On the other hand, maybe it's to soften the reality that we're not alone so people won't freak.
At this point if there are still people who would "freak" at learning the mundane, common knowledge that we're not alone, then those people are freaks who need to just go ahead and freak. Everyone else already gets it.
The "no evidence of aliens or UFOs" crowd sounds no different from the "no evidence of election fraud", "no evidence of Nazi atrocities", or "no evidence we walked on the moon" crowd. No matter how much evidence you show them, the answer is always the same: no evidence. Wheeeee! ;p
At this point if there are still people who would "freak" at learning the mundane, common knowledge that we're not alone, then those people are freaks who need to just go ahead and freak. Everyone else already gets it.
The "no evidence of aliens or UFOs" crowd sounds no different from the "no evidence of election fraud", "no evidence of Nazi atrocities", or "no evidence we walked on the moon" crowd. No matter how much evidence you show them, the answer is always the same: no evidence. Wheeeee! ;p