Enigmi alieni

Should you ever encounter the History Channel (it will always be the HISTORY CHANNEL to me) documentary series "Ancient Aliens", it would be a wise choice to watch it not with a grain of salt, but rather, a whole salt shaker. The series, which chronicles theories about "ancient astronauts" and possible historical encounters primitive cultures had with extra-terrestrial life and how it impacted the world, is a fine example of pseudo-science at at times blatant science-fiction masquerading as scientific fact. While some of the stories are intriguing, and while I do indeed believe in extra-terrestrial life (and that it may have contacted the modern world), the show presents so much conjecture and idea-grasping, that one cannot possibly take this series seriously.

Each episode centers on a different topic, from alien technology, to rumored underground or underwater cities that were the result of alien/human contact. A panel of "experts" (aka, UFO enthusiasts and pseudo-scientists) discuses theories ranging from remotely credible to downright diabolically far-fetched and implausible.

Although given my complaints about the rampant idea-grasping, sensationalizing the series presents, and the blatant pseudo-science, I will give credit in that the show has a great deal of entertainment value when viewed as a piece of science-fiction and as mere entertainment. Some of the stories and theories portrayed are riveting in their own way, and it's a great deal of fun to watch. In addition, some of the "scientists" and "experts" who appear frequently serve as good presenters and real-life "characters", giving the show a bizarre watch-ability.

While the show desperately attempts to be a serious documentary series, it fails overall, and as a documentary, I'd give the show about a 3 out of 10. However, the interesting stories presented, the unintentional hilarity of the show, and the delightful "characters" who are humorously misleading and present wildly insane ideas, give this show a high entertainment value, and a likability factor of about a 9 out of 10. So, averaging those scores together, the show is elevated to a very watchable and enjoyably, slightly-above average 6 out of 10 when viewed strictly as entertainment. Like I said, swallow many grains of salt when you turn this on, and watch it is Science-Fiction, and it will provide some great laughs. But watch it as a serious, real-life documentary, and you will be sorely disappointed.

I used to get quite a kick out of this series because I enjoyed the guests, the variegated sites, and, yes, the cinematography (if it can be called that). However, in the last two seasons, the show has degenerated to a point beyond ridiculousness.

First, let me say I have firsthand knowledge (indeed, direct experience) with scientists who have contributed to the show--in fact, appeared on the show--only to later protest that their opinions were grossly misrepresented. For nearly every piece of "evidence," various alternative explanations are available but simply are not presented. This is not what one would call balanced reporting. If we wish to make incredible claims, we must provide incredible proof.

But more upsetting is the steadily increasing dose of pseudoscience, of which I will provide three examples: the first arguably weaker, the second and third extremely strong. Some scientist is quoted as declaring that such-and-such site in Bosnia is a pyramid. My friends, not every topographic feature that is narrow at the top, wide at the bottom, and _vaguely_ quadrangular is a pyramid. More proof is required. Far more distressing are abject _lies_ that are presented. We are told that "the Washington Monument aligns with the constellation Orion." I cannot for the life of me determine how a _single_ vertical structure can "align" with any complex pattern. If the monument aligns with Orion, then it also aligns with every other constellation. We are also told that the ancient inscriptions on such slab or other amazingly provide the latitude and longitude of the site--far before human beings understood such concepts. This is an abject lie. For, "latitude" has some absolute meaning: the equator is fixed and its position crystal-clear, and one can make a stab at identifying a latitude in an ancient petroglyph. But, since the position of the prime meridian is _purely_ _arbitrary_, how could ancient aliens have taught some tribe the longitude of a site? Wait: let me guess: the aliens had knowledge of where--some time in the future--a British astronomer would stab his cane into the ground in Greenwich and say, "Let's put the prime meridian _here_." And I will only just mention in passing the host of "researchers" who throw around terms such as "energy force field," clearly understanding neither energy, nor force, nor fields.

Sorry, editors of "Ancient Aliens," but you really must control the nonsense factor if you want to have any chance of convincing those who actually understand science and mathematics--rather than groupies who are wowed every time someone makes a glib claim that the evidence patently fails to support.

I just signed on today (30 October 2013) after viewing the first twelve minutes of the episode "The Satan Conspiracy" and concluding, "Enough is enough already!" Not only have the producers absolutely, totally, unmitigatedly run out of material--choosing to identify any millimeter-wide glitch in a painting or pebble that looks like it has a one percent chance of having been "engineered" as ironclad evidence that aliens have visited. To make matters worse, the pseudo-science has risen to a level where even a schoolchild recognizes that random non-experts are proffering random verbiage about utter nonsense.

