Posted on 11/26/2009 7:11:08 PM PST by SonOfDarkSkies
A creepy string of calf mutilations in southern Colorado has a rancher and sheriff's officials mystified.
Four calves were found dead in a pasture just north of the New Mexico state line in recent weeks. The dead calves had their skins peeled back and organs cleared from the rib cage. One calf had its tongue removed.
But rancher Manuel Sanchez has found no signs of human attackers, such as footprints or ATV tracks. And there are no signs of an animal attack by a coyote or mountain lion. Usually predators leave pools of blood or drag marks from carrying away the livestock.
Two officers from the Costilla County Sheriff's Office have investigated the mutilations but say they don't know what's killing the calves.
"There's nothing really to go by," said Sanchez, who's ranched for nearly 50 years. "I can't figure it out."
A spokesman for the sheriff's office told The Pueblo Chieftain that investigators doubt a person butchered the calves because there is no blood at the scene.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
From:
http://www.theblackvault.com/wiki/index.php/Cattle_Mutilation
[The embeded links work only at the above link]
Proponents respond that many debunkers have little or no field experience with such mutilations, and further note that farmers and large-animal veterinarians have made distinctions between normal predation and so-called “cattle mutilations.” For example, Veterinarian George E. Onet writes that experts have found unusual features in some mutilations: “Dr. John Altshuler, a Colorado MD pathologist, has examined over thirty mutilation cases since 1989 and found in skin tissues from the excision lines, lesions consistent with overheated collagen and hemoglobin, or with sharp dissection ... The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Corvallis (Oregon State University) established in a 1991 case that skin sections from a suspect mutilated steer showed lesions consistent with electro-surgical excision.” [1]
In 2002, Rancher Ruby Brouma contended that some mutilations have characteristics very different from other, more commonplace animal deaths: “When an animal dies, a predator, whether it be a coyote, wolf, whatever, they will chew into the animal and make a large enough hole so they can start eating into the flesh ... Nothing had eaten on this animal (almost two months after it was killed) ... If you lose a calf you just take it back in the pasture and the predators will take care of it. ... In the mutilated ones, these wild animals won’t do that. Why? I don’t know.”[2]
Since the mid-1970’s, Denver-based journalist Linda Moulton Howe has done extensive research on the subject, and argues that the mutilations represent an unexplained phenomenon.
Though often seen as a fringe issue, U.S. Government officials have expressed concern: former Colorado governor Richard Lamm described such animal mutilations “one of the greatest outrage in the history of western cattle industry.”[3]
One problem with that. Evidence.
Where is the evidence for UFOs or ETs being involved with these cases? So far, alien involvement (or even their very existence, for that matter) is pure conjecture and theory. Nothing more.
Throwing theory and conjecture (especially of such a mind-bending nature) into the mix with the observed and documented facts on the ground does nothing but tend to invalidate all of the very good evidence that's been gathered.
I have my own theories as to what's causing all of these cattle mutilations, but why introduce that into a discussion about the actual facts, unless I want to start an argument about something that I can't prove the existence of?
I don't know what's "farfetched", except things that have absolutely zero evidence of reality. For all we know, humans with heretofore unknown technologies may be the ones carrying out these mutilations. Maybe it's an advanced race of beings from off-planet. How on earth are we to say what it is without hard evidence?
I'm comfortable in just knowing the facts at hand, until such time as someone has actual proof of who is doing this, and how.
Sure, I'd like to know what the answer to this mystery is. Don't we all --- but we do the search for truth an injustice by throwing our unfounded theories into the mix.
Bob, I'm not "breathlessly repeating" any "nonsense" or "lies". I'm acknowledging the evidence about these cases that has been collected for at least half a century now. That's all.
You haven't once seen me advance the theory that aliens are performing high tech surgery on these animals, have you?
If anything, I'm trying to bring this subject down to earth in true Freeper fashion. I continue to exhort everyone who will listen, to simply acknowledge the many thousands of reports from qualified observers. That's all.
I haven't once asked anyone to pay the slightest bit of attention to any of these reporter's theories about who is doing this, or by what means. Not once.
As a conservative, I care about the truth. Period. I simply cannot ignore thousands of reports about this phenomenon from people who are diligently collecting the evidence and swearing to their testimony of the same.
