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Ever read the play or see the movie "Visit to a Small Planet"? The central character was a fellow named Creton (IIRC) who shows up in 20th Century America and begins manipulating things on the pretense of studying them. Everybody assumes he's an extraterrestrial person, but it is revealed at the end he is only a mentally ill person from mankind's far future, attempting to play around with history.<P>I mention this because it has always been my belief that the "grays" that have become such popular icons of extraterrestrial intelligence might be in fact our progeny, thousands of generations hence from us. After all, how would we look in that time? We will lose more and more hair, our forebrains would continue to get larger. We would eventually lose our little fingers and our little toes. We would continue to adapt and change ourselves to better live in our environments.<P>Anyway, the point is, what if Hyper isn't from "out there", but more like "in here"?

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FrustratedPilot:
<B>I mention this because it has always been my belief that the "grays" that have become such popular icons of extraterrestrial intelligence might be in fact our progeny, thousands of generations hence from us</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>It's always been my belief that "grays" are hallucinatory. After all, that didn't become the commonly reported shape of alien visitors until <I>after</I> a movie came out that used the design. Before that, alien visitors were reported in all sorts of shapes, including hairy giants and green humanoids with eyes on stalks.<P>The movie was, incidentally, based on a "real life" alien abduction story, although the design for the aliens did not follow the description given by the people who reported it.<P>Damn, I wish I could remember whatthe title of the movie was...<P>------------------
"Truth hides on the other side of a two-way mirror
In countless documents sent straight to the shredder
That might finally give us the whole of the picture
But until the day we decide to dig a little deeper
We know that truth will hide
Under fallen rocks and stones
At the end of a disconnected phone
Down an unmarked street
And buried, deep beneath your feet."
- Asian Dub Foundation, "Truth Hides" from <I>Community Music</I>

Are you thinking of "Fire in the Sky", "Communion", or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"?<P>Actually, I've noticed books that _predate_ the "CE3K" movie that show/describe "grays" as encountered beings. I have even heard that archeologists have seen pictures of "grays" among those painted in caves by Neanderthals/Cro-Magnons. That last bit, I doubt without any photographic proof. I think "CE3K"'s designers based their aliens from the "gray" design.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by FrustratedPilot:
<B>Are you thinking of "Fire in the Sky", "Communion", or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind"?</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>It wasn't CE3K or FitS, those are far too recent. Communion doesn't ring a bell (the only flick I recall titled "Communion" is a slasher movie aka "Alice Sweet Alice"). The one that popularized the grays came out sometime in the 50s or 60s, IIRC.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>Actually, I've noticed books that _predate_ the "CE3K" movie that show/describe "grays" as encountered beings.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>The gray design probably existed before the movie, but it was one of many wildly different designs. It didn't become common until after the movie. Which I think is evidence that the appearance of aliens depends on people's expectations, which is evidence that abduction experiences are psychological rather than physical events.<P>Like the face on Mars, shapes in the clouds, or seeing the face of Jesus in a wad of snot, it's a matter of seeing what you want to see.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><B>I have even heard that archeologists have seen pictures of "grays" among those painted in caves by Neanderthals/Cro-Magnons. That last bit, I doubt without any photographic proof.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I think I know where that theory comes from, and it's pretty flimsy...basically, a lot of cave drawings feature spindly humanoid figures, basically stick figures. Since they don't follow human proportions very strictly, some rather credulous people interpret them to be drawings of spidery-humanoid aliens. This, of course, ignores the widely recognized fact that very little cave art is meant to be representative--most of it is symbolic.<P>Of course, if that isn't the evidence they're citing, I'd love to see what they are.<P>------------------
"Truth hides on the other side of a two-way mirror
In countless documents sent straight to the shredder
That might finally give us the whole of the picture
But until the day we decide to dig a little deeper
We know that truth will hide
Under fallen rocks and stones
At the end of a disconnected phone
Down an unmarked street
And buried, deep beneath your feet."
- Asian Dub Foundation, "Truth Hides" from <I>Community Music</I>

I'm wishing for some better 'mood' icons for the post titles.. <P>I agree with Roscoe. Before the human race can accend into the higher realms of mental and genetic perfection, we have to clear away a whole lot of deadwood. Sometimes I feel that we are living in the last days of Rome, watching the nations decline and fall under the staggering weight of crushing stupidity. <P>I whole-heartedly approve of David Brin's sly little jab at our current cultural make-up in his first uplift book 'Sundiver.' We live in the Age of the Bureaucracy, and I believe that fantasy (fan-tasy) is our only hope of making it out alive. After all, who will push us into the upper echelons of biological superiority? Jane and Joe Six-Pack, wrapped up in their lives of soap operas and televised wrestling (one and the same, if you ask me). I think not. It will be those who look to visions of futures not yet dreamed of who propell us forward. Without these genetic traits of imagination and wonder, where will we be as a species? The grey aliens of tomorrow will never exist without the creativity of today.<P>Admitedly, there are those in the world of fandom who I wish would ignore this clarion call. Fans aren't perfect, in fact we're a pretty strange bunch, and some are strange in ways that I am not wholey comfortable with. Some are rude, some are arrogent, some.. well, darn it, they're wrong because they don't agree with ME. (No one on THIS board, of course.. no, of course not) <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif"> However, the thought of being stuck in a world where 'Have A Nice Day, Biography of Mankind, Pro-Wrestler' is on the required 'classics' reading lists effortlessly overcomes my hesitancy to throw the challenge open to fans of every stripe.<P>So I to add my signature to Roscoe's ultimatum. Throw away the rubbers, my breathren. Be fruitful and multiply, because the rabbits in the pens are already going at it like gangbusters. It's a growing world, people.. let's make sure the Mundains don't end up ruling it.<P>-Wish
(Only half-joking. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/smile.gif"> )

No holes in this theory as far as I'm concerned. I'm amazed at how many images of aliens are STILL just like us with funky forehead wrinkles. Even the idea of the Xenochiclets assumes a "human" range of expressions in the eyes, when an alien could as easily look "angry" when lustful.

