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In reply to the discussion: UFOs are in today's news again. Step up DUers. If you have had a sighting, lets us all know. [View all]OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)Last edited Mon Apr 24, 2023, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)
First, forgive me for jumping in here with musings about my observations here on DU. It's not meant as an attack. I don't interact anywhere else these days and do so here rarely. No one pays attention anyway, so I'm just talking into the void at this point so I'm not sure why I'm even apologizing in advance.
I find I'm drawn to threads like this, not because of the subject matter but because of the interactions they elicit which I find curious.
Anarch's post, to which you're replying, makes a great point, imo. There is a pattern. Whenever this topic is mentioned, people jump in with "pictures? videos? or it didn't happen" type of replies. Please note that the OP isn't asking if people believe or not, they're inviting others to share if they have had such experiences, even offering that caveat that they realize ridicule may ensue.
It's when someone here creates OPs of this sort, not inviting discussion from nonbelievers but rather wondering if anyone else here has shared their unexplained experiences, that I find it interesting when, rather quickly, others chime in to indeed ridicule or at the very least reply in a condescending fashion. Why not refrain from replying? I recall seeing "dueling OPs" where someone creates an OP like this one (not being combative or condescending, imo) and someone else then creates an OP stating why they don't believe, which is totally fair, but there is certainly an air of condescension and ridiculue that inevitably permeates the thread.
Now, I pondered your point, about the GOP's rhetoric and how anarch's post may be similar.
I envisioned a right-winger posting about the evils of CRT and how they know of someone who personally experienced their child being brainwashed into believing all white children are evil -- or some similar drivel -- and how a liberal might reply and their retorts would be met with the typical rhetorical gambit, as you said.
Yet the difference as I see it is that the right-winger has an obvious agenda.
DUers discussing their experiences with sightings they can't explain don't have an agenda that I can see.
I've never had such an experience but am open-minded about the possibility because I do think it's the height of humanity's arrogance to believe with such fervor that there is no intelligent life beyond Earth. I, too, believe in science and the scientific method but also believe we're limited based on our current ability to comprehend...anything. Our understanding of everything evolves and our ABILITY to understand evolves.
OPs and comments stating sincere fear that fascism is but one election away are often met with similar condescension, though with good points made about this same fear being voiced since DU's inception under Bush.
Here's an example of this, though the difference is that in this case, the OP did pose a question that was an invitation to everyone to respond based on their beliefs/feelings:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17850096