"The absolute, honest truth about UFOs"

MG1962 said:
True story: ~snip~

Turned out it was a blimp brought in from the US for advertising, what fooled us was the trick of internally lighting the thing, gave a rather eerie glow.
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That was exactly what it was for the first UFO I saw. The Metlife blimp, sans advertising (so just a 'naked' blimp skin) suddenly turning on its internal illumination, then turning it back off a couple of minutes later. The navigation lights, once the internal lights were off, were lost in the light noise of the city in the background. So this object suddenly appeared, and just as suddenly disappeared.

If it wasn't for reading about the arrival of the blimp in the paper the next morning, I would still be wondering just what it was. However, I am pretty sure I wouldn't of claimed it to extraterrestrial, just unexplained.
 
Son of Inigo said:
That was exactly what it was for the first UFO I saw. The Metlife blimp, sans advertising (so just a 'naked' blimp skin) suddenly turning on its internal illumination, then turning it back off a couple of minutes later. The navigation lights, once the internal lights were off, were lost in the light noise of the city in the background. So this object suddenly appeared, and just as suddenly disappeared.

If it wasn't for reading about the arrival of the blimp in the paper the next morning, I would still be wondering just what it was. However, I am pretty sure I wouldn't of claimed it to extraterrestrial, just unexplained.
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And it is one of those classic situations of encountering mundane technology you are not familiar with. In our case the fact there was no sense of air activity around the object suggested to me it was something everyone knew about except me lol
 
Donn said:
Again with the evolved stuff. Knock it off, it's not useful.

I looked at your link. Not impressed. If an alien looked like a cloud, it would not be long before it would also have to act like a cloud — or we'd notice it.

Microscopic aliens that are asymmetrical — same idea: they will become obvious or they will remain perfectly hidden.

Here's a question for you: what is the difference between an alien that hides perfectly (we can never know it's there) and no alien there at all?
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You might not be impressed but it's worth considering. Do you really think Google earth would alert mankind about a cloud not acting like a cloud? The octopus with unusual markings or color might get a cursory mention somewhere but I hardly think anyone would assume it was from another planet.
 
Jodie said:
You might not be impressed but it's worth considering. Do you really think Google earth would alert mankind about a cloud not acting like a cloud? .
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Depends what circles you move in. Back in the day formation flying satellites caused a huge buzz on the astronomy forums before people realized what they were. To this day not all that many people are aware they even exist

Same thing with Iridium flares. They will scare the life out of you at night, happen all the time, but I dare you to find much coverage about them other than the original launch
 
stanfr said:
The problem with your argument, as Donn pointed out above, is that if the aliens are so vastly different, then they wouldn't be flying around in cylindrical shiny craft either--and that is what the OP is about. If we are advanced enough to know some basics about electromagnetic radiation, methinks the aliens would cut us some slack and make an attempt to say 'hi', much the same way biologists 'communicate' with tadpoles. And, yes, we do monitor bacteria and viruses too. Just ask the folks at the CDC.
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The CDC doesn't count bacteria and viruses, they measure disease incidence. The CDC wouldn't know if anything was ever missing. How about that small pox they found stuck in a closet at the NIH that was still alive after 43 years, happens all the time according to the news.

I think you are making assumptions about alien behavior based on what humans would do if the positions were reversed. I'm not sure why the OP would assume a shiny flying cylinder is something alien at all.
 
MG1962 said:
Depends what circles you move in. Back in the day formation flying satellites caused a huge buzz on the astronomy forums before people realized what they were. To this day not all that many people are aware they even exist

Same thing with Iridium flares. They will scare the life out of you at night, happen all the time, but I dare you to find much coverage about them other than the original launch
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Well there you have it.
 
Jodie said:
Well there you have it.
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Have what? There are many, many Science FICTION stories that have been written that toy with the idea that aliens are around us but are not recognized for all sorts of amusing reasons.

One of the stories may have hit on the right reason or none of them may have.

One day we might know and then, as John Campbell wrote, the reason will be "obvious".
 
Jodie said:
You might not be impressed but it's worth considering.
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It's a fun idea, well-heeled. I think the means by which this stealthy octopus or sneaky cloud got to Earth would be part of the give a way. Such a device would leave traces, make a noise on all kinds of spectrums. (Unless they got here many thousands of years ago.)

Also, if they are communicating their data outwards, that would leave a trace too. Perhaps a tiny one, but there are a lot of eyes looking down these days.


Do you really think Google earth would alert mankind about a cloud not acting like a cloud?
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I don't expect Google Earth to do a damn thing. They don't report stuff.

I expect the news of this cloud would break rather quickly given the number of eyes and the Internet.

The sentient cloud could be shrouded by some shady government agency, but it would Snow den. :)


The octopus with unusual markings or color might get a cursory mention somewhere but I hardly think anyone would assume it was from another planet.
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Nah. Any octopus acting outside of the range of octopus behaviour would attract a lot of attention. Just think of the betting on future sport events alone!
 
Gord_in_Toronto said:
Have what? There are many, many Science FICTION stories that have been written that toy with the idea that aliens are around us but are not recognized for all sorts of amusing reasons.

One of the stories may have hit on the right reason or none of them may have.

One day we might know and then, as John Campbell wrote, the reason will be "obvious".
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Perhaps the alien battle fleet was swallowed by a small dog.
 
MG1962 said:
I could just see the conversation if aliens ever did land and meet an amateur astronomer.

Alien: Take me to your leader

Me: Sure, hang on first have you ever seen Saturn through a telescope?

Alien: sigh
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:D:D:D:D
Yes indeed. You lot are are a special ummm.. sort!

(I am very jealous though, I'd love to see the things you guys see, but alas, no equipment (anymore) and a total lack of knowledge inhibits this desire.)



ETA: I've just been offered a job as an astronomer - things are looking up!
 
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MG1962 said:
True story: Back in the 90s I was having a beer with a fellow science fiction fan and neighbor at his house overlooking Sydney just after sunset. All of a sudden in the distance this huge yellow cigar shaped object appeared over the suburbs slowly moving towards the city center.

We went back and forth becoming increasing concerned that this might be it, might actually be the big one. Finally (and I still laugh at myself over this) I said "Well if it is an alien spaceship we are sure gonna read about it in the papers tomorrow"

Turned out it was a blimp brought in from the US for advertising, what fooled us was the trick of internally lighting the thing, gave a rather eerie glow.
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Come on MG, this is a big stretch. Why on earth would they bother going to bloody Sydney?
;)
 
Gord_in_Toronto said:
Have what?
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That many things identified as UFO's will have terrestrial explanations that aren't necessarily covered in the news, even those without an explanation may not get coverage if it's a busy news day.

People identify what they think is alien based on a stereotype that is portrayed in the media and from a bias that aliens would be more human like should they ever arrive.

If aliens don't fit the profile I doubt we would notice unless there was some kind of severe impact on the environment to indicate that they are here. If there is no impact, you'll probably never know.
 
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