Keep UFO Reporting Grounded in Reality, Advise Skeptics

[edhopper]

https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/keep-ufo-reporting-grounded-in-reality-advise-skeptics/

“Unidentified” does not equal “aliens”: Sources often conflate sightings of something in the sky with extraterrestrials. Most UFOs become IFOs (identified flying objects).

Just because alien life is possible, it doesn’t mean they’re here: Many confuse the fact that astronomers believe, on a statistical basis, that life (even intelligent life) may exist elsewhere in the universe with the idea that such life has already been discovered by being glimpsed in our skies. It hasn’t.

We can’t identify everything: There are always going to be some unresolved sightings, often where very little is known or recorded.

UFO enthusiasts are everywhere: There are always going to be officials among the sprawling defense agencies who have to take reports of UFOs or UAPs seriously, as well as politicians for whom UFO controversies serve their particular ends.

Talk to the actual experts: When possible, it’s best to seek out independent, knowledgeable scientific and technical sources, not just enthusiasts and believers. CSI can connect journalists to these experts.

Anecdote is not data: Statements from sources such as, “It flew away at speeds unimaginable” or “turned in a way impossible for any aircraft today” are not reliable.

Remember Occam’s razor: Even highly advanced imaging equipment is susceptible to errors and human misinterpretations. Plausible, terrestrial explanations have been advanced for all the U.S. Navy videos that have caused so much fuss.

I think this one is very important to remember:
UFO enthusiasts are everywhere: There are always going to be officials among the sprawling defense agencies who have to take reports of UFOs or UAPs seriously, as well as politicians for whom UFO controversies serve their particular ends.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. People also don't understand how truly vast interstellar distances are.

And how incredibly long it would take to travel between stars. FTL (faster than light) travel probably is impossible. And don't just blithely toss out how advanced the hypothetical aliens would be. They would still be constrained by laws of physics.

Another thing to think about is how long any given technological civilization might last. And how old the universe is at this point. The chances of two such civilizations overlapping is minuscule. Plus, according to My Son The Astronomer, it's highly possible that we are the very first such civilization at least in our galaxy.

I've also seen some excellent analyses of some of those videos, which indicate they are not remotely some advanced craft.

[Dream Girl]

2. Would they be contracted by the laws of physics?

200 years ago manned flight was similarly contracted. But technology…

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. There really is a huge difference between manned flight

and FTL travel. 200 years ago the technology to build engines that would enable flight just didn't exist. It's not just a matter of improved technology to enable FTL travel. It has to do with what happens to things as they get very close to C (the speed of light).

There's a certain amount of casual talk about using wormholes to travel vast differences in short time. However, at least so far wormholes have not been observed, so they may not even exist. Or if they do exist, may be microscopic in size, which would hardly make for a practical means of transportation.

[Eko]

5. You are 100% correct.

Thanks!

[Binkie The Clown]

4. I blieve inn UFOs because...

.. it's just a whole lot of fun to believe in them.