# Aliens are trying to communicate with me **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224 "2003-09-02T22:26:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/1 "2003-09-02T22:26:03Z")
Okay well probably not, but this is an odd story. I was sitting today in class taking notes when my finger starts twitching. This is a fairly normal occurance, so I didn’t think much of it at first. Then I noticed the twitching was regular-ish. It would twitch up and down for a bit then stop; twitch a couple more times, and then stop. Almost like Morse code. Alas, I don’t know any Morse code (except for SOS), so I couldn’t determine if it was translate-able, but it would be even odder if it was. The occurance only lasted about 10-20 seconds, and I was just amused by it, but it struck me as odd. What if I really am being contacted by extra terrestrial intelligence? _Donning tinfoil hat_ ---
**Author:** ![h2oJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/848f3c/32.png) [@h2oJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h2oJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/2 "2003-09-02T23:02:10Z")
I was just about to reccommend the aluminum foil hat before even reading the rest of the post. Personally, I’d recommend this website: [http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html](http://zapatopi.net/afdb.html) Its quite a useful resource for keeping friends bastard pranks, advertising, otherworldly beings, etc out of your cranium. Curling up in the fetal position in the corner of the room couldn’t hurt either. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/3 "2003-09-02T23:34:02Z")
The aliens haven’t bothered me once since I started wearing my foil hat. Not only does it protect you from aliens, but it makes a fashion statement too. I recomend you make one. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/4 "2003-09-02T23:39:02Z")
Actually, tin foil is (pardon the expression) old hat. Just get a nice colander and wear that. Equally effective and far more stylish. ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/5 "2003-09-02T23:50:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by twickster \* > \*\*…Just get a nice colander and wear that. Equally effective and far more stylish. \*\* I have no metal collanders. Will a plastic one do? or would I have to wrap that in tin/almuminum foil first? If i were to take bits of a metal coat hanger and stick them through the collander holes, would this make the hat more or less effective? ---
**Author:** ![h2oJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/848f3c/32.png) [@h2oJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h2oJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/6 "2003-09-03T00:10:26Z")
Wrap it in aluminum foil. Its the thin metal sheet itself that is reflecting the mental transmission. I’d figure that sticking bits of a metal coat hanger in the plastic collander would be counter productive if used on their own without any aliuminum foil. It would essentially turn your head into some sort of antenna, improving it’s reception for all these hazardous transmissions. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/7 "2003-09-03T00:41:05Z")
What **h2oJunkie** (welcome to the boards, BTW) said. I strongly recommend regarding the foil-wrapping as merely a stop-gap measure, however: it’s worth investing in the metal colander, which can also double as a kitchen gadget as necessary. (C’mon, would Martha Stewart be satisfied with a foil-wrapped plastic collander? I think not.) ---
**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/8 "2003-09-03T00:50:15Z")
As an aside, could a foil/colander hat protect me against any death rays? ---
**Author:** ![h2oJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/848f3c/32.png) [@h2oJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h2oJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/9 "2003-09-03T01:11:08Z")
Thanks for the welcome twickster! And I don’t know if the foil/collander hat would protect against death rays. I’d look into the possibility of upgrading to lead…with a nice rattle-can paint finish. That should definitely offer much better protect from intergalactic snipers camping out in low orbit. In that case, I’d also recommend lead protection for other potential “targets”. The death rays may not be too accurate, so shots may drift to other sensitive areas. It never hurts to have too much protection when the scum of the universe is trying to paint you with radiation. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/10 "2003-09-03T01:25:12Z")
Let me just add that it’s important to know the vintage of the death rays you’re dealing with. Are these the classic '20s death rays or some less potent version from another era? ---
**Author:** ![h2oJunkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/848f3c/32.png) [@h2oJunkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h2oJunkie)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/11 "2003-09-03T01:32:11Z")
Excellent point! Any sort of rays from StarTrek or StarWars are nothing to worry about. These are usually stopped by minor amounts of clothing (unless shot in the face, which is a risk nomatter what). The damage is minor anyhow, resulting in small 1st degree burns painted to represent 3rd degree ones, or complete vaporization, which is a bonus because no cleanup is required. ---
**Author:** ![whatmove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecc23a/32.png) [@whatmove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatmove)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-are-trying-to-communicate-with-me/199224/12 "2003-09-03T01:38:25Z")
**Gemma** , I’d like to buy your rock.