Magnificent program tonight on NatGeo about crop circles

[Orrex]

I only managed to catch about half of it, but in that time they debunked some of the major claims that "prove" a supernatural origin for these vast artworks. Among them, the claim that soil chemistry is altered or that radioactivity is present to some significant extent. I don't know if they talked about the claim that the flattened plants are changed chemically or if they discussed the possible truth or significance of the claim that the plants in a "real" crop circle are bent but not broken. If the show airs again, I'll try to catch it.

In addition, they discussed a hoax film from (IIRC) 1996 in which the hoaxer allegedly filmed balls of light making a crop circle.

They demonstrated how the footage was easy to fake even with tech resources readily available in 1996, and they also played the hoaxer's filmed confession!

Best of all, they filmed how a small crew of four or five people could lay down an amazingly complex circle in just a few hours--which destroys the claim that some circles simply couldn't be produced by human board-and-rope artists!

[realisticphish]

1. wow

I saw that, but didn't watch it, since I assumed it would be more credulous garbage. Too bad.

[Orrex]

5. Yeah, I was afraid that it would be a Discovery Channel treatment of the subject.

The format in which 95% of the program is devoted to interviews with believers and dramatic reenactments, and the other 5% is reserved for the skeptic with a lazy eye, mousy voice, and bad fashion sense.

You know, the standard routine.

[trotsky]

2. I saw that one too.

I was quite pleased with how they presented it. Especially since they just let the loonies be loonies on camera. They debunked themselves, basically!

But naturally, every time they confronted a loony with evidence, they would simply say "well maybe it shows THAT crop circle was faked, but I know these others are real!"

Oy.

[Orrex]

3. It's the classic fallacy of the receding target

If a day should come when every single crop circle is proven to be made by humans, the rallying cry will then be "it gives people a sense of peace and wonder, so the purpose is served."

Alas, the show gave several hints along these lines.

You're also right, of course; "This incredibly intricate crop circle was made by people, but that incredibly intricate crop circle is clearly too incredibly intricate to have been made by people."

"What's that? You have film of people creating it with boards and ropes?"

"Well, then. That other circle over there is clearly too incredibly intricate..."

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. bent vs. broken stalks.

You know, it seems a lot of people who live in the city don't tend to appreciate this- but fresh living green stalks bend, dead yellow brittle stalks break. It's not rocket science.