"Public disclosure will only cause panic"

[JohnT]

Originally posted by Solver

But it still violates Occam's (Ockham's) razor by adding an element totally unnecessary to the process. Given that Egyptian pyramid building is something that can be learned in children's books, the addition of aliens to the process is little more than wishful thinking

Does not. Not when you examine a couple of facts as a whole, that do not make the traditional explanation a plausible one.

Yes it does. Given the evidence, you might as well presuppose that God came down to help the Egyptians. Both scenarios (God/aliens) are equally correct given the lack of evidence for either one.

All "evidence" put forth re: aliens and the Pyramids rely entirely upon the assumption that "If I don't know how they did it, then they couldn't have done it." When you get to the ravings of people like Van Daniken, then you get to add the despicable element of cultural/racial superiority. I remember reading Chariots of the Gods about 20 years ago and coming away impressed about how many S. American cultures were advanced enough to do what Van Daniken says that were capable of doing, and, conversely, how many African cultures were not capable of doing what Van Daniken said they couldn't.

[chequita guevara]

I don't see why alien technology is necessary for the contruction of the pyramids. Humans are very good engineers. We don't need no alien technology to stack rocks.

[DanS]

Regarding disclosure, I know for certain that the government (at least the US government) is incapable of keeping something this big secret, so the question is moot.

In any event, disclosure would not cause widespread panic because people couldn't afford it. They have to go to work in order to eat, pay their mortgages, etc. People might be taking a lot of sick days from work at the beginning, but those run out pretty soon.

Regarding aliens actually visiting us any time soon and us picking up on the fact that we're being visited... I would guess that it's unlikely, given the fact that we've never picked up on it before, or have dismissed the possibility out of hand even if we picked up on it (widespread disbelief makes recognition less likely, don't you think?). The demonstrated probability is rather low.

Regarding UFOs, people see lots of things, and I imagine that some portion of the UFO sightings are genuine. However, I note that the US Government, for one, has had a robust aerospace testing program since the 40s. We've put up some aircraft that are every bit as strange looking and acting as these UFOs. You name it, we've done it. Flying saucers? Check. Odd-shaped airships? Check. Fast airplanes? Check. Rockets? Check.

[JohnT]

True, Dan. The President can't even get a private extra-marital BJ without it being all over the papers, but we're supposed to think that a 50-year long conspiracy involving hundreds (at least) of people and hundreds of millions of dollars exists?

[pchang]

Originally posted by Solver
I think it's unlikely they didn't. Unlikely that aliens physically built it, too. However, I believe that at least some Egyptian gods, like Osiris, Thoth or Horus were real persons - aliens.

Though unfortunately I can't speak about alien influence in ancient times as much as about modern ufology. For serious debates, I stick to the modern times, but for theorizing, I touch upon the ancient times too. It's just that of ancient times I am not 100% certain - highly convinced, but not 100% just yet.

Are you sure you haven't watched Stargate a few too many times?

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DanS
Regarding disclosure, I know for certain that the government (at least the US government) is incapable of keeping something this big secret, so the question is moot.

You don't have to keep something secret if no one believes it. On something like this, if there were proof, the media would be all over it, but they'd never believe it in the first place to even take a look. This is not to say I believe that the U.S. is keeping anything in Area 51 other than advanced aircraft.

On the other hand, your argument smacks of the economist who refuses to believe a $20 bill was on the ground becuase if there had been a $20 on the ground, someone would already have picked it up.

[Urban Ranger]

I do not believe extraterrestrial intelligence advanced enough to breach the vast interstellar chasm needs to use anal probes.

[Natalinasmpf]

For all we know, the "aliens" are merely our transcendi brothers. Human yes, but Homo Superior.

[JohnT]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


You don't have to keep something secret if no one believes it. On something like this, if there were proof, the media would be all over it, but they'd never believe it in the first place to even take a look. This is not to say I believe that the U.S. is keeping anything in Area 51 other than advanced aircraft.

The problem with this argument, as applied to "gov't conspires to keep alien visitations secret", is that plenty of people do believe it... and they still haven't gathered even a scintilla of credible, undeniable evidence after 50 years of looking.

[Last Conformist]

von Däniken is an idiot. But an amusing idiot.

[GhengisFarb™]

I don't completely buy into Aliens building our ancient civilization but I don't completely rule it out either.

From what I can tell Ancient civilizations were far more advanced than we give them credit for. Has anyone else heard about this ancient computer the Greeks built? Supposedly it was very similiar to the one built by Babbage only it was built thousands of years before his and lost at sea (apparently it was transported on a Trieme and the Greeks didn't have the Lighthouse and moved onto a sea tile).

It makes sense that they could think and develop things, they didn't have Nintendos and Apolyton to suck away their free time so they had lots of time to think and rationalize about concepts and theory. I see no reason why they couldn't have designed and built the Great Pyramid. It was most likely the equivilent of the Apollo Program in their era and they would have pulled the most brilliant and advanced Astrologers, Mathematicians, and Engineers of their time to design and lay it out.

[Lancer]

"I do not believe extraterrestrial intelligence advanced enough to breach the vast interstellar chasm needs to use anal probes."

"Anal probes" are the alien equivelent of a 5% pcr.

[Natalinasmpf]

Yes they are much more advanced, but that doesn't necessarily mean aliens. They may have encountered the same technology boom we encounter today?

I read even somewhere that there is rather staggering evidence for a nuclear war between the civilization of Atlantis and the Hindus that wiped out much of civilization (and thus made it primitive again)...how else to explain that the radiation at some of the ancient sites are as much as Hiroshoma?

[Solver]

You old bunch are hard to convince without a good lesson . So anyone who wants to be convinced should apply to me for a nice lecture. In modern ufology, not that ancient stuff.

[Winston]

Ufology, schmufology!

Any alien in his right mind would want to stay far away from us pesky humans.