This is a fascinating piece -- thanks for addressing it! Your writing covers so many topics at different levels that I will need to re-read it several more times.
Three quick points:
1. I hate the new term for UFOs. Like, really? Sometimes it's best to leave things as they are.
2. You were a really cute kid.
3. You are telling me that the Galaxy Being from 'Outer Limits' was NOT real?? Very sad.
Have to head out -- George Jetson just called me from his spacecar.
So, first off, I'm going to blame getting distracted from work and not finishing my compliance training on you, Adam Kinzinger (I'm kidding). I myself have only ever seen one unidentified aerial phenomenon (out in the desert of Mexico near Taos, if you must know) -- but it was just a line of Musk satellites. Different, interesting, but not alien.
You have nailed the unlikelihood of it all with human known physics, and introduced a line of thinking I haven't thought of before: That politicians can grow political capital by catering to their electorate's interests in UFOs/UAPs. Okay, that's fair enough. But that is not an argument for or against the existence of superior alien technology invading our airspace.
I'm a pilot too -- although just a private one building his own airplane. So, I respect your aviation perspective; but not seeing something yourself doesn't mean other people have not seen it.
Some of your fellow military pilots are coming out and saying things in public about what they encountered that cannot be explained by our current understanding of gravity, chemistry, and physics. What do you make of Cmdr. Fravor and his team's observation of the UAP that they tried to engage but were unable to corral? An object that rose to meet his descending aircraft, disappearing suddenly when about to run into him, then reappearing 80 miles or so distant, a couple of seconds later? No drive systems, no wings, no exhaust, etc.? All that was described by him and backed up by three other pilots on his flight and by naval radar records.
I don't have an explanation for what they observed. I don't think you do either.
I don't hold much interest in abduction claims and the like. Such conspiracy-based claims are easy fodder for skepticism (and rightly so). I suppose it's possible that it is some kind of government psy-ops effort to get a bunch of money allocated for researching UAP. Maybe to be funneled to other projects. But that is in itself also a conspiracy theory.
But if pilots like Cmdr. Fravor say they have almost run into objects hovering with no clear means of support at the entry to our military exercise airspace -- and they have -- that's worth looking into. But only if using scientific methods, not speculative belief or denial.
This was a fun topic to discuss, despite its lack of any real relevance in today‘s politics (other than the susceptibility for abuse among politicians). Statistically speaking, given the size of the universe, the age of the universe and our planet, it would in fact be highly unlikely that at some point in time some species from some planet had not visited earth. Some ancient ruins could in fact contain evidence left by such visitations. But the paranoia out there is so Hollywood as to be laughable. And besides, assume we were being visited. What are we supposed to do about it? We, as a species are infants compared to those who began evolving tens of millions of years ago. It amazes me how much energy we spend worrying about the „what ifs“ when the „what are‘s“ are washing up on our shores and entering our schools with AR-15s.
Perhaps we embrace these conspiracies because fantasy is easier to think about than reality. To me this just means we need to find solutions to our real world problems so people don‘t feel the need to escape.
I agree with your advocacy that we focus on "real world problems." Those include both (a) the widespread ownership of military grade weapons -- mostly by right wingers who regard them as their defense against "tyranny" guaranteed by the Second Amendment, and (b) the sort of "tyranny" inherent in the Marxist "woke" movement supported most prominently by the Biden-Harris administration. Those are the ingredients for a civil war that will harm all civilized Americans.
However, based on the size of the universe -- as measured in space/time -- I consider it highly unlikely that "some species from some planet" has ever visited Earth, much less has bothered to leave any "monuments" to their visit. Nor is it credible that they are continuing any such visits -- especially in such places as Las Vegas, given its population of people who are uniquely in to the idea that gambling and entertainment in a desert megalopolis contributes anything to national welfare.
Humans are funny things. There are those who love to tell/spin stories. And there are those who not only listen with fascination, but wholeheartedly believe in whatever is being sold to them. Often to their detriment.
That said, I do believe that the universe is VAST. That we are not alone in it. And lastly, that any "alien" existence would be mortified at how "we" have turned out. As far as we know, the only way to traverse that VAST space without dying during the traversal, would be to take advantage of a worm hole, fold space, etc. as proposed by Einstein et al. I seriously doubt they would come that far and not make their presence clearly known to us whether good or bad. Otherwise, why bother?
