What's up with the History Channel and UFOs?

[Bullet1987]

Am I the only one to notice the numerous UFO programs that are run on History and History International? It's like somone who owns the channels are trying to make it easier to believe. I don't know, I think life on other planets is possible, but I question the validity that they've found Earth. I mean, if there are countless planets out there...what's the probability that UFO's would find us...much less care about us. We would be a galactic backwater compared to other civilizations that can already travel the stars.

[rucky]

1. I quit trusting Cable channel names...

when MTV stopped playing music.

[RufusTFirefly]

2. "much less care about us"

You hit the nail on the head with that phrase Bullet1987.

The notion that intelligent life from other planets (which statistically would seem to exist) would actually be interested in us follows the fine tradition of believing the Earth is the center of the solar system or that our solar system is at the center of our galaxy.

I believe in the statistical probability of intelligent life elsewhere. To believe otherwise is to be math or astronomy challenged or religious to a debilitating extent. And I believe in the existence of UFOs in the strictest sense, that is that there are "unidentified flying objects" out there. But are they commandeered by little green men who consider Earth to be Mecca for universal civilization? Of course not. It's far more probable that they are secret efforts by one terrestrial government or another to develop unconventional means of air and space transport.

In short: Intelligent life exists out there, but they have little or no interest in us. And if they did, they probably wouldn't travel in anything we could comprehend. UFOs exist, but they are almost certainly terrestrial in origin.

[PVnRT]

3. They're trying to boost ratings

I only watch the History Channel when "The Universe" is on. Otherwise they're useless. History Channel International, though, if you can afford a digital package, is fairly good.

[Generic Brad]

9. If they wanted to boost ratings there are other programs to show

The old "Connections" series with James Burke would be infinitely more interesting than the pseudo science drivel they show.

[RufusTFirefly]

10. Spoken like a true intellectual, Brad

You and I and a handful of others would be watching. But that's about it.
Sensation sells. Intellect is death.

[Generic Brad]

12. Did you just call me an "intellectual"?

I consider that the ultimate compliment. Thank you. I have always fancied myself as a modern day Cassandra despite the fact my extended family openly calls me that "damned college dumb ass".

[bananas]

4. 60th anniversery of roswell

there's a big ufo festival there this weekend
www.coasttocoastam.com

[Suich]

5. I noticed all the Roswell programs....

Didn't even dawn on me it was the 60th anniversary!

Thanks!

:)

[Swamp Rat]

6. At least they stopped playing 'Hitler shows' day in and day out

... for the time being.

[Bitwit1234]

7. They have marathons like that sometimes.

Mostly they pick stories about guns or war. I am glad it was UFO's this time some are interesting. But most are old and have been shown over and over.

[parasim]

8. I dunno, history of UFO theory?

History is not necessarily just about something that happened, but also about discovery of the world around us.
Now, I'm not so sure these programs are not just your average sensationalist entertainment to grab more ratings, but the idea of aliens visiting this planet is not so far fetched, in my opinion.

I mean, maybe they don't care about us in particular, but perhaps our planet is a rich source of something they want. And their advanced technological thingamajigs detected this whatever and that's how they found us.

Ha ha, who knows? I've often imagined what a brook trout's thoughts were the first time he broke the surface of the river to nab an insect ambling by. As he soars up feeling the air on his scales, glancing around and seeing trees, blue sky, clouds, the sun and goes "Whoa! What the hell is this?" Someday, we'll break through some membrane that we have yet to understand and stare in wonder the very same way, I'm sure.

[wtmusic]

11. Psychic phenomena, sharks, UFOs, and Hitler

what more does a couch potato need?

[TrogL]

13. ratings

They've never had much of an audience at the best of times and their shows repeat so often everybody's seen them a dozen times.

They can probably get these UFO shows cheap 'cause nobody else wants them.