Do You Believe?

[BarTopDancer]

The Anthrax thread got me thinking about conspiracy theories.

One of my favorite books is UFOs, JFK and Elvis (http://www.amazon.com/UFOs-JFK-Elvis-Conspiracies-Believe/dp/0345429184)by Richard Belzer.

I believe Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK. I'm not sure if I believe he did it on his own or someone put him up to it. I'm also not sure if Jack Ruby killed Oswald on his own or someone put him up to it. I believe we landed on the moon, but I can see how others; especially those not from the US can think it was made up -I heard some interesting perspectives from some people (not Lash) from Oz.

I don't believe that our government is behind the 9/11 attacks. Did they know something was coming - I think so. Did they do it? I don't think so.

I believe that we're not the only intelligent life forms in the universe. Maybe in our solar system, but probably not the galaxy and certainly not in the universe. Do we have proof at "Area 51" or elsewhere? Most likely.

What do you believe in?

[Ghoulish Delight]

I believe that we're not the only intelligent life forms in the universe. Maybe in our galaxy, but probably not the solar system and certainly not in the universe. Do we have proof at "Area 51" or elsewhere? Most likely.
I believe you've swapped the terms "galaxy" and "solar system" there.

[BarTopDancer]

Thanks. Fixed.

[Moonliner]

Well, I believe in the soul. The small of a woman's back. The hanging curveball. High fiber. Good scotch. That the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a Constitution Amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas eve. And I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days...

[Gemini Cricket]

I believe that Kevin Costner used to make good movies...


:D

[Snowflake]

I believe that Kevin Costner used to make good movies...


:D

I believe you're crazy for believing that. ;)

[Alex]

Evolution is the conspiracy theory I believe in (as defined by a certain large segment of the creationist/ID community). Otherwise I'm having trouble thinking of anything I buy into that would widely be called a conspiracy. Oh, I do think there is a crypto-Christian conspiracy (though that is not to say ALL Christians are involved) to create a separately educated population in hopes of taking over our governmental institutions. But to a degree that is a conspiracy called "the democratic process at its dirtiest".

I'm not an expert but I've seen nothing that seems like strong evidence that anybody other than Oswald was involved in Kennedy's assassination.

The U.S. government was not involved in planning/execution of the 9/11 attack. I do not believe that any portion of the government was aware in a concrete way of the attack before it was carried out. Similarly I don't believe the FDR administration had pre-knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack and allowed it to happen for political reasons.

I do not believe that the government is in any way hiding or obfuscating evidence of alien life. I think that life is likely common through the universe but probably only at the bacterial level. Complex life is probably pretty rare and intelligent life capable of communicating across interstellar space or so altering their environment that we could detect is extremely rare. But even if extremely rare that suggests billions of intelligent species across the observable universe. However, assuming a relatively finite period of existence for any given species the odds of any two of those billions co-existing both spatially and temporally are really small. And given that I accept our current understanding of universal physical properties I do not think there are or ever will be aliens engaging in casual interstellar (or intergalactic) travel. Which is what would be necessary for any of the stories of alien visitation to be true.

I do not believe that the auto or oil industry has squelched the 100mpg standard car engine.

I do not believe that anybody has invented a perpetual motion or zero-point energy machine and just hasn't been able to get anybody to pay attention.

We did land on the moon.

NASA is not hiding evidence of a Mars civilization.

HIV/AIDS is not a man-made disease. And HIV does cause AIDS.

[innerSpaceman]

I believe that Kevin Costner used to make good movies...

And one of those was JFK.

It sparked so many memories for me (yes, I was alive when Kennedy was assassinated) ... so it sparked a lot of independent research by yours truly.


While I uncovered one fact that made it nearly impossible that there was a conspiracy involving Oswald ... there were 637 other facts that made it nearly impossible that there was NOT such a conspiracy.


As such, I pretty firmly believe Oswald was not involved in the actual shooting. JFK actually sets out the case pretty well. I read about 16 books on the subject, and there's not much pertinent that the film did not address and tackle (especially if you figure in the deleted scenes).



I was also alive for the Moon landing. If that was staged, it could have been done better (Christ, we sat around for 6 hours waiting for Armstrong to get his ass out of the LEM). So I don't believe in that particular conspiracy theory. Very oddball one if you ask me.



