E.Ts

[Segovia]

I am sick and tired of hearing about scientific evidence. The fact is that the amount of scientific technology we have is only limited. What we have now can't prove or solve everything. Science in itself is a constantly changing thing.

[nickspoon]

The scientific dogma to which I compare extraordinary claims such as these prove very useful in all scientific contexts, and in the pursuit of knowledge in general. If we were to abandon this completely we would be apt to believe everything, no matter how outlandish. When I assess whether or not something is likely to be true, I utilise this scientific framework, along with my own experience and historical record. I, too, ask how it could be so, but in doing so also ask whether it could be so given what we know about the world presently.

And I think, if there were sufficient evidence for a consistent written record for such things, they would have been and would be investigated with scientific rigour at some point. That is how science works.

I am dissatisfied by extraordinary 'knowledge' which does not come from scientific procedure. It simply does not have sufficient certainty for me to be happy to say that it is true. That is not to say, of course, that I am uninterested by the idea; the artist, the psychologist and the anthropologist in me are all interested in how minds, people and cultures work, and I do of course appreciate such ideas based solely on their merits as ideas.

And Roger: scientific evidence is the very root of our understanding of the world. It is one of the most important things we have. Science may not be able to explain everything, but by its very nature it changes and alters itself until it does. It is a search for knowledge of the universe as it presents itself to us, which is, in terms of knowledge, all we truly require.

[Dr. Sticks]

I think that believing in dwarves and shit shouldn't be met with "I'm a robot, there is no evidence towards the existence of dwarves" due to the nature of the concept. Most people "believe" in aliens and faeries and shit because it's fun, and emotion is equally important as science. Life isn't about science.

[I'm not looking for a big rebuttal to this, nor was I making a big rebuttal with this post. it would seem like trolling to argue against this post. My point is that there are things that are obviously absurd, like martians and faeries, but the simple fact is that it's fun to pretend. There's seriously nothing wrong with pretending, even if it causes people with minds like children to do more than pretend. Unless, you know, you try to run off in the woods with no provisions for months, hoping that you'll be protected by a dragon who will suckle you like her young.]

[osprey]

Personally, I've never heard of this story before. I'd like to see a source. I'm not meaning to be a wet blanket, but the fact of the matter is that it is a pretty extraordinary story, and without some sort of evidence, I'm inclined not to believe it. For all I know, Bob the farmer could have made up this story. And to be brutally honest, most of the proof that Roger has come up with for matters like this and ghosts have been proven to be or obviously false. Thinking about the number of hoaxes today, it's not unreasonable to think that this was a hoax, if anything happened at all. Personally, I'm more inclined to believe this was simply a story, nothing more.

I mean, to believe stories without proof but not Wikipedia with all it's citations is a little crazy. Maybe I'm just cynical, but think about it...if I told you I had run a mile in 2 minutes, you wouldn't be very inclined to believe me would you? Don't tell me to use my head if I'm disbelieving of a wildly ridiculous story that you have no way of proving to be anything more than just that: a story.

Edit: Sticks, I wouldn't be so quick to jump on this statement had it been presented as a story, or something that was heard. However, when it's presented as so-called fact (made obvious with the statement Roger made before posting the story).

[Dr. Sticks]

yes, I definitely agree that these alien stories are crap, partially based on the manner they're being presented. but like, if I were watching the history channel do a show and they had a 10-15 minute clip about the same story, I would be more inclined to believe it even if they didn't present any more fact than Johnathan is.

[likeafox]

It sounds like a perfectly believable story to me. However, I'm not sure what it's doing in a thread about extra terrestrials. As far as I can tell, it's about some guy who crashed his blimp.

[osprey]

It sounds like a perfectly believable story to me. However, I'm not sure what it's doing in a thread about extra terrestrials. As far as I can tell, it's about some guy who crashed his blimp.

It wasn't a very Good year for the townspeople.

[gforce422]

It sounds like a perfectly believable story to me. However, I'm not sure what it's doing in a thread about extra terrestrials. As far as I can tell, it's about some guy who crashed his blimp.

It wasn't a very Good year for the townspeople.

*groan*
That pun was full of hot air.
*double groan*

[Dr. Sticks]

that pun went over like a lead zeppelin

[nickspoon]

I think that believing in dwarves and shit shouldn't be met with "I'm a robot, there is no evidence towards the existence of dwarves" due to the nature of the concept. Most people "believe" in aliens and faeries and shit because it's fun, and emotion is equally important as science. Life isn't about science.

You are incorrect if you think that all I care about is science. There are various things equally important - emotion, art, culture, language. I can still enjoy stories about aliens and faeries and what have you without actually believing in them. I quite like conspiracy theories, for example; I find them an interesting take on an alternate explanation, even if said explanation is exceedingly unlikely and I have every reason to doubt its actual occurrence.

[Rooster]

They may be real, they may not be real...to be honest, I couldn't care. I have much more important stuff going on than worrying about it.

[Dr. Sticks]

I knew that's all you're about, it's just all that your posts were about for a short while and that's a little unnerving, especially knowing that you're about other things