Apply just a small amount of logic and reasoning to this, and you have to come away believing that at the very least, these people have observed something real and tangible. Who is responsible for causing this is anyone's guess. We have no evidence for that at this point.
However, there are mountains of evidence about the phenomenon itself. Of that, there is no question.
SonOfDarkSkies and LVD, there’s a bunch of posts above this one that MIGHT be of interest.
#########
From:
http://www.ufodigest.com/phprint.php
Patrick Cooke, is the editor / author of The Bible UFO Connection. He is an independent researcher residing in Berkeley, California. He is an author, publisher, eschatologist, an autonomous theologian, and is recognized by the Religion Newswriters Association as a nontraditional scholar. His work is not associated with any religious organization or movement. He is the author of The Greatest Deception, The Doctrines of Men, and The Real Apocrypha, and has produced the videos Spirits in the Sky and UFOs - The Flying Gods. He is always available to discuss anything related to his work. Visit Patrick’s websites: bibleufo.com and doctrinesofmen.com or email him at admin@bibleufo.com
Cattle Mutilations - Senseless Mutilation or High-Tech Examinations?
by Patrick Cooke
Posted: 00:50 November 20, 2007
Cattle Mutilation Phenomena, also called “Bovine Excision”, is the enigma presented, when cattle have been found that are killed by an unexplained method and anatomically mutilated, under anomalous conditions. No single example of a paranormal event is so physically bizarre, or has such a negative economic impact on a specific industry. It is generally considered to have started with an anomalous mutilation in 1967 of a horse in Colorado. However, seven decades earlier we find this unusual eyewitness testimony from a sworn statement dated April 21, 1897:
“A prosperous and prominent farmer named Alexander Hamilton in Le Roy, Kansas told of an attack upon his cattle at about 10:30 PM the previous Monday. He, his son, and his tenant grabbed axes and ran some 700 feet from the house to the cow lot where a great cigar-shaped ship about 300 feet long floated some 30 feet above his cattle. It had a carriage underneath which was brightly lighted within (dirigible and gondola?) and which had numerous windows. Inside were six strange looking beings jabbering in a foreign language. These beings suddenly became aware of Hamilton and the others. They immediately turned a searchlight on the farmer, and also turned on some power, which sped up a turbine wheel (about 30 ft diameter) located under the craft. The ship rose, taking with it a two-year old heifer, which was roped about the neck by a cable of one-half inch thick, red material. The next day a neighbor, Link Thomas, found the animal’s hide, legs and head in his field. He was mystified at how the remains got to where they were because of the lack of tracks in the soft soil. Alexander Hamilton’s sworn statement was accompanied by an affidavit as to his veracity. The affidavit was signed by ten of the local leading citizens.”
This incident seems to fit well into the realm of cattle mutilations.
Aerial Indications
Though the above description is unscientific, it shows that the animal is being lifted. One very important aspect of this phenomenon is the total absence of evidence of physical activity of any sort around the affected carcasses. Such lack of even footprints, tire tracks, or any ground disturbance indicates that some sort of aerial device has to be used. There is also evidence that the animals may have been dropped from considerable heights, after the mutilations were performed.
Predator Absence
The aerial aspect could also explain why there is no indication that the animals died as a result of predatory attacks or accidents. A very unusual natural deviation occurs at the carcass sites. Scavengers will not feed upon, or even approach the carcasses, despite the abundance of meat on the remains and often fresh condition of it. Any flies, a common aspect of carrion, are dead on the carcasses.
Bloodless
The animals chosen, horses, cattle, buffalo, and deer are all large, and can have as much as four gallons of blood in a body weighing, sometimes, in excess of a thousand pounds. The carcasses are completely drained of every trace of blood, a condition known as exsanguinations, and yet, not one drop of that blood is found around the body. Other body fluids are also conspicuously absent. The process of draining such a large body of all blood and fluids requires a lab setting and highly sophisticated equipment, something certainly not commonly found on cattle ranges and in forests. Removing all traces of those fluids from the body and the surrounding environment requires a technology not currently found on the planet. The ease of obtaining cattle blood and the obvious disregard for the monetary value of an entire cow leaves out old-fashioned cattle rustling or any criminal intent.