As for whether our government was involved in 9/11 ... yes, I believe they were to some extent.

[Tenigma]

Feh. I read the topic title and thought this was another Obama rallythread.

[scaeagles]

I believe that my father in law is secretly in the CIA (or working for them as a contractor). Not that anyone else here would have knowledge of this, though.

[Alex]

iSm, I'm curious if you've read Vincent Bugliosi's comprehensive book on the Kennedy assassination. I haven't read the whole thing but he seems to pretty comprehensively tackle much of what was in the movie. Were any of the 16 books pro-Oswald (as the assassin) or were they all books advocating some non-Oswald theory?

And my problem with the movie was that it didn't so much lay out a case for the assassination but rather lay out all of the cases for the assassination and many of them are mutually contradictory (but it has been a long time since I saw the movie so I won't live by that) where Theory A explains this thing while Theory B explains that thing but neither of them explains both things but both Theory A and B can't be true simultaneously.

[Kevy Baby]

I believe that Moonliner wears a tinfoil hat.

[scaeagles]

I believe Moonliners's post might make me ill.

[JWBear]

I believe that the WTC was brought down solely by being hit by two large jetliners full of fuel. However, I believe the damage to the Pentagon is inconsistent with being hit by a large jetliner, but have no logical alternative explanation.

I believe we will never know the entire truth about the Kennedy assassination.

[Moonliner]

I believe Moonliners's post might make me ill.

I believe an evil person could read an innuendo into that and add it to the quote system.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I do not believe in duality. That is, I believe that consciousness is a result of/a component in the physical universe and not a separate entity governed by its own laws.

I believe, "I made this choice because I wanted to," and, "I made this choice because the probability clouds of every single particle of matter in existence since the beginning of the universe happened to collapse in a way that culminated in my brain synapses firing in a particular pattern," to be identical statements, equally true.

I believe it's entirely reasonable to consider "humanity" as a single entity with its own consciousness, though consciousness that is unrecognizable to us.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

As GD somewhat alluded to - I'm really beginning to believe that our universe is the microverse to some ginormous other reality, and that our microverse of beyond the smallest particles we can detect is it's own reality. Whether or not there is anything with consciousness way high or way low on the scale is entirely unknowable to us, because they would work on entirely different systems. I'm not talking the difference between quantum and gravitational physics, but a difference so vast that there's no detecting it, no translating it, no knowing it.


:eek:

[Alex]

Then, out of curiosity, if it is undetectable, unknowable, and there is no evidence of it, what is the point in believing in it?

In other words, what separates it from the myriad other things equally uknowable and unevidenced that you don't believe in?


Also, if you haven't read it, Leonard Susskind's recent The Black Hole War is a very interesting look into bringing together quantum and relativistic gravity.

[Kevy Baby]

I believe gravity sucks

[JWBear]

I believe gravity sucks

If gravity wasn't there, and we all flew off into space, you'd be singing a different tune, mister.

[Moonliner]

If gravity wasn't there, and we all flew off into space, you'd be singing a different tune, mister.

I'd be singing a song about Benson Arizona.



(And if you get that reference your geek card is punched for another year...)

[scaeagles]

I've been to Benson Arizona.....does that count for anything?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Then, out of curiosity, if it is undetectable, unknowable, and there is no evidence of it, what is the point in believing in it?

In other words, what separates it from the myriad other things equally uknowable and unevidenced that you don't believe in?No point. No one came to me and told me this concept, saying they believed it, though there are varying hints at it. The only things that come to mind are oversimplifications, like "the Universe on Orion's belt" in Men in Black, or the Who's of Horton Hears a Who.

The difference is that this is just something I am seeing evidence of in varying scales, and I feel that a-ha moment, over and over, when pondering it. The way that groups of people act like one person, the way that groups of cells act as one being, the way whirling particles work in constant chaos and predictability at the same time, the way all the turning on and off of neurons means that I am a person...it all seems like evidence to me that there is no end to the scale of it. I don't expect anyone else to agree, or even understand what I'm on about.

Also, if you haven't read it, Leonard Susskind's recent The Black Hole War is a very interesting look into bringing together quantum and relativistic gravity.Interest officially peaked.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Speaking for myself, I neither believe nor disbelieve in other forms of consciousness. It just strikes me as a perfectly reasonable possibility based on what I do believe of our own consciousness.

