Where is the UFO community heading?

[Paul Kimball]

A) Hadn't heard of that one, thank you for bringing it to my attention.

No problem - it's one of the great unsung cases, so I plug it whenever I can.

B) The Johnson case basically underlines the statements I've already made. While the persons involved are all totally credible and their eye-witness testimony impeccable, it's still a 53 year old case that basically amounts to nothing more than a sighting. Just like a thousand other sightings. It supports nothing, it proves nothing, it means NOTHING. All it does is add another tick in the "they're secret government weapons" catetgory of UFO explanations.

Actually, most of the best cases go beyond this. Take the Johnson case - it's hard for people to say it was a "secret government aircraft" when Johnson was at the time designing the most secret aircraft the United States had (he went on to design the U2, which was as secret as it got). Could fighter pilots not know about secret aircraft? Absolutely. Kelly Johnson? Anything's possible, but it's so unlikely that only an evangelical debunker would be inclined to accept it. That's what makes it a great case.

I don't buy into this "Raiders" scenario many of you seem to cling to, that somewhere, in some forgotten place, there lies an absolute explanation, a smoking gun we can point to and cry "A-ha!". Sounds like wishful thinking to me. If I were running a top secret program dedicated to the handling of such information I would make damn sure it was either locked away under armed guard 24/7 forever or destroyed.

I concur. In fact, it's entirely possible that the UFO phenomenon represents many things - many unsolved cases are undoubtedly misidentifications of military craft. Some others many be aliens. Some may be time travellers. Some may be from other dimensions. Some may be cryptoterrestrials. Some may be atmospheric phenomena we don't yet understand. And so forth. The problem I have with many in ufology is when they put forward one answer as the only possible solution, when in fact we don't know what all cases are, so we simply can't say one way or another.

Best regards,
Paul

 

[Paul Kimball]

The subject of ufos sure beats spending my time caring about who wins the superbowl, reading about Britney Spear's divorce, Tom Cruise's marriage, watching Springer, and going to church. I ask what the point is to most people's interest. UFOs should be a given interest of humans. It's our nature to explore, think, create, develop, and interact with life. The more profound the more worthy of effort given to that subject. To not do so is a death.

It be nice to one day turn on the news and see a paranormal segment instead of sports. 1 paranormal channel to every 10 sports ones would also be nice. I don't count on it, but I can dream like many in this field do. Contagious I guess.

Actually, I love the Super Bowl.

As for paranormal programming, there's lots of it out there, most of it pure, unadulterated crap. However, there are documentaries and series that have done good work, and they're worth seeking out. History, Discovery, Sci-Fi (and Space in Canada) have all commissioned programs that have made a positive contribution to the serious study of the paranormal. Remember, however, that a 1 hour TV documentary is never going to solve anything. All that it can do is raise questions, provide some possible answers, and then encourage people to look more closely.

An example of a documentary that does that, in a reasonably entertaining way, is Micke MacDonald's film about Shag Harbour, The Shag Harbour UFO Incident.

See: Company - ROAD HOUSE FILMS INCORPORATED

 

[Aaron LeClair]

I'm aware there are many shows. I know of no channels dedictated to the subject like ESPN is to sports. I want my ghost channel instead of Golf.... ZZzzzz. Even fans of golf watch it while they sleep. Go figure.

 

[Paul Kimball]

I'm aware there are many shows. I know of no channels dedictated to the subject like ESPN is to sports. I want my ghost channel instead of Golf.... ZZzzzz. Even fans of golf watch it while they sleep. Go figure.

I've asked people on the broadcaster side of the aisle about that, and every single one of them has told me that the market is simply too small (and they've actually done some research on that). I concur. The paranormal is popular enough in small doses, but probably wouldn't be able to sustain a regular channel devoted solely to it. Certainly not with just factual based programming alone - and once you start adding fiction, then you've basically got Sci-Fi or Space.

Remember, while you might not like golf, there's a very substantial portion of the population who do, many of whom have sizeable incomes, i.e. are key targets for the advertisers upon which any broadcaster relies to pay the bills.

In short, don't hold your breath.

Paul

 

[CapnG]

That and there probably isn't enough content out there to fill 24/7 of paranormal programming. Not unless they fill their timelsots with episodes of "In search Of..."

BTW, thanks for the thorough response, Paul. Shag harbour is indeed an intriguing case (I've seen that documentary... I think). And I agree, the idea that there's one catch-all, "magic bullet" UFO explantion is plain silly.

 

[Rick Deckard]

I've asked people on the broadcaster side of the aisle about that, and every single one of them has told me that the market is simply too small (and they've actually done some research on that).

Well, that sounds like a "chicken and the egg" scenario to me - if there were to be wall-to-wall 'serious' documentaries about the UFO reality, people might think that there's more to it than the tabloid headlines - the market would be created right there...

(isn't it depressing to talk about 'markets' versus 'the greatest story in the history of modern society' - capitalism sure does have it's bad points...)