Unorthodox Organ Removal
Blood and body fluids are not the only things removed from these bodies, which gives this phenomenon its description as an act of mutilation. Certain organs are surgically removed from their bodies. Autopsy reports show that removal of sexual, digestive tract, and sensory organs are most often the organs of choice. Soft tissue organs, such as the reproductive organs, tongue, eyes, lips, ears, udders, and the rectal area are, also, occasionally removed. Internal organs, not surgically incised, are often found to have lost all consistency and are described as being in a “mushy” state. Again, there is an unearthly ring to the methods employed. Organ and tissue removal is done with perfect surgical precision. No ripping or tearing is evident as with predator attacks and even scalpels are often eliminated as a tool. The incisions have been done with such fine precision that only a laser could produce such surgical exactitude. Evidence of cauterization, the act of fusing of blood vessels and tissue using heat or chemical methods, enforces this theory. Bones are also clearly sliced with no bone fragments present. Areas of flesh are also severed with high- tech precision.
Surrounding Environs
No evidence of blood, tracks, or predators stands alone as an anomaly, but is not the only abnormal aspect of the sights, where the animal remains are found. High levels of radiation are detected, although no logical explanation for this presence has been found. Plants in the immediate vicinity, at times, appear to be extraordinarily lush, only to wither and die in a short time. This shows a total change in the organisms not explained by orthodox understanding. A fluorescent material of unknown origin has often been observed covering the bodies. Another unusual substance is also found around the carcasses. Minute particles of magnetic iron, in a very pure form, are present in high concentrations in the immediate area. Again, no explanation for this is to be found. It should be pointed out that such traces of pure iron are also found in crop circle anomalies.
The Theories
As can easily be seen, the questions are abundant and the answers are conspicuously absent. Even the theories advanced are anemic:
* Satanic cults performing occult blood rituals were the earliest suspects. This might hold water, if you could find a satanic cult with a large membership that consisted of very wealthy and highly skilled surgeons, with a lot of free time on their hands. The sheer volume of just the reported acts would mean that thousands of top professionals, in very specialized fields, working in total secrecy, would be working around the clock. Considering that not one suspect has ever been arrested for such an obvious crime, an unbelievable amount of luck must also be involved. Little wonder that satanic slaughter quickly faded into the background, leaving the next most targeted subject for particularly unusual occurrences, the government.
* Secret operations are always a favorite target of the conspiracy theorists and the size of this anomaly requires a large, well funded, and high-tech group. We all know the government is capable of such an operation, but there is a real problem with the concept of government involvement, capitalism. Any politician knows that the last thing you want to do is mess with the agriculture business, especially in the United States and, in particular, the ranchers. If the government needed to do this, they could easily obtain cattle for whatever it is they need. After all, they are one of the largest single customers of the ranching industry. This is where the theories begin to stray from the usual suspects.
* Mass hysteria has been mentioned as a solution for everything from organized crime to the moon landing debunkers. Hard working ranchers, rural police departments, and serious scientific investigators are not the normal population sector that is easily driven to hysteria, when confronted by the unexplained.
* Black helicopters come under scrutiny, but once again, the volume of cases and the remote and precarious terrain of those cases leave some serious doubts. Also, the fact that most of the excisions appear to happen at night cast further doubt. A helicopter fleet of such a size required to perform these mutilations, would take unlimited resources and tax the resources of a large corporation or organization. And, there are the needed surgical teams. The fact that a large number of unmarked helicopters, operating in U.S. airspace, would either have to elude radar detection, or have government permission to operate and, again, brings up the financial aspect once again. The sky is monitored by the military, the military works for the government, and the government works for the large financial powers, and the ranching industry is a significant financial power. The black helicopter theory doesn’t work as a culprit, but may fit into the equation. If, they are present, as witness testimony indicates, it is more likely related to an observation or deterrent role.
* Environmental testing, biological experiments, cattle virus, and nuclear activities were brought into the fray, but with no evidence to back any of these theories, it just adds to the confusion and conjecture. The only thing proven is that there is no evidence that can prove anything, or anyone, on this planet is responsible.