[Not Afraid]

I believe in Peanut Butter and Peter Pan.

[Ghoulish Delight]

But do you believe in Peter Pan Peanut Butter?

[tracilicious]

I too believe in collective consciousness, and I think it is what will change civilization as we know it.

But a belief is pretty much just a repeated thought. I don't believe in beliefs. But I like thoughts. The ones I especially like get repeated.

[Gemini Cricket]

I keep hearing Cher's voice reading this thread's title.
:D


I believe in doing good when you can.
I believe in making people smile.
I believe in true love.

:)

[CoasterMatt]

I believe in fairies and machine guns; fairies wielding machine guns are even cooler.

[€uroMeinke]

I believe I will never know truth, but I also believe I will still have a good time.

[lashbear]

I believe that when you wish upon a star your dreams DO come true.

That is why I'm coming back to see you all with my loving Stoat instead of going to Japan.

I believe that every time I hear IASW (or Fantasmic, or Flitterin' or the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room, or "When you wish upon a star") and think about being at DL I cry, because I can't go back just anytime I want.

I believe in the power of friendship and the concept that close friends don't have to be physically close to you.

.....and I saw what I believe was a UFO when I was young. I also definately saw a ghost.

[flippyshark]

Do I believe? No.

[Prudence]

I still believe in love.

[innerSpaceman]

I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do I do I do I do ... I do believe in spooks!

[Gemini Cricket]

I don't believe in ghosts or UFOs. If I see either or both, I'll change my mind.

[innerSpaceman]

And that's precicely why i DO believe in spooks.

[Alex]

I've seen UFOs. I still don't believe in them (as evidence of aliens) because I know I'm a flawed observer.

ETA: Didn't meant this as a comment on iSm's response though it ended up looking that way. I posted this without seeing his response.

[Betty]

I believe I can flyyyyy... I belive I can touch the sky.... (sing it with me)

I believe that thoughts can change things. Which is why I believe that pray can change things even though I don't believe in the diety those people believe in. I haven't read that book "The Secret" - but from what I gather, it's something similar. I think I got the notion from getting into Wicca when I was younger with the idea that my thoughts could something influence things and that the ritual was the means to get me to focus those thoughts.

I believe that the word believe starts to look funny after you type it over and over.

[BarTopDancer]

I've seen Unidentified Flying Objects. I've seen things I can't explain in the skies.

The freakiest though was a simple C130 flying in over the ocean, super low. Erica and I were down by the beach off 17th street in HB around 10pm one night. All of a sudden we heard this extremely loud rumbling but couldn't see a thing. The noise got louder and louder but we still couldn't see anything. All of a sudden the noise was deafening and we saw a C130 come in extremely low (it looked like it was ready to land) from over the ocean. No lights at all. It flew directly over us, over the buildings across the street with no lights at all and then we couldn't see it anymore. The noise stopped a lot sooner after disappearing then we heard on approach.

Now I know what a C130 looks like. The house I grew up in was by the flight path of them for the Los Al and Seal Beach base. It was rare, but they went over. We have no idea where it came from, where it was going or why it had no lights on. So bizarre.

[Betty]

OH - and I do believe in ghosts or something like that - but I have no idea if they are deceased people, energy, or what.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I'm still trying to collect my thoughts on this. I believe in a lot of things. I disbelieve in a lot of things. I hope I'm balanced. Mostly. :)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I believe that thoughts can change things.I believe it's within the realm of possibility that thoughts can affect the world at large. I do not, however, believe anyone has provided sufficient evidence that it does, nor even a plausible theory as to a mechanism that would allow it. Only conjecture, anecdotes, and seriously flawed application of quantum theory.

[~MS~]

I believe that we have the power to connect on multiple levels to the world around us, I believe that the more innocent the person the more 'spirit to spirt' connected they will be. I believe that there is in fact evil because I believe that there is good and the law of balance requires that if one exists then so must the other. I believe that as an emotion love has a power that is unexplanable by scientific methods but can not be disproved. I believe that science has barely scratched the surface of what 'mankind' is capable of achieving.