I've been recording this series for years. After deleting this episode, I updated all three of my DVRs, no longer to record the series. I've simply had it!

I use to love this show i still do like most of the previous seasons, especially the first few. But now every season is just re used content, nothing is new. I'm sick of them showing that Tic tac clip, give it a rest! It's time to cancel, if they can't find anything new what is this point.

I am sorry but I cannot watch this show for more than 10 minutes without shouting at the screen. It is worse now, I now find that I am getting annoyed at all TV documentaries after watch some of this show. They still talk about things as mysteries when they were solved years before, that things are fact when they aren't. They use lines like "Many People" and "Some scientists believe" never giving facts and figures. I find the main presenter patronising. Sorry I just can't watch any more of this show. Where has the Science and actual history gone. Where is the balanced reporting. How can someone look at a camera and state something to be a mystery when the facts are well known.

You know what I find funny..All the debunker's trying to debunk but offer no viable counter-argument to anything that is said in this documentary. If anything they only offer another side of speculation. The Egyption Saqqara bird..actually looks similar to a bird but upon closer examination from where the wings are placed to the tail it really does resemble more of a glider craft. As far as I know all birds have their tail feathers horizontal, NOT VERTICAL and bird wings are not located atop their back. They actually state this many of times. There are a lot of archaeological mysteries out there. I don't think all of them can be considered related to aliens granted. That does not mean that it is not a possibility. The fact remains that there are mysteries out there and people are ignoring them for what ever reasons. WHY?!!!? Now what is the deal with the Bermuda Triangle and The Dragons Triangle being on the same latitude where both sites have said to be hot spots for UFO activity? As well as well as having weird magnetic phenomena oh and the Yoniguni monument thats literally right off the point of the dragons triangle..now before you naysayers say anything. UFO means UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT. IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN IT IS EXTRA- TERRESTRIAL.. How about the Vihmana Story? How old are vedic texts describing vihmana or (flying machines). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see correlation between flying machine and a god that comes from the heavens..that maybe..hmm.. maybe it was an alien. Now I have to mention the correlation between every religion in the world having a being come down from the stars "heavens" and teach them culture, technology, way of life. This is a prominent experience shared by all cultures and religions in the world. Especially more curious as to why cultures that seemingly had no contact with each other decided to all start building pyramid type structures around the world. For gods sake man they brought in skilled stone masons and architectural engineers to take a look at some of these old stone monolithic creations..and even they are confused and state that recreating the same structures would be incredibly difficult with today's technology. Sure it may be a little brash to jump the gun and claim its all ancient aliens.. But seriously for the people who naysay or try and debunk do a little research into the field before you start making absolute claims on a subject you know absolutely nothing about. Science is subject to the same blind faith dogma as religion or any other belief system. With that in mind there will be fanatics going every which way. Ancient aliens and dogmatic science. I'm shaking the foundation of your ivory tower to tell you that I killed your high horse. Watch this series with an open mind. Draw your own conclusions and research, research, research. There is a lot of information out there pertaining to this vast subject. Remember and I know its cliché' we thought the world was flat once..Galilleo said non sense..we burned him for it. Its no surprise that information like this will rock the cradle for the mass fragile minds that can't think outside the box if there life depended on it. It's funny how debunker's will nit pick to spin their argument the way they see fit..totally ignoring information and documented accounts of said subject which lends even if small, credence to the idea of Extra- terrestrial contact/inter-dimensional contact or advanced military technology. They accuse the conspiracy theorists of straw-manning when the debunker's are doing the exact same thing..OHH THE HYPOCRISY! Through the entire series everything that was proposed is proposed in maybes, ifs, could bes, plausibles. This is a good thing because they are not making ABSOLUTE statements. Although when one researches and draws correlations between certain events and phenomena..one starts to see the maybes, ifs, and plausibles turn into Most likely. Last time I looked, the scientific community is still trying to prove the big bang, dark matter etc. All they have is a theory. A plausible one at that but there are many holes and many contradictions and these are theories that have yet to be proved. Yet for some reason most mainstream scientists and physicists take it as fact. I wonder how many times our science textbooks will have to be re-written due to new physics laws etc.. Remember. Our technology is relatively primitive. Earth is only 4 billion years old..There are planets out there billions of years older. THINK, DRAWING CORRELATIONS. DEDUCTIVE REASONING IS NOT A BAD PRACTICE!