* Even theories about theories came into the picture in the ethereal form of plasma. The very imaginative scenario speculated that an unsuspecting animal wanders into the plasma field and, out of nowhere, an unknown electrical force electrocutes the animal, dissolves its blood, and then mutilates the carcass. This is something akin to a high tech version of “swamp gas.” So, the only suspect qualified for scrutiny flies into the mutilation arena. Unidentified flying objects are most often identified as a consistent presence by witnesses. They are, also, the only suspect that needs no budget, obviously has the technology, can, and do, evade radar and the military, and are known to lift large objects, without leaving detectable traces in the area. They also, may be the only suspects with a possible motive for the act. Federal evidence confirms that some animals have been dropped from altitude causing broken bones and depressions in the ground. And, the only markings ever found at the sites have been tripod marks.
The Investigators
Cattle associations are the organizations, whose membership are the financial victims, are the closest to the phenomenon. The cost to cattlemen and their insurers is in the multi-million dollar range, and they have taken action. Large rewards are offered and top investigators are employed. Even groups of ranchers are employed to patrol known hotspots. The ranchers are well armed and equipped for a search and apprehend role, and local law enforcement and government agencies are in total cooperation. In over three decades of serious effort, not one perpetrator has been caught, no suspects have been identified, and no relevant evidence has been found. This is why the ranchers have put pressure on the government to step in.
Official investigations began in earnest in 1975, following a dramatic increase in cattle mutilations in Colorado. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation conducted an investigation that concluded that predators were the killers, in most cases, and some killings were the work of human killers that were mimicking the predators to feed on the “mass hysteria” generated by the anomaly. The lead investigator of over 200 reports admitted the difficulties in probing such bizarre incidents. Carl Whiteside, the CBI official in control admitted that, “everybody who has gotten involved with the mutilations has come away more confused than they were. when they went in, including us.”, and that, “Getting firm evidence on these things is like nailing jelly to a wall.” In short, they had no idea what they were looking for, and not a clue how to look for it. Under these conditions, any conclusion stated is suspect, at best, and ludicrous, at worst.
Click on the ‘NEXT’ arrow for page 4
The investigation went national in April 1979, when a special investigative conference was convened in New Mexico, by Senator Harrison Schmitt, a former lunar astronaut turned politician. He expressed the futility confronting investigators when he stated, “These crimes are obviously continuing, despite the excellent efforts of state and local law enforcement officials, and the growing publicity the mutilations killings have received.” Since its first major exposure in the fall of 1973, the cattle mutilation phenomena had claimed the lives of over 10,000 head of cattle by 1979. This conference turned the federal spotlight on cattle mutilations and that opened the federal coffers. In May 1979, Kenneth Rommel, a former career FBI agent, headed the project known as “Operation Animal Mutilation”. The investigation was undertaken by New Mexico’s First Judicial District, and funding came from the Justice Department’s Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. The result was “The Rommel Reports”. Not to anyone’s surprise, the Rommel Reports were a rubber stamp of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s conclusions. Nothing at all strange was noted, just predators and slow-witted yokels, that got over excited. One rancher even labeled the controversy “Cattlegate”, referring to an obvious government cover-up.
The National Institute for Discovery Science isn’t ready to say yes, to an other-worldly connection, yet, but they’re not throwing out the possibility, either. The privately funded research organization is conducting a serious study of the connection between cattle mutilations and UFOs.
Mutology has become a positive force by the duck and cover tactics of the official investigations and the mutology network, coalesced and began to influence public and official opinion. Linda Howe, a television journalist turned mutilations enthusiast, has authored books on the subject and produced a documentary. Howe is a prominent backer of the alien abduction theory, and became a regular on the UFO convention circuit due to her mute theories. Other mutologists are bringing the phenomenon into clearer focus and provide a needed buffer to the official whitewash. As with the UFO phenomenon our government feels that the old “keep them in the dark = keep them calm” attitude is in the best interest of the people. And with good reason, because UFOs may be the only intelligent answer we have.
Are UFOs The Answer?
Consider the questions:
* What organization on Earth has the need to butcher cattle and other large animals, remove organs, blood, and flesh at great risk, with criminal ramifications, in a clandestine manner?
* If such an organization does exist, why not obtain the animals legally at an obviously greatly reduced cost and risk?