All this hoopla over UAP's and alien beings is just that. That is, until one lands on the White House lawn and Gort walks out to greet the CIC!
I have a background in economics education, and am also one of those "suburbanites" who tend to be fiscally conservative and socially moderate. Part of my practice in economics education has been to teach people how to better understand "big numbers" by expressing them on a per unit or per person basis. For example, the national debt of $33 trillion, spread over the U.S. population of about 330 million, now amounts to $100,000 per person! Isn't that a reason to cut back on some expenditures, including those associated with attempting to make contact with space aliens (or ghosts)? We can pretty safely assume that there is intelligent life somewhere else in the universe, but considering the time/distances involved, the chances of making useful contact with it are minuscule.
Most of the pilots who’ve reported seeings UFOs (yes, the new name is too much of a mouthful and should soon fade into oblivion) are in the military. 1) They don’t study astrophysics or cosmology. 2) By definition, their most essential JOB is to look for threats; they’re trained to it. 3) it’s proven human nature that people tend to see what they want to see, or are trained to see. So I wouldn’t take these reports as seriously as many do.
Any aliens that could make it here would consider us as ants not worth the attempt. And we’ve already consumed the planet’s resources, to such an extent that there will NEVER be another technologically astute civilization on Earth--so, “Independence Day” won’t be happening here.
Add to that, human beings are hardwired to see faces where none exist. To this perhaps add ghosts, Adam, as we’re also inclined to believe our dreams are real and mistake our memories--faulty as they are--for fact. If we miss our loved ones who’ve passed, it’s natural to think we hear their voices or see their shadows. Likewise if we’ve felt threatened, we might conjure spirits in an attempt to tame our monsters. There’s virtually as little evidence to consider ghosts as to believe in aliens.
Which brings us to god(s). On close examination, it appears absolutely certain that man has ever only worshipped--himself.
Given the untold millions of planets in our universe, odds are incredibly small that earth is the only planet with intelligent life. Producing an alien - gray or green - is just a matter of time. Perhaps we've been quarantined till we learn to play well with others.
This is a fascinating piece -- thanks for addressing it! Your writing covers so many topics at different levels that I will need to re-read it several more times.
Three quick points:
1. I hate the new term for UFOs. Like, really? Sometimes it's best to leave things as they are.
2. You were a really cute kid.
3. You are telling me that the Galaxy Being from 'Outer Limits' was NOT real?? Very sad.
Have to head out -- George Jetson just called me from his spacecar.
Always excellent articles are written by you! I enjoyed this one thoroughly. By the way you were, unsurprisingly , a very cute little kid.
So, first off, I'm going to blame getting distracted from work and not finishing my compliance training on you, Adam Kinzinger (I'm kidding). I myself have only ever seen one unidentified aerial phenomenon (out in the desert of Mexico near Taos, if you must know) -- but it was just a line of Musk satellites. Different, interesting, but not alien.
You have nailed the unlikelihood of it all with human known physics, and introduced a line of thinking I haven't thought of before: That politicians can grow political capital by catering to their electorate's interests in UFOs/UAPs. Okay, that's fair enough. But that is not an argument for or against the existence of superior alien technology invading our airspace.
I'm a pilot too -- although just a private one building his own airplane. So, I respect your aviation perspective; but not seeing something yourself doesn't mean other people have not seen it.
Some of your fellow military pilots are coming out and saying things in public about what they encountered that cannot be explained by our current understanding of gravity, chemistry, and physics. What do you make of Cmdr. Fravor and his team's observation of the UAP that they tried to engage but were unable to corral? An object that rose to meet his descending aircraft, disappearing suddenly when about to run into him, then reappearing 80 miles or so distant, a couple of seconds later? No drive systems, no wings, no exhaust, etc.? All that was described by him and backed up by three other pilots on his flight and by naval radar records.
I don't have an explanation for what they observed. I don't think you do either.
I don't hold much interest in abduction claims and the like. Such conspiracy-based claims are easy fodder for skepticism (and rightly so). I suppose it's possible that it is some kind of government psy-ops effort to get a bunch of money allocated for researching UAP. Maybe to be funneled to other projects. But that is in itself also a conspiracy theory.
But if pilots like Cmdr. Fravor say they have almost run into objects hovering with no clear means of support at the entry to our military exercise airspace -- and they have -- that's worth looking into. But only if using scientific methods, not speculative belief or denial.
