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Extra-Terrestrials No Threat
Seth Shostack says that he has no problem if you believe in UFO’s and extraterrestrials. In his view, even if they are real we may not be in much danger:
“…I'm not here to argue with you. I'd like to make a different point -- one that somehow seems to have escaped notice in the seemingly endless debate about UFOs. Namely, if the aliens are here, you have to admit something remarkable: They're about as harmless as kittens on Xanax.
Consider: The premise is that Earth is being visited. But are these invaders a mortal threat? You can read occasional claims that aliens are mutilating our cattle (a decidedly unwelcome pastime, if true), but homicide seems to be off limits for ET. They don't kill people. Your chances of being snuffed by a moose are higher.”
Originally posted by thatonedude
I think most pilot reports are true and they have seen something unexplainable.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
Pilots would therefore have more templates at their disposal than untrained observers. They would be more able to identify more meteorological phenomena, aerial behaviour and craft than most other observers. Likewise, it's a military and civilian requirement of pilot training that they can identify sensory misperceptions and hallucinations. These are chapters in the pilot handbook.
Originally posted by Kandinsky
None of which makes them infallible as trained observers, but means their reports shouldn't be dismissed as easily as some like to believe. It makes them credible witnesses.
Originally posted by thatonedude
Pilots that report these things usually get ridiculed by their fellow pilots.Why would they lie just to endure the humiliation of being called insane?I think most pilot reports are true and they have seen something unexplainable to them.
Originally posted by defcon5
So in answer to the question, yes pilots would generally be better at identification of other aircraft; however, at the same time pilots are also prone to optical illusions and misidentifications. The most classic cases of this, in regards to the OP, is when fighter pilots have been known to chase after bright stars thinking they were either another aircraft or UFO.
But that in no way means they can identify every such phenomenon or aircraft in every circumstance, nor should it be assumed they can. Nor should it be assumed that in every life situation outside of an aircraft that a pilot's observations are 100% accurate, as is sometimes attempted to be argued (a recent hoax in NJ comes to mind).
I don no think anyone is dismissing pilot reports. The problem is a straw-man and red-herring argument used by UFO believers; pilots are treated as infallible, therefore their reports are 100% accurate, and in a failing of logic, therefore UFOs are alien craft. Then, anyone who questions the pilot's report is attacking for doubting the pilot's infallibility. Supposed pilot infallibility is often used as a way to insulate a report from any criticism.