Do You Believe?

[Romo Ravens]

Call me a geek, but I've forever been interested with the unknown. After watching countless hours of movies such as "Signs", or reading about the infamous "Area 51", I've often wondered of what's really out there. Here's a video that I know a lot of people have seen, but it also gives an explanation that it could just be a rock. Take a look for yourself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1CsAz3zOSk&feature=related

What do you guys think? Do you think that we're the only form of life in the universe, or do you think that something does indeed live in such a vast space of billions of galaxies?

---------------

So I don't have to make a new topic, I also wanted to ask what people's positions were on ghosts. Much like aliens, do you think they live amongst us? [b]Feel free to share any ghost stories that you've had in your life, or know of anyone that has had an experience in which they think it had something to do with the paranormal.[/b] Thanks.

[MagicianCamille]

I believe it's almost certain there's life on other plants. The universe is too enormous and full of stars and planets for ours to be the only one which has life. That said I do not believe aliens have visited Earth, or ever will. We are a needle in a barn full of hay, the chances of anyone finding us even if they did somehow develop faster than light travel are nonexistent.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='MagicianCamille' timestamp='1293571253' post='587333']
I believe it's almost certain there's life on other plants. The universe is too enormous and full of stars and planets for ours to be the only one which has life. That said I do not believe aliens have visited Earth, or ever will. We are a needle in a barn full of hay, the chances of anyone finding us even if they did somehow develop faster than light travel are nonexistent.
[/quote]

Do you think that "life" is a loose term, pointing to matter, rather than full bodies of individuals much like you and I? What do you think of UFOs and other mysterious occurrences that this planet has seen if you don't think that we have ever been visited by aliens? Sorry for all the questions, but it's just so interesting to talk about lol

[George70]

On the subject of extraterrestrial life, I do believe that there is life elsewhere - where I don't know. This is why I believe that we should explore the universe, truly and honestly.

Who knows, we may find intelligent life looking for life in this part of the cosmos. I have to hope for that meeting being somewhat honest and successful.

[theFRANCHISE]

Aliens could already be on this planet and we don't even know it. While we expect human-sized extraterrestrials, aliens could also be microbacterial or as small as an insect, and we'd never really know it. There's millions of species of organisms on this planet, so it'd be impossible for us to discern between the slightest variations and tell the difference.

I believe in the existence of intelligent life outside of Earth, but I also believe that first contact won't happen in our lifetime, mainly because we are so limited in our understanding of our own Earthly concepts that we probably wouldn't be able to comprehend anything outside of our own sphere of reality.

[berad]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' timestamp='1293585137' post='587511']
Aliens could already be on this planet and we don't even know it. While we expect human-sized extraterrestrials, aliens could also be microbacterial or as small as an insect, and we'd never really know it. There's millions of species of organisms on this planet, so it'd be impossible for us to discern between the slightest variations and tell the difference.

I believe in the existence of intelligent life outside of Earth, but I also believe that first contact won't happen in our lifetime, [b]mainly because we are so limited in our understanding of our own Earthly concepts that we probably wouldn't be able to comprehend anything outside of our own sphere of reality.[/b]
[/quote]

True. Alien lifeforms, in movies or whatnot, are always shown in humanoid form [i](torso, arms, legs, etc)[/i] and follow our concepts of biology, physiology, and physics. And, while all of those things may be valid on Earth, we can't be certain that it's the same in other galaxies, dimensions, or other crazy things.

I have to believe that [i]SOMETHING[/i] is out there. The same thing that put life on Earth [i](skirting the religion/science debate)[/i] no doubt put the seeds of life somewhere else. The universe is just so dang big...

[i]PS - Fun Fact:[/i] The universe is always expanding. Not that the size of it, itself, is necessarily growing; just that we can see more of it every second. The light from the farthest/"newest" reaches of the universe is just reaching our planet, now. Thanks ASTR100!

[MKdave]

Not really a fan of these moderate views that sort of appease everyone. I'm more inclined to subscribe to the notion that aliens are here, and they are about to eat us all.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I love everything supernatural and paranormal.

I do believe there's life beyond our planets, be it intelligent or not. However, I'm sure there's intelligent life somewhere out there. I don't know if the green-skinned space traveling munchkins that the stereotypical "alien" looks like in the mass-media. Outer Space is entirely too large for just one planet to be capable of sustaining life, intelligent or otherwise.

[Ed_Reed20]

Like others have said, I believe aliens are definitely out there. What really interests me for some reason though, are the video camera shots of UFOs. Some of them are ridiculously fake but others are at least entertaining.