This was a fun topic to discuss, despite its lack of any real relevance in today‘s politics (other than the susceptibility for abuse among politicians). Statistically speaking, given the size of the universe, the age of the universe and our planet, it would in fact be highly unlikely that at some point in time some species from some planet had not visited earth. Some ancient ruins could in fact contain evidence left by such visitations. But the paranoia out there is so Hollywood as to be laughable. And besides, assume we were being visited. What are we supposed to do about it? We, as a species are infants compared to those who began evolving tens of millions of years ago. It amazes me how much energy we spend worrying about the „what ifs“ when the „what are‘s“ are washing up on our shores and entering our schools with AR-15s.
Perhaps we embrace these conspiracies because fantasy is easier to think about than reality. To me this just means we need to find solutions to our real world problems so people don‘t feel the need to escape.
I agree with your advocacy that we focus on "real world problems." Those include both (a) the widespread ownership of military grade weapons -- mostly by right wingers who regard them as their defense against "tyranny" guaranteed by the Second Amendment, and (b) the sort of "tyranny" inherent in the Marxist "woke" movement supported most prominently by the Biden-Harris administration. Those are the ingredients for a civil war that will harm all civilized Americans.
However, based on the size of the universe -- as measured in space/time -- I consider it highly unlikely that "some species from some planet" has ever visited Earth, much less has bothered to leave any "monuments" to their visit. Nor is it credible that they are continuing any such visits -- especially in such places as Las Vegas, given its population of people who are uniquely in to the idea that gambling and entertainment in a desert megalopolis contributes anything to national welfare.
Humans are funny things. There are those who love to tell/spin stories. And there are those who not only listen with fascination, but wholeheartedly believe in whatever is being sold to them. Often to their detriment.
That said, I do believe that the universe is VAST. That we are not alone in it. And lastly, that any "alien" existence would be mortified at how "we" have turned out. As far as we know, the only way to traverse that VAST space without dying during the traversal, would be to take advantage of a worm hole, fold space, etc. as proposed by Einstein et al. I seriously doubt they would come that far and not make their presence clearly known to us whether good or bad. Otherwise, why bother?
All this hoopla over UAP's and alien beings is just that. That is, until one lands on the White House lawn and Gort walks out to greet the CIC!
How refreshing to read an interesting piece that is followed by rational, well written comments. Hope this will continue.
I have a background in economics education, and am also one of those "suburbanites" who tend to be fiscally conservative and socially moderate. Part of my practice in economics education has been to teach people how to better understand "big numbers" by expressing them on a per unit or per person basis. For example, the national debt of $33 trillion, spread over the U.S. population of about 330 million, now amounts to $100,000 per person! Isn't that a reason to cut back on some expenditures, including those associated with attempting to make contact with space aliens (or ghosts)? We can pretty safely assume that there is intelligent life somewhere else in the universe, but considering the time/distances involved, the chances of making useful contact with it are minuscule.
Most of the pilots who’ve reported seeings UFOs (yes, the new name is too much of a mouthful and should soon fade into oblivion) are in the military. 1) They don’t study astrophysics or cosmology. 2) By definition, their most essential JOB is to look for threats; they’re trained to it. 3) it’s proven human nature that people tend to see what they want to see, or are trained to see. So I wouldn’t take these reports as seriously as many do.
Any aliens that could make it here would consider us as ants not worth the attempt. And we’ve already consumed the planet’s resources, to such an extent that there will NEVER be another technologically astute civilization on Earth--so, “Independence Day” won’t be happening here.
Add to that, human beings are hardwired to see faces where none exist. To this perhaps add ghosts, Adam, as we’re also inclined to believe our dreams are real and mistake our memories--faulty as they are--for fact. If we miss our loved ones who’ve passed, it’s natural to think we hear their voices or see their shadows. Likewise if we’ve felt threatened, we might conjure spirits in an attempt to tame our monsters. There’s virtually as little evidence to consider ghosts as to believe in aliens.
Which brings us to god(s). On close examination, it appears absolutely certain that man has ever only worshipped--himself.
I too am waiting for some proof but am enjoying the conversation.
Given the untold millions of planets in our universe, odds are incredibly small that earth is the only planet with intelligent life. Producing an alien - gray or green - is just a matter of time. Perhaps we've been quarantined till we learn to play well with others.