[scaeagles]

I believe it's within the realm of possibility that thoughts can affect the world at large. I do not, however, believe anyone has provided sufficient evidence that it does, nor even a plausible theory as to a mechanism that would allow it. Only conjecture, anecdotes, and seriously flawed application of quantum theory.

Picard once saved the galaxy from a Vulcan thought weapon. Proof enough for me.

[€uroMeinke]

I believe thoughts are constantly changing things. I'm in a dark room, I think about turning on a light and Bam - next thing you know I go turn on a light.

[sleepyjeff]

I believe thoughts are constantly changing things. I'm in a dark room, I think about turning on a light and Bam - next thing you know I go turn on a light.

But do lights come on for you as your driving down the street?

:D

[Gemini Cricket]

I would love to see a "real" ghost and a "real" UFO. I think that would be cool. And how come no one sees UFOs in the middle of Dodger Stadium with thousands of other people? How come it's always someone who is drunk, driving in the desert in Hesperia who sees stuff like that. And how come no one sees ghosts during say the Republican National Convention? No, it's always when someone's alone in some dark house, museum or theatre.

[CoasterMatt]

I think you're more likely to see undead zombies at a political convention.

[Kevy Baby]

Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul
But it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll

[Ghoulish Delight]

I believe thoughts are constantly changing things. I'm in a dark room, I think about turning on a light and Bam - next thing you know I go turn on a light.
A fair point, and an illustration of why I don't discount the possibility of other forms of thought-controlled world. So let me elaborate on exactly what I mean.

Right now, we know of one mechanism for our thoughts to affect their world. That's through the intermediary of our nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. Of course, our thoughts have an unfair advantage in that realm in that they are PART of that system.

Now, I do believe there are other outlets for causal relationships in this universe that do not involve direct physical interaction. As an example, think of an asteroid that's millions of lightyears away, discovered to be heading generally towards earth. That asteroid is well out of a range where its physical properties have a direct effect on human behavior, yet it would surely alter human behavior. But that's very different from "the asteroid chose to alter human behavior."

I have no doubt that activity in our brains has effects on electric and magnetic fields, on atomic interactions with the air around us, quantum interactions with the electrons around us, and on physical systems we haven't even characterized yet. What I don't believe has been demonstrated yet is a reliable, repeatable link between the content of our thoughts and those resulting affects on the physical world through channels other than our physical body.

You can take a plastic box, put a folded piece of paper with a prayer written on it inside, and toss the box into a river. The box will alter the course of the river. The paper inside will contribute to exactly how based on its weight and shape. Even the ink on the paper will affect it. But the symbolic meaning we assign to the particular scratches of ink? Certainly there will be a relationship between the symbolic meaning and the degree of effect because a different sentence will have a different weight and balance, and I don't deny that even such infinitesimal differences matter. But what's missing is evidence that those differences do anything that is related to the meaning of the words. Just because it does something doesn't mean it will a achieve a prayer/wish/whatever written on that paper.

Like I said, I don't deny that it's within the realm of possibility that, for example, a prayer written in such a way will, due to the ink's representative relationship to thoughts, will cause just the right alteration in the microcurrents of the river to cause just the right change in weather, etc., etc. that eventually leads to that thought being fulfilled. But just because it's plausible doesn't mean it's true. Unless someone can demonstrate that thought A reliably and repeatable leads to result B, we're in the realm of speculation.

[innerSpaceman]

You mean the realm of "belief?"

[Ghoulish Delight]

Sure. I just can't wrap my head around believing something for which there's no evidence. Why chose one form of prayer over any other, then, if there's no explanation for why, or even if, your chosen form would work?

I don't begrudge anyone their belief, but people seem to like to try to convince me that "Brain activity has physical effects, therefore prayer works" is a logical progression. All I'm saying is that it's not. If you believe it, fine, but don't try to pass it off as logical and scientific.

[Alex]

I'm a bit confused by this:

As an example, think of an asteroid that's millions of lightyears away, discovered to be heading generally towards earth. That asteroid is well out of a range where its physical properties have a direct effect on human behavior, yet it would surely alter human behavior. But that's very different from "the asteroid chose to alter human behavior."

