NASA's big anouncement!

[Mikey]

Dark matter, perhaps?

Personaly, I'm hoping for clear evidence of another inteligent race in the galaxy.

I'm still waiting for evidence of the first one.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

That doesn't answer my question of why they'd withold that information.

Because a person is smart. But people are dumb, stupid, panicky animals and anyone who's been the target of a riot knows it

[Sionnach Glic]

Because they have absolutely nothing to gain by releasing it, and face a lot of risk in doing so.

What risk?

Mikey:

[Duskofdead]

Because they have absolutely nothing to gain by releasing it, and face a lot of risk in doing so.

What risk?

Mikey:

I don't know whether your questions are serious or not. Why did the gov't "neglect' to mention how dangerous radiation was for like 20 years? Why does it, today, suppress knowledge and testing for mad cow? (Right now, as we speak, Bush personally is asking a higher court to reverse a lower court decision that dairy farms and meat packers have a right to voluntarily test for mad cow, which some companies want to do in order to assure export buyers and ensure no liability from lawsuits.)

To control risking any chance of a panic, and possibly interchangeably or as an extension, to control any chance of something hurting the marketplace. Panic bad. Something that makes people not keep up their normal buying habits, bad.

Aliens, way bad for both reasons. Add in religious zealotry and fears that aliens would be "hostile" and our government would not be in the realistic position to assure anyone that they could defend us, and it gets worse.

[Blackstar the Chakat]

Aliens, way bad for both reasons. Add in religious zealotry and fears that aliens would be "hostile" and our government would not be in the realistic position to assure anyone that they could defend us, and it gets worse.

I remember a cover story on either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics(I was a subscriber to both at the time and I usually get them confused) where it talked about the US government's plan if an extra-terrestrial landed on earth. To sum up, capture it, take it to a lab, make sure there are no contaminants, viruses, ect. and then keep it for study after confiscating it's vehicle.

If any aliens knew about the US government's plans I'd expect that's the reason why they haven't visited yet.

[Duskofdead]

Aliens, way bad for both reasons. Add in religious zealotry and fears that aliens would be "hostile" and our government would not be in the realistic position to assure anyone that they could defend us, and it gets worse.

I remember a cover story on either Popular Science or Popular Mechanics(I was a subscriber to both at the time and I usually get them confused) where it talked about the US government's plan if an extra-terrestrial landed on earth. To sum up, capture it, take it to a lab, make sure there are no contaminants, viruses, ect. and then keep it for study after confiscating it's vehicle.

If any aliens knew about the US government's plans I'd expect that's the reason why they haven't visited yet.

Yeah seriously, even Tijuana isn't that bad.

[Captain Picard's Hair]

It was indeed a bit of a letdown to open the thread to find that NASA's big announcement is an announcement that a big announcement is coming. Well, it's piqued my interest. Wonder why they're so coy?

[Duskofdead]

It was indeed a bit of a letdown to open the thread to find that NASA's big announcement is an announcement that a big announcement is coming. Well, it's piqued my interest. Wonder why they're so coy?

For the EXACT same reason Blizzard acts like announcing the date of a patch or update or fix or expansion for World of Warcraft is like an issue of critical national security when people ask for a date, or details. To avoid the embarrassment or public scrutiny over slipping deadlines if they give too much detail of what they plan to do, and when.

[Mikey]

To be fair, Blizzard protects its information better than the US guv'mint.

[Monroe]

The reason they don't reveal the fact that they're aliens out there is because of the conquest of the Aztecs and Inca by the Spanish. The Spanish brought diseases and war and easily destroyed century old cultures that were sure of their place in the universe. There's a lot to risk by revealing aliens exist. Look what happened in the 1930s.

[Duskofdead]

The reason they don't reveal the fact that they're aliens out there is because of the conquest of the Aztecs and Inca by the Spanish. The Spanish brought diseases and war and easily destroyed century old cultures that were sure of their place in the universe. There's a lot to risk by revealing aliens exist. Look what happened in the 1930s.

I'm a little confused, are you saying that aliens coming down might do to us what the Spanish did to central American societies? Or that even the knowledge of them might create that effect?

[Monroe]

Well both. The effect would be greater of course if they came down in person.

[Duskofdead]

Well both. The effect would be greater of course if they came down in person.

Since it's unprecedented and also people have been very desensitized with "false" or rather "systematically discredited" stories about aliens, it's hard to say exactly what would happen. But I agree a response on the stupid side would surprise me the least.

[Mikey]

Klaatu - verata nicto.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

So, they found Kahn Singh and the other Augments?