Are Aliens Real? (real alien sightings video footage, alien abductions, space aliens exist, ufos pictures, extraterrestrials)

Have humans had encounters with extraterrestrial aliens?  There are thousands who claim they have, from simply seeing alien spacecraft in the distance or up close, through seeing aliens to being abducted by them.  The nature of the claims are often similar: flying discs, bright lights, small gray or green creatures with large heads, large eyes and frail bodies.  The witnesses often claim to be temporarily paralyzed, stunned by lights and have lost a sense of time.  Alien experimentation usually is described as poking prodding, inserting strange devices to remove human sperm or eggs or insert alien devices.  Some claim that the purpose of the experiments is to produce alien/human offspring.  In some cases there is evidence of cuts or bruises on their bodies.

Alien encounters have been reported throughout history.  The Bible and ancient Sanskrit texts that refer to flying machines, can be interpreted as evidence of alien visitors, as Erich Von Däniken has claimed in his numerous publications.  They have also been described in all parts of the world.

Skeptics have no difficulty bringing up arguments to counter believers accounts.  They cite lack of convincing physical evidence of the aliens.  Some skeptics believe that those who claim alien encounters are simply seeking attention, or dealing with mental problems such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  The fact that reports of sighting and encounters tend to rise dramatically when a well-publicized movie comes out makes those reports dubious.  Also problematic is the failure to find any alien devices in bodies of abductees.  In many cases other simpler explanations, such as weather balloons, or teenage pranksters are shown to be the real cause.

On the other hand, there are rebuttal arguments for believers.  These often involve Government cover-ups to hide evidence.  Also, the aliens, given their advanced intelligence, are quite capable of destroying evidence.

Whatever the case may be, most people, according to a recent CNN poll, continue to believe that alien encounters are real, that aliens have abducted humans and that the government is engaged in a cover-up concerning alien affairs.