There is a physical interaction with the asteroid (photons from source A bounce off Asteroid B and are intercepted by Humanity C) and physical properties of the asteroid (it reflects photons at a sufficient level for detection) that caused the change here on Earth. Thus it is astronomy. If it affected human behavior without that physical interaction then it would be astrology.

(Though I'd posit that an asteroid light years from earth would cause no change in human behavior beyond noting it was there, after all it would be millennia before it got here.)

But yeah, otherwise I agree with you. One of the great mysteries of faith (to me) is why it is at all satisfying to believe in something without evidence of any type (obviously it is to billions of people, I just didn't get that gene).

[Ghoulish Delight]

I don't begrudge anyone their belief, but people seem to like to try to convince me that "Brain activity has physical effects, therefore prayer works" is a logical progression. All I'm saying is that it's not. If you believe it, fine, but don't try to pass it off as logical and scientific.
Just want to add that this wasn't directed at anyone here. I know everyone here, like me, is just stating, not debating, their beliefs. I had in mind things like What the Bleep do we Know when I wrote that.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm a bit confused by this:



There is a physical interaction with the asteroid (photons from source A bounce off Asteroid B and are intercepted by Humanity C) and physical properties of the asteroid (it reflects photons at a sufficient level for detection) that caused the change here on Earth. Thus it is astronomy. If it affected human behavior without that physical interaction then it would be astrology.

(Though I'd posit that an asteroid light years from earth would cause no change in human behavior beyond noting it was there, after all it would be millennia before it got here.)

But yeah, otherwise I agree with you. One of the great mysteries of faith (to me) is why it is at all satisfying to believe in something without evidence of any type (obviously it is to billions of people, I just didn't get that gene).
Yeah, I've been going over that paragraph in my head since I wrote it. 1) yeah, yeah, not light years. I meant far away, but close enough that we're keeping our astronomical eye on it. 2) I didn't mean no physical interaction. I meant it as an example of physical interaction that is not on a "push lever A for result B". Tiny amounts of photons with very little mass or momentum causing huge-scale changes in human behavior (like the writing of a really bad Bruce Willis/Ben Afleck vehicle). Just establishing that yes, I agree there might be mechanisms beyond moving muscles and bones that can alter the course of the world.

[Alex]

I do find it interesting that the OP seemed to be asking about conspiratorial beliefs and it quickly morphed into metaphysical belief.

[Not Afraid]

The Secret!

[innerSpaceman]

GD, I'm having a hard time wrappping my head around your definition of belief such that it only applies to things for which there is evidence.

Perhaps we're not using the same meaning of the word ... but it seems to me that belief in that for which there is NO evidence is the essence of belief.


It's very easy for me to "believe" in gravity. But what kind of belief is that? A great big D'UH. I believe in God ... I have ZERO evidence for that belief.

[Ghoulish Delight]

GD, I'm having a hard time wrappping my head around your definition of belief such that it only applies to things for which there is evidence.I didn't say that. I have no problem with people believing things that don't have evidence (though I can't bring myself to do it). I have a problem with people trying to convince me that something that is a matter of belief is actually a matter of science.

"I believe prayer works." I have no problem with that statement, though I disagree.

"I believe prayer works because of the nature of quantum particles," I have a problem with.

[innerSpaceman]

Ah, gotcha.


I believe in ghosts because I saw one, and observed evidence of others.

I believe in the innocence of Lee Harvey Oswald because of my personal, hardly exhaustive investigation.

I believe in the power of thought to affect the universe because of revelation under altered and improved states of consciousness.

I believe in God simply because I choose to, and despite the urgings of my forebears - against whom I would normally rebel.


It's a mish-mash.

[JWBear]

I think you're more likely to see undead zombies at a political convention.

Especially at the Republican one.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Right now, we know of one mechanism for our thoughts to affect their world. That's through the intermediary of our nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems. Of course, our thoughts have an unfair advantage in that realm in that they are PART of that system...I love when you talk like this....just wait until we get home tonight.... :D :D :D

[Cadaverous Pallor]

There was one time we were taking the freeway to LA and a very shiny speck appeared in the sky ahead of us. The sun was setting, so the reflection was very bright. It was impossible to decipher how far away it was, how large it was, or what the heck it could be. It moved a bit, seemingly not in the way a helicopter or airplane would. It was rather intriguing.

