Poll: Do you think Alien Abductions really occur?

[awmperry]

It's absurd - and rather arrogant - to assume that earth holds the only forms of life in the universe. (I almost said "intelligent life", then I remembered reality TV and couldn't keep a straight face)

And it is possible that technologies and sciences we don't yet know about exist that permit travel from other planets to Earth.

That said, I'm nowhere near convinced that what advanced alien societies really want is a farmer's colonoscopy.


(To clarify, but in brackets and a bit down because it would kinda dilute the punchline otherwise, I'm convinced that there is intelligent life elsewhere in the universe; it's mathematically almost certain. But I'm still on the fence as to whether they've actually visited Earth. It would be nice, though, wouldn't it?)

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

Just no. If there was a race capable of inter-system space travel I'm sure they'd come and say 'hi' rather than shoving probes up people's probe holes.

That brings the question: how would they get here? The distances are so vast, how would anyone get anywhere in the galaxy?

Well yeah, of course, but they wouldn't be subverting the laws of physics to enter redneck ass cracks would they?

Never said they would.

 

[rossatdi]

Just no. If there was a race capable of inter-system space travel I'm sure they'd come and say 'hi' rather than shoving probes up people's probe holes.

That brings the question: how would they get here? The distances are so vast, how would anyone get anywhere in the galaxy?

Well yeah, of course, but they wouldn't be subverting the laws of physics to enter redneck ass cracks would they?

Never said they would.

Sorry, I believe I'm missing your point. What are you asking that's to do with the thread? I'm simply saying that alien abductions aren't likely on the basis of it being pointless for the aliens.

As for your general question: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster_than_light_travel

 

[Ace of Spades]

No. Reality is too boring for something like that to happen.

 

[ILPPendant]

The trouble is that while we might like there to be aliens hoovering up the general populace, physics is a harsh mistress. To say that the possibility of alien abduction is borderline impossible is an understatement: imagine just what they'd have to do.
1) Find us. Earth is a small planet and it would be extremely difficult to simply confirm that any planet exists in our solar system. Sending probes out just "to see what there is" to any solar system that catches your fancy is frighteningly expensive.
2) Get here. The nearest system with a confirmed planet is Epsilon Eridani (incidentally a gas giant) which is about 10.5 light years away. Of course, that means the trip would be a minimum of 10.5 years in length, almost certainly longer.
3) Hide. Keeping the "mothership" behind an object like the moon would keep it out of sight of practically everyone with a telescope but if you plan on "sampling" the indigenous population then you'll need a landing craft of some kind. This has to enter the Earth's atmosphere without burning up, land to pick up its "cargo" and take off again without being either bright or loud, since these problems tend to get people's attention. Of course, one must also be radar-invisible, or else the local air force will be on its tail faster than you can say "radar lock".
4) Return home. Presumably such a complex mission would be manned - "aliened"? - so the craft now has to leave on a decades, probably centuries-long flight home again.

Just my train of thought. To my shame, I seem to have responded more seriously than I planned.

 

[johnman]

I belive is visited by earth by E.T's, far too much proof to think other wise. But im not so sure about abductions...

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Well if you think about it on a larger scale, just in our modern era is about a spec on earth's history. Maybe aliens visited the earth when it was just molten rock and lava? But on the whole about recent claims I find it highly unlikely.

 

[mattttherman3]

If they do happen then the aliens are smart enough to get the people no one will believe!

 

[VaioStreams]

I live in New Mexico so yes. i believe in them. I mean people get dragged across the border all the time.....oh wait wait, wrong alien. Seriously though. with all the UFO activity reported here. it's hard not to

 

[James Raynor]

I belive is visited by earth by E.T's, far too much proof to think other wise. But im not so sure about abductions...

Proof?

 

[Healey]

I believe it could happen, conceivably. It may indeed have happened in the past, before Radar systems, satellite observation and automated missile defences started populating the Earth. Many cultures have obscure paintings/texts that record possible abductions, though it could be construed as something else. I'm pretty sure if an alien craft abducted some prehistoric man long ago, they would've concluded from their studies never to return to Earth.

 

[ILPPendant]

I belive is visited by earth by E.T's, far too much proof to think other wise. But im not so sure about abductions...

Proof?

Well, Stonehenge for starters. You can tell it wasn't built by the locals, since the stones are arranged in a circle and EVERYONE knows that circles were invented by the ancient Greeks. So either the Greeks landed in early Britain and overcame the language barrier to teach them geometry (which the Britons then subsequently forgot) or aliens came down and erected the site to serve as a landing marker. Should be a no-brainer.

 

[Murrah]

Well to be honest, it depends on how you describe aliens.
Some people describe foreigners aliens as they look different as they do.

 

[James Raynor]

Am I the only one who gets really fucking annoyed when someone just says "discuss" after a short post? At the very least, just ask a one sentence question. Oh wait, you did that! You need to have a little bulk, and an actual topic, this could be a discussion, were it not for the fact that you just posted a sentence and the most fucking irritating word you could have said - Discuss....

Discuss.

It's because of alien abductions over all, not of any one particular event.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

I belive is visited by earth by E.T's, far too much proof to think other wise. But im not so sure about abductions...

Proof?

Well, Stonehenge for starters. You can tell it wasn't built by the locals, since the stones are arranged in a circle and EVERYONE knows that circles were invented by the ancient Greeks. So either the Greeks landed in early Britain and overcame the language barrier to teach them geometry (which the Britons then subsequently forgot) or aliens came down and erected the site to serve as a landing marker. Should be a no-brainer.

Circles weren't invented by anyone. They are a shape.

That's like saying that the Moon was invented by Copernicus.

 

[Hookman]

I beleive aliens exist but I dont beleive they abduct people. Mainly cos you always get the dumbest people saying "I got ma butt probed and ma liver taken."

 

[D_987]

I think so, but I'm not certain - I am sure thee are some form of aliens out there though.

 

[Mr. Squirrel]

I voted No, Strongly. Although I would really like to see an alien, because that just looks like fun, too bad I don't believe there are any on Earth momentarilyy.