Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Branching Out

Our research interests may change as our horizons widen. This may ironically come about through honing in on specific aspects of reported UFOs and related phenomena such as alleged alien abduction. Focusing on finer points can result in studying potentially important yet often overlooked subject matter. In my experience, a working knowledge of some of the following topics is essential to understanding various theories and explanations offered. Whether or not we choose to pursue such theories, we simply will not understand them if we remain uninformed.

Psychological Trauma

This is square one. It may very well be among the most significant and least understood aspects of the UFO community. In my admittedly professionally unqualified opinion, symptoms of psychological trauma and the related emotional distress account for the vast majority of reports of alien abduction, high strangeness, military abductees (MILABS), targeted individuals (TIs) and similar titles applied. I have come to the conclusion we must accept that to be the case in order to proceed rationally and credibly. 

That stated, I do not consider myself entitled to tell people what did or did not happen to them. People may interpret experiences as they choose and discuss them as they see fit. Psychological and physiological conditions, relevant as they may be, do not account for all reports. As researchers, we are best served to proceed cautiously, professionally, and respectfully.

Hypnotist Barbara Lamb, who "helps" people learn they
are ET-human hybrids and presents them at conferences
Challenges arise when self-described investigators put forth witness testimonies as supportive of a preferred hypothesis, such as alleged alien abduction and/or military abduction, while refusing to entertain alternative, more likely possibilities. Similar challenges arise when organizations, such as the Mutual UFO Network and the International UFO Congress, offer such researchers (or the human subjects of their research) platforms to promote their interpretations while claiming to be dedicated to scientific study. Doing so tends to take the witness narration more into public scrutiny, as it arguably should at that point. At the least, the professional research process requires questioning the methodologies of the "researchers" involved once they play the science card. That bleeds into issues of ethics and integrity as have been explored on this blog at length, and I'm sure we will consider them more in the future. 

My current point, please, is that if we do not make intentional efforts to adequately understand such inherently human conditions as emotional trauma and false memories, and how they pertain to ufology, we are left with substantially incomplete renderings of the very topic we claim to pursue. It is a given that many reports involve incorrect interpretations, so it is only reasonable to acknowledge that to be the case while taking the responsibility to learn more about how they manifest and encouraging others to do the same.   

Additional reading:

Coping with Emotional and Psychological Trauma, helpguide.org

How childhood trauma could affect your life expectancy, relationships and mental health, Independent

Ethics of Exploring the Fringe, Part One: Sharon Weinberger and Nigel Watson on Responsible Reporting, The UFO Trail

Ethics of Exploring the Fringe, Part Two: Mark Pilkington on Deception Operations, Witness Claims and More, The UFO Trail 

False Memories 

I recently browsed some UFO discussion forums and discovered participants who remain terribly under informed about topics such as memory functions and dynamics surrounding hypnosis. If you're considering reasons ufology gains no traction, this is a huge one.

Witness testimony is the least reliable form of evidence. I'm more than willing to reiterate it's not my place to accept and reject claims of personal experiences, but if we want to present testimonies as indicative of a preferred hypothesis, collaborating evidence is extremely helpful.

The work of such experts as Loftus, Shaw, Morgan, and what has now become the accepted paradigm of the entire scientific community demonstrates memories are riddled with inaccuracies. It's a characteristic of human memory. It's also been demonstrated again and again how easily people can be led to form memories of events that never happened. 

Point for emphasis: A hypnosis subject does not have to be intentionally led in order to produce false memories. It can occur during a biased, ill advised hypnotic search for memories of aliens. Actually, it's extremely likely. That's a big part of the point. The same can be said for (non-hypnosis) interviews conducted by overeager "investigators."

Additional reading:

Memory Distortion and False Memory Creation, Elizabeth Loftus, PhD 

People Can Be Convinced They Committed a Crime That Never Happened, Association for Psychological Science   

Most of us recall events that never happened, Unexplained Mysteries

Classified Flying Objects

We've heard UFO witnesses explain, "It wasn't any kind of craft like I've ever seen. It couldn't have been one of ours."

Aerial refueling
It should be apparent that unless a person is up on classified aircraft and related advancements, they're not in a position to offer such an assessment. There have been fascinating developments in manned and unmanned aerial vehicles over the years, and our eyes might play tricks on us when we see things we're not used to seeing, such as planes refueling during flight. Did you know, for instance, NOVA reported in 2013 about an airplane wing that changes shape as it flies? 

At the risk of sounding cynical, this point has long perplexed me. I find it difficult to identify anything other than cultural conditioning (scifi, movies, questionable talk radio, etc.) as a primary reason one would suspect a flying object not to be made by humans. 

To try to offer some context, isn't it kind of like not knowing the make and model of an automobile that drives past and then jumping to the conclusion it must have been manufactured by non-human beings? What would lead a person to think such a thing about aircraft? The answer to that question would be movies like Star Wars and stories like Lonnie Zamora, but I think my point is valid: If it's flying around and it's a physical craft, one should suppose it's made by humans until substantial reasons arise to think differently.

Additional reading:

One Nation Under DronesThe UFO Trail

Thought Drones Were New to the Skies? Think AgainThe UFO Trail

One of Those Posts About Validated Conspiracy TheoriesThe UFO Trail

Intelligence Community

The problem with discussing the influence of the intelligence community in ufology is that many people who would challenge its significance do not have a working knowledge of its history and circumstances. While it is admittedly difficult to identify cause and effect in the often nebulous and confusing intersections of the intel and UFO communities, that doesn't change the fact many interested in the latter know nearly nothing about the former, and it doesn't change the fact those intersections are indeed easy to demonstrate.

