Dylan Ratigan Shameful UFO Interviews

[Drix]

I saw Dylan Ratigan do two interviews recently, one with Michio Kaku, and the other with Leslie Kane regarding Kane's latest book. The subject is UFO's. And while I personally believe in UFO's that's really not the point of this post. Ratigan gave these two serious professionals the most disgusting display of condescension and ridicule outside of a comedy show and Fox News I've ever seen. It's obvious that these two people take their work seriously and Ratigan treated like they were mentally challenged clowns who should be mocked. Whether you believe in UFO's or not if you are going to invite scientists and journalists on your program you should treat them with a modicum of respect. If you don't disagree with them, get your facts in order and expose them for the ignorant, gullible, hucksters they are. I would love to see that. But that's not what he did. He got all cutesy and just ridiculed and mocked them with stupid questions and condescending comments.If you don't have any respect for their work why have them on in the first place? If you think they are wrong and need to be exposed get your facts in order and expose them. But he didn't do that. He shed no light on the subject and just acted an ass. I've seen Tweety take down ignorant Tea Baggers, KO interview Alvin Greene, and Rachel interview Rand Paul. In all those cases in was very obvious that the interviewer did not agree with the subject but they informed their viewers and treated the people appearing on their programs with respect.

There are lots of people who believe wild and crazy things, from burning bushes talking to rising from the dead. Ratigan would never take that tone with a priest or rabbi. Why is it that people with acknowledge that UFO's might exists, no matter how serious and thoughtful they might be get treated like deranged cultists?

[Beaverhausen]

1. I didn't see this interview, but if you are interested in UFOs...

Buzz Aldrin has a great website/app with lots of interviews with other astronauts who admit to seeing them on space missions, lots of tape (certainly some could be faked)and other great stuff.

[Drix]

8. I'm fairly up on most popular UFO stories....

And this is what pisses me off. Where is the real and credible journalism? If there are a bunch of hucksters running around making a bunch of wild assed claims and taking suckers money isn't that a job for the news media to investigate? If you think the subject matter is important enough to appear on your program don't you have a responsibility to keep your viewers informed about the actual facts?

[Ineeda]

2. I generally find Radigan unpleasant to watch. n/t

[tularetom]

3. Ratigan probably believes in an invsible man in the sky

Who made the world in seven days and knows everything about all of us. He has no business ridiculing anybody for their belief in strange creatures from space.

[Drix]

6. My point is.....

I really don't care if he believes or not. But if he doesn't believe, be a journalist, do your homework, and humiliate them with cold hard facts. Not with your lame ass attempts at being cute. It's a news program? Right?

[rocktivity]

4. I have nothing against UFO

But I agree that it's shameful that it's inappropriate given what else is going on in the news.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Merlot]

48. ya, but don't get me started on ELO

[AC_Mem]

5. Good Post

I think that people are just afraid of the unknown, and in Ratigan's case, that fear shows itself as ignorance.

Personally, I think it is a huge ego that believes that we are the only living beings in the Universe and beyond.

Peace, Annette

[Duer 157099]

7. "Believe in UFOs" has to be the most overused misguided statement ever

"Do you believe in unidentified things? Yes??? OMG you're an idiot!!!"

And yet, that's how the discussion about UFOs typically goes.

I didn't see this interview but I would venture to guess that both Kaku and Kean don't have hard conclusions about what, exactly, all UFOs are. There are so many varied explanations depending on what the circumstances of the sighting are. But the simple fact is that the U stands for (ta dah!) UNIDENTIFIED!

That's like saying "I don't believe in unidentified living species." Which of course means that one believes that every living organism has been identified.

I can't stand how stupid people are.

[Drix]

10. I think you're missing the point.

My issue isn't whether UFO's exist or not. It's about a journalist responsibly reporting the subjects that he/she covers. Mocking your guests with condescending questions and cutesy comments is not journalism.

Also the "U" in UFO is a canard. Everybody knows we're talking about alien spacecraft when talking about UFO's. People mistaking birds and balloons is not the issue. It's about licensed professional civilian and military pilots, sworn law enforcement and military personnel making extraordinary claims. I'd like to see their stories investigated. Not mocked.

[Duer 157099]

11. Well, I didn't miss the point, I just responded to another one

I totally got the point and agree, 100%, so didn't feel the need to state that.

And I disagree about the "U" meaning "Alien" because it does not! That's just bullshit. These craft are truly UNidentified.

[Drix]

21. I understand your point but most people are refferring to ....

other worldly intelligently controlled craft be it time machines, inter-dimensional craft, or plus light speed space craft. If it's light reflecting off water nobody cares. But the reports are these UFO's behave as other worldly intelligently controlled craft. That's what is generating the heat.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. "two serious profesional." "UFOs."

"serious."

"UFOs."

[Duer 157099]

12. Your condescension is duly noted

and quickly dismissed

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. I'm sure you'd know about being quickly dismissed.

If a person's going to believe in flying saucers, maybe they should expect this sort of treatment.

It ain't my problem.

[Drix]

14. Yes.

When licensed commercial and military pilots start making wild claims they should be investigated. If pilots reported seeing mermaids or bigfoot in the cockpit they would be immediately relived of duty. Why do pilots who report UFO's get a pass if it is as crazy as you would have us believe?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Argument from authority.

I a surgeon claimed a demon flew out when he opened up a patient, I would not believe him just because he was a surgeon.

