Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Truth May Be Out There...

There's been a lot of talk this year about governments releasing--or disclosing--their classified UFO files. And according to the milliards of sites devoted to the subject...it could be any day now, as it has been for years. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, one thing remains to be seen: convincing evidence.

Go to any ET or UFO website and your bound to be confronted by a similar scene: Black background, neon green text riddled with typos, distracting flashing banners, and almost always some new-agey conspiracy book for sale--usually written by the website's owner. Or go to youtube and check out any of literally thousands of clips of UFO sightings, and you'll see little more than shaky, pixelated video--so shaky sometimes that it's not clear if the movement is being made by the little object in the distance or by the camera itself. Further still, are a whole other class of video made by amateur CGI designers, either attempting to make an object look as realistic as possible, or else trying to completely trick people. The latter--hoaxers in general--are the worst of the problem.

Skeptic or not, lets just pretend the government is withholding all kinds of files that could, in essence, change the way we think about ourselves and the universe at large. A global confirmation that we are not alone would most certainly shift our perspective in unimaginable ways. In short, we would no longer have the privilege of deeming ourselves the superior being of the universe. At once, we would be humbled--awed, and given new hopes for radically improving our lives on planet Earth...and perhaps beyond.

However, as long as the government conceals the truth--provided that there is something to conceal--they will continue to devalue the efforts of believers around the world. And believe me, it's an easy job to perform. It is the hoaxers, the bad websites, and the cheesy conspiracy literature that only strengthens the government's plight. The sheer lack of quality in aesthetics and writing alone are enough to undermine their efforts, making them look like hacks compared to better funded investigative reports.

It is actually quite sad really that the people out there who believe in the great unsolved mysteries share their beliefs in such an amateurish way. While their intentions may be noble, their presentation only manages to create more skeptics. And while it may be a shame that people are shallow, and only choose to trust information that is presented in a more...professionally aesthetic way, with so much information out there, we kind of have no choice but to expect a certain standard of production.

As far as video sightings and photos are concerned, it's a different matter entirely. I can imagine that if I saw a UFO today, my video capture of it would be rife with problems--even with the best equipment and a steady hand. This brings up one the greatest ironies of this whole debacle. Wouldn't seeing a UFO blow your mind completely? Would your brain not be whirling around, your heart pumping...and your camera hand trembling? And on the other hand, wouldn't having a tripod at the ready reveal a "set-up" video...a complete hoax? It would seem that it's basically a lose-lose situation as a shaky and grainy image may reflect some spontaneity and emotionally involved filming, the utter lack of clarity deems these videos immediately inadmissible. And on the other hand, a fixed HD shot of a flying saucer will at once be scrutinized for its preparedness and clarity--and deemed a hoax.

But...and this is a big but, pilots, astronauts and other government officials all over the world have said time and time again that 5 percent of these videos are "inexplicable." Tested with thermo-spectograph technology--similar to the image technology an airport may use to check if you have a fever--5 percent of these images have been proven to be "real" objects. Whether alien or terrestrial, however, remains to be verified. But again, the better the hoaxers get at generating convincing computer generated images, the further we get from discovering the truth. And additionally, the further the hoaxers are willing to go, and the deeper their pockets, even the experts become more skeptical--and more willing to call even the most convincing images hoaxes.

I think people should be responsible here. Some 13 year old punk may find it hilarious to chuck a plate off his roof and throw it on youtube as a "REAL UFO" sighting, but it is the responsibility of the viewer to shut it down by commenting on the video. There was a video that emerged 2 years ago--supposedly taken in Haiti. The first time I saw it, I literally shuddered. I couldn't believe it. It was a close up video of a massive flying saucer moving up the beach, you could hear the person filming it actually gasp. It was very convincing. But it was a viewer's honest comment that proved the video to be a hoax--noting that the palm trees in the image were identical to one another. So, on the positive side, I'm glad that there are some out there who strive to keep things real.

In the end, we will either step it up a notch and build a more mature and convincing case for the existence of alien life, or we will file the massive heap of documentation next to the Lochness Monster and Bigfoot. The choice is more ours than we think. And who knows, we may be in for an even bigger surprise later this year if the US government decides to de-classify its files. Until then, keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the skies.  Here are a few links, both good and bad. Enjoy. The Disclosure Project UFO Evidence

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