[TigersEye]

Crop circles are man made. (end of story)

Sounds like the beginning of a story. Has any man ever been caught in the act of making one? How are they made? Why are they made? Who comes up with the designs and what do they mean if anything? How many men does it take to make one like this one and how long does it take? How many people worldwide are involved in making crop circles and why has no one ever ratted out the perpetraters? Sounds like a very big story that has yet to be told.

Whatever happened to critical thinking?

[null and void]

Are space aliens, fairies, or eeeeevil spirits more plausible in your mind?

[Long Cut]

"Has any man ever been caught in the act of making one?"

Yes. They've even been filmed doing it.

"How are they made?"

With basic mathematics, rope, and wood boards.

"Why are they made?"

For artistic reasons, for a challenge, and for fun.

"Who comes up with the designs and what do they mean if anything?"

The makers come up with the designs; some have meaning (some have been used as advertisements!), and some are purely interesting shapes.

"How many men does it take to make one like this one and how long does it take?"

Usually 2-6 people. A complicated circle can be completed in one night. Most simple ones take a few hours.

"How many people worldwide are involved in making crop circles and why has no one ever ratted out the perpetraters?"

Some hundreds are involved. Some have freely admitted to it. See circlemakers.org. Since it's not a major crime, there is no reason to "rat out" anyone.

[ovrtaxt]

A few guys with some rope, stakes and boards. A well planned agenda. A basic knowledge of geometry and surveying. Some flashlights.

A cool hobby for science geeks, it seems to me! Gets your technical and artistic cravings satisfied.

[G.Mason]

"Sounds like the beginning of a story. Has any man ever been caught in the act of making one? How are they made? Why are they made? Who comes up with the designs and what do they mean if anything? How many men does it take to make one like this one and how long does it take? How many people worldwide are involved in making crop circles and why has no one ever ratted out the perpetraters? Sounds like a very big story that has yet to be told.

Whatever happened to critical thinking?"

Whatever happened to Google?

[walwyn]

This is the site of one group of circle makers including the 2003 examples. Apparently many of them are commissioned by TV, AD agencies, film makers, and newspapers.

[G.Mason]

"Whatever happened to critical thinking?"

The same thing as self investigatory examination. (you know, checking things out for yourself?)

Like bird chicks, they wait for mom & pop to feed them, eating anything they're fed.