Also, I'd be in favor of revoking his license.

[Duer 157099]

17. Argument from absurdity

Pilots are trained to observe things that fly in their airspace, I Know, that's almost ridiculous to consider.

Authority has NOTHING to do with it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Your "excellent point" is a logical fallacy.

Not that I don't expect one after another from the UFO crowd.

"Pilots are trained to observe things that fly in their airspace, I Know, that's almost ridiculous to consider.

Authority has NOTHING to do with it."

That's an argument from authority. Pilots should be believed because they are authorities on observing things that fly in their airspace.

[Duer 157099]

19. Um, no. If a cop reported seeing a UFO, that's argument from authority

Cops aren't trained to observe flying craft.

FAIL.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

22. That's an incorrect use of the term "authority" in this context.

You know, if you ever get internet access some day, maybe you should look it up.

Fail fail.

[Duer 157099]

23. Fail fail fail

Hah hah, I said it 3 times! You lose!

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

24. Doesn't matter how many times you say it.

Anybody who knows what "argument from authority" means, or can be bothered to look it up, knows that I win and you fail.

Not that reasonable person couldn't see that coming a mile away.

[spanone]

28. respect for others opinions and beliefs are sadly missing these days.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Opinions and beliefs are one thing.

Making up shit about flying saucers kidnapping you and probing your anus is a little different.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. bump

[Drix]

38. You're not getting it.........

If a surgeon is seeing demons fly out of patients the situation needs to be investigated. It doesn't matter whether you believe in demons or not. You still need to have a talk with him and the other people in the room when it happened and file a report. Not claim that you don't believe demons and Dr. Crazy make any claims he wants, it's really of no concern.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. You're not getting it.

If a surgeon sees demons flying out of a patient, he is a liar and a quack.

And the only investigation needed is the one to strip him of his license.

And maybe how he got the license in the first place.

[Drix]

43. You still need an investigation.

It's way things work. Even witches got a trial.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

44. You do no need to a trial about whether or not demons existed.

Witches got burned, Drix, because a bunch of stupid liars and frauds made up a bunch of shit about witches, and other people, suckers, believed their stories.

[Drix]

46. It's still not the point.....

I know you really want to make this discussion about anally probed hillbillies and how funny they are. That's not the discussion. It's about commercial and military pilots making extraordinary claims. If these pilots are crazy they need to be relieved of duty and given the medical attention they deserve. Not mocked and returned to duty.

[Duer 157099]

16. Excellent point, and goes to the heart of Kean's thesis

And of course, most pilots *do not* report what they see, just for that very reason.

[spanone]

26. yes, two.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

29. I will concede that there are indeed two of them.

That's about it.

[GoneOffShore]

20. Belief in UFO's, alien abduction and the like is akin to belief in the Easter Bunny.

Basic silliness, worthy more of pointing and laughing than condescension.

However, good for Ratigan for shooting down woo merchants.

And you may be entitled to your opinion - but it's wrong.

[Duer 157099]

25. No kidding!

And that so-called theory about the earth being round, that's another one.

How sad to live in such a small, confined universe.

[GoneOffShore]

27. Oh my, you really skewered me with that one.

Fail.

[Windy]

36. so you honestly believe that in all the many galaxies out there, there is no other intelligent life?

If you hold that belief, it doesn't say much for your ability to think critically and in an analytical manner.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. You're moving the goalposts.

Your moving goal posts doesn't say much for your ability to think critically or argue honestly.

[GoneOffShore]

40. Thank Pron.

You got there before I was able to.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

33. There's another logical fallacy.

A non sequitur.

Just because the earth is round, it does not mean that any crazy shit you want to be true is therefore true.

"How sad to live in such a small, confined universe."

The universe that I live is quite large, and filled with enough wonders, real actual wonders not made up ones, for anybody with a clear mind to see them.

[Drix]

32. Again, UFO's is not the point.

It's about journalism. Mocking is not reporting. And sorry I cannot share your opinion that commercial and military pilots reporting UFO's is "silliness". There is a reason that pilots are licensed and military and law enforcement are sworn. It's because we let them fly planes and carry loaded guns. If you don't believe in UFO's why aren't you outraged that they are allowed to continue duty? Would you let a cop carry a gun if you believe he hallucinates on duty? Would you want your pilot having delusions in the cockpit?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

34. "Mocking is not reporting."

If journalistic integrity is your real issue...

then no, mocking is not reporting. And UFO stories are not real journalism.

[Drix]

41. You are still not getting it.

The issue isn't UFO's. It's commercial and military pilots reporting them. If these guys are crazy why aren't they immediately relieved of duty? You can't have it both ways. If they are crazy they should be decommissioned. If they are not crazy just what is going on?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

42. I'm getting everything you're saying. It's just that you're wrong.

[Drix]

45. No you ae not getting it.

You want to have it both ways. You want to declare people delusional yet let them retain positions of responsibility without investigation. That doesn't make any sense what so ever. I don't know if you know the kill power of a military jet, let alone the expense. Letting crazy people behind the stick who weave wild stories and see things is a story to be investigated. Not mocked.

[Dappleganger]

31. Had no idea he was into woowoo...

but with the way he flip-flops around on everything else it's not the surprising.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Kaku? Oh god yes.

He's been serving up that shit on a shingle for years now.

[red red red]

47. Perfect description...

Condescension and ridicule - thats why I do not watch him anymore - x(