General Discussion

EOTE

(13,409 posts)

198. That's why it's usually rather foolish to attempt to prove a negative.

Tue Nov 5, 2013, 10:47 PM

Nov 2013

You made the claim that no alien life has made contact with earth, a statement like that should have at least a bit of evidence behind it to explain numerous UFO sightings which currently remain unexplained. Considering the high likelihood of intelligent life in our galaxy, perhaps there's a good reason we don't have direct proof of the existence of intelligent life beyond earth (Star Trek's Prime Directive comes to mind).

You are falling victim to fallacy of presumption, we all know the history of Santa as a cultural creation. On the other hand, we have every reason to believe that we're not alone in our galaxy. So it's not unreasonable to think we might have been visited at some point. To state definitively that it has never happened, I think a modicum of evidence should be provided.

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Almost Two-Thirds of 18-29 Year Olds Believe in "Demon Possession" What Is Happening to America? [View all] xchrom Nov 2013 OP

We are doomed. nt bemildred Nov 2013 #1

So then you don't believe in God either? Last Stand Nov 2013 #130

What do you think? nt bemildred Nov 2013 #133

I'm guessing not. Last Stand Nov 2013 #167

I'm not much about believing or not believing things. bemildred Nov 2013 #169

Do you believe in Santa Claus? alphafemale Nov 2013 #175

Simply said--- trumad Nov 2013 #2

Never made me believe in demons. hobbit709 Nov 2013 #6

That junk we used to smoke was stinkweed compared to what's out there today. Sheldon Cooper Nov 2013 #11

I smoked pretty good stuff back then too. hobbit709 Nov 2013 #12

Heh. I saw ALL kinds of weird shit on acid. Sheldon Cooper Nov 2013 #13

Let's just say I did way more than my share. hobbit709 Nov 2013 #14

Maybe, they have an inkling about the NSA's relationship to their digital devices? HereSince1628 Nov 2013 #3

Because proof exists n2doc Nov 2013 #4

Well said, we've watched them in action many times - some call them reptiles, others RKP5637 Nov 2013 #28

How could I forget about Bachmann n2doc Nov 2013 #33

Yes. She is clearly possessed and/or is one of the "reptilians" who control us... anneboleyn Nov 2013 #47

Looks like she is getting... awoke_in_2003 Nov 2013 #173

demons, ghosts Niceguy1 Nov 2013 #5

BELIEF in demons and ghosts exists in all cultures. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #49

Overdose on Buffy the Vampire Slayer seveneyes Nov 2013 #7

I vote for too much Buffy and the like. cali Nov 2013 #8

Buffy was on from 1997-2004. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #79

Late bloomers seveneyes Nov 2013 #89

Hey, they still run it on the LOGO channel. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #123

Because "roll your eyes and say 'Seriously?'" was not an option in the poll? JHB Nov 2013 #9

Shhhhh... people are supposed to believe every poll that is published. whistler162 Nov 2013 #184

Theres a million popular ghost shows on tv. bunnies Nov 2013 #10

A million? Kaleva Nov 2013 #43

lol. bunnies Nov 2013 #56

Yep, what I was thinking too ... n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #44

gods and devils are mans worst invention. bowens43 Nov 2013 #15

Yep, superstitious behavior, and the charlatans make millions off of the gullibility and RKP5637 Nov 2013 #32

Yes. Agreed on all points. FiveGoodMen Nov 2013 #102

But to be fair, 40% of those surveyed were possessed by a demon at the time DefenseLawyer Nov 2013 #16

Haha! RiffRandell Nov 2013 #124

I'll get a ton of shit for this but I'm 43 and on the fence about them. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #17

I like that show, and others like it KatyMan Nov 2013 #29

Thanks, and I agree with a lot of what you said RiffRandell Nov 2013 #35

It can be a freaky show... KatyMan Nov 2013 #38

Maybe a demon was possessing me, then. FiveGoodMen Nov 2013 #104

Nah, maybe just bad parenting. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #111

we have shamans Niceguy1 Nov 2013 #31

If one delves into particle physics, where I spent a bit of my life, the universe RKP5637 Nov 2013 #40

