LowSix wrote:
Its perfectly reasonable...the wording.
People may assume they
know we are being visited by aliens...
When In FACT it is simply their belief.
Subtle but very important distinction.
Hence the poll is worded correctly.
That's a circular argument. I mean, you assume that they assume... Then the next person can say that you assume that they assumed that the other assumed etc. etc.
In the end, different people have different standards when it comes to how they choose what to believe. Some may believe on the basis of evidence while others might take hearsay as gospel.
Consider that the Bible is all hearsay... And there are "believers" and "non-believers". I say: prove it, then I'll believe you.
Yet some people may believe on the basis of personal experience and not hearsay. Do we believe them, or do we mistrust all?
In the end it comes down to personal judgment - and everyone has their own ability to exercise that.
Taking all that in, I'd say a "do you *know* that aliens are currently visiting our planet" would be valid as a separate thread, since "knowing" is different from "believing".