 

[Paul Kimball]

Well, that sounds like a "chicken and the egg" scenario to me - if there were to be wall-to-wall 'serious' documentaries about the UFO reality, people might think that there's more to it than the tabloid headlines - the market would be created right there...

Rick:

It doesn't quite work like that - and even if it did, it would represent a tremendous financial outlay and risk, in a business that is generally very risk-averse.

Study after study has shown that people prefer light entertainment to more serious stuff. As the old proverb says, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. The same is true for TV viewers.

(isn't it depressing to talk about 'markets' versus 'the greatest story in the history of modern society' - capitalism sure does have it's bad points...)

Perhaps, but I'm not sure this is such a bad thing - there is a glut of UFO-related documentaries out there (not to mention paranormal ones in general), and, as I said, most of them are pure, unadulterated crap. I don't think we need more of them - we just need better ones. I'll always take quality over quantity.

Best regards,
Paul

 

[Rick Deckard]

All very good points.

Personally, I'm watching less and less TV - I have the basic 5 'terrestrial' (as apposed to satellite) channels here in the UK and I watch less than 1 hour of TV day now. There are hundreds of channels available on the satellite systems - these are supposed to provide 'choice' but the reality is that they dilute the quality.

We do have a state-funded service - the BBC - and on the whole, the quality is generally a lot higher than the commercial channels. Over the years, the BBC have produced some excellent documentaries, but they very rarely touch the UFO subject and when they do, it's generally shown in a negative light.

In the end, I'm convinced that the TV is in the hands of those that wish to keep the truth from us, so I doubt that we'll be seeing any serious investigation into the UFO reality on mainstream TV channels any time soon...

...the TV has become nothing more than a tool to convince us to buy more useless 'stuff'...

 

[Paul Kimball]

Personally, I'm watching less and less TV - I have the basic 5 'terrestrial' (as apposed to satellite) channels here in the UK and I watch less than 1 hour of TV day now. There are hundreds of channels available on the satellite systems - these are supposed to provide 'choice' but the reality is that they dilute the quality.

I sympathize. I actually watch very little television, besides new, sports, and Battlestar Galactica, my only "must see" show, which might seem odd given the business I'm in.

In the end, I'm convinced that the TV is in the hands of those that wish to keep the truth from us, so I doubt that we'll be seeing any serious investigation into the UFO reality on mainstream TV channels any time soon...

Here I must disagree with you. I've managed to get commissioned and make five docs now over the years about UFOs, without a single iota of interference from the broadcaster. I know colleagues who have done the same. Nobody is actively trying to "keep the truth from us", at least not in the sense that you suggest.

...the TV has become nothing more than a tool to convince us to buy more useless 'stuff'...

I don't agree completely, but there is a fair bit of truth in this statement. Alas.

On the other hand, nothing in this world is free, and television is a business, so selling ads is important. The trick for a producer is to create a show that can both appeal to the broadcaster for commercial reasons, and also provide some quality content.

I have had a lot of trouble convincing some ufologists of that, however!

Paul

 

[Rick Deckard]

On the other hand, nothing in this world is free, and television is a business, so selling ads is important. The trick for a producer is to create a show that can both appeal to the broadcaster for commercial reasons, and also provide some quality content.

Well....the BBC is 'ad-free' - in the UK, every household pays an annual licence-fee (GB?130 / US$260) to fund it. I, as a licence-fee payer, ought to have some say in the content put out on the BBC...

 

[Paul Kimball]

Well....the BBC is 'ad-free' - in the UK, every household pays an annual licence-fee (GB?130 / US$260) to fund it. I, as a licence-fee payer, ought to have some say in the content put out on the BBC...

In theory, but when you're all license fee payers, it makes it pretty hard for any one person to "have a say".

I've always thought the BBC license fee system was a horrible idea that undermines the ability of the market (i.e. the viewers) to influence programming. It would never fly over here.

Paul

 

[jtaylor]

Okay, I know its old, but four yrs has passed. Are we any closer? Or further? I do believe the media has gotten a little less "silly". I was really surprised by all the media attention about the California "missle" several weeks ago.

 

[Sean Elifritz]

Okay, I know its old, but four yrs has passed. Are we any closer? Or further? I do believe the media has gotten a little less "silly". I was really surprised by all the media attention about the California "missle" several weeks ago.

You think so? Hmm, maybe print media but television is ignoring this subject more than ever right now. All I see on the tube is a million and one ghost hunting shows, pretty much nothing about UFOs. There's one common denominator about those ghost shows that strikes me as funny: Why do all the lights have to be out in a house to look for ghosts? Is it truly impossible to research such things during the day?

 

[jtaylor]

silly,,,,,,with the lights out it makes it scarier...........BOO!!!!! Here is my Jerry Sienfeld impersonation. Just imagine a high whiney voice. "Hey whats the deal with orbs? Are they spirits, or are they dust?" Okay, thats stupid and I apologize. Im not a big believer in the orbs. I do enjoy Faked or Fact or is it Fact or Faked???? Have you seen it?

