Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Whoa Cart, Let's Wait for the Horse

Research suggests people who subscribe to unproven conspiratorial theories often believe many such theories, even when they contradict one another. Live Science reported how one research project found those who suspected Princess Diana was murdered also tended to believe she faked her death. Similarly, those surveyed who believed Osama bin Laden was already dead when his compound was raided by U.S. Special Forces were also most willing to believe he is still alive. The common denominator seems to be a mistrust of authority, something in pretty strong supply.

It's easy to find the dynamic in UFO circles. It seems a lot of people believe the U.S. government was in possession of an extraterrestrial spacecraft examined by Bob Lazar at Area 51. It seems the same demographic likes to believe that same government is shelling out millions by way of AAWSAP and AATIP to learn about just such craft - of which they apparently don't provide access to the contractors awarded the grant funds. 

Robert Bigelow
Similarly, one of those apparent contracted scientists, Dr. Eric Davis, is believed by some to have been told about such secret information by an in-the-know insider, see the Wilson Leak, circa 2002 or so. We are apparently to also believe Davis, and in effect Team Bigelow and the eventual AATIP crew, failed to mention or substantially act on that knowledge while searching the globe far and wide for evidence of such craft and ET beings... that Uncle Sam is believed to already have in his possession. 

We could argue the logic - and lack thereof - indefinitely. We're always going to come back around to the importance of evidence available for public review. People either understand the significance or they don't.

An ongoing challenge with the TTSA saga is that some of it may indeed prove interesting from a number of perspectives, yet, at the same time, a lot of it is sensationalized by writers who supply a demand for Disclosure fury, if not create it. With a shout out to UAP written into a recent legislative bill, there are indeed points to ponder and social dynamics to keep an eye on. However, history shows us such dynamics are not new, yet to point this out may be viewed as wet blanketing the UFO blogosphere. Regardless, it might be wise to see how things play out and prioritize evidence available for public review before taking Disclosure victory laps.

As we see in an FBI file compiled on the 20th century National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, statements very similar to those we read now were issued. Such statements, as is currently the case, were released by esteemed members of the intelligence community. 


We might also consider a 1958 letter, contained in the same FBI file, written by NICAP Director Donald Keyhoe to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. It indicates the respected members of the NICAP crew and the prior experience with government UFO research of one in particular, Major Fournet.


The similarities to current day events are striking. Time will tell if the outcomes are much different.   

6 comments:

  1. Jack - Seems you are describing Circular Logic, which is prevalent in ufology.

    Many ufologists attempt to make an argument by beginning with an assumption that what they are trying to prove is already true. They set out to deceive their audience into accepting the truth of the claim they are attempting to make; i.e. - The Bible is true, so you should not doubt the Word of God.

    Or - TTSA is an altruistic legitimate UFO investigative group, so you should believe whatever claims Elizondo and Delonge make.

    The best way to combat a circular argument is to ask them for more evidence. Evidence to a charlatan is akin to kryptonite to Superman.

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    1. Indeed, which I think brings us to the topic of standards of evidence. UFO researchers and enthusiasts are infamous for failing to respect standards as recognized by other disciplines and the professional research community at large. We have a prime example currently unfolding regarding the Wilson document. Virtually no matter what may or may not come of the story, those who have already decided the doc is a game changer will continue to believe so and perceive resulting investigations proved this to be the case. Wash, rinse, repeat.

      I eventually came to the conclusion that regressive hypnosis became such a popular investigative tool for reasons related to lack of standards of evidence: the investigators otherwise had substantially less evidence, and, in effect, material for books and speaking engagements, if they didn't exploit hypnosis subjects.

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  2. Jack, O/T - I just heard about Jan Harzan. Disgusted beyond belief on multiple levels.

    - Jacobs
    - Romanek
    - Harzan

    - Worse
    - Worser
    - Worst
    (in any order of depravity)

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  3. Just as a follow-up - I've taken a break from keeping up on things for the past 10 days or so, thereby missing this disturbing news until tonight.

    But it does occur to me that this will likely be the death knell for MUFON. The previous accusations of organizational racism, the outlandish conspiracy theories they are propagating and now this.

    In addition, the statement MUFON put out about Harzan's arrest is arrogant and tone deaf. No condemnation of such heinous acts. Just a self-serving statement that MUFON is bigger than any individual. Self preservation at any cost.

    And to the soon to be defunct MUFON I say - Good riddance to bad rubbish!

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    1. Hi, Tom,

      I can sure understand your point of view. Also, I think an organization descending into irrelevant obscurity happens through a series of poor moves combined with not making good moves. I agree MUFON doesn’t have much mileage left, and that was already the case. It could continue to simply exist for years, but it hasn’t really done anything noteworthy in a long, long time, at least not anything constructive that’s noteworthy.

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  4. Jack, You may recall my interaction with MUFON, which was a bizarre waste of time. I can't imagine the History Channel maintaining it's business relationship after this incident. I would think most of MUFON's Inner Circle donors will run for the hills too.

    That just leaves them with their $100 fee to take that silly open book test to be a field investigator, unless they sell Bigelow more confidential information. And any credibility currency they had remaining has certainly evaporated.

    Harkening back to the late great John Belushi's SNL sketch, "The Thing That Wouldn't Leave", MUFON has overstayed it's welcome. It's time for them to exit stage left.

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