# A Message to Humanity: A Genuine Communication from an Extraterrestrial Race? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 9, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231 "2003-11-09T14:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/1 "2003-11-09T14:24:48Z")
Even if uou think it’s a hoax, it’s still rather interesting Original: [http://www.geocities.com/changetheworld\_now/Changetheworld1.htm](http://www.geocities.com/changetheworld_now/Changetheworld1.htm) Commentary: [http://www.exopolitics.org/Exo-Comment-7.htm](http://www.exopolitics.org/Exo-Comment-7.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/2 "2003-11-09T14:39:08Z")
no different than all the other people who have claimed to talk to UFOs and heard messages. the messages are usually similiar too. More advanced aliens want us to become happy and religious and that bad time is a comin’. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/3 "2003-11-09T14:53:02Z")
> [@](#): > > One of your thinkers once said: “Give me a hand-hold and I’ll raise the Earth". I worry about aliens who don’t appreciate the diffence between a fulcrum and a hand hold. But other than that it’s _totally_ convincing. That they are “technically equipped to materialise!” is a great relief, even if it does sound vaguely dirty. ---
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/4 "2003-11-09T14:56:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wesley Clark \* > \*\*no different than all the other people who have claimed to talk to UFOs and heard messages. the messages are usually similiar too. More advanced aliens want us to become happy and religious and that bad time is a comin’. \*\* Even if they are similar it doesn’t automatically mean it’s false and besides the way thing are going today, some ecological and political disasters in the near future don’t seem all that far fetched. But it’s your choice what you think of it (of course). ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/5 "2003-11-09T15:06:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by genome \* > \*\*But it’s your choice what you think of it (of course). \*\* Then what’s the question? Either there is enough evidence to suggest that it might be genuine, or there isn’t. You seem to be admitting that there isn’t. (I certainly didn’t see any.) ---
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/6 "2003-11-09T15:12:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*Then what’s the question? Either there is enough evidence to suggest that it might be genuine, or there isn’t. You seem to be admitting that there isn’t. (I certainly didn’t see any.) \*\* In my opinion there is enough evidence to suggest it might be real. At the moment I can’t know if it is or isn’t, I can’t make your choices. You decide what you think of it. I have merely brought you the information I think should be forwarded in case if it really is genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/7 "2003-11-09T15:19:20Z")
Here’s a well-used phrase for you… “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.” And I’m not seeing any there. It’s not worth wasting time on. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/8 "2003-11-09T15:28:29Z")
It’s not a hoax. It’s the ranting of a lunatic. After reading all the linked pages except the French ones, I find it impossible to tell where the text came from. Divine revelation? Golden plates? Stone tablets? Fortune cookie? Spam? ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/9 "2003-11-09T15:31:15Z")
_Whoever transmitted this translated message to you is irrelevant, and should remain anonymous in your mind. It is what you will do with this message which matters!_ Hehe, first link and first sentence. I wish everyone in life would so clearly advertise when they are pulling things out of their rear! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/10 "2003-11-09T15:59:40Z")
**Musicat** nails this one! Unadulterated dreck. And **Jonathan Chance** has the correct attitude. It’s not even an interesting hoax. It’s the same old nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/11 "2003-11-09T16:07:52Z")
Well, it is indeed quite easy to say it’s hoax, yet I assume none of you making the claim have the proof. If you do please share it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/12 "2003-11-09T16:28:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by genome \* > \*\*Well, it is indeed quite easy to say it’s hoax, yet I assume none of you making the claim have the proof. If you do please share it. \*\* Does that straw attract fleas in the summer? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/13 "2003-11-09T16:31:43Z")
Sorry, **genome** , burden of proof’s on the person making the extraordinary claim, NOT on the persons presuming a mundane explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/14 "2003-11-09T16:38:21Z")
**Genome,** did you not read **Jonathan Chance** ’s post? YOU are the one making the extraordinary claim; YOU are the one that must provide the extraordinary evidence. And just what is your claim? That for the first time ever, a rambling message in French, conveyed by telepathy and posted on the Internet is an actual interstellar communication? A concept that might rock scientific thought today? Otherwise, the rational explanation is that this is only a made-up rant of a nutcase. Why are you so quick to believe? Doesn’t ANYTHING about this look ridiculous? ---
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/15 "2003-11-09T16:47:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Musicat \* > \*\ ***Genome,** did you not read **Jonathan Chance** ’s post? YOU are the one making the extraordinary claim; YOU are the one that must provide the extraordinary evidence. > > And just what is your claim? That for the first time ever, a rambling message in French, conveyed by telepathy and posted on the Internet is an actual interstellar communication? A concept that might rock scientific thought today? > > Otherwise, the rational explanation is that this is only a made-up rant of a nutcase. Why are you so quick to believe? Doesn’t ANYTHING about this look ridiculous? \*\* Yes, I read Jonathan Chances post. And you’d be right if I would be claiming that this message is genuine, but I have not made such claim. As I told before I don’t know if it’s real, it might be hoax, but I don’t have information to declare that, and it seems noone else has either. The message itself makes somewhat sense no matter where it came from and I think at least reading it with open mind won’t hurt anyone. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/16 "2003-11-09T16:54:19Z")
Geocities?!? With all that technology, you’d think they could afford a decent web host, and a good designer. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/17 "2003-11-09T17:02:02Z")
> [@](#): > > I think at least reading it with open mind won’t hurt anyone. Minds shouldn’t be _too_ open. It lets too many bugs in. That’s why we should all have screens. IMHO, this thread belongs in MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/18 "2003-11-09T17:02:43Z")
**genome** , I don’t think “open mind” means what you think it means. An “open” but _uncritical_ mind is about as useful as a house with no walls. ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/19 "2003-11-09T17:04:46Z")
**genome** I realize that the odds are that you joined the SDMB just so you could post this “message.” Nonetheless, on the off chance that you’ll be hanging around, there are a couple of things you should know. First, Here on the SDMB, we apply pretty rigorous standards of inquiry. Under those standards, and within the context of GQ, (which is used only for questions that have factual answers) the unequivocal answer to your OP’s title is “Not a snowball’s chance in hell.” If you want to debate whether this message is, ahh, valid, you’d want to post in Great Debates. This, however, requires you to post an actual thesis and be prepared to back it up with logic and citations to actual evidence. Frankly, though, something like this (if it really fits anywhere on the SDMB) probably ought to go to IMHO. Sorry if this comes across as “junior modding.” I don’t believe it is since it’s pretty basic stuff that everyone who’s spent any time here knows. I’m just trying to hook up a brother. ---
**Author:** ![genome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9f8e36/32.png) [@genome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/genome)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231/20 "2003-11-09T17:11:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Minds shouldn’t be _too_ open. It lets too many bugs in. That’s why we should all have screens. > > IMHO, this thread belongs in MPSIMS. \*\* Well, what is too open anyway. We don’t know everything in this world, in fact one might say that we don’t know very much at all. Anyway my intention wasn’t really start debating over my point of view. Just read the article if you want to and ignore it if that suits you better. I can’t tell you what to think about it, you’ll do that yourself, I just don’t see any point declaring it as a hoax without any proof. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-message-to-humanity-a-genuine-communication-from-an-extraterrestrial-race/212231.md?page=2)