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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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5
Original poster
MeetPi · 03/02/2023 08:45

DogInATent · 03/02/2023 08:33

Of course YABU.
Unless you're in Montana.
What are your actual concerns?

Perhaps look up what China has been building in the South China Sea.

OP posts:
IWantToBeACat · 03/02/2023 08:46

I'd be more thinking about what this big balloon is a distraction for... Far too obvious to not be a diversion tactic for something more sinister going on somewhere else.

As for Alexa, the other day I asked her what a word meant. She gave me a recipe for aubergine curry. 😂

MargaretThursday · 03/02/2023 08:49

So they've put something up that is very large, slow, at the mercy of the weather if it goes wrong, easy to bring down... It's kind of not really very practical from a country that specialises in technology.

And it listens to cell phone conversations. So currently China is wading through a large number of
"Wtf is that?" conversations. Will keep them busy anyway, I suppose.

I think I'd be more concerned that it is a distraction from the tiny drones that I've no doubt they can produce and control in large numbers.

notimagain · 03/02/2023 08:50

Mamamia7962 · 03/02/2023 08:42

There could be one floating over this country right now and you wouldn't know about it, unless the Government reported on it. The balloons travel at a much higher altitude than commercial aircraft so wouldn't be able to be seen from the ground.

Met observers/astronomers and others who look up a lot would spot something this big in a flash, I've certainly seen big weather balloons at high altitude (>50,000 feet ) from ground level and they are not as big as this thing..

BTW balloons this size (umpty football fields )have been around for the best part of a century, they were used for (sometimes crewed) upper atmosphere research way back in the early years of the twentieth century..so to some extent there's nothing new under the sun.

As for floating things across the Pacific to get to the US - the less anxious might want to look at what the Japanese got up to in WW2...

Nolongera · 03/02/2023 08:52

It's ballon someone has made, possibly big. Probably some nerd in his mom's basement. He might have been clever and worked out how not to let it float away and burst, or he might be lucky.

The idea the USA wouldn't blow something up they thought was hostile to it is ridiculous.

It might not even be that big, it's gone from 3 football fields to 3 buses in the duration of this thread.

Of course it might be big, it's worth spending the time learning between the difference of small/far away.

RomansTheyGoTheHouse · 03/02/2023 08:55

EasterIssland · 03/02/2023 07:52

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

ffs

Show quote history

Alexa is very clearly a personality testing device, designed to gather info the the characteristics of the every person. That's why it gets things wrong on purpose, to see how you react.

In my house, I think it must have me categorised as an inpatient women, prone to swearing at robotic devices Grin

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 03/02/2023 08:55

It makes you wonder what spy shit we have above China.

Donotgogentle · 03/02/2023 08:56

MeetPi · 03/02/2023 08:45

Perhaps look up what China has been building in the South China Sea.

Show quote history

I agree OP.

An overt spy balloon over American territory (IF that’s what it is) would be a really provocative move from China.

Reminds me of the many times the RAF have had to escort Russian fighter planes at the edge of UK air space, it’s provocative and a flexing of military muscle.

The spying itself is a non-issue, everyone does it.

AutumnLeaves5 · 03/02/2023 09:03

With the amount of satellites, radar and monitoring of air space in America I just can’t see how something of this size has floated in and been unnoticed for days. I’d also think China are smarter, or more sneaky, with their intelligence gathering then a big balloon which America will likely capture….unless China are trying to “plant” incorrect information

DogInATent · 03/02/2023 09:03

MeetPi · 03/02/2023 08:45

Perhaps look up what China has been building in the South China Sea.

Show quote history

I doubt it's an even bigger balloon.

And supposedly it's the balloon that's got you concerned, and the balloon that you'd like us all to become worried about.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 03/02/2023 09:03

The photos are a little disappointing, I was expecting to see a balloon like from the film 'Up'. How boring.

DoorstoManual · 03/02/2023 09:06

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/02/2023 08:44

I'm not sure what's more alarming, the thought of a theme tune coming out or the fact that you didn't play an entire requiem (Fauré?) and tried to jump to the end.

