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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be concerned about the balloon discovered hovering over Montana

262 replies

MeetPi · 03/02/2023 05:57

The balloon is said to be a Chinese spy balloon up to three football fields long. In the last few minutes, another balloon has possibly been spotted over Canada - where the first balloon apparently came through to the US.

Purportedly President Biden wanted to shoot the balloon down, but the Pentagon convinced him otherwise, as this could prove a risk to people on the ground.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/02/pentagon-chinese-spy-balloon

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Gawpygertie · 03/02/2023 07:01

Surely it will come down eventually like helium balloons when they gradually crumple?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/02/2023 07:07

Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk · 03/02/2023 06:35

It's the size of three buses - not three football fields ...

Maybe it's this bus they're referring to?

Indecisivebynature · 03/02/2023 07:09

Just another thing that makes me wonder/fear for the future. I find it scary when I look at my very young children and wonder what will happen within their lifetimes. Humans are never happy just being, far too destructive.

RichardsGear · 03/02/2023 07:13

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon.

LeticiaDejeuner · 03/02/2023 07:16

I like that the article clarifies it is "too big to be the moon." Imagine the embarrassment....

BarrelOfOtters · 03/02/2023 07:18

What if it isn’t the Chinese…Aliens?. 👽

restwaste · 03/02/2023 07:19

Switchwitch · 03/02/2023 06:01

I'm amazed they can have a balloon that tracks people and spies on nuclear sites but my Amazon Alexa tries to play me house music rather than time my pasta on the hob.

😂

2bazookas · 03/02/2023 07:24

Endlesssummer2022 · 03/02/2023 06:31

Read the article and I’m concerned about the increased use of these things. If they fall out of the sky, they could cause death and damage on the ground, whereas satellites would burn up before hitting the ground.

You must be very worried about planes, too?

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 03/02/2023 07:30

BarrelOfOtters · 03/02/2023 07:18

What if it isn’t the Chinese…Aliens?. 👽

Jean Jacket.

RicherThanYews · 03/02/2023 07:41

It'll be a federation ship if it has no cloaking device, there's an agreement with the Romulans.
.

batterseaparkfireworks · 03/02/2023 07:44

Propaganda...

MissPoldark · 03/02/2023 07:48

Switchwitch · 03/02/2023 06:01

I'm amazed they can have a balloon that tracks people and spies on nuclear sites but my Amazon Alexa tries to play me house music rather than time my pasta on the hob.

The irony is of course that the primary purpose of Alexa isn’t to help you but is to gather your data, pretty much like the spy balloon.

notimagain · 03/02/2023 07:49

Augend23 · 03/02/2023 06:10

I guess I don't really know what the balloon will do that a satellite can't? It sounded from that article like they weren't really sure if that either?

Distance....

If you want to photograph something in fine detail or get in close to eavesdrop on a conversation (maybe one taking place over a radio network) the closer you get the better. Satellites are at their lowest maybe just under a hundred miles up, whereas this thing is I think maybe fifteen'ish miles up.

Must admit though that doing it by balloon is a bit quaint since it's a bit weather dependent and risks your spying gadgets falling into the oppositions hands, so I'd reckon there's a large PR/propaganda element to this.

EasterIssland · 03/02/2023 07:52

MissPoldark · 03/02/2023 07:48

The irony is of course that the primary purpose of Alexa isn’t to help you but is to gather your data, pretty much like the spy balloon.

Show quote history

If that’s the case my Alexa is grabbing the wrong info
alexa lights
alexa : what song would you like to play

ffs

notimagain · 03/02/2023 07:55

@Augend23

..Should have added in addition to the distance issue satellites (well the lower orbiting ones) can't loiter over a fixed spot either, so balloons can have (very limited) advantages in certain applications.

Igotjelly · 03/02/2023 07:56

These things happen from time to time (and it’s not just the Chinese, every country is watching others). It’s just on the edge of outer space so we’ll above civilian airspace.

As for Alexa it’s always collecting information, no just when you’re speaking directly to it. Same with your phone and many other devices.

ChaToilLeam · 03/02/2023 07:57

They need a very, very long pin.

WestwardHo1 · 03/02/2023 08:00

RichardsGear · 03/02/2023 07:13

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon.

Absolutely.

This is my internal monologue whenever anyone wails that they hate humanity and how destructive and aggressive "we" are.

BroadwayMalady · 03/02/2023 08:01

I read this initially as a balloon hovering over Madonna!

GreenBiscuitr · 03/02/2023 08:03

It's a load of rubbish one way or another, if China wanted to spy they can do it perfectly easily from satellites in space.

SamanthaCaine · 03/02/2023 08:04

BarrelOfOtters · 03/02/2023 07:18

What if it isn’t the Chinese…Aliens?. 👽

Haven't you seen the film 'Nope'?

notimagain · 03/02/2023 08:07

GreenBiscuitr · 03/02/2023 08:03

It's a load of rubbish one way or another, if China wanted to spy they can do it perfectly easily from satellites in space.

There are certain advantages to being able to get close and also loiter to some extent over an area of interest..satellites can't do that, old fashioned balloons can do that to some extent.

Riverlee · 03/02/2023 08:08

Not very discreet for a spy device is it.

Reminds me of something I saw on Facebook recently:

… if James Bond is the most well known spy in the world, then he wasn’t very good at his job!

Ifailed · 03/02/2023 08:09

Well men, really. I bet there were precisely no Chinese women involved in the development and deployment of this balloon

That's a sexist attitude to take, there are plenty of women scientists employed by China. Several 100 women worked on the Manhattan Project

SamanthaCaine · 03/02/2023 08:09

GreenBiscuitr · 03/02/2023 08:03

It's a load of rubbish one way or another, if China wanted to spy they can do it perfectly easily from satellites in space.

I know right.

Everything we buy is made in China, especially electronics devices. We're buying more Chinese cars nowadays, ride around in their taxis, are addicted to TikTok and the Chinese own a huge chunk of this country. They've been able to snoop on everything we do for years. But now we're worried about a balloon Grin

It's most likely a decoy so whilst everyone is looking up, someone is picking our pockets.

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