UFOs: The Research, the Evidence

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I DO NOT claim witnesses can never make mistakes.

And yet you continue to base your extraordinary conclusions on them being accurate.

Evidence that they were 100% accurate since you're relying on that to support your extraordinary claim?

If they weren't 100% accurate, are you admitting that they could have mistaken some of the details of the blimp they observed?
 
Point spectacularly missed again Rramjet...

If indeed they couldn't see the gondola... the blimp has a smooth rounded bottom (why are we making a blimp sound sexy like this)

If they couldn't see the shape clearly but determined it from it's silhoutte, the two shapes match almost exactly.

And yet the overall outline shape matches almost exactly.

Here (once again) is a period photo of the Goodyear blimp... It's logo wasn't as clear and colourful as it is on today's modern blimp:

Can you see the logo on the blimp furthest away? If the above photo had been taken with the blimp at an altitude of 5,000 feet, would the logo be easier or harder to see? Would the angle of view make the gondola easier or harder to see?

And then there's always the possibility it wasn't the Goodyear blimp but one of the Navy reserve blimps that were in operation along the East coast during 1949.

I LOVE the irony of this - here I am going to argue that fuzzy black and white images are proof of nothing!

You will notice that even on the foremost blimp the Good Year logo is barely legible BUT you will also note the fact that it IS apparent that there IS a logo on the furthest blimp (even if not legible). AS are the fins, gondola, etc. apparent.

Moreover, the photo you present represents VERY poor viewing conditions. Quite UNLIKE the viewing conditions on the day which can be best described as near perfect.

I admit the GoodYear blimp is POSSIBLE (while unlikely and implausible) but USN or USNR blimps ARE impossible... you willfully ignore the documented historical evidence on THAT point.
 
...Besides, they saw at least one fin. The top one, the one I have already shown to be the most prominent one to see in various blimp photos.

Yet in post #2163 you present a photo where the top fin is the LEAST prominent feature... :rolleyes:

And you will notice that the viewing angle (seen from below and at some distance) makes the top fin the least prominent feature... this counts AGAINST the blimp hypothesis... :cool:
 
we KNOW the conditions under which witnesses can be mistaken and we CAN account for those conditions when making an assessment of the cases.
Great, can you source the relevant scientific articles that would substantiate this claim please?

I think you will find that “time” is subjective in SPECIFIC ways. In cases like Rogue River, exactly the opposite phenomenon to that which you mention is apparent. That is longer time intervals actually passed while the witnesses think very short intervals have passed. This is because excitement and “eventfulness” make time “disappear” and most people in such situations believe a shorter time has passed than is actually the case. Thus, given the conditions and knowing the psychology of time perception - it is highly likely that the time interval was actually longer – not shorter – than mentioned. THAT is what I mean by research informing us of what conditions lead to misperceptions AND being able to account for the conditions.
Great, can you source the relevant scientific articles that would substantiate this claim please?

I do NOT have to demonstrate that a reflection is impossible…all I have to show is that given the changing viewing angles it would have been impossible for a reflection to have maintained the obscuring of specific features while allowing similar feature to be viewed throughout the entirety of the period involved. I have done that.
What a nice black and white world you must live in. No shades of gray at all.

Given the viewing conditions and given the reliability for the witnesses, we have NO reason to suspect that they did not observe and describe the object accurately.
Bull...

Then you are simply reverting back to stating the eyewitnesses are 100% unreliable.

No, you do not understand. We claim that witness reliability is neither 0% nor 100%. You're the one clainming that in this case it's 100% reliable.
 
You got evidence that prove that it was shifting shape, splitting apart and rejoining again? Wow, why didn't you say so!

I thought you only had second and third hand summaries of what some eyewitnesses thought they saw. You know, those same eyewitnesses who from their own account was so blinded by strong light that they could hardly see in the pitch black night when this happened.

Put the evidence on the table then.

First hand accounts:
Parvis Jafri interview
(http://www.iranian.com/main/singlepage/2008/parviz-jafari-2)
Jafari speaking at the National Press Club, Nov, 2007
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJydT3AZ370)

The pilots, because of the brightness of the object, had trouble adjusting their night vision equipment… this is NOT the same as stating “that they could hardly see in the pitch black night”!

They got no reliable data so they couldn't tell how high or big it was. Check the final report and see for yourself.

The “final report”…oh you mean a third or forth hand summary? Surely you are NOT admitting THAT into evidence ….

…I thought you only had second and third hand summaries of what some eyewitnesses thought they saw.
 
@ Rramjet

You still think there's some hope of convincing anyone?


I'm curious, too. Here's another simple yes/no question for you, Rramjet (although rather than a response, I fully expect another display of your ignorance). Do you think you're going to persuade anyone to accept that you're effectively supporting your claim that aliens exist?
 
