"Your Name Here=Harvey" <you@somewhere.not.aus> pontificated...

If you're a serious thinker, then there's no choice but to take
ETs and UFOs seriously.

I have no problem with things being "unidentified", but to make the jump 
from "unidentified" to "it must be Extraterrestrial" is unwarranted.

To say that all the evidence out there, is purely fiction - is foolish,
when there is credible evidence here and there, and everywhere - if you
are willing to look at it. Most people don't --- for their peace of mind,
not to.

Who said it was all "purely fiction"? The evidence varies widely in quality, 
from carefully documented and honest reports to blatantly fictional tall 
tales. I have no problem with reports of seeing something unidentified, 
where the witnesses avoid wild exaggerations and don't jump to unwarranted 
conclusions.

But we also have stories of abductions through solid walls, anal probings, 
alien sex fiends, alien impotence, human/alien hybrids, ape/alien hybrids - 
and it is blatantly obvious that the storytellers have a vivid fantasy sex 
life and had completely flunked basic biology.

Debunkers/skeptics such as Philip Klass --- are about as looney as those
who'll believe every UFO story - they are at the extreme ends.

I've actually met Phillip Klass, and like me, he has no problem with the 
sober rational UFO reports. He agrees that most of the UFO's remain 
"unidentified", and are of some interest because they are unidentified. He 
finds the wild "sex abduction" stories amusing, but not to be taken 
seriously. He has also uncovered clear evidence of hoaxing and fraud in some 
cases.

You do have to make up your own mind, and believe what you believe.

But are your "beliefs" based on rational evidence or hearsay?

Upon everything - even what you are taught and is 'accepted' is not
really truth, but only for something in the intermin, to give some sense
of stability.

Shouldn't that also apply to those who insist "ET's are Proven", and "Alien 
Visitation is the Truth"?

We don't even know the history of mankind - the complete story.

True, a lot of ur history is "unknown", but it is unwarranted to leap from 
"unknown" to "The Aliens/Atlanteans/Lemurians Did It"?

I believe in commonsense alright, and simple logic or reasonable logic.
And I have to discard the skeptics view - because they'll reach at 
anything
to explain 'it' away.

You've got it backwards. It's the Tall Tale Tellers that have to "reach at 
anything" to paper over their lapses in logic, missing evidence, contrary 
evidence, and contradictions to known science.

Skeptics use the most rational and simple explanation that fits the 
evidence, or they agree that it is "unidentified". No need to "explain it 
away" if you can simply explain it.

Sure the train driver saw 'Venus' coming down the tracks, chasing the 
train,
and the police were being chased by weather balloons - because it was a
clear night, and it was that time of month/year when weather balloons
were to be released, etc etc.

Skeptics and ET Believers usually agree on the observations - we both see 
things flying around, and we both see blurry objects in photos. The 
disagreement is over the conclusions reached. Skeptics seek an ordinary, 
rational and mundane explanation. ET Believers prefer the exotic, untested, 
unverifiable, bizzare and thrilling explanation.

CM