Drones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angrychair]

They are drones. Lots of people own drones. You can literally walk into Walmart or go onto Amazon and buy all you want.
What is this weird obsession with drones suddenly?!? They are in the sky all the time. I see at least a couple a week. What am I missing?

[dgauss]

1. The escalation of concern and attention is mostly coming from the right.

Maybe they are a little concerned about scrutiny being paid to Trump nominees and the Trump agenda in general and would like to turn attention elsewhere? They are good at that. Drones are literally shiny objects.

[GoCubsGo]

41. Yup, it's starting to feel like a "Look! Squirrel!!" situation.

[dgauss]

46. Yeah, that's a phrase I've run into, maybe we've sat in on similar meetings.

Funny how much more meaningful it seems now.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. I think drones flying at night, rigged out with Hi-lumen LEDs is what is freaking people out.

Eventually, , private use of drones will probably get regulated. Probably limitations on altitude and radial distance. Professional apps (commerce, surveying) will probably be licensed with less restrictions.

[angrychair]

6. It already is

As someone aware of my own state government agency's use of drones, I can tell you the FAA rules and state laws to consider are numerous and arduous.
That isn't the hard part. The hard part is determining who owns a rogue drone.
At the end of the day this drone scare stuff is weird and unwarranted.

[Meowmee]

3. Agree

My brother said it is mass hysteria of some type. I think someone was trying to shoot them down. I don’t know if that was just a joke.


It’s very easy to think you see something and the depth the field at night can be off… my night vision is bad and I have trouble with depth of field. I remember once driving on a highway and I thought a helicopter was going to crash either that or I thought it was a plane. I can’t remember now. So I slowed my car down just in case, but by the time I got closer to it and it was much farther away than I thought originally I could see that it was the opposite of what I thought and it was not going to the hospital, or crashing etc..

[Deuxcents]

5. I'm surprised no one has with all the gun happy people out there

[Meowmee]

7. Yeah

I think they’re too high up in the sky to shoot down with the guns they’re using probably I don’t know. I’m not familiar with all of that stuff.

[Sneederbunk]

11. Truth be told,

many gun owners could not hit the broad side of a barn.

[Diamond_Dog]

18. Trump himself has suggested people should shoot them down.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/13/trump-aircraft-new-jersey-drone-00194355

[Dave Bowman]

54. Yeah, he says a lot of crazy things.

[AntiFascist]

57. Plus, it's illegal and the Feds could then go after the shooter...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016391975

[Historic NY]

56. Not a bad idea the make drone killing shotgun shells

A goose gun could probably take on down.

[recovering_democrat]

4. Intentional fear to cause panic.

available in stores. Just like people who are fascinated by new and different thing and just have to try them.

I am reasonably sure younger people are just excited try new and different.

Lots of related efforts by political and problem groups and folks just want to keep the scare and fear getting more dangerous.I have 2 young granddaughters who want to try anything and everything that is new and different and can be curious about most everything.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. See this video. If you're not in NJ, you wouldn't understand.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1321&pid=37041

[angrychair]

12. That was a lot people talking

And commenting a lot of how many people are misidentifying things that are not drones. While I didn't listen to it all I heard nothing to substantiate it being anything nefarious. In fact at least one speaker said the government already old them it was planes but they didn't like that answer.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. You heard what you wanted to hear.

This is what I heard:

An officer saw fifty of them come from the ocean and retreat in the same area. An officer. Not just ordinary people.

Another officer sent up a drone of his own, which was circled by one of theirs before it sped off at a much faster speed, suggesting better technology.

The local sheriffs now have the authority to shoot one down.

If this is a local drone club, they're going to be in a peck of trouble

Also, I think drone sizes need to be regulated. Anything the size of a car can actually kill someone in a house if they lose control.

[angrychair]

20. If I see

An verified photo of video from a official government source of a car sized drone than I will believe it. Until then this is unhinged mass hysteria

[Baitball Blogger]

22. Weird.

Videos were taken by a Congress person and local sheriffs.

But, we shall see.

[angrychair]

27. Those were of flying lights

In a night sky and not an actual image of the actual drones.
Occam's Razor
Is it more likely that it's aliens or just a couple individuals with a couple drones screwing with people?
Is it more like that it's foreign hostiles or just a couple individuals with a couple drones screwing with people?

Given that we have never seen aliens or foreign invaders on US soil I'm going with the simplest possible answer until there is hard evidence otherwise.

[wnylib]

49. Um...Never any foreign invaders on US soil?

Were the 911 terrorists American citizens?

[angrychair]

50. Not an invading military force

From another country. Terrorist attacks of all kinds do happen. Technically though I am wrong but you have to go back to 1812 to prove me wrong. 😊

[Blues Heron]

9. these ones are the size of cars?

its not hobbyists obviously

[angrychair]

15. So like bigfoot

The images are always blurry or to dark to see clearly.
People also often misidentify planes or helicopters or even bright stars as drones when they are not.

