Ancient Aliens TV Show

Pacal · 13th January 2011, 07:02 PM

I just saw the the show Alien Visitors, which is part of a two season series of shows called Ancient Aliens.

I can't believe that this collection of crud, (assuming the show I watched is like the others), got on the air. The History channel has sold its soul to the devil. Iceroad Truckers was pure fluff but this is poison. I looked at the comments on the show at History.com and there were the usual credulous beating up on the few knowledgeble for being close minded, arrogant etc., and the usual tactics of the woo believers. Of course there was the ritualistic attack on how a University / College education can stunt your mind and how ignorance is good.

The show had von Danikan, Childress and Cremo all notorious purvayeurs of woo and crud. Some of these people said some of the most outrageous crap imaginable.

For example one guy said there was evidence that the human brain tripled in size in a few thousand years. Another guy said there was no transitional fossil indicatinfg a link between man and ape. It was altogether unbelievably dispiriting. I thought of commenting at History.com but it is filled with true believers and the ignorant.

I think I need to wash my mind out with soap.

Macgyver1968 · 13th January 2011, 07:28 PM

Yeah...the History Channel should be renamed "The Woo Channel". They have long since abandoned showing documentaries about actual history. I can't even watch Ancient Aliens without getting pissed off at their leaps of logic, and lack of any objectivity.

Bikewer · 14th January 2011, 05:35 AM

You'd have hoped that this sort of nonsense would have faded long ago when Von Danniken's musings were so thoroughly debunked.
Not so, apparently.
I have written to both Discovery and History about this, wondering how they could possibly be taken as providing any decent information on either science or history when they air crud like this.
I was advised by both networks that they shows have "entertainment value"......

Cleon · 14th January 2011, 07:37 AM

If that wasn't bad enough, check out "Brad Metzler's Decoded." The show's premise seems to be that the National Treasure movies were documentaries.

Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up.

Gawdzilla · 14th January 2011, 07:41 AM

I refused to swap links with the History Channel because of this kind of thing.

Dinwar · 14th January 2011, 10:35 AM

SCA members offered to donate replicas of armor worn in the Middle Ages for one of the shows on either History Channel or Discovery, I forget which. These guys make a living making armor, and many have gone out of their way to replicate the methods and materials of the Middle Ages. We're talking a few thousand dollars worth of time, material, etc. here that these guys were going to donate--they could have EASILY sold this stuff to any rattan fighter, and many could have sold them to museums.

The network said no thanks, those look too realistic.

I haven't had much respect for those networks since then. I remember actually loosing some respect for the Bad Astronomer when I found out he was making a show for Discovery Channel (watching the show restored my respect--even blind pigs can find truffles).

mrgrouch · 14th January 2011, 10:45 AM

the problem with that type of "educational" channels is that first and foremost they are tv channels, their main porpoise is to make money. if they stopped showing crap that sells they will go out of business pretty quick and no amount of emails is going to change that. my advice; save yourselves the stress, turn the tv off and read a book.

cheers

Dinwar · 14th January 2011, 10:48 AM

Not entirely true. How It's Made is worth watching (yes, I'm enough of a nerd to enjoy watching documentaries on factories). It certainly doesn't show ALL the process, but it's entertaining and educational. It's just not on either History or Discovery.

davefoc · 14th January 2011, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by Cleon

If that wasn't bad enough, check out "Brad Metzler's Decoded." The show's premise seems to be that the National Treasure movies were documentaries.

Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up.

I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame.

I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff.

But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded?

DC · 14th January 2011, 12:20 PM

number of people actually wanting to see that is probably a lot larger than people wanting some real History.

Cleon · 14th January 2011, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by davefoc

I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame.

I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff.

But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded?

Conspiracy theorists, Twoofers, etc.

USSManhattan · 14th January 2011, 12:58 PM

I've been really disappointed in History lately. They used to have some pretty good stuff (perhaps a little heavy on Hitler, but as a WWII buff I could let that slide). But now, it's one of either four things:

1) Aliens
2) Nostradamus
3) 2012
4) Psuedoscience (like "Megaquake: 10.0" this week)

I had thought there was a return to form with "America: The Story of Us," but apparently they felt MICHAEL STRAHAN was credible to tell us about robber barons and the exploitation of oil.

There was a pop-up shop here in New York on Times Square, and it was nothing personality shows (American Pickers, Truckers, etc.). History seems to becoming increasingly rare on History.

USSManhattan · 14th January 2011, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Cleon

Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up.

