War.gov/UFO - Department of War Releases UAP Files - 2026 Release 1

[JMartJr]

Things", as far as I can see, are NOT developing, concerning UFOs. There is no more compelling evidence of their existence now than there was back when Jules Verne was writing science fiction.

On the other hand, one could argue that the belief system around UFOs is developing in a coupe of ways. The "respectabillity" may be increasing as members of Congress help promote it and Internet algorithms make people who Want To Believe see what appears to be a larger proportion of folks online believing, too. And the substance of the belief is evolving, or perhaps has done so, as "fantasy UFOlogy" competes with "sci-fi UFOlogy" and the things that are believed by believers alters accordingly...

 

[boringrealit]

On the other hand, one could argue that the belief system around UFOs is developing in a coupe of ways. The "respectabillity" may be increasing as members of Congress help promote it and Internet algorithms make people who Want To Believe see what appears to be a larger proportion of folks online believing, too. And the substance of the belief is evolving, or perhaps has done so, as "fantasy UFOlogy" competes with "sci-fi UFOlogy" and the things that are believed by believers alters accordingly...

This is what I meant. It is getting more popular and accepted.

I think it is evolving too. There is a more spiritual flavour these days. More mystic and less "nuts and bolts." Even cross-breeding with MAGA-Christianity into spacefaring demons in flying saucers. Plus they have to fit in the Skinwalkers and poltergeists.

 

[FatPhil]

On the other hand, one could argue that the belief system around UFOs is developing in a coupe of ways. The "respectabillity" may be increasing as members of Congress help promote it and Internet algorithms make people who Want To Believe see what appears to be a larger proportion of folks online believing, too. And the substance of the belief is evolving, or perhaps has done so, as "fantasy UFOlogy" competes with "sci-fi UFOlogy" and the things that are believed by believers alters accordingly...

But maybe receiving respect from people who do not have the intellectual faculties to evaluate what is deserving of respect doesn't actually bring actual "respectability"?

 

[JMartJr]

But maybe receiving respect from people who do not have the intellectual faculties to evaluate what is deserving of respect doesn't actually bring actual "respectability"?

Sadly, we may be becoming the outliers here with the fringe beliefs -- still right, but on the fringe of current thinking.

(I don't think it's really THAT bad yet. I could see it getting that bad, the way things are going.)

 

[MapperGuy]

This is what I meant. It is getting more popular and accepted.

I think it is evolving too. There is a more spiritual flavour these days. More mystic and less "nuts and bolts." Even cross-breeding with MAGA-Christianity into spacefaring demons in flying saucers. Plus they have to fit in the Skinwalkers and poltergeists.

The fundamental problem is that the WhistleBlowers promised us ALIENS, dead ones for sure and maybe LIVE ALIENS!
And they promised us Crashed UFO's, lots of them, huge ones hidden under buildings!

Where are they?

We have lots of fuzzy dots in the sky, but the BIG REVELATION still has not arrived. Eventually people are going to get tired of waiting.

 

[Ann K]

Sadly, we may be becoming the outliers here with the fringe beliefs -- still right, but on the fringe of current thinking.

(I don't think it's really THAT bad yet. I could see it getting that bad, the way things are going.)

No, I don't think so. There are a good many people that I personally know who may not have the scientific know-how to debunk the tales, but think they're too silly to take seriously. The fact that the UFO crowd are vocal doesn't mean they outnumber the non-believers. It simply isn't considered a respectable belief for thinking individuals.

Come to think of it, I can only think of one person I know who falls in the class of true believers, and it's not always easy to tell when she is being serious...

 

[Andreas]

No, I don't think so. There are a good many people that I personally know who may not have the scientific know-how to debunk the tales, but think they're too silly to take seriously. The fact that the UFO crowd are vocal doesn't mean they outnumber the non-believers. It simply isn't considered a respectable belief for thinking individuals.

Come to think of it, I can only think of one person I know who falls in the class of true believers, and it's not always easy to tell when she is being serious...

I think you're absolutely right. There's always been a relatively small group of people screaming about aliens, but most people simply don't care. And even most of the "believers" don't seem to care that much. Many people find the UAP circus kind of fun to read about, like watching a sci-fi movie, and it's perfect clickbait for the media.
But I wouldn't say that's the same thing as a majority of people being in the UFO crowd's camp.