UFO skeptic

[blied]

Hey y'all.  I got a really good skeptical email about all the UFO talk.  I asked the person who sent the email if I could repost here, and he said okay.  So here it is:


"Ah, UFOs.  The claims about UFOs are so fucking silly, and Mr. A is such an intellectual lightweight on that subject.  It's sort of amazing, really, that he can't simply admit that it's his religion, and stop telling his listeners that they're fuckin' idiots for not seeing the obvious logic of his patently religious and illogical beliefs.
 
Personally, I'm COMPLETELY open to the idea that man is NOT powerful.  I'm completely open to the idea that there are civilizations out there in the universe that are insanely more advanced that we are - that have had a 10 million year headstart.  I'm utterly fine with these things.  The fact that I'm fine with them - the fact that they are plausible - is NOT EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE TRUE.  It opens the door to listening to evidence, but no more than that.
 
Nor is it evidence that lots of people claim to see them, and important people suggest that it's true, and they would know, so it must be true.  And yet he would NEVER suggest that, because millions of Americans STILL believe that Saddam Hussein was responsible for the attacks of 9/11, then it must be true.  Astrology.  Healing crystals.  Demon possessions.  You fucking name it - a lot of people believe a lot of stupid bullshit.  The burden is on Mr. A to explain why UFOs aren't healing crystals and demon possession - with EVIDENCE.  Also his burden to explain:

   1. Why doesn't everyone know?  Why have the aliens chosen to hide themselves except from (a) high government officials and (b) backwater hicks?  Why haven't they ever landed in a highly populated area where lots of people can verify they exist?  Why is there not a single clear and unambiguous picture or siting in the public domain, anywhere?
   2. Related:  given that our government couldn't keep Abu Ghraib secret, why does Mr. A think that our government is capable of keeping secret the infinitely more interesting subject of alien visitation to earth, over a much, much longer period - decades or even a century?  This is the government that could not keep Nixon from being impeached after bungling the Watergate burglary; the government that has seen multiple members of Congress drummed out over sex scandals that they would have rather kept secret.  Really, Mr. A?  That's giving rather a lot of credit to certain mysterious agencies within the government. Agencies for which there is - again - no evidence.

Perhaps the most confusing thing is why Mr. A is okay admitting that he has NO IDEA if there's a god.  Why would he believe - without any direct evidence except the testimony of thousands of people that they exist - in UFOs, but not in God?  Of course, the answer is, because UFOs are his religion.
 
Again, it's possible - that's part of my point here - it is possible that UFOs will turn out to exist.  But possible DOES NOT EQUAL true, except in the realm of unscientific dogmatism."
 

[Dragon Management]

A year or so ago, I was looking into PhD programs and ran into a true believer in academia...Dr. Jacobs at Temple ( http://www.temple.edu/history/FJ/jacobs/index.html )

I was looking to him as a possible advisor, so we got to talking over e-mail and this is a nice bit about his journey to belief in UFOs (I do not have his permission to reprint this, so if you are thinking of doing so, please contact me first):

"I have published four books about UFOs and abductions (one was an edited anthology).  For the past forty years my main work has been in it.  I take the position that the phenomenon is real, extraterrestrial, and that its occupants are  abducting people.  This, needless to say, is not a popular tact to take within the academic community.   But, as a an academic historian, I am required to go where the evidence leads me even though I don't particularly want to go there.  The evidence has led me to what others consider to be extremely tenuous intellectual positions. But, if what I have researched is correct, then the subject is of transcendent importance.  If it is not true, it is simply another example of popular culture and it must be treated as an artifact of life in the 20th century (and beyond).   The "sensible" position is the latter.  I have researched it and over the years the latter position does not hold.  It is a very difficult subject that one cannot just dabble in and come up with significance.  It, like any serious subject, takes long and hard work.  And, the "payoff" is researching the most important subject ever -- or not.  I believe it is important and therefore I have continued to research it regardless of the consequences."

[Hammy Pink]

I pretty much agree with that email -- I'm not convinced by what I've heard about UFOs, but am open to evidence -- except for the writer's anger.  I'm not upset at "The Cold Bath" advocating for UFOs, considering the dumb shit the mainstream media pimps out on a daily basis.  No one gets hurt by it.  Mr. A would have to advocate for people diverting money from public schools to UFO landing pads for me to get as upset as that listener seems to be.