Why do people think there would be mass panic over UFO's?

[Coito ergo sum]

According to this article, Churchill iterated the usual refrain that if the truth about UFO's were known, that the people would panic. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ident.html

Ever since I was a child, I have wondered one thing about this piece of conventional wisdom: why?

Why is it thought that people would "panic" over the idea of UFO's being real? Many people have, for 60-70 years now, thought they were very very real, AND that the government was affirmatively covering it up. Yet, those folks weren't panicking. The belief that UFO's were real didn't send the believers running into the streets, palpitating and flying into a frenzy.

I know, for myself, if someone said, "here's the proof of alien spaceship visitations: hands down, no debate, there are, in fact, aliens out there of greater technology than us." I would say, "Hmmm....that's interesting." And, I would endeavor to learn as much about them as possible. Obviously, if they wanted to attack us, they have had decades to take us by surprise. Why would learning about them now make me afraid or panic?

Where does the idea that people would panic about this come from? Doesn't it sound like a load of elitist hooey? I mean - "we" the smart folks won't panic, but "the people" - they're like startled cattle - it'll cause a stampede!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

UFOs!!1! Where? Aaaargh!1!!

[FBM]

The masses would panic because...


leaders/books/movies have been telling us for decades that we would.

[PsychoSerenity]

Obviously, if they wanted to attack us, they have had decades to take us by surprise.

During those decades a huge fleet of warships has been heading our way, at close to the speed of light, from a nearby, recently conquered, star system. We don't have long left!

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Winston Churchill 'Ordered Cover-Up' Of UFO Info To Avoid Mass Panic, Says National Archives | UK News | Sky News

(Note that we don't have any idea if WSC ever actually heard of this even.)

[maiforpeace]

According to this article, Churchill iterated the usual refrain that if the truth about UFO's were known, that the people would panic. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ident.html

Ever since I was a child, I have wondered one thing about this piece of conventional wisdom: why?

He listened to War of the Worlds, and panicked himself?

[sandinista]

I think it's because people theorize that if a UFO was confirmed it would destroy peoples religious beliefs. I can only hope, although, for sure, the religious folks would just write UFO's into their books in one way or another. I know no one would panic in canaduh. Anything can happen here and people go "aahhh shit, I'm pissed, or panicked, or whatever" for about a week, then its back to "normal".

[Trolldor]

No.

[RuleBritannia]

Where does the idea that people would panic about this come from? Doesn't it sound like a load of elitist hooey? I mean - "we" the smart folks won't panic, but "the people" - they're like startled cattle - it'll cause a stampede!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of ... c_reaction

[Coito ergo sum]

I think it's because people theorize that if a UFO was confirmed it would destroy peoples religious beliefs. I can only hope, although, for sure, the religious folks would just write UFO's into their books in one way or another. I know no one would panic in canaduh. Anything can happen here and people go "aahhh shit, I'm pissed, or panicked, or whatever" for about a week, then its back to "normal".

I like Canada. You have a higher percentage of hot chicks than in the US, and those hot chicks are sexually attracted to Americans. In my younger and single days that was win-win for me.

[Thinking Aloud]

Mass panic would only occur if the UFOs turned out to be alien attackers that were actively blowing stuff up or generally rounding up "samples" from the population and whisking them away.

A benign UFO that turned out to be a benign alien visitor with no intention of sucking out people's brains would cause about as much excitement amongst the general population as the recent creation of artificial life did.

[RuleBritannia]

By definition you can't know what a UFO is, so there's no reason to panic...

Or maybe there's every reason to panic.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

According to this article, Churchill iterated the usual refrain that if the truth about UFO's were known, that the people would panic. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... ident.html

Ever since I was a child, I have wondered one thing about this piece of conventional wisdom: why?

He listened to War of the Worlds, and panicked himself?

There's no reason to believe he ever even heard about that UFO.

[Mallardz]

My response would be the day they do more than buzz around I'm going Rambo but i do agree there's nothing to panic about if they haven't done anything and if they say aliens once came to earth no ones going to be able to do fuck all about it so they hardly would lose out.

[Pappa]

People panic about flu. If that's enough to throw people into mass hysteria then I'm sure some UFOs being confirmed as aliens would make the world go even more nuts.