I'm curious, too. Here's another simple yes/no question for you, Rramjet (although rather than a response, I fully expect another display of your ignorance). Do you think you're going to persuade anyone to accept that you're effectively supporting your claim that aliens exist?

If you fully expect a display of ignorance, why even ask the question? It is a well known psychological phenomenon that if people “fully expect” to see things in a certain way, then that is exactly how they will see them. They will pick up on the bits that support their belief and ignore or dismiss as anomalous or chance occurrence those bits that are contradictory to their original belief.

No matter what I say to you - this will occur for you. You are trapped in your own belief system GeeMack and, as you can see, nothing I can say will alter that.

Now, I HAVE answered your question, BUT I also guarantee that you will think that I have not.
 
I missed where you said how radar confirmation meant it was alien. Which of your posts had that answer?

So, no answer, Rramjet?
Repeating the same post without adding substantiative comments is considered "spamming" or "flooding" and is against Rule 6.
Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Tricky
 
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If you fully expect a display of ignorance, why even ask the question? It is a well known psychological phenomenon that if people “fully expect” to see things in a certain way, then that is exactly how they will see them. They will pick up on the bits that support their belief and ignore or dismiss as anomalous or chance occurrence those bits that are contradictory to their original belief.

No matter what I say to you - this will occur for you. You are trapped in your own belief system GeeMack and, as you can see, nothing I can say will alter that.

Now, I HAVE answered your question, BUT I also guarantee that you will think that I have not.


Again I asked a simple yes/no question, and again you misunderstood. Tell me, Rramjet, did you ask the principal there at your high school about those remedial reading classes?

And what belief system is it that you think I'm trapped in? Seems the only position I've taken a solid stand on is that you haven't presented any evidence, other than your ignorance, incredulity, and lies, to support your claim that aliens exist. And that's not belief, that's a simple factual truth.
 
Oh, and you have NEVER been fooled by ANYTHING in your life? But I thought eyewitnesses were ultimately compromised…so perhaps you have yet to realise you have been fooled…?



READ the cases I present then. THERE is your evidence.



?

Your whole case depends on eyewitnesses.
 
Jus because witnesses CAN be mistaken does not mean the ARE mistaken. Witnesses CAN be VERY accurate. That is a point YOU seem to miss. You also miss the fact that we KNOW the conditions under which witnesses can be mistaken and we CAN account for those conditions when making an assessment of the cases. I do NOT have to prove the witnesses are accurate. All I have to do is show that the conditions were such that known sources of inaccuracy are minimised or eliminated. I DO NOT claim witnesses can never make mistakes. For you to keep repeating this assertion is irrational in the face of all the evidence to the contrary.



I think you will find that “time” is subjective in SPECIFIC ways. In cases like Rogue River, exactly the opposite phenomenon to that which you mention is apparent. That is longer time intervals actually passed while the witnesses think very short intervals have passed. This is because excitement and “eventfulness” make time “disappear” and most people in such situations believe a shorter time has passed than is actually the case. Thus, given the conditions and knowing the psychology of time perception - it is highly likely that the time interval was actually longer – not shorter – than mentioned. THAT is what I mean by research informing us of what conditions lead to misperceptions AND being able to account for the conditions.

I do NOT have to demonstrate that a reflection is impossible…all I have to show is that given the changing viewing angles it would have been impossible for a reflection to have maintained the obscuring of specific features while allowing similar feature to be viewed throughout the entirety of the period involved. I have done that.

Given the viewing conditions and given the reliability for the witnesses, we have NO reason to suspect that they did not observe and describe the object accurately.



Then you are simply reverting back to stating the eyewitnesses are 100% unreliable. A claim which NO research supports. For example, there was NO sound associated with the Rogue River object. There were no wings… there was NOTHING about the object as described that would lead ANY rational person to conclude “plane”. You are simply repeating your assertion that “film” with its attended artifacts and misleading depth information can lead people into error. The case of Rogue River bears absolutely NO resemblance to your Catalina film …NONE – it is merely a red herring brought in by you as a distraction in lieu of genuine argument.

Argument by capitalization.

How are we ever to dispute THIS.
 
Moreover, the photo you present represents VERY poor viewing conditions. Quite UNLIKE the viewing conditions on the day which can be best described as near perfect.
I just quoted a lie.

You said it yourself that the sun was in their backs, this means that when sunlight reflects from an object (such as a blimp), most will shine to their eyes. Thus they have very poor viewing conditions.
 
Why do you think you can't convince anyone, Rramjet? Is it, as it seems, that your argument is totally unsupportable? Are you just wholly incapable of presenting it in a cogent way? Is there some other reason you can think of why you're not making any headway?
 
I do NOT have to prove the witnesses are accurate. All I have to do is show that the conditions were such that known sources of inaccuracy are minimised or eliminated. I DO NOT claim witnesses can never make mistakes. For you to keep repeating this assertion is irrational in the face of all the evidence to the contrary.

