Please stop with the silly phrase woo-woo
Discussion
rhinochopig said:
Why? The thread on UFOs has moved onto very real science and is now discussing the relativistic effects of flight at close to c. That's real science IMO. Simply dismissing it as 'woo' would have stopped what has turned into a very interesting discussion. Ask the question and then explore the science behind whether it is actually theoretically possible or not.
Fine, so start a thread discussing travel near the speed of light? Why bring UFOs into it?Again, you might as well use Father Christmas as a relevant example in a thread about logistics.
deeen said:
rhinochopig said:
Why? The thread on UFOs has moved onto very real science and is now discussing the relativistic effects of flight at close to c. That's real science IMO. Simply dismissing it as 'woo' would have stopped what has turned into a very interesting discussion. Ask the question and then explore the science behind whether it is actually theoretically possible or not.
Fine, so start a thread discussing travel near the speed of light? Why bring UFOs into it?Again, you might as well use Father Christmas as a relevant example in a thread about logistics.
Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
rhinochopig said:
Because such ideas provide interesting frameworks in which to discuss potentially dull topics. Talk about UFOs and the discussion moves from the socio-political implications of the impact of little green men turning up, the engineering challenges of building a craft capable of ~ c or beyond, the physic of close to c or beyond travel, etc.
Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Laugh out loud? I would have preferred 'lol'.or 'that is all'.Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Edited by tuscaneer on Wednesday 1st February 15:16
The term woo is a bit silly, I have found it quite amusing. I'm sure people think they are taking some superior ground when using it, does it really matter?
GnuBee said:
Would it not be more befitting a forum area that positions itself as the bastion of rational thinking to adopt a more efficient form of rebuttal other than simply screaming "heretic"?
Oh you don't have to scream, he'll come at the drop of a hat.deeen said:
Fine, so start a thread discussing travel near the speed of light? Why bring UFOs into it?
Again, you might as well use Father Christmas as a relevant example in a thread about logistics.
Because UFOs exist, and discussions on what they are are pertinent. One part of this UFO speculation led to and expanded discourse on spaceflight, not the other way around.Again, you might as well use Father Christmas as a relevant example in a thread about logistics.
That parrot is ace.
The name speaks for itself, Unidentified Flying Objects. I am not stating that alien spacecraft exist. That would be factually incorrect as far as I know. 
If the UFOs are man-made or phenomena, they usually get identified.
rxtx said:
Halb said:
Because UFOs exist
UFOs as in man-made or natural objects/phenomena not being identified. Not UFOs as in alien spacecraft.If the UFOs are man-made or phenomena, they usually get identified.
Marf said:
Surely something being unknown precludes you from making that definitive statement?
Me? As above.
Marf said:
Halb said:
Me? As above.
No. rxtx.Whenever I see 'woo' I think of this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKoDG4Q5Hzk#t=0m35s
Edited by Halb on Wednesday 1st February 16:50
Halb said:
The name speaks for itself, Unidentified Flying Objects. I am not stating that alien spacecraft exist. That would be factually incorrect as far as I know.
Not only factually incorrect, but actually incorrect.Halb said:
If the UFOs are man-made or phenomena, they usually get identified.
Not always, but the ones that aren't are anything to do with aliens at all, they just remain unidentified.rxtx said:
Halb said:
The name speaks for itself, Unidentified Flying Objects. I am not stating that alien spacecraft exist. That would be factually incorrect as far as I know.
Not only factually incorrect, but actually incorrect.Halb said:
If the UFOs are man-made or phenomena, they usually get identified.
Not always, but the ones that aren't are anything to do with aliens at all, they just remain unidentified.The ones that cannot be identified might be to do with anything. It's nice that you think you can disclude aliens but others don't.
rxtx said:
God did it? Of course, I can't categorically claim that is the case, but it's highly likely.
In your opinion.rhinochopig said:
Because such ideas provide interesting frameworks in which to discuss potentially dull topics. Talk about UFOs and the discussion moves from the socio-political implications of the impact of little green men turning up, the engineering challenges of building a craft capable of ~ c or beyond, the physic of close to c or beyond travel, etc.
Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Because it was all tongue in cheek from the start. They didn't start the discussion because someone in the audience was actually postulating that Santa's Sleigh was a real artefact. That's where the "woo woo" element would have kicked in - and Brian Cox would have been the first to have a go (as he did a few times on Astronomy Live a couple of weeks ago).Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Halb said:
Factually and actually incorrect, didn't know they were so different! Nice to know you know everything in the universe
It was just a little play on the fact they rhyme.Halb said:
The ones that cannot be identified might be to do with anything. It's nice that you think you can disclude aliens but others don't.
I know, there's something I can't tell what it is. Hmm, well, might as well consider the fact it's an alien spaceship then.Nice to know you know everything in the universe, but for my part, you might as well believe in a god.
Eric Mc said:
rhinochopig said:
Because such ideas provide interesting frameworks in which to discuss potentially dull topics. Talk about UFOs and the discussion moves from the socio-political implications of the impact of little green men turning up, the engineering challenges of building a craft capable of ~ c or beyond, the physic of close to c or beyond travel, etc.
Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Because it was all tongue in cheek from the start. They didn't start the discussion because someone in the audience was actually postulating that Santa's Sleigh was a real artefact. That's where the "woo woo" element would have kicked in - and Brian Cox would have been the first to have a go (as he did a few times on Astronomy Live a couple of weeks ago).Doing as you suggest risks it becoming a tediously dull thread.
Listen to the IMC podcast regarding Santa. Plenty of real science in that, and funny and engaging to boot.
Pseudo-science can lead to some interesting discussions if looked at from a scientific perspective.
Essentially it's not what is being said, it's not who is doing the saying, it's how it's being said that "science" nerds object too.
They are elitist, with a capital E. Folks on internet web forums are only interested in reinforcing their own rational thought processes, no matter what they be...
Except me, obviously, I'm an open book.
They are elitist, with a capital E. Folks on internet web forums are only interested in reinforcing their own rational thought processes, no matter what they be...
Except me, obviously, I'm an open book.
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