Agree. nt RiffRandell Nov 2013 #63

Explain "weird shit" with links. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #127

Here are some interesting things ... RKP5637 Nov 2013 #131

Bell's theorem: bemildred Nov 2013 #136

Thanks, bemildred! RKP5637 Nov 2013 #138

My pleasure. bemildred Nov 2013 #139

In Shinto there were several demons listed... yuiyoshida Nov 2013 #163

Don't forget the demons who hang around Shinto shrines Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #186

A cute blue critter.... yuiyoshida Nov 2013 #187

His name's "Oni-ko" Art_from_Ark Nov 2013 #188

Well, life can be scary, tabasco Nov 2013 #185

some of the nicest people Niceguy1 Nov 2013 #189

No shit from me. EOTE Nov 2013 #46

That's what I was thinking too in my post #40. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #52

Quantum mechanics is insanely interesting stuff. EOTE Nov 2013 #73

Wow! RiffRandell Nov 2013 #120

Please point me to ONE psudo-science that has been proved. Just one. With a peer reviewed paper. nt Logical Nov 2013 #126

How about hypnotism? EOTE Nov 2013 #143

I understand not all science can be explained...... Logical Nov 2013 #145

Surely there is loads of scientific ignorance in this country. EOTE Nov 2013 #190

Not one single alien or UFO sighting have been real aliens.... Logical Nov 2013 #192

How on earth would you know? EOTE Nov 2013 #193

No proof. What is your proof? List your best case. Journal reviewed. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #195

You don't need any proof to day something might exist. EOTE Nov 2013 #196

Dumb logic. Prove Santa Clause is not real. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #197

That's why it's usually rather foolish to attempt to prove a negative. EOTE Nov 2013 #198

The burden of proof are the ones saying aliens have visited earth. That simple. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #199

Of course. But I'm not saying that and I think you know that. EOTE Nov 2013 #200

I love that show. white_wolf Nov 2013 #72

It was! RiffRandell Nov 2013 #86

About what day/time do they generally come on. I watch Logo off and on, but never have RKP5637 Nov 2013 #142

It's on the Destination channel but you can pull them up RiffRandell Nov 2013 #147

Thanks!!! RKP5637 Nov 2013 #150

You do know that those shows are edited to make things seem real, right? Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #81

No fucking shit. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #87

Your post made it seem you believed in supernatural creatures because of those shows. Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #93

It's one show that has me questioning it. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #96

OK, I really hope you are joking. If not you really need to seek help. Ouija Boards? WTF...... Logical Nov 2013 #125

Ouija Boards - LOL - I've got a couple of them here from way past, they just sit there, RKP5637 Nov 2013 #141

LOL, Takes all types I guess. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #151

Nope, not joking. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #146

You deserve a load of shit. Unbelievable really. Sad for you. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #152

C,mon, I think it's funny in as all my years on DU you're the angriest RiffRandell Nov 2013 #156

I dont think you know how totally ridiculous it made you look. n-t Logical Nov 2013 #157

No I do, I just don't really care. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #158

I don't believe in Oija boards either... awoke_in_2003 Nov 2013 #174

If there is no spirit world then there are no demons.... think Nov 2013 #18

Exactly. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #19

and vice versa perhaps..../nt think Nov 2013 #20

"heaven" and "god" are not necessary for belief in spirits / ghosts. bunnies Nov 2013 #62

You're right. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #65

Yeah. I think its the word. "Demon". bunnies Nov 2013 #69

Well, I appreciate your input and for years RiffRandell Nov 2013 #71

There is a cabinet in my house devoted exclusively to the spirit world. MindPilot Nov 2013 #25

