Why are people so skeptical of UFO's?

[Thundercrack85]

Well, just for the sake of putting it out there, you don't need to break any laws to travel interstellar distances. It may be slow as hell, but you could theoretically do it.

And then there's worm holes, and other neat tricks, which technically don't violate the laws of physics as we know them.

 

[Doctor Evo]

Well, just for the sake of putting it out there, you don't need to break any laws to travel interstellar distances. It may be slow as hell, but you could theoretically do it.

And then there's worm holes, and other neat tricks, which technically don't violate the laws of physics as we know them.

Right.

 

[Solouk]

Traversing great distances in space using conventional methods (rocket fuel) is akin to trying to cycle round the world on 1 of them little kiddie bikes you can just about climb onto and look stupid trying to ride it. Ridiculously time consuming and pointless. Maybe if we're around long enough, then one day a different way will be discovered. The theory of 'bending' space using a gravitational field is an interesting one.

 

[Marvolo]

Two things:

1) Higher than what?

2) I was going to argue against this, but then I realized that you've already provided the appropriate counter-argument:

That is an entirely unsupportable claim.

Its a higher probability that an older species could have found a way to transverse space and time faster than light than it being impossible. Until we have unified all the laws of physics and quantum mechanics and macro mechanics are united and we understand all this and have viewed and understood every nook and cranny of this universe I'm not going to rule it out based on skepticism alone.

Considering there are human scientists who already agree that faster than light and even time travel could be possible I don't think its a bold claim or at all unsupportable to say an older species in the universe could have figured it out.

 

[Solouk]

Its a higher probability that an older species could have found a way to transverse space and time faster than light than it being impossible. Until we have unified all the laws of physics and quantum mechanics and macro mechanics are united and we understand all this and have viewed and understood every nook and cranny of this universe I'm not going to rule it out based on skepticism alone.

Considering there are human scientists who already agree that faster than light and even time travel could be possible I don't think its a bold claim or at all unsupportable to say an older species in the universe could have figured it out.

Spot on. t:

 

[Doctor Evo]

Its a higher probability that an older species could have found a way to transverse space and time faster than light than it being impossible.

Based on what, exactly? You're now making very specific statements regarding probability and likelihood, which require some quantitative justification.

Considering there are human scientists who already agree that faster than light and even time travel could be possible I don't think its a bold claim or at all unsupportable to say an older species in the universe could have figured it out.

This isn't what you said before. You've now changed your statement.

 

[Solouk]

Seems to me Doctor Evo you are devoid of any imagination and sense of wonderment of what could be out there. It's almost bordering on arrogance. So let me ask you this. Do you wholeheartedly believe that the earth is the only life sustaining planet in the whole universe?

 

[Doctor Evo]

Seems to me Doctor Evo you are devoid of any imagination and sense of wonderment of what could be out there. It's almost bordering on arrogance. So let me ask you this. Do you wholeheartedly believe that the earth is the only life sustaining planet in the whole universe?

Way to completely miss the point.

 

[TheBat812]

Sure, it's POSSIBLE that other lifeforms have been able to live long enough to develop the ability to either communicate with us let alone find a way to visit us. However, all the knowledge we have (which is admittedly minimal) shows us that the probability of other life forms are already small, while the odds of them evolving into intelligent beings is even smaller, and the probability that those live long enough to figure out how to communicate are even smaller, and the odds they live long enough to either receive a response or figure out how to visit things many many many light years away is even smaller.

This is where Doctor Evo is coming from when Marvolo states that the probability of an older species figuring out a way to do it is higher than them not figuring it out. that's just kind of a ridiculous statement. There is certainly a POSSIBILITY, but the odds are not in that favor in the slightest. From what we know. Which is admittedly small. But really all we have to go on. Anything else is essentially just dreaming, which is fine and fun to theorize about, but not at all sound science.

