# Latest Crop Circles and Glyphs, Evidence of Alien Contact?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 28, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578 "2001-08-28T19:09:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/21 "2001-08-29T01:35:42Z")
Do crop circles ever appear in fields before they are harvested? Are crops destroyed, or just stalks? If a hoaxer caused serious damage to a farmer’s crop, they would be in serious trouble if caught.
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### Author:  [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/22 "2001-08-29T05:34:37Z")
Well, they were caught, a few years back. Their wives wanted to know why, if they were going to the pub, they used up so much petrol in their cars. They had to confess to their wives, who made it public.
This year’s circles are very pretty, I must admit.
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### Author:  [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/23 "2001-08-29T16:52:22Z")
Someone called Lucy Pringle (could it be her) is also into Euclidian geometry according to a [review of a book](http://www.circlemakers.org/lucy.html) she has written:
> [@](#):
>
> On geometry, Pringle is equally out of her depth. She alleges that “It is generally accepted by mathematicians that genuine formations contain sacred or euclidian geometry, using the vital numbers 5,6 and 7.” Ill-informed comments like this will probably even enrage other crop circle researchers, not to mention mathemeticians.
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### Author:  [@Billy\_Rubin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Rubin)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/24 "2001-08-30T03:08:52Z")
The [RODS](http://www.roswellrods.com/pre.html) is doin’ it! maken them crop sirkles all funny-like! I seen 'em!
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### Author:  [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/25 "2001-08-30T06:14:28Z")
It’s true, aliens are [trying to communicate with us.](http://www.primrosehillfarm.com/iloveny.html)
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### Author:  [@ObiWan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ObiWan)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/26 "2001-08-30T13:23:41Z")
I think the aliens must be scared of catching foot and mouth disease. 🙂
> [@](#):
>
> _From [BBC News - Disease brings poor crop of circles](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1496000/1496296.stm):_
> Tim Carson had only one new circle appear on his land this year - until rural access restrictions were lifted a month ago.
>
> He said: "I had a phone call to ask if the footpaths were open round our way.
>
> “I said ‘Yes’, and that night a crop circle appeared…and we have had six since then.”
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/27 "2001-08-30T15:12:40Z")
There seem to be two theories about how crop circles are made.
1. A couple of chaps using planks and string (also a torch if it’s a dark night).
2. Aliens who:
- have evolved beyond us
- have travelled light years\*
- have undetectable craft
- clearly wish to communicate, but are camera shy
(it’s no use, I can’t go on :rolleyes: )
\*for the benefit of people who believe in aliens, this is a really really long way.
London\_Calling,
nice one about the foot and mouth restrictions!
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### Author:  [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/28 "2001-08-30T16:01:16Z")
Not that it’s any great surprise that Disney would be promoting ignorance, but was anyone else disturbed by this (from **ObiWan’s** BBC link):
> [@](#):
>
> Two of [the crop circles] I know about because someone was making a film, and he asked me if he could make them.
>
> “It’s a love story and it’s got crop circles in it.”
>
> The Disney film, Signs, is about circles appearing on a family farm in Philadelphia.
Maybe the circles in the film turn out to be a hoax. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/29 "2001-08-30T16:26:42Z")
To those who want to see the extent to which people will invent things for themselves, there’s always the Night the UFO’s didn’t land!
[http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/gallery/ufo/cropfake.htm](http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/gallery/ufo/cropfake.htm)
Who knew the some guys flattening some crops would be such a cure-all?
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/30 "2001-08-30T16:39:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> My guess is that O’Reilly or Fox News thinks that the issue will generate viewer interest, but that it’s unimportant, so there’s no need for accuracy
Who would ever have suspected _that_?
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### Author:  [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/31 "2001-08-30T18:36:09Z")
I wish people would read up on this subject before continuing to make mut and already disproven arguements.
1.) These glyphs were created by **MICROWAVE** mmmkay? This has been proven by the fact that the wheat had a droop as if melted (curved), as opposed to a snaped or crushed stalk from a wooden board.
The molecular structure of the wheat shows that the microscopic fibres were broken down which gives the melting effect.
Use the analogy of a dry stick of spaghetti; You can either snap it or you can melt it and it will droop.
