Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HumanisTim · 08-05-2002, 05:51 AM

With the opening of the movie Signs this weekend. Alot of talk has popped up about crop circles. The explanation for the phenomenon I've heard. Is that they were done by people using boards. This article in a local paper at my work. Has someone in it saying that when some of the plants in some of the circles were tested. They were found to have gone through biological changes. Does anyone here know much about those claims. Of some crop circle plants under going some kind of biological change?.

Gooch's dad · 08-05-2002, 06:56 AM

Biological changes? That's about as vague as you could possibly get.

The plants were trampled on, of course they go through biological changes. Most of them will probably die because of the damage.

The Skeptic's Dictionary has a <a href="http://www.skepdic.com/cropcirc.html" target="_blank">nice page</a> on crop circles, with lots of links to other information.

Quote:

Most, if not all, of them are probably due to pranksters, such as Doug Bower and David Chorley who, in 1991, admitted to hoaxing approximately 250 circles over many years.

Mageth · 08-05-2002, 07:05 AM

One thing I've always wondered about crop circles is, if they're some kind of weird phenomenon and not pranks, why don't they ever seem to happen in wild places? Why aren't there field circles, prairie circles, marsh circles?

HumanisTim · 08-05-2002, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gooch's dad:
<strong>Biological changes? That's about as vague as you could possibly get.

The plants were trampled on, of course they go through biological changes. Most of them will probably die because of the damage.

The Skeptic's Dictionary has a <a href="http://www.skepdic.com/cropcirc.html" target="_blank">nice page</a> on crop circles, with lots of links to other information.

</strong>

The claim the paper had listed was biological changes more at a molecular level. Which the "scientist" in it claims could only be caused by microwaves. I don't know if there was ever deeper investigation. And for all we know the scientist is of the Ken Ham variety.

Autonemesis · 08-05-2002, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Sweitzer:
... claims could only be caused by ...

Red Alert! Red Alert!

theyeti · 08-05-2002, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Sweitzer:
<strong>
The claim the paper had listed was biological changes more at a molecular level. Which the "scientist" in it claims could only be caused by microwaves. I don't know if there was ever deeper investigation. And for all we know the scientist is of the Ken Ham variety.</strong>

There's really no such thing as a biological change that is not at the molecular level. What are living things made of if not molecules? Stomping on a plant will definately cause changes in DNA expression and protein content, as will any serious physiological challenge.

Do you have a link or something to this research?

theyeti

wdog · 08-05-2002, 08:02 AM

Here's a good link

<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/787696.asp?pne=msn" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.com/news/787696.asp?pne=msn</a>

Late_Cretaceous · 08-05-2002, 09:13 AM

Willfull gullibility. Why is it that so many people are so willing to believe some fantastic explanaition over a mundane one? It reminds me of the poster in Mulder's office (X-files) that shows a UFO with the caption "I want to believe". Well, if you want to believe in santa claus bad enough I suppose you will find "Evidence" to support it. I heard of one crop circle expert who was reasonable enough to state that at least 80% of crop circles are explained as pranks and hoaxes, leaving 20% for the aliens or whatever. This, however was not enough for some crop circle fanatics who want to believe that all crop circles are the result of aliens travelling across the galaxy to flatten hay, and not a few guys with a rope, board and some beer. The expert has receive death threats from some of the fanatics who want to silence him. What really makes me laugh is when the fanatics say things like "well if it is a prank, why is it happening all over the world?" - I don't suppose that they ever notice such things as fashion trends travel around the globe, and that there are many many willing pranksters out there who probably have a subculture going on.

Oolon Colluphid · 08-05-2002, 09:25 AM

Anyone know what the latest consensus is on Terence Meaden's vortices?

Last I heard of him, he was farting around with nonsense about Stonehenge... But as far as I remember from Jim Schnabel's wonderful expos� of crop circles and their makers, Round in Circles, the vortex idea was not totally discounted, at least for old ones which were simple flattened circles.

I remember them being 'UFO landing places' - close encounters of the second kind -- wasn't that Alan Hyneck?? God that was a long time ago!

-- in books back in the early 70s, so long before Doug 'n' Dave and the whole new age silliness.

So, does the vortex idea hold any water for simple ones?

Oolon

Shadowy Man · 08-05-2002, 10:06 AM

Check out:

<a href="http://www.circlemakers.org/" target="_blank">Circlemakers</a>

<a href="http://www.circlemakers.org/" target="_blank">http://www.circlemakers.org/</a>

Very interesting stuff. They even made a crop circle in the shape of a car for a TV commercial for some car company.

08-05-2002, 05:51 AM	#1
HumanisTim Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Reading,PA Posts: 233	Crop Circles With the opening of the movie Signs this weekend. Alot of talk has popped up about crop circles. The explanation for the phenomenon I've heard. Is that they were done by people using boards. This article in a local paper at my work. Has someone in it saying that when some of the plants in some of the circles were tested. They were found to have gone through biological changes. Does anyone here know much about those claims. Of some crop circle plants under going some kind of biological change?.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-05-2002, 07:05 AM	#3
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	One thing I've always wondered about crop circles is, if they're some kind of weird phenomenon and not pranks, why don't they ever seem to happen in wild places? Why aren't there field circles, prairie circles, marsh circles?

08-05-2002, 08:02 AM	#7
wdog Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 1,547	Here's a good link <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/787696.asp?pne=msn" target="_blank">http://www.msnbc.com/news/787696.asp?pne=msn</a>

08-05-2002, 09:13 AM	#8
Late_Cretaceous Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,049	Willfull gullibility. Why is it that so many people are so willing to believe some fantastic explanaition over a mundane one? It reminds me of the poster in Mulder's office (X-files) that shows a UFO with the caption "I want to believe". Well, if you want to believe in santa claus bad enough I suppose you will find "Evidence" to support it. I heard of one crop circle expert who was reasonable enough to state that at least 80% of crop circles are explained as pranks and hoaxes, leaving 20% for the aliens or whatever. This, however was not enough for some crop circle fanatics who want to believe that all crop circles are the result of aliens travelling across the galaxy to flatten hay, and not a few guys with a rope, board and some beer. The expert has receive death threats from some of the fanatics who want to silence him. What really makes me laugh is when the fanatics say things like "well if it is a prank, why is it happening all over the world?" - I don't suppose that they ever notice such things as fashion trends travel around the globe, and that there are many many willing pranksters out there who probably have a subculture going on.

08-05-2002, 09:25 AM	#9
Oolon Colluphid Contributor Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Alibi: ego ipse hinc extermino Posts: 12,591	Anyone know what the latest consensus is on Terence Meaden's vortices? Last I heard of him, he was farting around with nonsense about Stonehenge... But as far as I remember from Jim Schnabel's wonderful expos� of crop circles and their makers, Round in Circles, the vortex idea was not totally discounted, at least for old ones which were simple flattened circles. I remember them being 'UFO landing places' - close encounters of the second kind -- wasn't that Alan Hyneck?? God that was a long time ago! -- in books back in the early 70s, so long before Doug 'n' Dave and the whole new age silliness. So, does the vortex idea hold any water for simple ones? Oolon

08-05-2002, 10:06 AM	#10
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Check out: <a href="http://www.circlemakers.org/" target="_blank">Circlemakers</a> <a href="http://www.circlemakers.org/" target="_blank">http://www.circlemakers.org/</a> Very interesting stuff. They even made a crop circle in the shape of a car for a TV commercial for some car company.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.