* What group has the advanced technology to perform these operations, with world-class precision, thousands of times in remote locations, with the tons of equipment obviously required?
* What are the odds that an Earth-based organization could conduct such a massive and complicated operation from the air, without a mishap?
* Why would such an obviously well organized and highly skilled group even consider such an aerial project, in light of the safety risks and legal ramifications if apprehended, while violating federal aviation rules?
* What organization has the resources to accomplish this feat thousands of times over large areas, without detection or apprehension?
* Who can leave unidentifiable material as the only evidence at the mutilation site?
* Why do the majority of eyewitnesses claim that UFOs are present during the incidents?
Click on the ‘NEXT’ arrow for page 5
Cows are the targets in 95% of the cases. Logic dictates this could be a deceptive percentage. There is no way to know what the actual numbers are. Put yourself in the place of the cattlemen and what must be taken into consideration, before reporting such an incident. If, anyone took you seriously, investigators rummaging around your property with endless questions would quickly swamp you, while your character often is called into question, and, of course, the unwanted and, often negative publicity. How many of these incidents go unreported? What percentage of these mutilations is actually discovered? No figures are available to address these questions, but it is possible that only a small percentage of the incidents are actually reported. And, of course, cows have owners and a lot of other large animals don’t. How many deer and elk are involved is an unknown factor.
Autopsies of Autopsies?
Considering that we do know cows are a favorite target, is there a possible reason why they are targeted? The investigators that examine the carcasses are actually post-mortem examinations, and their findings show evidence that the body has been autopsied. Someone, or something, is using these animals as an investigative tool. And, probably, the best possible animal to use for this purpose is a cow. This animal is a four-legged eating machine, equipped with four stomachs that provide it with one of the most efficient digestive systems in nature. This means a highly efficient absorption level of all the elements in the animal’s immediate environment into the blood, organs, and flesh. A breakdown of those tissues will replicate that environment in detail. In simple terms, if you want to know what elements and what concentrations of those elements are in a given area, put a cow on it, do a thorough autopsy on the cow and you have a complete readout on the environment.
This is exactly what the evidence proves has been done. The animals are picked up, blood, organs, and flesh is removed, and the animal is unceremoniously dropped back to earth. What other possible use could such a complicated procedure have? And, if one were trying to monitor how those elements were affecting humans, cows are well suited to the task. The most detailed map ever produced of cattle genes is now available. A comparison map of cattle and human genomes shows that many genes, and even whole chromosomes, are configured in the same way in the two species. In an emergency, cow’s blood can even be used in transfusions into humans, since the hemoglobin is almost identical.
The Crop Circle Connection
The other phenomenon associated with agriculture is crop circles, also known as cattle agriglyphs. The anomalies shared with bovine excisions are strikingly similar. Both happen almost exclusively at night, with no evidence of human or mechanical presence. Strange lights and objects in the immediate vicinity of excisions and circles are commonly reported. Extraordinary sounds are heard in both situations. Animals will not eat the excised animal carcasses or the altered plants and wild as well as domesticated animals scrupulously avoid the areas of the anomalies. Alteration of plants is common and the most stunning parallel is also the most unearthly. The same highly purified particles of refined iron are present in the crop circle formations as well as excisions. Since the metal calling card is almost exclusive to these two anomalies, it’s a good bet that the same force is responsible for both. Pure iron is, also found in the anomalous iron pillars found throughout India and at UFO landing sites not connected to agriglyphs or large animal excisions.
The jury is still out on who, or what, is responsible for cattle mutilations. The evidence is clear, and logic enforces the reality that this is not a phenomenon with human origins, or, for that matter, earthly origins. If not human, there is no other conclusion. It has to be the occupants of UFOs performing these high-tech examinations. The only question remaining is why?
Where is the evidence for UFOs or ETs being involved with these cases? So far, alien involvement (or even their very existence, for that matter) is pure conjecture and theory. Nothing more.
##############
I disagree . . . even though it’s in a minority of cases . . . ENOUGH cases have included ET type critter sightings in such mutilation cases to give such reports great significance.
If such reports were AS PLENTIFUL in a serial killer case, you can bet the detectives would be seizing on such factors with great focus and energy.
And in a lot more cases, the UFO’s have certainly been seen even though ET critters were not seen.