2.)Secondly why should we assume how the aliens think? If they did respond by radio their message would not be effective because the goverment could cover it up. The crops are there for everyone to see.
You also have to understand this in the context of the whole crop circle phenomenon which shows a pattern of ever more complex formations; can you say “learning curve”?
3.)Yes, security camera’s of that nature can pick up bright white lights such as flashlights in the field, so unless “students” did this in complete darkness (yeah right), then the logical conclusion is that it was someone else, someone equiped with pretty fancy microwave technology. And no, universities do not have devices of that sort, I mean jeesh imagine if that got into the wrong hands. So it is evident that whoever is making these glyphs has access to a device outside of the public domain.
4.) As for RCH theories on mars and such, I think you will find that it is the geometry and mathematics that makes those theories hold water. And oooohhh isn’t this interesting the geometry and numbers of cydonia match up to the ones of the crop glyph, it’s all here: [http://members.aol.com/\_ht\_a/marscode/chilbolton.html](http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/marscode/chilbolton.html) enjoy 🙂 .
Well, that’s it for now, so please people stop trying to make arguements that have already been disproven and stick with the **FACTS**
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### Author:  [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/32 "2001-08-30T19:44:39Z")
[http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/gallery/ufo/cropfake.htm](http://www.skeptics.com.au/features/gallery/ufo/cropfake.htm)
Buddy, I suggest you read this story to see how people can make crop designs with just sticks, rope and knowledge of basic Euclidian geometry.
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/33 "2001-08-30T20:01:12Z")
**Hiyruu:** \*You also have to understand this in the context of the whole crop circle phenomenon which shows a pattern of ever more complex formations; can you say “learning curve”? \*
Learning curve for whom? For the aliens? You mean that beings who can travel light-years to a distant planet need to play in our wheat fields in order to develop their understanding of Euclidean plane geometry? What are we, some kind of remedial math camp for the alien young?
Or do you mean a learning curve for us? That the aliens can’t make themselves understood except by showing us progressively more complicated crop circles? What exactly are we learning from them, by the way?
Actually, I agree with you that the increasing complexity of crop circles **does** represent a learning curve: those pranksters going out at night with boards and string are learning how to make their designs more fancy.
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/34 "2001-08-30T20:09:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> I wish people would read up on this subject before continuing to make … already disproven arguments.
Quite right!
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> 1.) These glyphs were created by **MICROWAVE** mmmkay? …
> The molecular structure of the wheat shows that the microscopic fibres were broken down which gives the melting effect.
Have you got any pictures of this molecular structure?
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> Use the analogy of a dry stick of spaghetti; You can either snap it or you can melt it and it will droop.
Perhaps the analogy of a living plant would be better; you can either snap it, melt it or bend it.
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> 2.)Secondly why should we assume how the aliens think? If they did respond by radio their message would not be effective because the goverment could cover it up. The crops are there for everyone to see.
Have you ever heard of ham radio? How would the Government intercept radio waves?!
Now sealing off a field of corn is easy by comparison. Suppose there was an outbreak of an infectious farm animal disease in the UK. Wouldn’t the British Government close the countryside footpaths, ban tourists, cancel horseracing meetings and rugby internationals etc.?
Well, of course that’s all hypothetical. :rolleyes:
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> You also have to understand this in the context of the whole crop circle phenomenon which shows a pattern of ever more complex formations; can you say “learning curve”?
“Harry?”
“Yes Jim?”
“If we brought Fred along next time, and used another plank, we could make a better pattern.”
“Jim, you’re a genius!”
“Nah, mate. It’s just my learning curve.”
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> 3.)Yes, security cameras of that nature can pick up bright white lights such as flashlights in the field, so unless “students” did this in complete darkness (yeah right), then the logical conclusion is that it was someone else, someone equiped with pretty fancy microwave technology. And no, universities do not have devices of that sort, I mean jeesh imagine if that got into the wrong hands. So it is evident that whoever is making these glyphs has access to a device outside of the public domain.
I suppose that man who made a BBC program on the life of badgers (in complete darkness at night) must be a secret agent then. Or have you not heard of night-sight cameras?
