# Are the Governments of the world right about aliens causing mass hysteria? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379 "2015-10-21T19:03:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/81 "2015-10-23T20:20:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You really have no idea how things work in government, do you? First off, there really is no big “G” government capable enough, let alone powerful enough, to control all the different departments that are constantly fighting with each other over constantly diminishing budgets and constantly changing positions of political power. Our government just isn’t stable enough to even begin to contain such a secret, and there is no getting around that very real fact. You really have no idea how things work in Government, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/82 "2015-10-23T20:25:50Z")
> [@Gotlift](#): > > You really have no idea how things work in Government, do you? _The X-Files_ is just a television show. ---
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/83 "2015-10-23T20:42:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Clear as mud. Apparently, you are going to continue on falling back on “credible witnesses” you never intend to actually name. Well, guess what: every time you bring up evidence, I’m going to ask to see it, and every time you bring up witnesses, I’m going to ask for their names. You bitch about how you are just stating your opinion, but you keep inserting so-called “facts” that you want us to take for granted, and that just isn’t going to happen. Sorry about that. I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that this is my opinion and in my opinion some of the interviews I’ve seen of what I consider credible witnesses are convincing. If I didn’t convey that adequately enough in my original post then I have done so since you tee’d off the first time. If you haven’t let that sink in up to this point then you truly are daft. This is a topic of which I feel is interesting, but it is by no means a passion of mine. I didn’t take notes of the names of the people in these interviews for use in the off chance that I someday may post a poll on some website and I’m not going to spend more than a few moments of my time, and certainly not enough time to dig for references, on some anonymous troll who keeps pestering me for information that, even if I had, wouldn’t serve any purpose other than to give said troll more shit to sling. You’ve made no attempt at anything other than poking and antagonizing in this thread and if I had to guess you are probably like this in most discussions (online anyway) that you choose to be a part of. Your intent is clear. We all get that Czarcasm is someone’s antagonistic, condescending, online alter-ego, but you need a new outlet. I don’t know, maybe just go jerk off or lift cars in a parking lot or something, because your act is old here. Just to be clear to anyone else who falls into this category, you are not going to get verified, unequivocal, proof of aliens. No verified photos of UFOs or aliens sitting around the card table. All you are going to get is **MY OPINION**. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/84 "2015-10-23T20:57:46Z")
> [@Gotlift](#): > > the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, and much more…. I read one of these government conspiracy books, published in 2000. The last article was about the 1993 bombing, and conclusively demonstrated that fear of Osama bin Laden was misplaced and that the guy would never be a threat to anyone. You had better upgrade your bullshit meter, my friend. I also recommend you read a book (now out of print) called The Great Airship Mystery. In the 1890s there were multiple sightings of a mysterious airship all across the United States. Multiple people saw it, including policemen and respectable officials. There were even close encounters with the pilot - who was from New England. No aliens involved. In short, there was all the evidence then that there is for UFOs now - but there was no such airship. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/85 "2015-10-23T21:04:15Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Oh, and I firmly believe there is no way in hell NASA would cover something like this up. Indisputable proof aliens exist would guarantee them funding for whatever the hell they want in perpetuity. Not to mention the question of why aliens would go to NASA in the first place. To conspiracy theorists NASA is very advanced, to aliens who can travel interstellar distances NASA is about at the level of a canoe maker. If they want someone with power, they can land at any military base. Plus, why hide? I don’t know how long the OP things the aliens have been here, but if it has been since the late '40s why are they waiting around for governments to do something? They can fly their craft over the Superbowl some year and then everyone will know. (Assuming there isn’t a great play being run.) If they want to stay hidden from us, they are doing a damn poor job of it. I started reading about UFOs in 1962, and it soon became obvious they are nonsense, and each passing year reaffirms this conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/86 "2015-10-23T21:07:09Z")
> [@Gotlift](#): > > Just to be clear to anyone else who falls into this category, you are not going to get verified, unequivocal, proof of aliens. No verified photos of UFOs or aliens sitting around the card table. All you are going to get is **MY OPINION**. Not asking for proof-just the “evidence” and “witnesses” _you_ constantly bring up. If you quit bringing them up, I’ll quit bringing them up…but you aren’t getting any free passes here. ---
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/87 "2015-10-23T21:20:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not asking for proof-just the “evidence” and “witnesses” _you_ constantly bring up. If you quit bringing them up, I’ll quit bringing them up…but you aren’t getting any free passes here. I think [this](http://www.ponggame.org/)is what you are looking for. You’ll just have to play with yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/88 "2015-10-23T23:01:54Z")
By the way, **Gotlift** you probably already know this, but **Czarcasm** isn’t a mod or anything. If you find his questions belligerent or if he gets on your nerves, you don’t have to pay any attention to him. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/89 "2015-10-23T23:08:08Z")
> [@Gotlift](#): > > This is a topic of which I feel is interesting, but it is by no means a passion of mine. I didn’t take notes of the names of the people in these interviews for use in the off chance that I someday may post a poll on some website and I’m not going to spend more than a few moments of my time, and certainly not enough time to dig for references, on some anonymous troll who keeps pestering me for information that, even if I had, wouldn’t serve any purpose other than to give said troll more shit to sling. You’ve made no attempt at anything other than poking and antagonizing in this thread and if I had to guess you are probably like this in most discussions (online anyway) that you choose to be a part of. Your intent is clear. We all get that Czarcasm is someone’s antagonistic, condescending, online alter-ego, but you need a new outlet. I don’t know, maybe just go jerk off or lift cars in a parking lot or something, because your act is old here. You don’t get to accuse people of trolling in this forum, and you don’t get to use personal insults. Knock it off. ETA: **Larry Borgia** ’s advice is worthwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Gotlift](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9fc348/32.png) [@Gotlift](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotlift)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/90 "2015-10-23T23:18:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > You don’t get to accuse people of trolling in this forum, and you don’t get to use personal insults. Knock it off. > > ETA: **Larry Borgia** ’s advice is worthwhile. Somehow I can imagine Czarcasm doing a happy dance right now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2020, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/92 "2020-12-01T18:35:56Z")
Well…it certainly made this thread hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/93 "2021-01-02T20:01:23Z")
I think most of the hysteria, if aliens made themselves known, would be among the elites out of fear of somehow losing their position and not the average person. [https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/james-meigs/elite-panic-vs-the-resilient-populace/](https://www.commentarymagazine.com/articles/james-meigs/elite-panic-vs-the-resilient-populace/) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379/94 "2021-01-03T06:15:20Z")
Imagine it’s the fifties. Every year, we get a couple photos of a UFO and maybe even a video on somebody;s 8mm Keystone. You think "Imagine the evidence mountain if a million people were walking around with cameras. Well, now its a Billion people with a high quality videocam literally in their hand, cocked and loaded, this minute as I write. Where’s the evidence?. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-governments-of-the-world-right-about-aliens-causing-mass-hysteria/735379.md?page=4)