...do go on, Cleon.

USEagle13 · 14th January 2011, 01:14 PM

National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!?

I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems.

Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico.

I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho.

Cleon · 14th January 2011, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico.

*facepalm*

Cleon · 14th January 2011, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by USSManhattan

There was a pop-up shop here in New York on Times Square, and it was nothing personality shows (American Pickers, Truckers, etc.). History seems to becoming increasingly rare on History.

You know, I don't mind shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars. Yeah, they're reality show fluff, but the main subject of the shows are about antiques and collectibles - which does relate to history. If you think of them as slightly more interesting versions of Antiques Roadshow, they're quite watchable. (Even if the show's "stars" are kinda obnoxious. Especially the Pawn Stars crew.)

Gawdzilla · 14th January 2011, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dinwar

Not entirely true. How It's Made is worth watching (yes, I'm enough of a nerd to enjoy watching documentaries on factories). It certainly doesn't show ALL the process, but it's entertaining and educational. It's just not on either History or Discovery.

Yeah, but 15 minutes listening to that Canuck drone on is enough to drive me sane.

John Jones · 14th January 2011, 07:57 PM

I have complained to History (that's what they call themselves now, no longer The History Channel).

They sent me a form reply that they 'put it out there' and let the viewers decide.

I liked them better when they were the Hitler Channel. All Hitler, All the Time.

Dinwar · 14th January 2011, 08:02 PM

"Teach the controversy!" Yeah....how well does that usually work out?

John Jones · 14th January 2011, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!?

I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems.

Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico.

I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho.

Are you even real?

tyr_13 · 14th January 2011, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by davefoc

I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame.

I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff.

But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded?

The episodes of Decoded I've seen have basically built up the CT side of the argument in the first part...to utterly destroy it in the second half. Not bad for History.

Ancient Aliens has 'outed' me as a Skeptic with a capital S at work. One of the managers and the HR head were talking about it in the break room and were shocked that I could pull the name of people like 'Wally Wallington' (the guy building a stone henge replica by himself without tools) as evidence of how aliens weren't needed for building anything we've built. Every thing the brought up I was able to kindly bring up a counter too. They were actually receptive too it as I showed genuine enthusiasm for learning and listening to the evidence the alien advocates used.

"They look like aliens!"

"How do you know what an alien looks like?"

After that, at least three people a day have come up to me asking questions about CT their land lord, or father, or neighbor believe.

MG1962 · 14th January 2011, 08:49 PM

Has anyone notice the History Chann... umm excuse me History^TM trot the same faces out no matter the topic?

AdMan · 14th January 2011, 09:57 PM

It's false advertising for that channel to call itself "History" any longer. The "Story Channel" is more appropriate.

The Discovery Channel still has some good shows, like Mythbusters and Phil Plait's Bad Universe (assuming that's still on...?).

Pacal · 15th January 2011, 03:54 AM

Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series?

GrandMasterFox · 15th January 2011, 04:18 AM

Originally Posted by Pacal

Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series?

This is an old thread about the show, I posted bit by bit most of the stuff that was said on the show including screen captures. Naturally people here have dismanteled it entirely.

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=173597

Of course for the record, sometime I watch the show here and there soley for the view. It's nice to see some sites from all around the world and such.

But as far as any validity to their claim...
Not in this lifetime.

Gawdzilla · 15th January 2011, 04:24 AM

So, we can now suggest they change their name from the "History Channel" to "History 4Chan"?

NWO Sentryman · 15th January 2011, 08:53 AM

I wonder if they will talk about the Stargate...

...but then Roland Emmerich got there first, way before Wikileaks.

MatildaGage · 15th January 2011, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Pacal

Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series?

For Discovery/History, I have several favorites.

Mitochondrial Eve. (The way they presented it was, 'we proved the bible is true'. Yet they'd say quietly and quickly, 'oh ya, eve isn't just one lady and they didn't live at the same time adam did. other than that the bible is totally true!!1!'.)

Decoding DaVinci.

Numerous 'we found Noah's ark again' shows.

Beerina · 16th January 2011, 04:25 PM

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Mr.D · 16th January 2011, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by tyr_13

The episodes of Decoded I've seen have basically built up the CT side of the argument in the first part...to utterly destroy it in the second half. Not bad for History.

Only seen one episode - on DB Cooper, and it was fairly decent actually. They even found what seemed to be a hidden compartment in a house once owned by a Cooper suspect. They left a few loose ends dangling, but the episode did make a convincing argument regarding their prime suspect. (But then I'm not a Cooper expert so ...)