What? No demon rum? I stand corrected... think Nov 2013 #27

Funny! nt RiffRandell Nov 2013 #42

... RKP5637 Nov 2013 #50

They believe in demon possession? Wow, I guess young Americans _are_ following politics. n/t winter is coming Nov 2013 #21

television. spanone Nov 2013 #22

Gresham's Mental Law - Bad Thinking Drives Out Good . . . . hatrack Nov 2013 #23

Well so do I. sibelian Nov 2013 #24

I was all excited when my college roommate told me she didn't believe in a god. Walk away Nov 2013 #26

Well Panspermia is back in fashion nadinbrzezinski Nov 2013 #82

She was more like "Alf" and "ET" than Cosmic Ancestry. nt Walk away Nov 2013 #112

I know, but it was funny nadinbrzezinski Nov 2013 #113

I believe it. These "Demons" and "Devils" come inside me at night..when I'm watching a good TV show. BlueJazz Nov 2013 #30

Heck, my son believes in the Illuminati because he's young and impressionable. ScreamingMeemie Nov 2013 #34

I believe in possessions by the ego. Close enough to demons. haele Nov 2013 #36

Maybe it's all these zombie films and TV shows. marmar Nov 2013 #37

+++ 1,000 +++ n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #59

Every other TV show is demons, zombies, ghosts, supernatural, etc bhikkhu Nov 2013 #39

As America continues the path to full Idiocracy! n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #57

Although, an Idiocracy of choice, as intelligence is not generally a heritable characteristic bhikkhu Nov 2013 #68

I don't blame the shows, they are just entertainment, I would say many people... Humanist_Activist Nov 2013 #170

Another of the 1,000 nics... CanSocDem Nov 2013 #41

Something that has always confused me about the Beearewhyain Nov 2013 #45

Pop culture? PasadenaTrudy Nov 2013 #48

What else does a police state teach? Trillo Nov 2013 #51

Interesting observation!!! RKP5637 Nov 2013 #60

oh, like Stalin? MisterP Nov 2013 #107

Before you dismiss something off hand remember that as much as we like to think we do Drale Nov 2013 #53

great quote! flamingdem Nov 2013 #64

They have a right to believe it...... Logical Nov 2013 #128

Not knowing is simply that, not knowing. Silent3 Nov 2013 #171

Remember the Salem witch trials? Avalux Nov 2013 #54

Well said! Group think combined with Idiocracy can produce horrific events. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #61

The stupid is here and now lunasun Nov 2013 #91

Yep, as Flip Wilson said. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #108

Damn, I should have used that excuse whn I got into trouble as a teen with RiffRandell Nov 2013 #121

Did they make you go to Confession? Brigid Nov 2013 #153

No. RiffRandell Nov 2013 #155

Well, look at the movies that are hugely popular right now. leftyladyfrommo Nov 2013 #55

How is that becoming less religious? Demons and devils are part Rex Nov 2013 #58

+1 leftstreet Nov 2013 #88

Proof that there are prophets, I suppose. LiberalAndProud Nov 2013 #66

Demons no flamingdem Nov 2013 #67

Demon Possession: As good an explanation for Tea Party People as any other. IdaBriggs Nov 2013 #70

I think a question planted in the middle of a Halloween poll about zombies and movies muriel_volestrangler Nov 2013 #74

Aha! nt ZombieHorde Nov 2013 #183

Im not religious, but I do believe in ghosts and the paranormal davidn3600 Nov 2013 #75

... like thinking back to the discovery of electricity and other events ... there is a lot RKP5637 Nov 2013 #144

Good mzmolly Nov 2013 #76

It's America's reading comprehension that's slipping... bluedeathray Nov 2013 #77

What the hell is wrong with those people? Vashta Nerada Nov 2013 #78

I hate to say this mainstreetonce Nov 2013 #80

no stranger than the notion of gods imo RedCappedBandit Nov 2013 #83

Stevie said it best..... msanthrope Nov 2013 #84

Wishful thinking Mz Pip Nov 2013 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author davidn3600 Nov 2013 #92

Where is this poll? A search of the Public Policy Polling site finds nothing. Coyotl Nov 2013 #90