[JonM229]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1293570860' post='587329']
So I don't have to make a new topic, I also wanted to ask what people's positions were on ghosts. Much like aliens, do you think they live amongst us? [b]Feel free to share any ghost stories that you've had in your life, or know of anyone that has had an experience in which they think it had something to do with the paranormal.[/b] Thanks.
[/quote]

When you die, you just rot in the ground.

[Jabara]

It's past 2am, I've had a few drinks, I think it's an appropriate time to talk aliens and ghosts...

As for aliens, it's hard to speculate since we know so little about the universe, in 50 years we might have a completely new understanding of it, and might even call it something different.
I find it hard to believe that life only exists on earth, unless we find out something about our existence, perception and reality that totally contradicts life as we know it.
In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if it turns out life as we know it, is actually just a hallucination and we are actually something like grass, but hallucinate this immense physical life whateveryoucallitthing...
You know the whole phantom limb thing, like when someone loses a limb but can still feel it.
This kind of crazy banter can go on and on...
But, as far as there being aliens, I think we need to understand ourselves first, and I'm not sure that is possible. I'm not keen on humans studying the brain in absolutes.

I have seen some really crazy lights in the night sky, what looks like a larger bright light releasing smaller lights out of it and moving in crazy directions.
I can't explain it, maybe it's a natural phenomenon.
My girlfriend claims to have seen a crash site on the highway that was something out of this world. Something that wasn't horribly wrecked but still didn't look like anything that exists today.
Does the government have secret aircraft that we don't know about, yes, but that is understandable as far as national security.

As far as ghosts, I used to work at a place that is one of the oldest houses in Baltimore, and was claimed to be haunted.
I had seen what looked like smokey lights, in places that could not have been reflections or car lights, etc.
I've also seen similar things outside of a house I used to live in, an area that was a wooded area that was torn down in order to build the houses in that area.
I don't know what to think about ghosts, I think it's possible on an energy level, but I never underestimate the human brain, you can believe you are seeing, hearing or feeling anything.

Without getting to deep or far out, these are interesting topics, but I think they are more of a trick of the mind, in most cases, than anything else.
We've gone through our entire lives without really understanding the inner workings of our brains and how it relates to the human condition, whatever that may be...
I have a hard time believing this is all there is to life.
I think society has advanced further than our knowledge of self, or of the brain and society is not based on humanistic facts, but instead of fear and survival.
Certain cultures do live in peace, yet they are not nearly as "advanced" as us as far as technology. Technology seems to be a crutch to bandage what is lacking.

I think the idea of money is more of a supernatural experience that we go through everyday as opposed to UFO's and ghosts.
Think about it, what do you put yourself through for a green piece of paper?
And has your life been enhanced from having more green paper than others around you, or weakened by having grown up with less stacks of green paper.

Aliens, ghosts, what about humans and our brains, and dare I mention a soul or perhaps spirit?

Is life so cut and dry? Do you watch American Idol? Is the brain so black and white?
And what does the concept of black and white come from, because black and white are such an extreme contrast, some even argue they are not colors.
Some people are color blind, or at least told they are.
Do those that are color blind have a disorder? Is a disorder a thing that is created or is it organic?
Is it a disorder to think you see or hear a ghost?
Is believing in aliens a disorder?
Is a disorder a disorder, or a form of regulating a mass hallucination or societal norm that might not be popular among societies but is based in actual human existence?

I guess I'm getting into the absurd, but this conversation could go on and on because we just don't know enough about ourselves as a culture.
So while my mind races on with these questions, I have to cut it off here, because it's getting [i]silly[/i]...

[MKdave]

[quote name='Jabara' timestamp='1293609400' post='587681']
It's past 2am,[b] I've had a few drinks[/b], I think it's an appropriate time to talk aliens and ghosts...
[/quote]

This was a total waste of your crunk-time. Are there literally 0 women where you live?

[ravens13]

I do think that it's likely aliens exist somewhere just from the sheer number of stars and planets in existence. I have never seen nor felt any evidence of ghosts and therefore don't believe in them per se, however, I am not willing to discount their possibility. Thinking about...somewhat odd things is something I do with regularity (much more than I probably should) and often after being sure about something, something has later convinced me to change my mind. My opinion is constantly reevaluated on many issues and I'm never sure of anything.

The famous astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington is credited with once saying "Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine."

[ravensfolife]

UFO sighting have been faked forever so skeptics can always find holes in that argument. I think the real proof of aliens come from 2000 year old drawings (hyro word that I cant spell) on pyramid walls of men flying rocketships. The pyramids being built in egypt and thousands of miles away in south america shows that someone helped them out. Either that or they were just alot smarter 2000 years ago than we give them credit for.

