Chris
Whilst what you asked is a perfectly resonable question, and indeed a few years ago I would probably asked the same, the replies you have received are not related to any ego trip.
Let me explain.
Speaking for myself, I am a student ppl, I don't have any sort of licence yet, let alone the exhaulted chalice that is the ATPL. Yet I am trained to fly, and to the vast majority of the public, this would appear to be something of a black art. This "mystique" has sadly been further enhanced by the banning of cockpit visits in flight. Put simply, Joe Public doesn't really understand what the game is about, all he knows is that that silver tube will get him to sunnier climes, and that in the event of a crash it makes all the headlines. The reason for this is simply that if an airliner crashes, there is a massive loss of life in one easy go, even though our motorway network claims more lives than aviation every year.
The question you asked is, although reasonable, indicative of one that you your average parasitic jounalist working for the Daily ******* (Insert name of any rag you feel like here) would ask. As the public have to a degree, a fear of flying, a simple non-event such as a go around (we all practice them from time to time) which could be the result of one of any number of reasons, although a man chasing a baloon does appear at the far end of the spectrum, would result in columns full of over dramatised, scaremongering crap being printed the next day.
Sadly, even though I always thought that a degree of some kind was required for entry into the journalist profession, and therefore you would assume some level of intelligence, most journos (note... not all) are that moronically stupid that they post questions like your on this forum, thinking that we as pilots will "spill the beans". It's a bit like asking a group of coppers anything to do with poice work, all that happens is that we all clam up, apart from making plain statements of fact, such "it is an operational non-event", or with the delicate touch of humour, served on a bed of sarcasm.
Bottom line, you got these answers bacause we are not trusting of jounalists, and they have been known to post questions on here, get a sensible answer, that by a miracle of modern jounalism has become "jet in near miss" and so-on. We are not trying to be pompous about what we do, be it a 747, or a cessna 150 with L plates on it like me, anything to do with a break from the norm in aviation, which happens hudreds of times a day all over the world could be blown up beyond all recognition by one irresponsible hack, and scare the general public. That is why you were treated to sarcasm, pomposity and general mistrust. No offense.