Well, isn't that just... pinboy3niner Nov 2013 #95

Miracles and the Supernatural xchrom Nov 2013 #100

Can't fight evolution. nt rrneck Nov 2013 #94

Evolution doesn't disprove the possible existance of a higher power davidn3600 Nov 2013 #98

People evolved to believe in something. rrneck Nov 2013 #99

they took a mere glance at modern politics? NuttyFluffers Nov 2013 #97

that was my first thought Chrom Nov 2013 #106

They've been watching too many teeny-tweeny vampire movies, and they're immature little farts. MADem Nov 2013 #101

On a similar note, what's with all the zombies? I don't get the appeal. polichick Nov 2013 #103

Thanks for asking this, I've been wondering too, like WTF. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2013 #148

There's got to be some sort of internal conflict within those who say they believe these things... Silent3 Nov 2013 #105

The neighbors dog is one One_Life_To_Give Nov 2013 #109

What's wrong with DePaul basketball getting the ball every now and again? KamaAina Nov 2013 #110

it's cool -- as long as it's the blue devils who win... xchrom Nov 2013 #116

Ssssssssssss! KamaAina Nov 2013 #117

as long as they don't try and make legislation about ghosts I don't care what they believe. liberal_at_heart Nov 2013 #114

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #115

Leaving aside polling issues, at least that's a novel "OMG kids these days suck!" angle for once. nt Posteritatis Nov 2013 #118

It's true. They're called Republicans. donheld Nov 2013 #119

Is it from religion, or one too many Zombie/Vampire movies though? stevenleser Nov 2013 #122

And yet, itself evidence of its possible existence jberryhill Nov 2013 #129

The sustained dumbing down of America by the 1% is taking its toll on the minds of young people. Zorra Nov 2013 #132

The survey just shows that many harmful images still linger in those who leave childhood religion. ancianita Nov 2013 #134

Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches: The Riddles of Culture -- by Marvin Harris nashville_brook Nov 2013 #135

+1. "Our Kind" is good too. bemildred Nov 2013 #137

yeah it's called republicanism gopiscrap Nov 2013 #140

if there is no demon possession - how do you explain people having dirty, horrible thoughts that Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #149

For proof, look no further than Ted Cruz. Blue_In_AK Nov 2013 #154

In 50 years we will be right up there with Iran in the religious insanity department. kestrel91316 Nov 2013 #159

On behalf of all 18-29 year olds minivan2 Nov 2013 #160

welcome to DU gopiscrap Nov 2013 #162

that's ok... handmade34 Nov 2013 #165

We're sorry Taitertots Nov 2013 #168

Ouch, but entertaining. I have one of those. libdem4life Nov 2013 #172

If they stopped whining long enough to get out in the street and change things, Zorra Nov 2013 #176

LOL, They never blame other people, except when they are blaming other people. Taitertots Nov 2013 #178

I was right there in the street with them. I have nothing but complete respect for those kids. Zorra Nov 2013 #181

I think it is presumptuous to assume that you know anything about the people in the video Taitertots Nov 2013 #191

Fucking morons. Iggo Nov 2013 #161

I remember a girl they Brought to JPII who they say had a demon. He could not get the demon out. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #164

The demon haunted world Sagan warned about. miyazaki Nov 2013 #166

I want to tell them to go sit on a pew seattle15 Nov 2013 #177

They don't call me Warren DEMON-tague for nothin'. Warren DeMontague Nov 2013 #179

Maybe too much shitty heavy metal? Too many fantasy horror shows? Manifestor_of_Light Nov 2013 #180

How many of these 18-29 year olds heard such a ridiculous question and couldn't help but ironically tritsofme Nov 2013 #182

I find it interesting that there's such a long discussion over a survey more than a year old... brooklynite Nov 2013 #194

Demons, angels, gods, fairies, leprechauns, pixies, immortal Jesus, immortal Mohammed ... Arugula Latte Nov 2013 #201

It's easier to change your conscious logic defacto7 Nov 2013 #202

what is happening to america? zombies? eom ellenfl Nov 2013 #203