Linear thinking? Thinking out of the box? It would always be best not to confuse imagination with true insight. It is true that humans are perhaps the only species on earth that are capable of mystical thought and that mysticism or wonderment is at the core of scientific inquiry. However most of what is imagined or thought however emotionally gratifying is not real or reproducible. History is sodden with examples where musings and imagination lead to seductive delusions followed by human tragedy. When hard irrefutable evidence or reproducible experimentation is not present, a wise person does well to be skeptical.
So allow us skeptics to doubt that UFOs are alien visitors from many light years, dimensions or times far away or unknown or not perceptible to limited human senses and capabilities. Tolerate our “linear thinking”. Just don’t ask us to finance your fantasies with our taxes. As long as you don’t become dangerous, like many people who “thought out of the box”, feel free to go on imagining.
If you are interested, my own musings on what the UFO phenomena may represent has been posted on previous threads.
BTW, there is nothing wrong with skepticism. But skepticism loses its value when it exists only because the skeptic lacks imagination.
As a retired financier, I used to do some venture capital investing. You don't find many "green eye-shade" accountants in that business. It takes people who can see the possibilities yet also understand the pitfalls.
It takes imagination with a healthy dose of REAL skepticism...the kind of skepticism based on a clear perception of reality. Not the kind of skepticism which merely clings to the past.