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### Author:  [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/35 "2001-08-30T20:49:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Kimstu \*
> \*\ ***Hiyruu:** \*You also have to understand this in the context of the whole crop circle phenomenon which shows a pattern of ever more complex formations; can you say “learning curve”? \*
>
> Learning curve for whom? For the aliens? You mean that beings who can travel light-years to a distant planet need to play in our wheat fields in order to develop their understanding of Euclidean plane geometry? What are we, some kind of remedial math camp for the alien young?
>
> Or do you mean a learning curve for us? That the aliens can’t make themselves understood except by showing us progressively more complicated crop circles? What exactly are we learning from them, by the way?
>
> Actually, I agree with you that the increasing complexity of crop circles **does** represent a learning curve: those pranksters going out at night with boards and string are learning how to make their designs more fancy. \*\*
1.) Have you ever seen pranksters make a formation?
2.) I doubt pranksters would be equiped with microwave technology. The residual effects of microwave beams is evident in the molecular structure of the impressioned wheat.
3.) Are your statements facts or just opinions?
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### Author:  [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/36 "2001-08-30T21:02:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hiyruu \*
> I wish people would read up on this subject before continuing to make mut and already disproven arguements.
>
> 1.) These glyphs were created by **MICROWAVE** mmmkay? This has been proven by the fact that the wheat had a droop as if melted (curved), as opposed to a snaped or crushed stalk from a wooden board.
Cite, please.
> [@](#):
>
> The molecular structure of the wheat shows that the microscopic fibres were broken down which gives the melting effect.
Um, have you ever felt a stalk of wheat?
> [@](#):
>
> You also have to understand this in the context of the whole crop circle phenomenon which shows a pattern of ever more complex formations
Cite, please.
> [@](#):
>
> 3.)Yes, security camera’s of that nature can pick up bright white lights such as flashlights in the field, so unless “students” did this in complete darkness (yeah right), then the logical conclusion is that it was someone else, someone equiped with pretty fancy microwave technology.
Cite, please.
> [@](#):
>
> And no, universities do not have devices of that sort,
Cite, please.
> [@](#):
>
> 4.) As for RCH theories on mars and such, I think you will find that it is the geometry and mathematics that makes those theories hold water. And oooohhh isn’t this interesting the geometry and numbers of cydonia match up to the ones of the crop glyph, it’s all here: [http://members.aol.com/\_ht\_a/marscode/chilbolton.html](http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/marscode/chilbolton.html) enjoy 🙂 .
“This is so bad, it’s gone past good and back to bad again.”
---
### Author:  [@Hiyruu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hiyruu)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/37 "2001-08-30T21:12:26Z")
[QUOTE]
\*Originally posted by pldennison \*
\*\*
> [@](#):
>
> Cite, please.
>
> \*\*
Is that the extent of your language skills?
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### Author:  [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/38 "2001-08-30T21:20:52Z")
Are you going to post any cites? Or just expect us to take your assertions at your word?
See, I don’t know if you noticed the URL of the website you’re at right now, but it’s [http://www.straightdope.com](http://www.straightdope.com). It’s the site for the Straight Dope, whose motto is “Fighting Ignorance Since 1973–It’s Taking Longer Than We Thought.” It isn’t, “Say Any Silly Thing You Want Without Providing Evidence.”
Going further, the name of the forum in which you are posting is “Great Debates.” Feel free to go into the other fora, perhaps MPSIMS or IMHO, and make all the unfounded, citeless assertions you’d like. In **this** forum, when someone makes a claim – especially when they make a particularly unusual one – we ask them to back it up with a cite.
See, if I were to make a claim that, say, you have to be 35 years old to be President of the U.S., I probably wouldn’t be asked for a cite. It isn’t a particularly outrageous claim, and it’s fairly common knowledge. If I was asked for a cite, I’d point them to [http://www.usconstitution.com](http://www.usconstitution.com) and ask them to read Article II, Sec. 1, par. 5.
If I were you, I’d make myself intimately familiar with the words “Cite, please.” You’re going to hear them a **lot** , if this thread is any indication.
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### Author:  [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/39 "2001-08-30T21:24:18Z")
Oh, dammit **PLD** , _everyone_ knows that wheat melts in heat.
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### Author:  [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latest-crop-circles-and-glyphs-evidence-of-alien-contact/78578/40 "2001-08-30T21:33:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Kimstu \*
> **What exactly are we learning from them, by the way?**
That aliens have lots of free time on their hands? Or tentacles?
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