Comments on: Strange Mystery Object Reported By UT Readers http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/ Space and astronomy news Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:21:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Peter Brouwerhttp://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-4479 Peter Brouwer Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:23:31 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/#comment-4479 I agree with Revmonkeyboy that 'UFO' leads to all sorts of unhelpful speculations. Though the term 'unidentified flying object' is strickly correct. The impression from popular culture is of course "evil space aliens". Other examples of highjacked words include 'organic' food and vegatables - ????--> a bit upsetting for anyone who know basic chemistry. And the word 'Gay' which used ti mean 'happy' But maybe these are all examples of linguistic evolution and I am behind the times. I agree with Revmonkeyboy that 'UFO' leads to all sorts of unhelpful speculations. Though the term 'unidentified flying object' is strickly correct. The impression from popular culture is of course "evil space aliens". Other examples of highjacked words include 'organic' food and vegatables – ????–> a bit upsetting for anyone who know basic chemistry. And the word 'Gay' which used ti mean 'happy'
But maybe these are all examples of linguistic evolution and I am behind the times.

]]> By: Revmonkeyboyhttp://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3830 Revmonkeyboy Sun, 16 Dec 2007 05:42:58 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/#comment-3830 There is one very good reason for not using the term UFO. People will use it to spread nonsense. Nonsense does not need the help. Many objects when they are later identified end up in someones book as proof that aliens are probing us. The truth rarely gets published. The object most reported as a UFO is Venus. A police officer or pilot does not make a good witness because they do not have the required knowledge to rule out the common. They have no training in astronomy, optics, human perceptual flaws or earths atmosphere. These are the skills needed to rule out the mundane causes. Skeptical thinking and the ability to distrust your own eyes takes hard work, and most people are already busy in the hard work of living. Mistakes are made. Someone is making money off these facts, or by obscuring the facts. Sad but true. There is one very good reason for not using the term UFO. People will use it to spread nonsense. Nonsense does not need the help. Many objects when they are later identified end up in someones book as proof that aliens are probing us. The truth rarely gets published. The object most reported as a UFO is Venus. A police officer or pilot does not make a good witness because they do not have the required knowledge to rule out the common. They have no training in astronomy, optics, human perceptual flaws or earths atmosphere. These are the skills needed to rule out the mundane causes. Skeptical thinking and the ability to distrust your own eyes takes hard work, and most people are already busy in the hard work of living. Mistakes are made. Someone is making money off these facts, or by obscuring the facts. Sad but true.

]]> By: zbone0http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3486 zbone0 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 22:47:42 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/#comment-3486 An ok response to what you avoid calling it -- a UFO or unidentified flying object. It is not generally appreciated how good many UFO sighting reports are and have been -- reports by pilots, engineers and scientists along with lay people. Your advice is fine, though it would be more honest if you used the "U" word that most people would use. This UFO was apparently resolved into an "IFO" or identified flying...something. Many others are not yet resolved. Good observations and procedures such as you suggest are great, but why not name the unknown thing properly, until all UFOs get known and finally named for certain. zbone0 An ok response to what you avoid calling it — a UFO or unidentified flying object. It is not generally appreciated how good many UFO sighting reports are and have been — reports by pilots, engineers and scientists along with lay people. Your advice is fine, though it would be more honest if you used the "U" word that most people would use. This UFO was apparently resolved into an "IFO" or identified flying…something. Many others are not yet resolved. Good observations and procedures such as you suggest are great, but why not name the unknown thing properly, until all UFOs get known and finally named for certain.
zbone0

]]> By: kbutlerhttp://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3363 kbutler Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:11:04 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/#comment-3363 TJ: shhhhh! TJ: shhhhh!

]]> By: T. J. Mulichhttp://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/comment-page-1/#comment-3304 T. J. Mulich Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:56:58 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/2007/12/13/strange-mystery-object-reported-by-ut-readers/#comment-3304 Tammy,I believe objects directly over head are at 90 degrees, not 180 degrees.TJ Tammy,

I believe objects directly over head are at 90 degrees, not 180 degrees.

TJ

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