[Blues Heron]

21. Maybe it's Uranus shining bright?

[angrychair]

28. It is pretty shiny

Blinding really.

[thomski64]

35. ..nah.

.that's only visable with a
...mirror...

[Polybius]

26. It's hard to take a picture of a drone in the night sky with a puny iPhone

Seems like there's a lack of DSLR owners.

[angrychair]

29. All these government people

Especially the police, don't have good quality cameras?
They gave money for some huge death machine to smash into the homes of unarmed people but not for a decent camera?

[Polybius]

31. I'm sure they do

Being in NYC, my Facebook feed is full of crappy camera pics. It aggravates me. Perhaps I should take out the telescope. It has an attachment for a DSLR camera.

[Iggo]

19. My favorite part of UFO stories...

…is people dead certain how big, how far, and how fast the thing is that they can’t identify.

Similar vibes from these drone stories.

[AntiFascist]

10. I listen to a podcaster who lives in a rural area of NJ where these were first spotted...

and her wife even pilots drones for real estate purposes. These were NOT that same kind of drone. In mid-November she reported that her neighbors began freaking out on their local neighborhood apps about drones the size of small cars that were hovering over the neighborhood at night. She said she would go out in the evening and spot several hovering overhead, and when she got up early in the morning when it was still dark, they were still there. She said it was very creepy and even back then, before all the media coverage, they were asking authorities to do something about it.

[angrychair]

14. People often misidentify what drones are

When they are planes or helicopters.
This is hysteria. Not aliens. Not foreign invaders. Just drones.

[AntiFascist]

17. I agree that they are just drones, but big ones with unique capabilities...

that have been flying in grid patterns over critical infrastructure, can stay up for hours at nighttime, and can "go dark" when they are approached. This has all been reported by authorities, and lawmakers, if you care to pay attention. Mayors and governors are calling for answers. It's not just hysteria.

One wonders what's driving your counter-narrative?

[angrychair]

25. Because I believe in Occam's razor

The simplest answer is usually the right one.

Is it more likely that it's aliens or just a couple individuals with a couple drones screwing with people?
Is it more like that it's foreign hostiles or just a couple individuals with a couple drones screwing with people?

Given that we have never seen aliens or foreign invaders on US soil I'm going with the simplest possible answer.

Show me a verified image or video of one of these giant drones that can fly for hours from a official government source then I will change my opinion.

[AntiFascist]

30. I've never once implied that it was aliens or foreign invaders, why do you keep suggesting that?

I also like applying Occam's Razor to the suggestions that these are alien UFOs.

Due to the number being spotted, it must be someone or some group that has the financial resources to fly them for weeks on end...likely NOT hobbyists.

"Official government sources" have been asking the Feds for answers and are raising alarms. See Governor Hochul and Governor Wes Moore.

[angrychair]

32. Because the feds have officially responded

But people don't like the response:

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security both said in a joint statement on Thursday that there is no evidence the drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat. They added that many reported sightings are “manned aircraft, operating lawfully.”

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/12/14/what-we-know-drone-sightings/76989485007/

[AntiFascist]

37. There seems to be a lot of dissonance between what the Feds are saying...

and what a lot of mayors and certain governors and Congresspeople are concerned about.

Also, if there is hysteria, it's likely related to what data these things are collecting when they hover overhead.

[angrychair]

43. They are reacting to their citizens

And want to appear to be doing something.
Unfortunately what they are doing is not helpful or productive or in the best interest of their citizens in this situation. They should be projecting an air of calm and skepticism of unverified reports. They should be supporting and parroting the position of the FBI and Homeland Security unless and until real evidence says otherwise.

[AntiFascist]

44. Meanwhile, who knows how much or what kind of data is being collected and archived...

to be sold later to the ruling, oppressive oligarchs.

I know that sounds a bit hysterical, but perhaps a bit of hysteria is warranted in these times.

[angrychair]

48. I appreciate that

And it's not my intention to be belligerent or demeaning about it. I just wish people cared half as much about what trump is saying and doing. Those are real issues and seeing people care more about this than that really makes me lose hope and I don't have much more to lose.

[angrychair]

45. Plus

The amount of news coverage this is getting is soul crushing for me. I wish Trump and his pack of sycophants' crazy bullshit could get even half the coverage this nonsense is getting right now.

[AntiFascist]

47. That could be part of the plan, to distract from other news n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

36. Please come to a council meeting in my town

In NJ.

I'm now up to 93 emails from citizens concerned about drones.

[angrychair]

38. It's Hysteria

I've watched a couple different news conferences at this point and even in them they note, repeatedly, that most of the reports are planes, helicopters or even just stars in the sky.
The feds have responded to the concerns and per the usual people rather believe fantasy then reality:

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security both said in a joint statement on Thursday that there is no evidence the drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat. They added that many reported sightings are “manned aircraft, operating lawfully.”