[kagejb]

You at least have to wonder that on the billions of planets in the billions of stars in the billions of galaxies out there, there is at least one more intelligent species other than humans. Man, it would be amazing to finally find something out there.

Kind of off topic, but the thread reminds me of Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. If you haven't seen it, which I doubt, go search it up on Youtube.

[ravensfolife]

[quote name='kagejb' timestamp='1293649246' post='587881']
You at least have to wonder that on the billions of planets in the billions of stars in the billions of galaxies out there, there is at least one more intelligent species other than humans. Man, it would be amazing to finally find something out there.

Kind of off topic, but the thread reminds me of Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. If you haven't seen it, which I doubt, go search it up on Youtube.
[/quote]


I really wouldnt want an intelligent life form to come here. You think they would come all this way to be our friends? Do people have bee farms because they like bees or what they produce? Thats the way I look at it, if they were to come its because they want something we have.

[kagejb]

[quote name='ravensfolife' timestamp='1293649569' post='587888']
I really wouldn't want an intelligent life form to come here. You think they would come all this way to be our friends? Do people have bee farms because they like bees or what they produce? Tha'ts the way I look at it, if they were to come its because they want something we have.
[/quote]
Not necessarily. They might be just as curious as we are to finding out about each other. Anyway, it's all hypothetical anyway. I'd just want to see some progress other than a speeding object in the air that looks sort of like a cloud.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' timestamp='1293587925' post='587540']
I love everything supernatural and paranormal.

I do believe there's life beyond our planets, be it intelligent or not. However, I'm sure there's intelligent life somewhere out there. I don't know if the green-skinned space traveling munchkins that the stereotypical "alien" looks like in the mass-media. Outer Space is entirely too large for just one planet to be capable of sustaining life, intelligent or otherwise.
[/quote]

I agree on all counts. What do you guys make out of "Area 51", and why do you believe it's security around it is so heavy? Do you think they're hiding something?

Also, if people are as interested in ghosts as I am, check out the show "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Chanel if you have it. They find some some really compelling evidence, true or false, it's a really interesting show and I can't find anything to actually debunk whether the show is indeed to earn profits or if it's actually real, which is probably a good thing.

[kagejb]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1293651088' post='587903']
I agree on all counts. What do you guys make out of "Area 51", and why do you believe it's security around it is so heavy? Do you think they're hiding something?

Also, if people are as interested in ghosts as I am, check out the show "Ghost Adventures" on the Travel Chanel if you have it. They find some some really compelling evidence, true or false, it's a really interesting show and I can't find anything to actually debunk whether the show is indeed to earn profits or if it's actually real, which is probably a good thing.
[/quote]
Gah. I hated Ghost Adventures ever since I saw that episode where the main dude was cussing out the ghost. What really irked me was the person they were investigating about died only about eighty years ago or something. What if he had grandchildren watching these stuff and saw some guy badmouthing their granddad. I'd be upset.

The most I liked was Ghost Hunters, but they don't really go into detail into their investigations as much as others I know.

Also, about Area 51, I don't really think it's much of anything. In my opinion, it's just heavily guarded because it's a military base. The government doesn't want any random person just prancing around their bases.

[Romo Ravens]

My dad tells me a story all of the time of which he felt like he saw a ghost when he used to live in Texas. The area on which he lived on was said to contain bodies and graves. It was late at night when he had to walk across about a 50 yard field to a vending machine. When he got his soda, he saw a dog that was looking down at the ground. After he whistled for it to come to him, the dog looked up, and he swears on his life that it was the face of an old woman.

My uncles have also witnessed something paranormal. When my uncle came home and sat on his bed in the dark, getting ready for sleep, someone grabbed him from behind and he thought it was his brother. When he turned on the lights, there was nobody in his room.

Another story is one of my uncles had a Bel Air I think it was, and one night it was in front of the house just going crazy; lights flickering on and off, doors slamming open and closed, yet there was nobody inside of the car.

Does anyone else have some stories?

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='kagejb' timestamp='1293651388' post='587907']
Gah. I hated Ghost Adventures ever since I saw that episode where the main dude was cussing out the ghost. What really irked me was the person they were investigating about died only about eighty years ago or something. What if he had grandchildren watching these stuff and saw some guy badmouthing their granddad. I'd be upset.
[/quote]

He was cussing the spirit out? Every time I watch the show, they don't ever dare say anything threatening to whatever they're talking to, and I often wonder why. If I wanted to get something to talk to me I'd cuss it out and try to make it angry, but that's probably why I'm not a professional lol. But besides that, did you like the show?

