Pennsylvania MUFON conundrum

[Ron Collins]

So inspired by the last episode I decided to checkout the PA Mufon site. I found something that bothered me there.


http://www.pamufon.com/field-investigator-corner.html

Look at the bottom of the page 5th banner from the top or even that big Michael Salla exopolotics one. Nestled in the same "take me seriously area" as Bruce Maccabee and NICAP. Just when I started to think that there might be a MUFON chapter out there that didn't piss me off!

So my question is this, am I being a picky a-hole because this bugs me so much?

 

[Gareth]

It bugs the hell outta me too. But it also doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[Double Nought Spy]

Generally, Mufon has been a mess for decades. Anyone who followed the Gulf Breeze train wreck back in the day knows about the "highly questionable" machinations that went on with the state organization there, and the results. That's just one example of obvious manipulation by (presumably) outside forces.

I finally got around to watching that little intro video on their web site, the one with the idiotic "drone" image, a Billy Beamship, and who knows how many hubcaps, frisbees and dog dishes mixed in with who can guess how many pictures of real mystery objects. Good Gawd! How can I ever take Mufon seriously after seeing that?

 

[EQ42]

There are a lot of quacks in ufology- and yes, MUFON is not immune to them. You can't go to any ufo conference without running into crazies. But I still think it's a valuable organization with tons of fine, SANE people/investigators. I'm not going to disparage the entire organization because I don't agree with some of the members. Given the open nature of MUFON and what they are looking into many of the loons are bound to gravitate to it. I choose to look past them and focus on the people who I think are doing something worthwhile.

 

[Schuyler]

The Mufon structure has contributed to this. Ironically, Walt Andrus tried to establish a heirarchical structure that also allowed flexibility for local chapters, an almost impossible task. As a result local chapters can get dominated by kooks. I don't think local chapters reflect Mufon as a whole. Whenever you have a branch/corporate structure the branches tend to develop a feeling of independence from the central headquarters--even developing into antagonism. Only with a strong central structure that insists on following corporate policies can this be avoided, but in a volunteer organization this is tough to do, perhaps even counter-productive.

My attitude about Mufon has been that it is an archaic organization for some time. Walt had a hard time with change. I'm not sure teaching people 'how to investigate UFO sightings' by measuring indentations and calculating trajectories is useful any more. How much more of that can we stand? But lately I've thought Mufon managed a transition pretty well, all things considered.

 

[Double Nought Spy]

I thought things were getting better and for a while it looked like Carrion might be able to whip things into shape, but the credibility problems persist. That's why I am amazed and appalled by things like that video, right there on the home page of the national headquarters web site, or the forum the national organization hosts. Yikes!

Of course there are a lot of good people "in" Mufon, but most of what we see lately are high profile fusses involving Carrion or embarrassing stories of botched collaborations. None of this does anything for the organization's credibility. Does anyone really expect the media to look past the crap and find the good solid work done by all the volunteers who don't get mentioned? They should at least keep their "virtual front office" free of dingbats and obvious hoaxes.