OK, you have now made the claim. Exactly what conditions allow for error-free observations or errors that can be quantified and corrected for?

It seems you keep suggesting it was impossible for these witnesses to make a mistake. This is why I keep stating this.

This is because excitement and “eventfulness” make time “disappear” and most people in such situations believe a shorter time has passed than is actually the case. Thus, given the conditions and knowing the psychology of time perception - it is highly likely that the time interval was actually longer – not shorter – than mentioned. THAT is what I mean by research informing us of what conditions lead to misperceptions AND being able to account for the conditions..

Give us the study that demonstrates this is true. I have cited a source (eyewitness testimony p. 30-31 - Loftus) where studies have shown witnesses tend to overestimate time. Your claim is this is not true based on.......Oh yeah.....Your say so. Another great scientific leap has occurred because Rramjet says so.

I do NOT have to demonstrate that a reflection is impossible…all I have to show is that given the changing viewing angles it would have been impossible for a reflection to have maintained the obscuring of specific features while allowing similar feature to be viewed throughout the entirety of the period involved. I have done that.

So, once again, we are relying on witness testimony based on viewing an object with a pair of binoculars in a rocking boat on a river for a period that was about a minute or so. You stated the reflection was implausible based on this. I suggested to falsify this you can demonstrate a reflection was impossible. Obviously this is beyond your means. BTW, the sun was behind the observers and about 30 degrees in altitude. I think that would mean the object would reflect the sun's light and cause glare. You can tilt it, shape shift it, distort it or whatever you like, but the potential for reflecting the sun is there.


Given the viewing conditions and given the reliability for the witnesses, we have NO reason to suspect that they did not observe and describe the object accurately.

Therefore ignoring any possibility for human error. You have yet to demonstrate how you determine this. How do you quantify the reliability of the witness (a question you keep refusing to answer)? How do you determine they are accurate? As for the conditions at the time, you don't know the exact viewing conditions. Let's try humidity, air transparency, wind speed, direction, cloud cover, wind patterns, etc. How about some real data to present. Then we have the witness use of optics (which Hendry points out can sometimes be a detriment to observation). What was the condition of the optics? Were they collimated properly? Were the lenses cracked or dirty? Were the prism's dislodged? What about the use of those optics? Was the boat rocking? Were the binoculars held steady? Was the sun reflecting off the surface of the object? You have no idea what conditions were. All you have is what you want the conditions to be.



Then you are simply reverting back to stating the eyewitnesses are 100% unreliable. A claim which NO research supports. For example, there was NO sound associated with the Rogue River object. There were no wings… there was NOTHING about the object as described that would lead ANY rational person to conclude “plane”. You are simply repeating your assertion that “film” with its attended artifacts and misleading depth information can lead people into error. The case of Rogue River bears absolutely NO resemblance to your Catalina film …NONE – it is merely a red herring brought in by you as a distraction in lieu of genuine argument.

That is such nonsense. The film was seen by the witness who recorded it. He was a professional photographer and he saw it as a disc. Therefore, it is a good example of how an aircraft could be perceived as a disc. Once again, your resort to dismissing a case with a simple wave of the hand in order to prop up your beliefs.

One important fact to consider in all of this is that not a single other person reported seeing the UFO traveling through the area. Why is this? Is it possible they saw it as something mundane and not something exotic?

It is obvious that you are not interested in examing the case objectively and are not interested in looking further than what Maccabee and others are telling you on their website. You dismiss potential explanations in favor of the more unlikely explanation of an alien spaceship (and cut the nonsense because everyone knows this is what you want to say). You dismiss scientific opinions and studies in favor of your own beliefs. The next thing you will be doing is writing for the MUFON journal or the International UFO reporter. You would be perfect there. Lots of head nodders who will accept anything you write as gospel.
 
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I LOVE the irony of this - here I am going to argue that fuzzy black and white images are proof of nothing!
And I agree... Fuzzy back and white pictures are never proof of anything.

You will notice that even on the foremost blimp the Good Year logo is barely legible BUT you will also note the fact that it IS apparent that there IS a logo on the furthest blimp (even if not legible). AS are the fins, gondola, etc. apparent.
And what if that blimp were at 5,000 feet?
Do I have to reproduce it at the angular size it would be seen at if it were at that altitude? Or can you imagine how small it would be?

Moreover, the photo you present represents VERY poor viewing conditions. Quite UNLIKE the viewing conditions on the day which can be best described as near perfect.
Not at all! What makes the conditions in this photo "VERY poor"? just because you say they are does not make it so :rolleyes:

I admit the GoodYear blimp is POSSIBLE (while unlikely and implausible) but USN or USNR blimps ARE impossible... you willfully ignore the documented historical evidence on THAT point.
The documented historical evidence that clearly states that the Navy Reserve had two operational blimp bases on the West Coast and were in possession of several blimps in 1949? You mean that evidence?
 
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