Evidence, my friend, evidence. Where is the hard evidence of these ETs?
I'm afraid that "sightings" isn't good enough. Heck, there isn't even evidence for humans being involved in these cases, much less extraterrestrials.
I know what I think the answer is, but that's got nothing to do with the facts. This will remain a mystery until someone can show irrefutable proof of who is responsible.
1. Of course, you are welcome to set whatever criteria for evidence you wish.
2. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me, however, that YOU AT LEAST KNOW the FACT that WHEN anyone sets a criteria for proof that something is there too high, they change the possibility of a
TYPE II ERROR
into a probability. And, much higher than that and they change the probability into a virtual CERTAINTY.
My experience on these threads convinced me that the naysayers are into the virtual CERTAINTY category.
They seem to be oblivious that a TYPE II error is potentially just as deadly as a TYPE I error.
3. Many murderer has been convicted and executed on less evidence than exists in the thousands of expert testimony in such cases. It is SHEER FOOLISHNESS to consider such expert testimony as useless, worthless, meaningless, inconsequential, ‘proving nothing.’
Quix,
I am now trying to catch up on the threads (lots to read), this past week has been hectic for us/me, including some sort of bug that got through my anti virus program, (bug is gone now via Vista system restore)!
Evidence of reported cattle mutilations is abundant. When someone has a good video of an actual mutilation performed by unknown entities, then most naysayers “may” finally drop their persistent “Phillip J. Klass” attacks.
As you know there are hundreds of ping list members on the ufo ping list, several have shared private conversations of their own personal sightings of unknown aerial phenomena (the McMinnville like object has been a repeat, see photo analysis = http://brumac.8k.com/trent1.html ).
Do ufo’s they exist?
You bet they do! There is so much photographic evidence by credible sources, including several of our astronauts while they orbited the earth or traveled to the moon, that the question is moot.
However, there are mountains of evidence about the phenomenon itself. Of that, there is no question.
________
Only to a very small fringe in our society, of that, there is no question.
“Because that wouldn’t have made an interesting movie, that’s why.”
That’s what I figured. Don’t get me wrong; I thought “Signs” was one of the best sci-fi movies I’ve ever seen. It didn’t have the hi-tech razzle dazzle fast pace action of “Independence Day,” but in many ways it had more suspense (and a better story line).
Interestingly, the actress who played the sheriff’s deputy in “Signs,” Cherry Jones, is the same person who plays the President in “24.”
TRUE. TRUE.
Though I’d prefer that the proof never came because of what will shortly come afterwards.
LOL.
Sigh.
I wonder what the percentage of believers in the reality of UFO’S and their ‘non-human’ connection is, now.
It used to be a solid 80% of the general population. I suspect it’s higher, now.
Bob, you’re still reading something into my posts that I’m not saying.
You’ve really got to differentiate between
A) acknowledgment of the physical evidence and qualified observations, and
B) the advancement of any theory of causation.
I don't discount such expert testimony at all. 60+ years worth of it has made a compelling case for the existence of advanced races of beings operating in our skies.
It always comes back to the lack of hard evidence, though.
I can believe that six decades worth of expert testimony proves the existence of alien visitors, but I still don't know it as a fact.
You ask us to substitute an objective reality for a subjective one, which many, many people are just not willing to do.
Logic tells me that the universe is far too vast for there to only be a single solitary planet that has developed life forms. The famous Drake Equation brilliantly illustrates the absurdity of the "we're all alone" theory.
Still - that doesn't automatically mean that I should accept that some of those life forms have the means to conquer the unimaginable distances involved with interstellar space travel, and are coming here, without some hard evidence.
Frankly, I want to see them with my own two eyes. That's the level of proof required for me to accept that they're here.
Do I believe that extraterrestrials have visited Earth? Yes I do.
Do I know that extraterrestrials have visited this planet? No, I do not.
One of these things is superior to the other. I think we both know which one it is.
Do I believe that extraterrestrials have visited Earth? Yes I do.
Do I know that extraterrestrials have visited this planet? No, I do not.
One of these things is superior to the other. I think we both know which one it is.
