Do you watch Television?

You do realize that anything "interesting" on the History Channel is basically unproven and is just there to get money off of T.V. ratings, right? So, Ancient Aliens, and anything similar is not a usable source. That includes similar shows on PBS and other educational channels. Also, I think you need to start refraining from saying things like "How does anybody not know this. There's even an equation for it," because it's not common knowledge, and it's a plain rude statement. You will never win a debate by basically calling your opponent an idiot. You should know this by now. <--see, makes ya angry, doesn't it?

If it's common knowledge, cough up the source and the equation, and it better be from someone like NASA, not Wikipedia or a conspiracy website. Same goes for your statistics on most people in the U.S. believing in aliens.

Anyway, end of that rant.

After reading everyone else's arguments, I would have to agree that Area 51 has probably turned into a bit of a decoy at this point, and I would say that if there are aliens (which I am inclined to believe) I would say that most of them are just plain uninterested in Earth (if they even know about it) or are peaceful and just leave us alone.

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Oh, also, I'd like to add in another conspiracy theory about Area 51 that I've been interested in ever since 2012 became a big deal back around 2008, which says that it could be the U.S. gov't's headquarters for planning a mass genocide of its people. I don't really believe this, but I thought it'd be fun to throw it out there.

Oh god I hate the History Channel.

*walks away with clenched fists*

I really like Pawn Stars and American Restoration on History Channel, but that's about it. History Channel is kinda a sell out these days, but that's off topic, soooo. :oops: :lol:

*Clears Throat*

The drake equation. What Is The Drake Equation? Which showed up on Big Bang Theory, as well as all of those little alien shows like Ancient Aliens, etc. And for someone interested in aliens it is common knowledge nowadays. That being the group I was talking to, I was not wrong to assume they should know of it. Especially with some of the shows it's been on being mentioned in this thread.

As for the stats on the percentage of U.S. residents believe in Aliens, it varies, but it's more than half, and therefore most. The poll CNN put out was on the higher side with roughly 80%

What percent of Americans believe that Aliens exist?

People Said to Believe in Aliens and Ghosts More Than God | LiveScience

Correlated - In general, 69 percent of people believe aliens exist. But among those who oppose embryonic stem cell research, only 36 percent believe aliens exist.

Poll U.S. hiding knowledge of aliens - CNN

Among UFO enthusiasts, this is all common knowledge. I assumed that people in a thread about aliens, would know stuff you can find with a quick google search.

Originally Posted by ElysiumFate

I really like Pawn Stars and American Restoration on History Channel, but that's about it. History Channel is kinda a sell out these days, but that's off topic, soooo. :oops: :lol:

I have no problem with getting off topic, fyi. ;-P But, yeah, my uncle had the same complaint about HC. And, I hate to admit it, but it's a valid point.

In recent history yeah. They used to have really good documentaries, but now it's pretty much all crap.

Originally Posted by Glass

The drake equation. What Is The Drake Equation?

The equation doesn't really prove anything - its just a bunch of variables [that we don't know], that have the potential to give us an estimate of how many other 'intelligent lifeforms' there are out there.

It isn't that spectacular, and I don't see how it could ever be used in a way to prove that aliens exist.

... As for Area 51, I'm under the impression that most of it is a hoax... And like most have already said - if anything, alien related or no - had been going on there, it isn't likely to be happening now.

People like to believe in the supernatural - we're an imaginative bunch like that... But instead of trying to make contact with alien civilizations... I think we're better off focusing on earth and the abundance of problems we have here.

Originally Posted by Glass

Among UFO enthusiasts, this is all common knowledge. I assumed that people in a thread about aliens, would know stuff you can find with a quick google search.

Part of the fun of debating is learning new things. One comes into a debate with their own limited range of knowledge and shares said knowledge with those participating in the debate so as to discuss whether or not the knowledge has any basis to be used in said debate. The equation you mentioned is interesting, but still not common knowledge. Most people who have an interest in aliens aren't geeks, but they do want to learn more, so thank you for adding it in.

Anyway, yes. The History Channel used to have a lot of great documentaries on it, and it still does occasionally, but I swear--if I ever see another Nostradamus "documentary" on that channel again, I'm going to have to kick a hole in the T.V. screen. /hates those shows

Repo: All of science is a series of variables put into equations. We do know these variables. That's what NASA and SETI have been doing with most of their time, since their institution.

ElysiumFate: Indeed. Now I have to go to the internet for my documentaries, and most of my news too.

Hahaha, yes. I have the same issue, but I have had luck finding documentaries at my local library to rent. I've had trouble finding documentaries on the internet, myself, since, you know, 300 is probably more popular than a dolphin documentary.

Yeah, but there's always youtube to find random videos of them. . . and their evil ways.

I know! Youtube really is the best place to find documentaries about evil dolphins. <3

/ends off topic spiel

Originally Posted by Repo

People like to believe in the supernatural - we're an imaginative bunch like that... But instead of trying to make contact with alien civilizations... I think we're better off focusing on earth and the abundance of problems we have here.

You have quite a point there.

My mom once said something interesting to me... that perhaps aliens do exist, and they are actually the "gods" we keep praying to... so basically, the aliens use us as cosmic playthings when they're bored. xD I neither agree nor disagree with this assertion, but I think it's funny. :3

On the actual topic: I don't entirely write off the existence of extraterrestrial life... in fact, I think it's a distinct possibility: we've already discovered that the universe is huge and apparently endless, therefore, there is absolutely no reason to believe that there is not another planet in another solar system capable of supporting life. However, I also believe that not all other planets are necessarily more advanced than ours-- some planets may already be living in Star Wars or Blade Runner by now, but some may still be hunter-gatherers or living in the literal Dark Ages, so that may be why no aliens have bothered us by now: some can't get here (or haven't thought of it) and some just don't give a shit. As for Area 51, I agree that it's probably just a distraction by now, and the government just lets us harp on that while they build more new machines to kill people or whatever the government does when they're not trying to kill another country or brainwashing us all. xD I don't even think they want to bother the aliens anymore, if they ever did.

Aliens, in the typical reference, no.

Weapons of mass destruction, possibly and probable, if we are talking beyond the normal definition of that. It could be hidden lies for all I know and I am betting on that.