What's more, the lack of knowledge of or interest in the IC is found throughout both demographics of what we might term believers and skeptics. It's okay if they're not interested, but it's unbecoming to attempt to argue about topics that they are obviously unequipped to meaningfully discuss in the first place.

In order to add constructively to such discussions, one should not only make efforts to understand specific points presented by others, but activities and context of the applicable era as well. Recent developments in the U.S. intelligence community serve as excellent examples of ways volatile and dramatic situations may arise, as well as the importance of understanding their significance when exploring events that surround them.

Additional reading:

Influence of the Intelligence Community in Ufology, The UFO Trail

Psy Ops and Mind Control: Then, Now and the UFO Community, The UFO Trail

In closing, I'd like to add that the same dynamics could be applied virtually across the board to UFO research: If it's not something you're interested in, and you haven't spent time researching it, perhaps you shouldn't try to explain it to others.

For example, my interest in UFOs - literal reports of unidentified flying objects - has admittedly decreased significantly in recent years. I have come to be much more intrigued by cultural aspects of ufology. You therefore won't find me going on at length about something I choose not to pursue and I recognize as an area in which others develop a substantial knowledge base.

I identify the differences between things I suspect and things which can be demonstrated to be factual. I'm willing to change my mind when facts dictate. I most respect the work and actions of others who show abilities to do the same, and those are the people I'm most willing to learn from and with. Partisan arguing is unbecoming and unproductive on either side of the aisle. Most importantly, it's not on the path to truth.     

7 comments:

  1. Nice article, I visit here regularly but this is my first comment.

    The fly in the ointment is when what is seen clearly to be physical object that makes no sense to a reasonably informed, educated and respectable person(s) in good health in a daylight sighting at reasonably close range. These are rare but existent and not to be confused with photo-shopped nonsense, lights in the night sky and etc.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree there are anomalies that deserve more attention. Thanks for your interest and support. They're appreciated.

      Delete
  2. Mornin' Jack,

    Once again Jack you’ve hit it out of the park … you’ve nailed it! Pick your metaphor.

    You’ve offered up sober observation and criticism in a very logical and diplomatic manner regarding subtopics under the UFO umbrella—bravo!

    I have often argued with self-described researchers/investigators that their job is not to prove (re sightings) or authenticate a UFO, often (erroneously) referred to as an “alien craft,” but to take the opposite approach and prove that the object has a mundane explanation. Once that has been accomplished, and all avenues have been exhausted and the object remains UNIDENTIFIED—then that case goes into the UNKNOWN column and deserves further investigation.

    Of course this common sense methodology applies across the board …

    Keep up the good work!

    Cheers,
    Frank

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Jack,
    Seasons Greetings and a prosperous New Year to you and yours..
    I was glossing over Buzz Aldrin flareup the last week ..another event which fizzled out as based on a fake twitter.
    All of a sudden I found myself wading thru all the hidden base thing in Antarctica , Gabriels Arc, John Carpenters mts of madness works, Haarp etc..I should have worn a Hazmat suit.
    Like you I was interested how so many separate things converge..the mythos as it were. And it lead me to beyond HP Lovecraft to Alisteir Crowley, and his works.It was as if I had stepped on to solid shore after a long trek in a swamp. The short story Hashish Man was like an intersection point of all things west and all things east..he had traveled extensively, having had a good inheritance, immersed himself in the egyptian meme streams and rituals. Was a member of the Hashish club in Uk swore by it and like whitely streiber had eerily similar vision. The use of these opiates were used ritualistically and careful notes taken..sometimes a group or with an apprentice.
    For all sakes and purposes, using the astral travel meditations he was an internal astronaut...encountering extra dimensional beings and God(s) ...that said it is no surprise as he had a small following and wrote extensively..that the alien mythos converged with the Demonological belief systems.
    What you may find interesting is that he worked for British Intelligence against Germany, and in fact infiltrated the groups that UK was interested in ..by wwii he was of no use as he had become addicted to Heroin.
    I'll leave it at there..

    Buzz aldrin is a very religious man, but I found out his use of double watches and crossing arms was consistent with the Skull n bones Club..just saying..how we can join things and still be susceptible to the whole secret societies or ancient orders ...acceptance.recognition desire to belong to something greater are powerful impulses..
    anywho..
    just wanted to pass that on. Hope to read more..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Manny - and a prosperous New Year to you and yours!

      I recently saw Rogue One, the latest in the Star Wars saga. I quickly found myself considering the archetypes and their rich histories as prominently portrayed. It seems these stories play out again and again, generation to generation.

      Not sure exactly where that leaves us, but it indeed seems although the names change, the roles of heroes, villains, rebels, and tyrants persevere.

      Delete
  4. Guess I could be wrong, but it never feels that way. My "go to" explanation for hallucinations, the few I've had in a long life, were each produced in times of high stress from traumatic events, some prolonged. Each wild dream like intrusion was pleasantly weird and gave me immense relief from the stress. I've been thankful for them as they broke the insanity of feeling doomed to unhappiness forever. I've wondered since if I don't create my own relief valve since those around me during the hallucinations don't share these dreamy revelries. Just makes sense.

    I don't include my own UFO sightings because I suspect someone may have technology I'm unaware of, but there are no easy answers in the end. The test is in admitting it's okay to not know, to live with good mystery.

    ReplyDelete