Credible UFO witnesses not sufficient proof
The Iron Skeptic
Aaron Sakulich
Issue date: 10/8/04 Section: Sci-Tech
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Though they would have you believe otherwise, it is easy to pinpoint the beginning of the abductee craze: Betty Hill. She and her husband were driving down a long, dark road and were "abducted". They described small, gray aliens with heads shaped like light bulbs, the now common staple of pop culture.
Later, it was learned that Betty Hill had a previous interest in UFOs and that the whole thing was a product of her overactive imagination. Yet as soon as word of her "spacenapping" by "the grays" got out, they became a common theme in American UFO stories. I say American because of an interesting division: In America, the aliens that abduct people are usually the small, evil gray folks. In Europe and elsewhere, they are almost universally reported as tall, blond and benign. Evidence of two alien races vying for our attention or subtle indicator of cultural bias of made-up stories? If you guessed #1, you guessed wrong.
I would love nothing more than to describe in detail the hundreds of cases I've read about and debunk them one by one as the products of hoaxes, practical jokes, hallucinations or cries for attention; however, it may be better to speak of them generally. Let me be absolutely clear about this: UFOs exist. They exist as strange atmospheric phenomena, classified aircraft, weather balloons or rare weather patters. A person who sees a UFO is probably telling the truth, and the event might have occurred. A person who claims to have been abducted by aliens is lying, hallucinating, or on the receiving end of a bad joke. There are no other options.
Generally, it starts like this: When alone somewhere, be it driving down a dark and lonely road or sleeping alone in a backwoods home, the abductee senses something is wrong. This is called the Oz Factor. Animals act irregularly, senses are dulled or sharpened, people do things they wouldn't do otherwise, time slips by. Things just take on a dream-like quality.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 11
brentlewis
brentlewis
posted 10/08/04 @ 2:48 PM EST
With the concept of advanced extraterrestrials, just about any hypothesis holds a kernel of plausibility. For example, let's entertain the notion for a moment that ETs exist and they are way more intelligent than us, and so they are just brimming with astoundingly clever ways to thwart our discovering them. (Continued…)
mellaw22
mellaw22
posted 10/09/04 @ 2:57 AM EST
I don't know or really understand what it takes to be a credible witness to a ufo related experience. I have witnessed a few of these things that we don't seem to understand. (Continued…)
terry
terry
posted 10/11/04 @ 1:44 PM EST
Another pearl of 'wisdom' from Mr. Sakulich. Spouting unfounded generalizations as if they were gospel.
When someone says there are "no other options", that is a sure sigh of closed, unscientific, mindedness. (Continued…)
Frank
Frank
posted 10/19/04 @ 2:45 PM EST
Dear Mr. Sakulich,
Once again I see you have put pen to paper concerning the UFO phenomenon, this time in particular "abductees," and once again although being a "senior majoring in materials science and engineering," you have me pondering the quality of the teachings you are receiving, furthermore; since you've been given the privilege of writing in your student newspaper, one would hope, particularly "because you are a product of academia," and your voice is heard across the internet, in association with "The Triangle," that you would take the time to research your subject matter thoroughly. (Continued…)
jrichardson
jrichardson
posted 11/07/04 @ 12:04 PM EST
Upon reading this article, it is obvious that a reply was necessary to the intellectually deficient analysis of the ufo phenomenon and what is or is not credible evidence. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 6/25/06 @ 2:10 AM EST
I see no open mindedness,very little humility,some stern objections, some resentments towards UFO encountees, some anger and cold blind rationality.
Perhaps you need to go on the internet and read about the "Discloser Project"
and read about the MJ 12. (Continued…)
John Atwell
posted 9/30/06 @ 12:15 AM EST
"A person who claims to have been abducted by aliens is lying, hallucinating, or on the receiving end of a bad joke. There are no other options".
This is the most cretinous, gullible, unscientific statement ever written. (Continued…)
Snap
posted 1/17/08 @ 11:08 PM EST
"A person who claims to have been abducted by aliens is lying, hallucinating, or on the receiving end of a bad joke. There are no other options."
With all due respect, simply making such an assertion without reason or evidence is no more or less compelling than the assertions the author seeks to "dissmiss". (Continued…)
James Donaghy
posted 4/08/09 @ 10:05 AM EST
I am a witness to the orb type ufo, does this mean you consider me to be insane?
You probably would not research this particular phenomina too deeply if you hold such a view, but if you had you might have realised that witnesses like me have been telling a similar story since jack of the lantern and Will o' the wisp before him. (Continued…)
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