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Author Topic:   Separating belief in ET life from belief in UFOs
tuffers
Member (Idle past 5275 days)
Posts: 92
From: Norwich, UK
Joined: 07-20-2009


Message 31 of 36 (531193)
10-16-2009 1:03 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Briterican
10-08-2009 6:13 PM


Hi Briterican
I think the reason why laymen get confused, as you say, is because not only do they not have any idea of how big the universe is, the sad truth is they really don't care. (Though I'd count myself as a laymen, as I'm obviously not a scientist of any kind.)
Most people are more interested in how some tiny stain appeared on their kitchen floor than they are about how the universe or life first appeared. I call it the "four-wall" mentality. They are obsessed with their homes and tiny lives, and have no interest at all in what is "out there". There may be good evolutionary justification for that, but that's another topic.
If I try and engage anyone in a conversation on these matters it usually results in an immediate and very visible fear spreading across their face. It's not just that they don't care - for some reason they really don't want to know. They are happy to get by with a cartoon vision of the universe: a few planets bobbing about within a short rocket flight of each other. Most people don't even have a clue where most countries are - many don't even know what a country is! (So many times I've heard people refer to "Africa" or "South America" as a country, or "South Africa" as a continent.) Ask people to point to, say, Spain or Egypt on a globe and I guarantee most won't have a clue where they are - even if they've been there many times. You've got no chance of getting them to understand where other solar systems and galaxies are, and how difficult it would be for aliens to visit us.
Sorry to sound so gloomy!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Briterican, posted 10-08-2009 6:13 PM Briterican has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 33 by Izanagi, posted 10-16-2009 1:30 PM tuffers has not replied
 Message 35 by Briterican, posted 10-20-2009 2:15 PM tuffers has not replied

  
Izanagi
Member (Idle past 5216 days)
Posts: 263
Joined: 09-15-2009


Message 32 of 36 (531199)
10-16-2009 1:28 PM
Reply to: Message 30 by New Cat's Eye
10-16-2009 12:36 PM


Re: Black whatsits
Certainly, I agree that it was likely the people saw something but what it was we can't be sure of. When multiple people see an object in the sky from different areas and describe it similarly, the likelihood it was a dream decreases.

It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
----------------------------------------
Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
----------------------------------------
You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

This message is a reply to:
 Message 30 by New Cat's Eye, posted 10-16-2009 12:36 PM New Cat's Eye has not replied

  
Izanagi
Member (Idle past 5216 days)
Posts: 263
Joined: 09-15-2009


Message 33 of 36 (531203)
10-16-2009 1:30 PM
Reply to: Message 31 by tuffers
10-16-2009 1:03 PM


Ask people to point to, say, Spain or Egypt on a globe and I guarantee most won't have a clue where they are - even if they've been there many times.
Haha, ask Americans to point to the US on a map and some won't be able to find it.

It's just some things you never get over. That's just the way it is. You go on through... best as you can. - Matthew Scott
----------------------------------------
Marge, just about everything is a sin. (holds up a Bible) Y'ever sat down and read this thing? Technically we're not supposed to go to the bathroom. - Reverend Lovejoy
----------------------------------------
You know, I used to think it was awful that life was so unfair. Then I thought, wouldn't it be much worse if life were fair, and all the terrible things that happen to us come because we actually deserve them? So, now I take great comfort in the general hostility and unfairness of the universe. - Marcus Cole

This message is a reply to:
 Message 31 by tuffers, posted 10-16-2009 1:03 PM tuffers has not replied

  
Minnemooseus
Member
Posts: 3941
From: Duluth, Minnesota, U.S. (West end of Lake Superior)
Joined: 11-11-2001
Member Rating: 10.0


Message 34 of 36 (531226)
10-16-2009 3:15 PM


Belief in UFO's
Back in 1977, at the begining of the igneous petrography and petrology* class, the professor suddenly out of nowhere asked "How many here believe in UFO's?" Much to his amazement/annoyance/disappointment, quite a few students including myself raised their hands "yes".
There was no further discussion, but my response was because I thought there were clearly flying objects I couldn't identify. I was in no way thinking space aliens.
I still occasionally see this professor - I should ask him why he asked that question?
Moose
*looking at what makes up igneous rocks and learning how they came to be. The first "real" geology class after Introduction to Geology.

  
Briterican
Member (Idle past 3948 days)
Posts: 340
Joined: 05-29-2008


Message 35 of 36 (531926)
10-20-2009 2:15 PM
Reply to: Message 31 by tuffers
10-16-2009 1:03 PM


People just don't care about things beyond their doorstep
tuffers said:
Most people are more interested in how some tiny stain appeared on their kitchen floor than they are about how the universe or life first appeared. I call it the "four-wall" mentality. They are obsessed with their homes and tiny lives, and have no interest at all in what is "out there". There may be good evolutionary justification for that, but that's another topic.
With regret I must agree.
Another story was out the other day about exoplanets (of which none exist according to Calypsis4). A big new batch was announced, bringing the total on record to over 400. -- BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Scientists announce planet bounty
This received very little coverage, but the trusty BBC ran it for a day as a main page story. I guess you have to put these things in perspective and realise that perhaps a person's health insurance future is more newsworthy, or stories about how their MP claimed expenses back for a luxurious garden at his second house. To me, however, and probably to many of you, this is good stuff.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 31 by tuffers, posted 10-16-2009 1:03 PM tuffers has not replied

  
Briterican
Member (Idle past 3948 days)
Posts: 340
Joined: 05-29-2008


Message 36 of 36 (531927)
10-20-2009 2:26 PM
Reply to: Message 25 by NosyNed
10-12-2009 6:56 PM


Observing a Flying Saucer - Balloon Boy!
NosyNed said:
You can give me as much eye-witness testimony as you want. It will not budge me an inch.
Agreed.
I can appreciate the view Catholic Scientist takes, but in the absence of some sort of tangible evidence, the whole "flying saucer" thing strikes me as the 21st century version of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster (MHFABB - May His Fish-Like Appendages Be Blessed).
I don't doubt that many people see something on these occasions, but I cannot bring myself to suspect that said "something" is from another world on another star many many many light years away. I still think aircraft is the most likely explanation for these types of sightings.
I also think that the balloon boy family got the reality show they wanted. Unfortunately it'll be on CourtTV.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by NosyNed, posted 10-12-2009 6:56 PM NosyNed has not replied

  
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