MikeSun5 · 16th January 2011, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by mrgrouch

the problem with that type of "educational" channels is that first and foremost they are tv channels, their main porpoise is to make money.

Exactly. They'd much rather jump the shark than present dolphinitive evidence.

Originally Posted by Gawdzilla

So, we can now suggest they change their name from the "History Channel" to "History 4Chan"?

Nice. Or how about "WikiHistory Channel?"

...I gave up in WikiHistory a LONG time ago. It was when I saw some program whose advert claimed it would "finally reveal the mysteries behind UFOs and aliens." I watched the show. It presented lots of anecdotal evidence (no actual evidence), a few shaky bigfoot-style videos, and at the end of the show the narrator actually finished by saying, "...and that's why UFOs remain a mystery."

What a load of garbage.

Gawdzilla · 20th January 2011, 04:22 AM

I first saw Bill Birnes doing some totally ridiculous "Pacific Triangle of Death" show and thought, "this guy is going to be permanent on History Chan". Sadly, I was correct.

They contacted me to suggest a link swap. I told them no in no uncertain terms.

Marduk · 22nd January 2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by Pacal

Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series?

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...39#post5906039

Rincewind · 23rd January 2011, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!?

I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems.

Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico.

I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho.

This reminds me of a joke that went the rounds a few years ago:

Why are smart bombs cleverer than many US citizens?

Because at least they can find Iraq....

dudalb · 24th January 2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by imagineaa

For Discovery/History, I have several favorites.

Mitochondrial Eve. (The way they presented it was, 'we proved the bible is true'. Yet they'd say quietly and quickly, 'oh ya, eve isn't just one lady and they didn't live at the same time adam did. other than that the bible is totally true!!1!'.)

Decoding DaVinci.

Numerous 'we found Noah's ark again' shows.

Don't forget the endless Nostradamus was right shows.

Gawdzilla · 25th January 2011, 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by dudalb

Don't forget the endless Nostradamus was right shows.

Especially the ones where he's right about the latest pop madness.
"Nostradamus: The Prophesy of Power Balance Quatrains!"

hgc · 25th January 2011, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

...
I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho.

Yeah, it's gotta be one or the other.

Bell · 30th January 2011, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems.

Roflmao!

Are you serious? Where are these documentaries?

13th January 2011, 07:02 PM	#1
Pacal Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 448	Ancient Aliens TV Show I just saw the the show Alien Visitors, which is part of a two season series of shows called Ancient Aliens. I can't believe that this collection of crud, (assuming the show I watched is like the others), got on the air. The History channel has sold its soul to the devil. Iceroad Truckers was pure fluff but this is poison. I looked at the comments on the show at History.com and there were the usual credulous beating up on the few knowledgeble for being close minded, arrogant etc., and the usual tactics of the woo believers. Of course there was the ritualistic attack on how a University / College education can stunt your mind and how ignorance is good. The show had von Danikan, Childress and Cremo all notorious purvayeurs of woo and crud. Some of these people said some of the most outrageous crap imaginable. For example one guy said there was evidence that the human brain tripled in size in a few thousand years. Another guy said there was no transitional fossil indicatinfg a link between man and ape. It was altogether unbelievably dispiriting. I thought of commenting at History.com but it is filled with true believers and the ignorant. I think I need to wash my mind out with soap.
	Last edited by Pacal; 13th January 2011 at 07:04 PM.

13th January 2011, 07:28 PM	#2
Macgyver1968 Illuminator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 3,615	Yeah...the History Channel should be renamed "The Woo Channel". They have long since abandoned showing documentaries about actual history. I can't even watch Ancient Aliens without getting pissed off at their leaps of logic, and lack of any objectivity.
	__________________ "Fixin' crap that ain't broke."

14th January 2011, 07:37 AM	#4
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,536	If that wasn't bad enough, check out "Brad Metzler's Decoded." The show's premise seems to be that the National Treasure movies were documentaries. Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

14th January 2011, 07:41 AM	#5
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,539	I refused to swap links with the History Channel because of this kind of thing.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

14th January 2011, 10:35 AM	#6
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	SCA members offered to donate replicas of armor worn in the Middle Ages for one of the shows on either History Channel or Discovery, I forget which. These guys make a living making armor, and many have gone out of their way to replicate the methods and materials of the Middle Ages. We're talking a few thousand dollars worth of time, material, etc. here that these guys were going to donate--they could have EASILY sold this stuff to any rattan fighter, and many could have sold them to museums. The network said no thanks, those look too realistic. I haven't had much respect for those networks since then. I remember actually loosing some respect for the Bad Astronomer when I found out he was making a show for Discovery Channel (watching the show restored my respect--even blind pigs can find truffles).
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	__________________ GENERATION 8: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment. Ein krieg ohne feinde.

