# How Come NOBODY sees UFOs Any More? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 25, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213 "2007-12-25T17:50:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/1 "2007-12-25T17:50:03Z")
I mean, if there was ever a time for a quick-witted person to snap a picture of a UFO, it OUGHT to be Now! Just about everybody has a camera phone, or digital camera. So why is it that we only get grainl old photos from the 1950’s? If the aliens are trully sending their spaceships to earth, we ought to be presnted with a huge number of photos-yet, we don’t see it. And, with the Internet, anything legit would be around the world in less than 30 seconds! So, to you UFO buffs-why the dearth of pix? And, why are there so many alien abductions (with ZERO supporting pictures)?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/2 "2007-12-25T17:59:43Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/up5jmbSjWkw/hqdefault.jpg "UFO Haiti") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/3HfLNe8HC08/hqdefault.jpg "low altitude ufo sighting in south of france - clear shot") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HfLNe8HC08) ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/3 "2007-12-25T18:03:39Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/up5jmbSjWkw/hqdefault.jpg "UFO Haiti") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw) [/QUOTE] Pfft…thats obviously just Venus shining off some swamp gas. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/4 "2007-12-25T18:51:14Z")
All the UFO’s are busy shipping Saddam’s WMD’s off to Arcturus. They’ll be back in 20 solarchrons. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/5 "2007-12-25T18:59:43Z")
Is that less than 12 parsecs? ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/6 "2007-12-25T19:05:05Z")
[QUOTE=brazil84] [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/up5jmbSjWkw/hqdefault.jpg "UFO Haiti") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up5jmbSjWkw) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/3HfLNe8HC08/hqdefault.jpg "low altitude ufo sighting in south of france - clear shot") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HfLNe8HC08) [/QUOTE] We’re so used to fakes like these – what would happen if somebody recorded something real? How would they prove it? As things stand, though. . . sometimes absence of evidence really is evidence of absence. Great OP; good topic. Same thing for Sasquatch, or Nessie, or anything else that should be showing up on somebody’s camera phone. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/7 "2007-12-25T19:23:13Z")
Wikipedia’s got eight listings of UFO sightings in 2007 in the United States, [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_sightings_in_United_States#2007) . It’s just that people have gotten more technologically savvy in pointing out the fakes (and in creating them–it’s easy now to Photoshop something in a couple of seconds). We’ve become a skeptical, analytical, scientific populace who don’t take an explanation of ‘aliens’ so readily anymore. Either that, or the aliens have gotten smarter about avoiding the Earthling paparazzi folks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/8 "2007-12-25T19:30:39Z")
My partner and I saw a UFO last fall. We have a camera, but since I saw it first (and I’m the “crazy one” in the family :)), my main goal was getting him to see it. After that, we didn’t really want to take our eyes off it because we wanted to _see_ it, and knew that any pic would show just a little bright spot in the sky where we could clearly see shapes. A picture wouldn’t have proved anything, as even the clearest and best pictures meet with intense skepticism. We wanted to witness it, and not necessarily to prove anything to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/9 "2007-12-25T19:43:56Z")
I see one right now. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/10 "2007-12-25T20:00:10Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] And, why are there so many alien abductions (with ZERO supporting pictures)?? 😕 [/QUOTE] [Does this](http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=5054208) answer your question? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/11 "2007-12-25T20:20:02Z")
Because of the ubiquity of personal recording devices, the only convincing UFO footage will be from a dozen or more people from different angles. Conveniently, though, the UFOs avoid urban areas. Must be because they can’t find parking. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/12 "2007-12-25T20:45:22Z")
[Well, _somebody’s_ seeing them.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7091922.stm) > [@](#): > > A group of former pilots and government officials has called on the US government to re-open an investigation into claims of UFO sightings. > > Project Blue Book, run by the US Air Force, was stopped in the late 1960s. > > The group, which includes former military officers from seven countries, all say they have seen a UFO or have conducted research into the phenomenon. > > However, the Air Force says nothing has happened in the past four decades to justify resuming investigations. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/13 "2007-12-25T21:26:40Z")
[They got tired of communication problems.](http://galactanet.com/comic/31.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/14 "2007-12-26T01:32:52Z")
UFO`s are so last half century, what`s in now are religious sightings. That`s the nature of fads. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/15 "2007-12-26T02:01:59Z")
[Sherri Shepherd's Top 5 Moments Of 2007: Hitting Her Kid, Sleep Orgasms, Pondering Jesus And Asking If The World Is Flat | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/24/sherri-shepherds-top-5-m_n_77377.html) England has just released all the ufo info they have accumulated. Some will find proof of ufos there. Some will interpret it as proving they don’t exist. It will be fun reading for the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/16 "2007-12-26T02:57:22Z")
Improved stealth systems. I expect it went something like this : **1940s :** Commander Fzzz-tlunj : “Sorry, Grzzz-tglump. Headquarters refuses to pay for cloaking devices. Fortunately, I’ve come up with a workable replacement. Since we can’t make our ships invisible, we’ll make use standard holographic projectors to make them them unbelievable. Not even humans will believe in giant flying dinnerware !” **1950s - 1990s :** Commander Fzzz-tlunj : “I can’t BELIEVE that those humans believe in giant flying dinnerware ! Well, when no hard evidence comes up and our defocuser beams keep them from getting clear pictures, **surely** they will eventually decide that it’s all too silly to believe !” **2000 + :** Admiral Hjuun-kiip : “I am here to inform you all the Central Command has authorized the fitting of cloaking devices on all Earth stationed craft. And you, Commander Fzzz-tlunj, are relieved. Flying dishes ? What were you **thinking**? You know humans will believe anything they see ! Look what happened when the Sahntah-Klaas tried to disguise their vessels as an animal pulled sleigh !” ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/17 "2007-12-26T04:25:14Z")
**Der Trihs** , that was hilarious! I’ve had a good Christmas today, but your post put a smile on the _end_ of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/18 "2007-12-26T07:24:53Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] **Der Trihs** , that was hilarious! I’ve had a good Christmas today, but your post put a smile on the _end_ of the day. [/QUOTE] Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/19 "2007-12-26T08:41:54Z")
My favorite was Santa Claus. Nice work there! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213/20 "2007-12-26T13:31:47Z")
[QUOTE=Kythereia] It’s just that people have gotten more technologically savvy in pointing out the fakes (and in creating them–it’s easy now to Photoshop something in a couple of seconds). We’ve become a skeptical, analytical, scientific populace who don’t take an explanation of ‘aliens’ so readily anymore. [/QUOTE] But curiously, the American populace will buy any load of crap about weapons of mass destruction, vague but “highly credible” reports of impending terrorist attacks, ungrounded fears about Frankensteinian genetic modifications, Intelligent Design, et cetera. Color me unimpressed with your skeptical, analytical, scientific populace. I think it’s more likely that after nine seasons of “The X-Files” the viewing public is as burned out on UFOs and alien phenomena as it is on Chia Pets. On the other hand, astrology seems to be all the rage these days. Stranger [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-nobody-sees-ufos-any-more/431213.md?page=2)