regularly attend a convention that has a annual “Miss Klingon Beauty Pagent”, although I find it unusual that outside of the films/TV shows most klingons (male and female) tend to be a bit overweight 9_9

Also at this convention there are ‘hard science’ panels and “Paranormal” panels; not much attendees to the former though (although I’ve felt like attending the Paranormal panels as a vocal skeptic, but just haven’t had the guts to do so).

One thing I will say is that I love reading about UFOs, Bigfoot, and the like because it is a kind of Pseudo-Science Fiction, which unfortunately some people actually believe.

To point out how geek I am, I am someone who plays Role Playing games like Dungeons and Dragons.

One in particular that deals with paranormal happenings is called Delta Green, which does a good job of mixing modern day conspiracy theories with, of all things, H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos :-): http://www.delta-green.com/

One final thought: I find it kind of funny that Streiber is responsible for one of the most lampooned aspects of UFO Abduction: The Anal Probe (even in the movie “Paul”, the alien wonders why everyone expects him to do that :-)

]]> By: Ruthe Fetz http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-27552 Ruthe Fetz Tue, 21 Sep 2010 14:24:50 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-27552 hallo, im from france so my english knowledge is not that amazing. Please dont blame me. I try to read blogs to make my english better and i have to say that your blog was perfect readable for me, because the english is really clear-thinking and all the posts are perfect readable. I will keep on reading it, to improve my english even more. Thanks a lot :) hallo, im from france so my english knowledge is not that amazing. Please dont blame me. I try to read blogs to make my english better and i have to say that your blog was perfect readable for me, because the english is really clear-thinking and all the posts are perfect readable. I will keep on reading it, to improve my english even more. Thanks a lot :)

]]> By: Paul http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-23517 Paul Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:30:01 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-23517 I'm open minded about UFO's, but I think the best way to go about learning about is through scientists. There could be a study of us going on by extraterrestrials, however I don't think abductions are real. If so, I don't understand why Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking has never been abducted. Once the greats in astronomy come back with startling information about extraterrestrials, then I will remain skeptical in the story telling of the UFO phenomenon. I’m open minded about UFO’s, but I think the best way to go about learning about is through scientists. There could be a study of us going on by extraterrestrials, however I don’t think abductions are real. If so, I don’t understand why Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking has never been abducted. Once the greats in astronomy come back with startling information about extraterrestrials, then I will remain skeptical in the story telling of the UFO phenomenon.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-15261 Andrew Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:03:15 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-15261 The thing about believing in UFO's and direct alien contact is why would such an advanced intelligence bother with cloak and dagger tactics (occasionally coming out for a light show in the middle of nowhere) if we are actively seeking contact with the likes of them? They're shy, yet vastly superior to us? And why, in their medical probing, do they require the use of utensils, metallic instruments if they could probably scan our bodies and extract the materials needed with some other device? And why the hell do they need us anyways? You're telling me that throughout their intergalactic travels they found us to be particularly useful in whatever the hell they could possibly be doing? Sounds like we turned visions of demons and elves and angels into little green and gray men. Religious iconography was replaced by the blasting of these new fantastic images at us by magazine covers and comic books and through television. And fear. And the ability of the human imagination to fill in the gaps. We formed a collective vision-experience around a new set of images, not necessarily a new set of archetypes (because an incubus used to be the demon that watched over women in the night, and would take them into malicious and sexually charged nightmares; i.e. into a spaceship for some sex-oriented experiments). Instead of horns you now get big black eyes. UFO's have not been proven to be occupied by alien entities. And government refusal to talk about these supposed incidents (no matter how numerous or descriptive and vivid the accounts) is not proof either. Just means they might be covering up some sort of blunder they made on their part. A die-hard believer asks no questions, but why it happened to them. A better question would be, has it happened to anyone? Belief does not prove a thing; nor does proof lead to belief. That's the crux of it. The thing about believing in UFO’s and direct alien contact is why would such an advanced intelligence bother with cloak and dagger tactics (occasionally coming out for a light show in the middle of nowhere) if we are actively seeking contact with the likes of them? They’re shy, yet vastly superior to us? And why, in their medical probing, do they require the use of utensils, metallic instruments if they could probably scan our bodies and extract the materials needed with some other device? And why the hell do they need us anyways? You’re telling me that throughout their intergalactic travels they found us to be particularly useful in whatever the hell they could possibly be doing? Sounds like we turned visions of demons and elves and angels into little green and gray men. Religious iconography was replaced by the blasting of these new fantastic images at us by magazine covers and comic books and through television. And fear. And the ability of the human imagination to fill in the gaps. We formed a collective vision-experience around a new set of images, not necessarily a new set of archetypes (because an incubus used to be the demon that watched over women in the night, and would take them into malicious and sexually charged nightmares; i.e. into a spaceship for some sex-oriented experiments). Instead of horns you now get big black eyes.

UFO’s have not been proven to be occupied by alien entities. And government refusal to talk about these supposed incidents (no matter how numerous or descriptive and vivid the accounts) is not proof either. Just means they might be covering up some sort of blunder they made on their part. A die-hard believer asks no questions, but why it happened to them. A better question would be, has it happened to anyone? Belief does not prove a thing; nor does proof lead to belief. That’s the crux of it.

]]> By: Tim http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-14391 Tim Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:35:19 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-14391 I want to say thank you to Michael Shermer for autographing my UFO and my brother's UFO photos: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/Dusto/MichaelShermerUFO.jpg You will have to decide for yourselves what it is. No seriously, take a look before reading on. This disclaimer is a spoiler alert, you want to look at the photo first. So, is it a flying saucer carrying extra-terrestrial beings who have traversed the vast distances of interstellar space in order dive into our atmosphere to survey our planet? Or, is it a flying saucer lid from a cooking pot being thrown into the air? I guess we will never know... I want to say thank you to Michael Shermer for autographing my UFO and my brother’s UFO photos:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v32/Dusto/MichaelShermerUFO.jpg

You will have to decide for yourselves what it is. No seriously, take a look before reading on. This disclaimer is a spoiler alert, you want to look at the photo first. So, is it a flying saucer carrying extra-terrestrial beings who have traversed the vast distances of interstellar space in order dive into our atmosphere to survey our planet? Or, is it a flying saucer lid from a cooking pot being thrown into the air? I guess we will never know…

]]> By: Laih http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-12716 Laih Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:16:05 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-12716 Max, that is arguably one of the best identification charts I've ever seen. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that and giving me quite the laugh! Max, that is arguably one of the best identification charts I’ve ever seen. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that and giving me quite the laugh!

]]> By: Donna Gore http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/08/25/how-to-talk-to-a-ufologist/#comment-12712 Donna Gore Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:13:27 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4070#comment-12712 This is exactly what Dr. Shostak discussed at his DragonCon panel, and yes, he was quite humorous and entertaining. And WE MISSED YOU, Dr. Shermer!!! Hope you can come back next year. There was no "smackdown" this year.......I think you guys scared em off !!! This is exactly what Dr. Shostak discussed at his DragonCon panel, and yes, he was quite humorous and entertaining.

And WE MISSED YOU, Dr. Shermer!!! Hope you can come back next year.

There was no “smackdown” this year…….I think you guys scared em off !!!

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