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/12/14/what-we-know-drone-sightings/76989485007/

[Sneederbunk]

13. What if we find out these are not drones,

but actually are worker bees?

[LudwigPastorius]

63. Now appearing at Cinerama 4, Colony Collapse Payback.

"This time, it's personal!"

[Xavier Breath]

23. ...

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. Droneado! (Coming soon to a theater near you)

"People were horrified when a rogue drone dropped a dead possum on *rump's head during his swearing-in ceremony. But the worst was yet to come..."

[Xavier Breath]

33. I'll just be happy Scott Baio and Jon Voight found work.

[H2O Man]

34. Recommended!

I have been more afraid of the talking heads on the television droning on and on and on about this. If the nation is to be placed in a terrible panic about a serious threat, I think that is extra scary.

[TrunKated]

39. I live in Brick, NJ, and I have not seen...

anything like a car-sized drone, although Facebook is wacky with blurry pictures of something.

And, my sister says the same thing. She's a little south of me.

[angrychair]

40. Why...

Why is everything from Bigfoot to these drone images always blurry?!?

I think people watch to much social media and Facebook and now find it easier to believe in conspiracies than reality.

[Jack Valentino]

42. Some of the allegations say that there are "SUV-sized" drones,

which you CAN'T buy at Walmart....
Not saying that the allegations are necessarily true--- I've only become aware of this story in the past day or two.


If there ARE any "SUV-sized" drones, I presume they are owned by Donald Trump,
and financed by Putin.... with a mission related somehow to his impending NAZI takeover of the country,
or to windmills causing cancer in snails and crawfish....




The rest are the Walmart variety, owned by maggots.

I am considering purchasing one of those Walmart drones,
and incessantly hovering it over the homes of some maggot neighbor
until they shoot it down, and afterwards face charges
for discharging a firearm within the city limits

Well, probably not, but they might be made to sweat over the matter
for a week or two--- and I would be free to pursue civil liability for destroying my personal property

[angrychair]

51. I heard that as well

But I have my doubts there as well.
One, that is pretty large and no known battery technology is going to allow something that large to stay in the air for several hours.
Moving fast is also been reported. The world record flying drone speed was 299 mph and that thing was tiny.
Large drones with propellers like that are not moving that fast.

Actually US military or any professional military drones, fly very high and likely are too high and move too fast to be spotted by the naked eye in most cases.

[AntiFascist]

53. The early report that I mentioned in a post above...

mentioned that they were particularly loud, sounding like a loud gas-powered lawn mower I think.

[angrychair]

58. So there are gas powered drones

The Walkera QL-1200 is kind of fast and great control and is gas powered but is only about 2' by 2' ish not counting its six props. Even then it's not bigger footprint of a standard round kitchen table.

[AntiFascist]

60. Which only goes to show that these may be higher tech than anything commercially available n/t

[Sympthsical]

52. My favorite is the advanced technology footage

Of a hovering object pulsating with plasma on camera for an extended period of time. Reddit was going wild over it.

I glanced and immediately recognized that someone was filming Jupiter out of focus, lol.

I have lost so much respect for people during this. It's entertaining as shit, make no mistake. But good lord, people are wilding now. Rational and reality-based is yesterday. We're conspiracy and hysteria all day now, baby.

"Why would the media run with this?" Because clicks and eyeballs.
"Why would someone make it up?" Social media clout and attention
"But what about the car-sized drone!" Humans are bad at judging size, distance, and direction, particularly at night.
"But there are lights!" Yes, many. All the time.

Who knows who's flying various drones around, but they're probably having the best of times watching the reaction.

Or maybe aliens really are chilling around New Jersey. Maybe they're still pissed about the Sopranos ending.

[J_William_Ryan]

55. "What is this weird obsession with drones suddenly?!?"

An America having gone insane.

The advent of an authoritarian regime – perhaps buyers’ remorse and regret, people lost in the wilderness of post-truth America.

[wnylib]

59. To me, terrorists from another country are foreign invaders.

For not being a military force, they sure did a lot of damage.

Just coincidentally, they did it by crashing flying vehicles.

No, I am not suggesting that the current drones are operated by foreign or domestic terrorists. But I can understand why some people feel concerned, especially in New York. .

Regarding the size of the drones, which has been mentioned in a few posts, I wonder if anyone with a high powered telescope has tried to get a good view of them. There must be some amateur astronomers who could do that.

[LudwigPastorius]

61. It's all just the planet Venus.

[AverageOldGuy]

62. Why only New Jersey?

[brettdale]

64. 100% this

Jusdt go to tiktok, and there are thousands of people flying there drones around the
world, not sure why the media is going nuts over this.

[Noel Kums]

65. Not just the media

Some of the nuttiness has bled into these forums as well.