[kagejb]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1293651495' post='587911']
He was cussing the spirit out? Every time I watch the show, they don't ever dare say anything threatening to whatever they're talking to, and I often wonder why. If I wanted to get something to talk to me I'd cuss it out and try to make it angry, but that's probably why I'm not a professional lol. But besides that, did you like the show?
[/quote]
The show had its moments, and it has some potential. I just didn't like the stunt they pulled in that one episode. Also, the Zack dude wears too much gel.

[thewarden86]

[quote name='JonM229' timestamp='1293598409' post='587625']
When you die, you just rot in the ground.
[/quote]

Those parts of you that aren't consumed by worms that is.

[Malkavian Raven]

[font="Century Gothic"]Aliens; probable.

Ghosts; yes.

I haven't had much one-on-one time with aliens, but for all I know humans evolved from alien DNA.

As for ghosts, I've had a few personal experiences; a couple of which other people were present. Scariest was when my sister's boyfriend was at his parent's house and he even forewarned me. Around 11:00 PM, every night, all the doors downstairs close one-by-one. All five of us (sister, her boyfriend, his parents & I) were upstairs -- I was actually sitting on the stairs -- and it sounded like someone was walking from room to room slamming the doors shut. I even watched the door at the bottom of the stairs close on its own. Creeped out, I checked all the rooms upstairs -- everyone was accounted for. It did that for the three nights we were there. I refused to go back to that house.

Most recently, a couple years ago, the wife & I were laying in bed, it was around 9-ish, the kids were asleep & we both heard the same voice whisper "Hey". My wife looked at me, I looked at her. Both of us knew it wasn't the other. A second or so later, the same voice followed-up with "Come here." Curious, I got up and checked the hallway -- no one & the boys were still sleeping.

So yeah, I'm going to have to say "yes" to ghosts. Aliens -- need a little more evidence to tip the scale.

[i]~ Malkavian Raven

PS: Anyone else had any experiences with aliens or ghosts?[/i][/font]

[MKdave]

I would argue that Aliens have, do, or will exist at some point. Presumably, the universe will last infinitely. So it appears almost impossible that conditions fit for life will exist nowhere else, ever.

Also, when this planet is destroyed with the sun, is anyone comfortable with the notion that there will be no intelligent life at all?

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Romo Ravens' timestamp='1293651495' post='587911']
He was cussing the spirit out? Every time I watch the show, they don't ever dare say anything threatening to whatever they're talking to, and I often wonder why. If I wanted to get something to talk to me I'd cuss it out and try to make it angry, but that's probably why I'm not a professional lol. But besides that, did you like the show?
[/quote]

The dude looks like a Trent Reznor wannabe. Everytime I see the opening credits, it looks like they're trying to recreate Nine Inch Nails promotional photos.

[XxSizzleXx]

If you guys want to watch some cool UFO footage check out Paranormal States 'Gilliands Ranch' episode. Hell even just search Gilliands Ranch and you will find some cool stuff.

[JonM229]

I ain't afraid of no ghost

[T-ray]

Who you gonna call?? GHOSTBUSTERS!

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='Malkavian Raven' timestamp='1293865812' post='589233']
[font="Century Gothic"]Aliens; probable.

Ghosts; yes.

I haven't had much one-on-one time with aliens, but for all I know humans evolved from alien DNA.

As for ghosts, I've had a few personal experiences; a couple of which other people were present. [b]Scariest was when my sister's boyfriend was at his parent's house and he even forewarned me. Around 11:00 PM, every night, all the doors downstairs close one-by-one. All five of us (sister, her boyfriend, his parents & I) were upstairs -- I was actually sitting on the stairs -- and it sounded like someone was walking from room to room slamming the doors shut. I even watched the door at the bottom of the stairs close on its own. Creeped out, I checked all the rooms upstairs -- everyone was accounted for. It did that for the three nights we were there. I refused to go back to that house.[/b]

Most recently, a couple years ago, the wife & I were laying in bed, it was around 9-ish, the kids were asleep & we both heard the same voice whisper "Hey". My wife looked at me, I looked at her. Both of us knew it wasn't the other. A second or so later, the same voice followed-up with "Come here." Curious, I got up and checked the hallway -- no one & the boys were still sleeping.

So yeah, I'm going to have to say "yes" to ghosts. Aliens -- need a little more evidence to tip the scale.

[i]~ Malkavian Raven

PS: Anyone else had any experiences with aliens or ghosts?[/i][/font]
[/quote]

You actually stayed for three nights?!? I won't deny, I'd have done one that first night, I'm a complete baby when it comes to ghosts and spirits and the like.

It actually sounded as though there was someone walking around? Were the doors closing in any particular order? Has anyone tried to prevent them closing?

For someone so scared, I end up really curious about these stories.