 

[trainedobserver]

I do enjoy Faked or Fact or is it Fact or Faked???? Have you seen it?

Did you catch the episode where they were doing a "night investigation" and recorded some UFO activity they couldn't explain? I would have thought they would have made a bigger deal out of that footage, after all they shot it.

To answer the question where is the UFO community heading? I think it is still on the same page it began on and that's where it is prone to remain. The proliferation of hoaxers, confidence men, and proponents of pseudo-science combined with the active manipulation by various intelligence agencies makes any real progress toward understanding pretty much impossible. It's a rigged game.

 

[saucerwench]

To answer the question where is the UFO community heading? I think it is still on the same page it began on and that's where it is prone to remain. The proliferation of hoaxers, confidence men, and proponents of pseudo-science combined with the active manipulation by various intelligence agencies makes any real progress toward understanding pretty much impossible. It's a rigged game

An astute observation, trained. I left the Air Force in 1988, and from 1989 up until today nearing 2011, --most-- of the Ufologists I interfaced with about my own government ufo-related conspiracy imperilment, (which is documented with various military/civillian/federal material,) (i.e. FOIA stuff) reacted very negatively, as if they were afraid, but I vividly recall one Honch pulling me aside, and telling me (something like/to the gist of > I have got to stop trying to go around and tell people about what happened to me, because it is not part of the timed plan. Another one said, "Drop it, or you'l wind up in the A file." Is that above and beyond an X-File? Does it have something to do with Kathy Griffin's (Hollywood) "A List" ? (Cuz I'D LIKE TO wind up in that-----file. Errr list....). I'll never forget this one super-vain Ufollywood 'Star', whom, after listening to me basically recount this here very paragraph previous, DEMANDED(!!!) The names of those contrary naysaying Saucerers, cuz, "I need to know who I'm dealing with!" (Yeah? Well, I NEED to be put on Larry King live first, so I can promote my idea of my own beauty line of Ufo-shaped purses. Shmuck.)
I am greatfull to (1.) Don Ecker (2.)Barry Greenwood (3.) Tim Beckley For --trying-- anyway, to tell my True Saga!

---------- Post added at 07:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 PM ----------

There is a real Ufo phenomenon, but this is where I stand. "We don't know exactly what and why it is and where it's from." I believe that such is true for various government people as well. I believe that, BECAUSE I have NOT jumped on the "I demand a Full Disclosure announcement from the US WhiteHouse!!!" I am to be deemed non-existent by agendized Saucerers, some of whom may be on aggressive Globalist assignments by Handlers.

 

[Kieran]

Journalists and media personalties are for the most part not stupid or ignorant, about everyday news stories, but when it comes to the paranormal, you do have to forgive the laughter coming from some of these TV and News Presenters. I certainly hate seeing it, but for the most part a genuine emotion is being expressed by those who do laugh. Ok so called Media-celebrities have over years chucked to themselves after hearing a UFO story, but again, Media personalties who talk to the public everyday are not clued into the UFO subject really, thats pretty much established at this point, so you have to forgive the ignorance shown by those who do feel the need to express that emotion.

Is it changing, Yes! the reporting is getting better, over the last three years reporting of weird objects in the sky has got better. I personally believe they know the public will go elsewhere, if they don't provide such news as this, and young readers are more media savvy then their elders, and according to the figures, there does seem to be a surge away from newspaper buying to reading the News online, no media outlet wants to be behind the game when an important event crops up, well that would be bad for business.

The Missile California was not something belonging to an alien group or something directed at aliens, it likely has human origin or cause, yes still a mystery, but the reporting of it was never about aliens! but was a story that was strong enough to have caught the imagination of the American public, without the internet personally speaking, me been a foreigner. I probably most likely wouldn't have ever seen or read anything about the sighting have'n taken place.

 

[Kandinsky]

Where is the UFO community heading? Hmmm...

My current take on it* is that the 'community' is heading in the same direction it has always been going in. You might be thinking how 'exopolitics' and guys like Sturrock and the NARCAP associates could possibly be going the same way? Add Greer and Ed Grimsley to that and then throw in us ill-begotten 'garden variety' of UFO fans/buffs/aficionados. Don't leave out the transcendentalists, DMTers or control system guys either. Blossom Goodchild has her place alongside Van Tassel and Gordon Cooper. There's a long line of colourful characters disappearing from sight back into the 50s and beyond...

Some we respect, some we detest and the rest provide the comedy.

Where are we all heading? Nobody knows, but a cartoon from the 70s probably represents the 'UFO community' more accurately than most. Picture a squabbling bunch of characters seeking to outdo each other through any means necessary and be first over the finish line.

It's 'Wacky Races.'



*I think I have UFO fatigue lol