# Aliens WERE Discovered In Roswell, Do You Panic? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2011, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070 "2011-04-28T19:16:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/21 "2011-04-29T03:37:53Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NOT a parody, just didn’t see the “wouldn’t believe” option. So, _you_ believe in aliens? Why do you think it’s impossible for life to exist off of this planet? You _do_ have evidence to back up that claim, right? ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/22 "2011-04-29T03:52:27Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Why do you think it’s impossible for life to exist off of this planet? You _do_ have evidence to back up that claim, right? Where’s your proof that aliens DO exist? ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/23 "2011-04-29T07:23:09Z")
I have no problems believing aliens exist statistically. I would have serious problems with claims of them crashlanding in mexico etc, ie that there are starfaring aliens tooling around as a regular thing. So I would need a fair bit of convincing, no matter how much I love science fiction. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/24 "2011-04-29T07:34:51Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Where’s your proof that aliens DO exist? Statistical probability would suggest that aliens do exist. Besides, you were the one that made the absolute claim that aliens don’t exist. So the burden of proof should be on you. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/25 "2011-04-29T15:12:52Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > I’d panic, just because that would mean that the government was capable of pulling off a Conspiracy. I said I wouldn’t panic, but just be interested, but that is a good point. What else has the government been able to successfully hide? I might even believe we never went to the moon. > [@Shakes](#): > > Statistical probability would suggest that aliens do exist. > > Besides, you were the one that made the absolute claim that aliens don’t exist. So the burden of proof should be on you. I am so happy to finally find someone who understands how burden of proof actually works. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/26 "2011-04-29T15:21:28Z")
I have a sizable linen closet, so no, I wouldn’t panic. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/27 "2011-04-29T17:04:41Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NOT a parody, just didn’t see the “wouldn’t believe” option. So, _you_ believe in aliens? HE’S ONE OF THEM!!!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/28 "2011-04-29T18:12:29Z")
if the government says the reason is X it doesn’t make it so. The actual (and very valid, from the standpoint of the decisionmakers) reason may be Y but the government may not wish to say it out loud. Just ask the TSA - you don’t suppose that “terrorism” is the main reason of theirs to labor on putting a scanner on every corner? I don’t think that anybody would have panicked over evidence of aliens. But the government’s credibility would have taken a big hit in the eyes of a large religious constituency that either already believes or else can be easily convinced later on that “aliens” are created by the devil. If you happen to be the government, you really don’t want to have half of your population believing that you are in direct contact with the devil’s emissaries. Even if the other half of your population will be dancing on the streets over the progressive influence this entire situation is going to have on mankind’s evolution and so on. When government deals with issues that can cause massive religious strife, it only makes sense for them to cover them up. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/29 "2011-04-29T18:54:32Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Wouldn’t effect me in the least because, wait for it… THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS ALIENS!!! :rolleyes: I think the probability that sentient life exists elsewhere in the universe is extremely high. I also think the probability that setient alien life forms have visited Earth is practically nil. Which side of this coin are you addressing here? Anyhow, the OP has offered up a “what if?” scenario, and most of us are accepting the premise and playing along, whatever we feel the likelihood really is. Why can’t you do the same? ETA: Forgot to say, I wouldn’t panic, but I’d be interested – really _really_ interested – fascinated, even – if such evidence were to come to light. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/30 "2011-04-29T19:01:11Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Anyhow, the OP has offered up a “what if?” scenario, and most of us are accepting the premise and playing along, whatever we feel the likelihood really is. Why can’t you do the same? THIS. As to the question - I would be more concerned that my government deceived me for decades… ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/31 "2011-04-29T21:42:02Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > NOT a parody, just didn’t see the “wouldn’t believe” option. So, _you_ believe in aliens? Shame, because that would have been a much better response than trying to discuss a hypothetical in irrelevant terms. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/32 "2011-04-29T21:42:09Z")
I wouldn’t panic. And the gov. tries to make people panic all the time. With all those ‘duck and cover’ ads and films warning people about a first strike nuclear war, or the endless drumbeat of terrorism now or the war on drugs, etc. The argument about ‘not wanting people to panic’ makes to sense. Governments love it when people panic. If there are aliens and they are hidden it would probably be more to keep their technology advances from leaking to foreign governments. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/33 "2011-05-01T01:24:43Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Was that recipe from “To Serve Man”? 😉 Don’t be silly. For it to have a recipe in it, it would have to be a cookbook, or something! Best wishes, hh ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/34 "2011-05-01T03:03:08Z")
I would await the new show Roswell Shore. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/35 "2011-05-01T03:06:08Z")
No, I wouldn’t panic. Why panic? Clearly, it wasn’t a big deal or a real threat, because we’re still here. I’d be more than a little interested, though; first contact is a really big deal, scientifically speaking. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/36 "2011-05-01T03:24:28Z")
I wouldn’t panic but I would be concerned about why the aliens were such screwups? Their forbears busted their ass developing all this insanely cool technology and sent a mission to earth for some very good reason. They travel forever and a day, find a cool military installation …and then all crash and die. That would not be one of the better moments in the history of interstellar travel. I would like to see the toxicology reports on the commander first. Maybe they landed elsewhere in the desert unnoticed and found some peyote before going on a final joyride. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/37 "2011-05-01T04:22:46Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > I would not genuinely panic, however I would use it as \*an excuse \*to panic! If I wasn’t a few nails short of a pedicure, I would have said this too. I’d absolutely grab all the corn liquor I could find, and hole up with some friends in the country who have firearms. Then probably get drunk and go shooting, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/38 "2011-05-01T04:37:58Z")
It was very thoughtful of you to include an answer button for “No Answer”. But strange. Even… alien! ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070/39 "2011-05-01T13:24:48Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Interested? Man, I’d barely be able to focus my attention on anything else for … ever. This made me laugh out loud. I then just had to spend about 10 minutes explaining my seven year old son why I laughed and we had to google Roswell. Now he is drawing alien masks for Halloween and he is trick or treating with left over easter candy. So, um… thanks for this post, I think. Yes I would be interested. Mainly in the fact that the Americans once again lie to the world. But also from a science viewpoint. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-were-discovered-in-roswell-do-you-panic/580070.md?page=1)