Thread: Extra-terrestrials?

The aliens next door assure me there is NOTHING "unidentified" about their flying vehicle.

Seriously though, while I do not know for sure if there is or is not extra terrestrial life, but I think it would be silly to think it is not possible. We have learned in other debates that no matter the probability against something occuring, theorists will justify it by adding either unlimited amounts of time or infinite opportunities for it to occur (abiogenesis anyone?). Why not just add more zeros to this one, to make it too possible.
I think if we are to believe there is extra terrestrial life, we cannot assume then, that it is (of course!) going to only be one-celled organisms, etc etc. We are kidding ourselves. I think this goes back to the belief that there can be no greater intelligence than our own. There is no basis for this.

So...while I have not met any extra terrestrials (for sure....anyway) I believe it is completely possible they exist. Nothing I've seen in theory (or even, for that matter, Biblically, if one wishes to bring the religious aspect in) discounts the possibility of it occuring.
Just add in an infinite number of planets...don't think it's possible yet? add in a few million more galaxies, the odds keep getting better...

I do believe the government could keep a big secret like this, incidentally. Abu Ghraib was mentioned earlier, but is a poor example, because it is not an example of a government secret, but the exact opposite.
Illegal activities were happening, and when some of the perpetrators decided to email photographs of their "festivities" the recipients then decided (oh so responsibly) not to involve the authorities, but the media instead. Of course, it was the story of the decade and these bright stars and their "fun" got America dragged repetitively through the dirt for years. The government, if not exactly happy about the events there, did not keep it or the trial a secret, either. The military attempt at openness was used against them to imply such things were commonplace, etc etc and the insurgency (and the media who fed on it) grew in boldness, as did those seeking to be elected by presenting the current system as a "failure" in any way possible. It's politics 101. Doesn't make it nice.

Fact is, there are secrets that are specifically military/national defense related but of neutral political value, and these typically are well kept (Area-51/the "box"/ the "container"/Groom lake facility.....exists yet no one REALLY knows what it is or is not even if many have *theories*)

and then there are some that can be used for political gain by one party or another, and in rare cases by individual politicians. The more serious secrets are limited to a few people, and if leaked it would be simple to find the traitor. Others, however....seem to be leaked at the earliest politically advantageous moment without regard to losses.
Stealth technology was kept secret for decades. Nuclear weapons? a decade. Sometimes nations even help their *enemies* keep secrets when it seems advantageous.

The Soviets and Chinese were shooting each other as late as the 1980's, but to hear it here in the U.S. they were both anxious to unload hundreds of ICBMs into small town USA and march in the paratroops, arm in arm as they took over. Likewise, while GI's reported contact with Soviet soldiers in Korea (fighter pilots) and Vietnam (radio intercept types) our government as well as theirs denied this happened. Saves that whole "why don't we fight the Soviets?" debate-something we prepared for but neither side REALLY wanted to happen outright.....and now, the Russians have confirmed both cases were true.

Quite a long time to keep a secret. So yes. I think it's possible. So long as one party or the other cannot make political gain by it, or a reporter a name for himself....and not everyone knows it.

John P.