14th January 2011, 05:35 AM	#3
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 9,540	You'd have hoped that this sort of nonsense would have faded long ago when Von Danniken's musings were so thoroughly debunked. Not so, apparently. I have written to both Discovery and History about this, wondering how they could possibly be taken as providing any decent information on either science or history when they air crud like this. I was advised by both networks that they shows have "entertainment value"......

14th January 2011, 10:45 AM	#7
mrgrouch Muse Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 624	the problem with that type of "educational" channels is that first and foremost they are tv channels, their main porpoise is to make money. if they stopped showing crap that sells they will go out of business pretty quick and no amount of emails is going to change that. my advice; save yourselves the stress, turn the tv off and read a book. cheers
mrgrouch Muse Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 624

14th January 2011, 10:48 AM	#8
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	Not entirely true. How It's Made is worth watching (yes, I'm enough of a nerd to enjoy watching documentaries on factories). It certainly doesn't show ALL the process, but it's entertaining and educational. It's just not on either History or Discovery.
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	__________________ GENERATION 8: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment. Ein krieg ohne feinde.

14th January 2011, 11:17 AM	#9
davefoc Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: orange country, california Posts: 7,268	Originally Posted by Cleon If that wasn't bad enough, check out "Brad Metzler's Decoded." The show's premise seems to be that the National Treasure movies were documentaries. Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up. I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame. I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff. But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded?
	__________________ The way of truth is along the path of intellectual sincerity. -- Henry S. Pritchett Perfection is the enemy of good enough -- Russian proverb

14th January 2011, 12:20 PM	#10
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,675	number of people actually wanting to see that is probably a lot larger than people wanting some real History.
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

14th January 2011, 12:28 PM	#11
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,536	Originally Posted by davefoc I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame. I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff. But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded? Conspiracy theorists, Twoofers, etc.
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

14th January 2011, 12:58 PM	#12
USSManhattan New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24	I've been really disappointed in History lately. They used to have some pretty good stuff (perhaps a little heavy on Hitler, but as a WWII buff I could let that slide). But now, it's one of either four things: 1) Aliens 2) Nostradamus 3) 2012 4) Psuedoscience (like "Megaquake: 10.0" this week) I had thought there was a return to form with "America: The Story of Us," but apparently they felt MICHAEL STRAHAN was credible to tell us about robber barons and the exploitation of oil. There was a pop-up shop here in New York on Times Square, and it was nothing personality shows (American Pickers, Truckers, etc.). History seems to becoming increasingly rare on History.
USSManhattan New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24

14th January 2011, 01:01 PM	#13
USSManhattan New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24	Originally Posted by Cleon Then there's the upcoming show featuring Larry the Cable Guy....And I so wish I was making that up. ...do go on, Cleon.
USSManhattan New Blood Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 24

14th January 2011, 01:14 PM	#14
USEagle13 Muse Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty South Posts: 612	National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!? I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems. Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico. I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho.

14th January 2011, 01:25 PM	#15
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,536	Originally Posted by USEagle13 Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico. facepalm
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich Last edited by Cleon; 14th January 2011 at 01:27 PM.

14th January 2011, 01:32 PM	#16
Cleon King of the Pod People Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 20,536	Originally Posted by USSManhattan There was a pop-up shop here in New York on Times Square, and it was nothing personality shows (American Pickers, Truckers, etc.). History seems to becoming increasingly rare on History. You know, I don't mind shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars. Yeah, they're reality show fluff, but the main subject of the shows are about antiques and collectibles - which does relate to history. If you think of them as slightly more interesting versions of Antiques Roadshow, they're quite watchable. (Even if the show's "stars" are kinda obnoxious. Especially the Pawn Stars crew.)
	__________________ "People like me are what stand between us and Auschwitz." - Newt Gingrich

14th January 2011, 07:46 PM	#17
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,539	Originally Posted by Dinwar Not entirely true. How It's Made is worth watching (yes, I'm enough of a nerd to enjoy watching documentaries on factories). It certainly doesn't show ALL the process, but it's entertaining and educational. It's just not on either History or Discovery. Yeah, but 15 minutes listening to that Canuck drone on is enough to drive me sane.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

14th January 2011, 07:57 PM	#18
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,725	I have complained to History (that's what they call themselves now, no longer The History Channel). They sent me a form reply that they 'put it out there' and let the viewers decide. I liked them better when they were the Hitler Channel. All Hitler, All the Time.
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,725

14th January 2011, 08:02 PM	#19
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	"Teach the controversy!" Yeah....how well does that usually work out?
Dinwar Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 8,979	__________________ GENERATION 8: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment. Ein krieg ohne feinde.