 

[Doctor Evo]

This is where Doctor Evo is coming from when Marvolo states that the probability of an older species figuring out a way to do it is higher than them not figuring it out. that's just kind of a ridiculous statement. There is certainly a POSSIBILITY, but the odds are not in that favor in the slightest. From what we know. Which is admittedly small. But really all we have to go on. Anything else is essentially just dreaming, which is fine and fun to theorize about, but not at all sound science.

That's not exactly what I'm saying or where I'm coming from. My point is that we know so little about these likelihoods that to make any sort of assertive or specific claim with respect to probability is foolish.

 

[Solouk]

From what I understand noones claiming scientific fact here? That WOULD be foolish. When things like this are discussed its all subjective. It all boils down to having a open mind and not dogmatically crossing your arms and saying, 'well science says your talking crap'. The possibility outweighs the improbability.

 

[Dr.]

Considering there are human scientists who already agree that faster than light and even time travel could be possible I don't think its a bold claim or at all unsupportable to say an older species in the universe could have figured it out.

That's an overstatement. There are some hypotheses under which artificial wormholes might allow for a time-travel effect. But according to other scientists, such wormholes would create destructive quantum feedback loops and prevent the endeavor (thus maintaining the so-called “chronology protection conjecture”).

In any case, this isn’t the same as (literal) faster-than-light travel. And the injunction against FTL isn’t an engineering problem that might be solved with highly advanced tech; it’s a description of physical reality and logic. Talking about FTL is like saying “square circle” - it’s a nonsensical contradiction in terms.

 

[NickNitro]

Based on what, exactly? You're now making very specific statements regarding probability and likelihood, which require some quantitative justification.

This isn't what you said before. You've now changed your statement.

Dude I'm sorry but you're acting like everyone here is a physicist/molecular scientist/quantitative mathematician. We are discussing what we think is probable. I nor anyone else here needs to copy from Wikipedia a long mathematical equation that wouldn't be understood by 99% of this community just to say "I think an older species in the galaxy could have cracked the code to inter dimensional space travel".

This is all speculation on both sides.

 

[superpower]

Dude I'm sorry but you're acting like everyone here is a physicist/molecular scientist/quantitative mathematician. We are discussing what we think is probable. I nor anyone else here needs to copy from Wikipedia a long mathematical equation that wouldn't be understood by 99% of this community just to say "I think an older species in the galaxy could have cracked the code to inter dimensional space travel".

This is all speculation on both sides.

I think the key word is possible.

If we limit human possibility by what we Think is probable then where would we be?

How many generations have said man could never fly like a bird? Dare I say that they thought it impossible let alone improbable.

Yet here we are.

I guess my point is that no matter how many degrees are on your wall, tomorrow is just another chance for everything to change.

No matter how probable everything is possible.

 

[NickNitro]

We've only known the true shape of our OWN planet for only a thousand years or so. In the grand scheme of the galaxy, a few thousand years would be like milliseconds in a calendar year.

 

[Solouk]

I've heard people say, 'who gives a **** what's going on out there. There's too much crap going on in the world, there's too many problems going on right here.' And I can see their point. But then I think, maybe the answer to our problems lies out 'there'. Just a thought.

 

[NickNitro]

We are a species too full of ourselves. We take comfort in personal goals and pride than the goals of the masses. We are riddled with bigotry/hatred/wars over territory,religion,fuel that we don't give ourselves a chance to look up.

A great change needs to happen for us a species soon, or we will be doomed. Who knows, we could be "their" experiment. We could be ants placed on a rock and left to their own devices for study. Maybe that's why they don't invade, because we are just test subjects, lab rats, in a galactic petri dish.

 

[superpower]

I've heard people say, 'who gives a **** what's going on out there. There's too much crap going on in the world, there's too many problems going on right here.' And I can see their point. But then I think, maybe the answer to our problems lies out 'there'. Just a thought.

Interesting thought.

And when it come to some new energy source I could see that.