#######################
How do we know if something is
superior/inferior;
good/bad;
beautiful/ugly;
useful/worthless;
holy;profane;
evil;righteous;
############
USUALLY, in order to answer such a question, it’s
BEST
to KNOW
the answers to the following questions:
1. WHAT IS THE RELATED GOAL?
2. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA/STANDARD OF MEASURE THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHEN THE GOAL HAS BEEN REACHED?
3. WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?
BELIEVE ET’s have visited earth vs KNOW they have.
IF the goal is to be as wisely prepared for probable contingencies . . .
IF the criteria or standard of measure is to avoid a TYPE II error say 98% of the time . . .
IF the context is this current era, 2009, November . . .
THEN, . . . believing WOULD BE SUPERIOR TO KNOWING.
KNOWING would leave one far too vulnerable to a potentially—even HIGHLY PROBABLE TO VIRTUALLY CERTAIN deadly TYPE II ERROR.
####################
IF the goal is to never make any decision or take any action or risk any embarrassment by being less than 100% CERTAIN about anything . . . then, for that person, KNOWING would probably be superior—until REALITY bit them in the rear real hard because of their stubborn ignoring of rather obvious facts just short of certainty.
##################
UFO PING LIST PING LEVEL C
Do I believe that extraterrestrials have visited Earth? Yes I do.
Do I know that extraterrestrials have visited this planet? No, I do not.
One of these things is superior to the other. I think we both know which one it is.
#######################
How do we know if something is
superior/inferior;
good/bad;
beautiful/ugly;
useful/worthless;
holy;profane;
evil;righteous;
############
USUALLY, in order to answer such a question, it’s
BEST
to KNOW
the answers to the following questions:
1. WHAT IS THE RELATED GOAL?
2. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA/STANDARD OF MEASURE THAT LETS YOU KNOW WHEN THE GOAL HAS BEEN REACHED?
3. WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?
BELIEVE ET’s have visited earth vs KNOW they have.
IF the goal is to be as wisely prepared for probable contingencies . . .
IF the criteria or standard of measure is to avoid a TYPE II error say 98% of the time . . .
IF the context is this current era, 2009, November . . .
THEN, . . . believing WOULD BE SUPERIOR TO KNOWING.
KNOWING would leave one far too vulnerable to a potentially—even HIGHLY PROBABLE TO VIRTUALLY CERTAIN deadly TYPE II ERROR.
####################
IF the goal is to never make any decision or take any action or risk any embarrassment by being less than 100% CERTAIN about anything . . . then, for that person, KNOWING would probably be superior—until REALITY bit them in the rear real hard because of their stubborn ignoring of rather obvious facts just short of certainty.
Folks with vendettas rarely feel compelled to acknowledge much of anything.
Do you not see the irrationality in what you just posted?
There's no such thing as an "almost" fact. There is fact, and there is speculation and theory. There is nothing else.
Even the most weighty preponderance of circumstantial evidence does not add up to one solitary FACT.
I spelled it out for you in my last post. There is only what we know, and what we do not know. Between those two things there is only the misty grey limbo of belief.
My personal integrity compels me to live with the truth. The truth in my world are those things which I can sense or measure in some way.
George has a dog. His dog continually gets into Sam's yard and terrorizes his cats and his children. Sam has repeatedly asked George to put some control in on his dog, and has finally told him that he'll "put a bullet in that dog if he crosses the fence again", but George just can't seem to keep his dog out of Sam's yard.
One day George comes home and finds Fido cold and lifeless in his back yard with some sort of hole in his head. He immediately "knows" that Sam shot his dog. But does George really "know" this - or is this just his theory, based on all of the circumstantial evidence to hand?
What George really knows, is that his dog is dead, and that there's a hole in his head. Nothing more. He didn't personally witness Sam shoot him, but he's convinced, nonetheless, of the truth of his conclusion.
You see where this is going?
You cannot know what you yourself do not see or sense in some manner. You can accept as true, something that has a great deal of testimony, historical precedent, circumstantial evidence, etc., as true, but you are simply supplanting belief for direct knowledge and indisputable facts.
Having said all that, I admit to having a few of my own beliefs, that is, things that I choose to accept, based on the strength of the subjective reality of others.
By the way, your last post raised both of my eyebrows. I'm not quite sure what to make of it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.