Did I ever believe it was something "unexplainable"? No. That's not how my brain works. I really wanted to know what it was, is all. But it was the type of thing where you just know other people are looking at it going "there's no WAY that's normal! It HAS TO BE a UFO!"

[Capt Jack]

technically, any object in flight you cannot immediately identify would be considered an unidentified flying object, wouldnt it?

it makes no assumption to be alien or extra terrestrial...just that you cant tell/dont know what it was.

yes?

[JWBear]

^ yes.

[Gemini Cricket]

Can they still call that book "The Secret" now that everyone knows what it's about?

[innerSpaceman]

Yes ... just paste "Worst Kept" in small print over the title.

[Not Afraid]

Or just whisper "Vagina".

[Moonliner]

Wake up people! It's aliens all right. Hoards of them. Hell we even have three of them here on LoT posing as conservatives regular users.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm trying to switch my general belief from "people are stupid" to "people are people." Time to tone down my negativity.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

technically, any object in flight you cannot immediately identify would be considered an unidentified flying object, wouldnt it?

it makes no assumption to be alien or extra terrestrial...just that you cant tell/dont know what it was.

yes?Yes, but the meaning of "UFO" has changed.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm trying to switch my general belief from "people are stupid" to "people are people." Time to tone down my negativity.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.


It still works.

[Moonliner]

I'm trying to switch my general belief from "people are stupid" to "people are people." Time to tone down my negativity.

It's a tough call. Can we create a category called "Situational Awareness" IQ?

An individual might be a ground breaking theoretical physicist, Oscar winning screenwriter or brain surgeon, but if they wait until they get to the front of the line at McDonald's to start deciding what they want to eat then they have a low SA-IQ.

[Capt Jack]

my dads term for those was 'educated idiot'

[flippyshark]

It's a tough call. Can we create a category called "Situational Awareness" IQ?

An individual might be a ground breaking theoretical physicist, Oscar winning screenwriter or brain surgeon, but if they wait until they get to the front of the line at McDonald's to start deciding what they want to eat then they have a low SA-IQ.

The town I grew up in (Los Alamos, New Mexico) was full of physicists, and I saw lots of this type of pre-occupied, oblivious behavior.

Though I'm no scientist, I suspect that being surrounded by them in my formative years had something to do with my now rationalist, naturalist outlook, though I went through several flavors of Xtianity to get there.

Of all the speculative topics mentioned here, alien visitation is the one I would most love to discover is true.

[Moonliner]

Of all the speculative topics mentioned here, alien visitation is the one I would most love to discover is true.

Be careful what you wish for. To make the trip, aliens would have to be more advanced than us. If you look at our own history where more technically advanced cultures have run across lesser ones the results have been less than optimistic.

[flippyshark]

I guess I should specify. I want the visiting aliens to be the technically advanced but fond-of-shiny-objects variety found in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. And, emphatically, NOT the sort seen in E.T.

[BarTopDancer]

E.T. was scary looking!

[lizziebith]

Be careful what you wish for. To make the trip, aliens would have to be more advanced than us. If you look at our own history where more technically advanced cultures have run across lesser ones the results have been less than optimistic.

And they wouldn't even have to bring weapons to be a threat -- they'd just need to cough a couple of times, and their alien germies would take care of us in...well probably not much time at all!

[flippyshark]

Unless our germs get them first. (Tip o' the hat to Mr. Wells.)

[Alex]

Cross species infection would be pretty unlikely. Even among co-evolved Earth species cross transmission of disease is rare.

They might be toxic in other way, but I wouldn't be much worried about catching a cold from them.

[innerSpaceman]

Alien-bird flu?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Cross species infection would be pretty unlikely. Even among co-evolved Earth species cross transmission of disease is rare.
Well duh, that's BECAUSE we co-evolved. We've developed resistance to the strains of viruses that affect other species on our planet. But ALIEN viruses? No protection there.

[Alex]

And alien viruses would be unlikely to know what to do with our biology to even cause a problem.

And the reason cross species infection is rare is not because of resistance (if that were true then we wouldn't catch diseases from other people either) but because diseases are usually evolved to very specific triggers that change across species. We have no protection against bird flu, it just generally doesn't do damage to us in its common form. It is only once it has mutated into a rare form that can infect both birds and humans that it becomes dangerous.