14th January 2011, 08:27 PM	#20
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,725	Originally Posted by USEagle13 National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!? I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems. Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico. I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho. Are you even real?
John Jones Illuminator Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,725

14th January 2011, 08:38 PM	#21
tyr_13 Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Falconer, NY Posts: 9,692	Originally Posted by davefoc I think this show had a chance to be interesting. Unfortunately it is unrelentingly lame. I haven't watched any of the ancient aliens claptrap, I just assumed that it was what it seems to be based on this thread. But the pseudo biblical documentaries do occasionally suck me in and those are pretty bad as well, but I'll cut the history channel a little slack here. Fact based biblical documentaries are not going to be worth the public grief the discovery/history channels would get for honest documentaries on this stuff. Plus there is always a market I guess for pseudo biblical documentaries that pander to people's beliefs about this stuff. But what is the market for the total lameness of Metzler's Decoded? The episodes of Decoded I've seen have basically built up the CT side of the argument in the first part...to utterly destroy it in the second half. Not bad for History. Ancient Aliens has 'outed' me as a Skeptic with a capital S at work. One of the managers and the HR head were talking about it in the break room and were shocked that I could pull the name of people like 'Wally Wallington' (the guy building a stone henge replica by himself without tools) as evidence of how aliens weren't needed for building anything we've built. Every thing the brought up I was able to kindly bring up a counter too. They were actually receptive too it as I showed genuine enthusiasm for learning and listening to the evidence the alien advocates used. "They look like aliens!" "How do you know what an alien looks like?" After that, at least three people a day have come up to me asking questions about CT their land lord, or father, or neighbor believe.
	__________________ Circled nothing is still nothing. "Nothing will stop the U.S. from being a world leader, not even a handful of adults who want their kids to take science lessons from a book that mentions unicorns six times." -UNLoVedRebel Mumpsimus: a stubborn person who insists on making an error in spite of being shown that it is wrong

14th January 2011, 08:49 PM	#22
MG1962 Guest Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kansas (Australia) Posts: 14,750	Has anyone notice the History Chann... umm excuse me History^TM trot the same faces out no matter the topic?

14th January 2011, 09:57 PM	#23
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,197	It's false advertising for that channel to call itself "History" any longer. The "Story Channel" is more appropriate. The Discovery Channel still has some good shows, like Mythbusters and Phil Plait's Bad Universe (assuming that's still on...?).
AdMan Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 7,197	__________________ It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring. - Carl Sagan

15th January 2011, 03:54 AM	#24
Pacal Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 448	Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series?

15th January 2011, 04:18 AM	#25
GrandMasterFox Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,315	Originally Posted by Pacal Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series? This is an old thread about the show, I posted bit by bit most of the stuff that was said on the show including screen captures. Naturally people here have dismanteled it entirely. http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=173597 Of course for the record, sometime I watch the show here and there soley for the view. It's nice to see some sites from all around the world and such. But as far as any validity to their claim... Not in this lifetime.

15th January 2011, 04:24 AM	#26
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,539	So, we can now suggest they change their name from the "History Channel" to "History 4Chan"?
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

15th January 2011, 08:53 AM	#27
NWO Sentryman Proud NWO Gatekeeper Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Quantum Gate to the NWO Posts: 3,778	I wonder if they will talk about the Stargate... ...but then Roland Emmerich got there first, way before Wikileaks.
	__________________ If I now say "dominoes", you won't think "pizza". Will you? - FireGarden on the Middle East

15th January 2011, 09:43 AM	#28
MatildaGage Muse Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Risa Posts: 799	Originally Posted by Pacal Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series? For Discovery/History, I have several favorites. Mitochondrial Eve. (The way they presented it was, 'we proved the bible is true'. Yet they'd say quietly and quickly, 'oh ya, eve isn't just one lady and they didn't live at the same time adam did. other than that the bible is totally true!!1!'.) Decoding DaVinci. Numerous 'we found Noah's ark again' shows.
	__________________ End the grisly, barbaric practice of metzitzah b'peh.