There's no point getting too het up over the Chinese Eyeballs in the Sky. Although that is, of course, assuming that it is actually Chinese and not a Vogon fleet.

Show quote history

@NeverDropYourMooncup

I had just been given a date for the sale of the family home (my mother died last year) and we had it at communion. I was trying to ground myself.

By the time I had shouted at Alexa, my sadness had passed. Grin

DogInATent · 03/02/2023 09:09

It's not just a "balloon" it is an enormous structure, said to be the size of three football fields, flying over populated areas, doing no-one knows what, sent by a country that is hostile to the USA, and it may or may not fall from the sky and crush an innocent township/school/groups of motorists/suburb, etc.

It's a balloon. It's mostly mylar and either helium or hydrogen. It's big because it has to be big to lift even a modest payload. If it came down to the ground it would be mostly a big pile of flappy fabric. It's not suburb-crusher.

mauvish · 03/02/2023 09:10

This may be flippant, but I've long thought that it's probably safe to assume that everyone (in espionage) knows everyone else's business, no matter how (some) people try to keep it secret.

So -- plus ca change?

Crazykatie · 03/02/2023 09:10

They are obviously spying and trying out a new system, maybe released from China or possibly a ship offshore, drifting in the stratosphere it could be targeted anywhere in the US or otherwise. It obviously serves a function that satellites cannot do, picking up short range 5G signals or other bugs hidden in Chinese made electronics maybe. Destroying them before they enter airspace is the best course of action.

oakleaffy · 03/02/2023 09:11

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/02/2023 07:07

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

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😂

oakleaffy · 03/02/2023 09:15

StressedToTheMaxxx · 03/02/2023 09:03

The photos are a little disappointing, I was expecting to see a balloon like from the film 'Up'. How boring.

I was expecting an Airship type thing like Hindenberg’ Blimp - shaped.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 03/02/2023 09:21

They won’t shoot it down because it’s got a radioactive payload hanging below.

It hasn’t, I just made it up - but that would be cool as an explanation.

minorproblem · 03/02/2023 09:25

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.

Need these kind of comments to calm my nerves . I read too much dystopian fiction

FaoinDrualus · 03/02/2023 09:25

It's just so blatant!! You think of spying as being covert and trying to keep under the radar - not flying a massive balloon straight into it!

At least the UK tried to be discrete with their fake spy rock ... www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16614209

YoungMouse · 03/02/2023 09:26

AutumnLeaves5 · 03/02/2023 09:03

With the amount of satellites, radar and monitoring of air space in America I just can’t see how something of this size has floated in and been unnoticed for days. I’d also think China are smarter, or more sneaky, with their intelligence gathering then a big balloon which America will likely capture….unless China are trying to “plant” incorrect information

It's unlikely it's been unnoticed for days. It's just that we're only hearing about it now.

MistressoftheDarkSide · 03/02/2023 09:27

Between accidentally watching the new Sam Smith video, then opening this thread, I'm actually beginning to think I've woken up in the Twilight Zone. In fact I actually checked that this wasn't a zombie April Fools thread because .... well obvious reasons....

Whatever "they" are all up to, I kind of wish they'd piss or get off the pot.

Welcome to Freaky Friday I guess.....

JennyJenny8675309 · 03/02/2023 09:31

ChaToilLeam · 03/02/2023 07:57

They need a very, very long pin.

Finally, we have a workable solution. 🤣

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz · 03/02/2023 09:40

Allthelego · 03/02/2023 06:38

Clicked before I read the title properly. Was sad it’s not hovering over Madonna.

Grin
Abhannmor · 03/02/2023 09:45

milkyaqua · 03/02/2023 06:30

It's not just a "balloon" it is an enormous structure, said to be the size of three football fields, flying over populated areas, doing no-one knows what, sent by a country that is hostile to the USA, and it may or may not fall from the sky and crush an innocent township/school/groups of motorists/suburb, etc.

Yeah but there's only about 23 people in Montana and it's bigger than the UK. I exaggerate of course. But only a bit