It

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roscoe Mathieu:
<B>There is a hole in the theory. According to any and all available evidence, our short-circuit of evolution several thousand years back and the recent rise in lifespan has allowed, shall we say less-than-decent genes, to make a comeback. All the evolution towards intelligence is being reversed.
In short, gentlemen, the morons are starting to march. So go out there and have GEEK SEX! YOU COULD SAVE THE HUMAN RACE!</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Great reference! "The Marching Morons" is one of the great SF stories. It was written by Cyril Kornbluth, one of the great dark SF writers of The Golden Age and The Age of Gold. He unfortunately died of a heart attack when he was only in his mid-30s back in 1958.<P>And there is another solution, folks. Since we're doing such a whiz-bang job mucking up natural selection, we need to give evolution a hand. Yes, that's right -- GENETIC ENGINEERING! Screw the luddites who scream "mustn't tamper!" We've been screwing with nature ever since we learned to make fire. Let's screw with it the right way now. Unless you think babies born with Tay-Sach's or Down's Syndrome are funny, that is...<P>Greg Eatroff,
flaming radical<P>------------------
Risus est telum ultimum contra tyrranem. Nullus dictator exercitibus allibus ridiculem vulgi longe resistare potest.

I'm sorry, but ever since I saw Micheal Jackson's slow change over time I've come to believe that be it by blade or by time, gray is where we're going. I mean, geez.<P>and of course there is a hole in the "theory." It isn't even a bloody theory! I'm just messing around. <P>Ex animo,
m.d

Of course, the one way we could tell if the future version of man (homo futura?) has the Geek gene is to check his right hand for mouse-conforming curvature. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">

Hey, what about us left-handed folks? Don't forget us sinstral sons!<P>Ex animo,
m.d<P>

I got one. It's in the second hangar with the Cobra Rattler. It's out of oil, though.

<B> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Like the face on Mars, shapes in the clouds, or seeing the face of Jesus in a wad of snot, it's a matter of seeing what you want to see.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE></B><P>
Ooh! I once saw the Virgin Mary in a virgin Margarita! I have a pic of it but my camera jammed so her image faded.<P>------------------
Tom the Fanboy
http://www.geocities.com/tee-moss
The House of Tee-Moss, home of Billberg University and the Pop Subversion League.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Blondlot:
<B>Hey, what about us left-handed folks? Don't forget us sinstral sons!
</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Reminds me of one of our weekly gaming traditions (founded shortly after the "UNCH" bar). Three of us all held out our left hands sequentially, saying "sinister circle" and extending only our pinkies and forefingers. Then when the tips of our fingers form the "circle" we go "Whooooooo!".<P>OK...that's all.
<P>------------------
Tom the Fanboy
http://www.geocities.com/tee-moss
The House of Tee-Moss, home of Billberg University and the Pop Subversion League.

I remember scouts... man, that was one of the worst experiences of my life. I was the scout no one would talk to. Eventually the scout master's son lied and told me we didn't have a meeting one night just to ditch me; I stopped going after that. The bastard even nicked my set of arrowheads. Grrrrr. <P>*sings in a growl* <P><I>Memmmmories, misty, water-coloured memmmmories... </I><P>Ex animo,
m.d

I had LOTS of fun in scouts! Sure there were a bunch of guys that were major drags but that's gonna happen no matter where ya go.I had a great deal of fun on our canoe trips and hikes and stuff, great memories well worth the near death kayak abandonment at the hands of mormans and the occasional mental abuse from my peers. I'm proud to be an Eagle Scout and plan to become a merit badge counselor or more of a contributor in time.<P>------------------
Tom the Fanboy
http://www.geocities.com/tee-moss
The House of Tee-Moss, home of Billberg University and the Pop Subversion League.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Godai:
<B>Only really bad camp story i had was when some kids through a can of off into the fire and 2 kids got shrapnel and i was the only one who didn't get stuff ruined.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Wow! That happened at a camp I was at too! No casualties though. We nicknamed ourselves the "Pyro Patrol". We lit treesap on the tree aflame, flicked burning sterno gel, and tossed a total of 2 cans in the fire (one rocketed towards the staff camp and the other was a simple 3' fireball). This wasn't a fun camp otherwise though. Our patrol's leader was the most horrible scout I'd ever met. I got a shoulder high wedgie, gravel tossed at me (for 40 minutes straight), had me ingrown toenail stepped on at least a hundred times, and was bullied into tending the fire all night while everyone slept. *sigh* The irony is this was a Leadership camp, these were supposed to be the best examples of what scouts stand for.<P>I'm still a defender though.
<P>------------------
Tom the Fanboy
http://www.geocities.com/tee-moss
The House of Tee-Moss, home of Billberg University and the Pop Subversion League.