16th January 2011, 05:30 PM	#30
Mr.D Self Assessed Dunning-Kruger Expert Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NWO Paradise Posts: 1,178	Originally Posted by tyr_13 The episodes of Decoded I've seen have basically built up the CT side of the argument in the first part...to utterly destroy it in the second half. Not bad for History. Only seen one episode - on DB Cooper, and it was fairly decent actually. They even found what seemed to be a hidden compartment in a house once owned by a Cooper suspect. They left a few loose ends dangling, but the episode did make a convincing argument regarding their prime suspect. (But then I'm not a Cooper expert so ...)
	__________________ GENERATION 3: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and kill the great-great-great-great-grandfather of the person you copied it from. Time travel experiment.

16th January 2011, 06:27 PM	#31
MikeSun5 Trigger Happy Pacifist, Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,877	Originally Posted by mrgrouch the problem with that type of "educational" channels is that first and foremost they are tv channels, their main porpoise is to make money. Exactly. They'd much rather jump the shark than present dolphinitive evidence. Originally Posted by Gawdzilla So, we can now suggest they change their name from the "History Channel" to "History 4Chan"? Nice. Or how about "WikiHistory Channel?" ...I gave up in WikiHistory a LONG time ago. It was when I saw some program whose advert claimed it would "finally reveal the mysteries behind UFOs and aliens." I watched the show. It presented lots of anecdotal evidence (no actual evidence), a few shaky bigfoot-style videos, and at the end of the show the narrator actually finished by saying, "...and that's why UFOs remain a mystery." What a load of garbage.
	__________________ I always wondered if those WWJD bracelets worked, so I bought one. Well later, I was on a plane and this little kid was kicking my seat repeatedly, while his sister sang along with her walkman and their mother just sat there. I almost turned around and went off, and then I caught sight of my bracelet. What would Jesus do? So I lit them on fire and sent them all to Hell. --Daniel Tosh Last edited by MikeSun5; 16th January 2011 at 06:28 PM.

20th January 2011, 04:22 AM	#32
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,539	I first saw Bill Birnes doing some totally ridiculous "Pacific Triangle of Death" show and thought, "this guy is going to be permanent on History Chan". Sadly, I was correct. They contacted me to suggest a link swap. I told them no in no uncertain terms.
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした

22nd January 2011, 10:09 AM	#33
Marduk Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Newbury, Berkshire Posts: 10,242	Originally Posted by Pacal Since I've only seen one episode of Ancient Aliens, and don't plan to see any more. (I felt my brain cells poping listening to to the crap.) Does anyone have some "favorite" example of nonsense, stupidity from the series? http://forums.randi.org/showthread.p...39#post5906039

23rd January 2011, 02:46 PM	#34
Rincewind Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,162	Originally Posted by USEagle13 National Geographic has been doing the same thing. Maybe its part of disclosure or something!? I know most countries around the world have been releasing previously classified documents and videos about encounters. All but the USA it seems. Puerto Rico is a hot bed for UFO sightings and if you plan on taking a vacation to a foreign country go to Puerto Rico. I guarantee you will see something. Whether or not they are actually aliens vs highly experimental military craft is any ones guess tho. This reminds me of a joke that went the rounds a few years ago: Why are smart bombs cleverer than many US citizens? Because at least they can find Iraq....

24th January 2011, 04:08 PM	#35
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 22,848	Originally Posted by imagineaa For Discovery/History, I have several favorites. Mitochondrial Eve. (The way they presented it was, 'we proved the bible is true'. Yet they'd say quietly and quickly, 'oh ya, eve isn't just one lady and they didn't live at the same time adam did. other than that the bible is totally true!!1!'.) Decoding DaVinci. Numerous 'we found Noah's ark again' shows. Don't forget the endless Nostradamus was right shows.

25th January 2011, 03:05 AM	#36
Gawdzilla 121.92-meter mutant fire-breathing lizard-thingy Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northern St. Louis County, Missouri. Posts: 13,539	Originally Posted by dudalb Don't forget the endless Nostradamus was right shows. Especially the ones where he's right about the latest pop madness. "Nostradamus: The Prophesy of Power Balance Quatrains!"
	__________________ World War II Diplomatic and Political Resources Hyperwar, WWII Military History Kido Butai did not transmit. 木戸舞台は、無線メッセージを送信しませんでした