Unfortunately I believe most of those problems "down here" are man made and can be man solved as well.

Unless of course there is an intergalactic justice commission that will take out our bad apples for us.

 

[Alex_Spider]

We are a species too full of ourselves. We take comfort in personal goals and pride than the goals of the masses. We are riddled with bigotry/hatred/wars over territory,religion,fuel that we don't give ourselves a chance to look up.

A great change needs to happen for us a species soon, or we will be doomed. Who knows, we could be "their" experiment. We could be ants placed on a rock and left to their own devices for study. Maybe that's why they don't invade, because we are just test subjects, lab rats, in a galactic petri dish.

Great points. I got shivers in a good way when I watched Star Trek the first contact we make with the Vulcans in a time where humanity faced the destruction of the planet with the wars, diseases etc. It is such a peaceful and relieving scene when scientist Zefram Cochrane confronts the Vulcan thinking that humanity's salvation is here in such a simple scene.

I like to think we could make a similar contact with high evolved beings and ascend in another civilization. I just wish it would happen sooner
[YT]2orQxtEmtjE[/YT]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2orQxtEmtjE

 

[Solouk]

There's A LOT of issues going on at the moment. An exploding global population, famine, disease, corruption, religion, raping the planet of resources, the list goes on. We may have made jumps in science & technology, but as a society? We haven't gone anywhere. In fact, things are worse than they ever have been. There needs to be a giant shift in the way we think, what our priorities are, where we see ourselves heading as a civilisation. Because things as they are certainly ain't working, and sooner or later (within our lifetimes) we will be at crisis point.

 

[superpower]

We are a species too full of ourselves. We take comfort in personal goals and pride than the goals of the masses. We are riddled with bigotry/hatred/wars over territory,religion,fuel that we don't give ourselves a chance to look up.

A great change needs to happen for us a species soon, or we will be doomed. Who knows, we could be "their" experiment. We could be ants placed on a rock and left to their own devices for study. Maybe that's why they don't invade, because we are just test subjects, lab rats, in a galactic petri dish.

We really aren't all that bad. Misguided? Abosfreakingluty but given the opportunity I believe most people would prefer life to be different (objectively better) today.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

i'm not skeptical i do believe that there has to be some form of life even single cell organisms out there

but it really doesn't help that all " abductions" and "sightings" are usually made by inbred hicks and utter morons

and then guys like this

[YT]0cvKC-TlDug[/YT]

 

[NickNitro]

i'm not skeptical i do believe that there has to be some form of life even single cell organisms out there

but it really doesn't help that all " abductions" and "sightings" are usually made by inbred hicks and utter morons

and then guys like this

[YT]0cvKC-TlDug[/YT]

Its sad that these are the types of cases that get the most public exposure.

 

[superpower]

There's A LOT of issues going on at the moment. An exploding global population, famine, disease, corruption, religion, raping the planet of resources, the list goes on. We may have made jumps in science & technology, but as a society? We haven't gone anywhere. In fact, things are worse than they ever have been. There needs to be a giant shift in the way we think, what our priorities are, where we see ourselves heading as a civilisation. Because things as they are certainly ain't working, and sooner or later (within our lifetimes) we will be at crisis point.

No offence but this post makes me think someone holding a "the end is near" sign.
Lol. Again I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at the fact that we always seem to be on the brink.

You're right though. But I say that as long as we have today then we still have time to change.

 

[moviedoors]

That's not exactly what I'm saying or where I'm coming from. My point is that we know so little about these likelihoods that to make any sort of assertive or specific claim with respect to probability is foolish.

Exactly this. We have literally nothing to base a claim of what tech other lifeforms might have or what laws of physics might be possible. Pure speculation is fine as a starting point, but to make baseless, literally baseless, assumptions about what must be out there and what is possible isn't reasonable. I would love for all this stuff to be true, but the fact of the matter is we don't have enough information to make any kind of positive claims. We simply don't know.