Public Viewpoints on the UFO Phenomenon Today

The sighting of UFOs by members of society: be they civilian, military or otherwise, has an effect upon us which is not entirely understood. By trying to come to an understanding about the subject we can better understand the history of the phenomenon, and be prepared for future developments, should that be necessary.

Background: The modern UFO phenomenon began in 1947 when retired Air-Force pilot Kenneth Arnold reported seeing 9 unknown flying objects near Mount Rainer, Washington. The press picked up the story and soon other people were reporting strange things in the skies. This period of flying saucer hysteria has been explained as "war nerves" brought about by the experiences of World War II, as well as the uncertainty of the upcoming Cold War. Proponents of the flying saucer theory speculate that the invention of the atomic bomb, mainly the splitting of the atom for destructive means, caused these saucers to be visiting us. As time went by more credible, upstanding members of society were making reports of strange, unidentified objects in our skies. Many of these witnesses received ridicule and were accused of mental illness. Many were thought to be lying and some were proved to be hoaxers.

The government partook in UFO investigations around this time. The most famous example was Project Blue Book, founded in 1952. These were military operations (Air-Force in particular) and were classified reports. The report's findings were that sightings were the result of atmospheric anomalies, perception illusions, and the like. It is now known that a small percentage of the reports had no known cause, either through lack of evidence or perhaps something else... Conspiracy theorists point out that reports for Bluebook that might prove an extra-terrestrial answer would be classified within the project or omitted from the project and sent to a different, more secret project.

About this time, reports started coming in where not only was a UFO seen, but the object landed and its occupants emerged to have conversations with the witness. This was the beginning of the Contactee Movement. Perhaps it is the reported alien's appearance as tall, blonde haired, and human looking; or the fantastic stories of being flown to Venus and seeing cities there that these accounts are discredited today, even amongst UFO believers.

Although the Contactee Movement is seen as less credible today, the UFO phenomenon was about to evolve again. In 1961, Betty and Barney Hill claim to have seen a UFO during a drive on a remote section of road at night. After experiencing psychological problems they enlisted medical help. Under hypnosis the couple recalled being taken aboard the UFO by strange men with cat-like eyes. This was the beginning of the Abductee Movement. In contrast to previous accounts, these aliens looked different than us and used us for medical experiments. In all fairness it should be stated that Betty Hill was an ardent enthusiast of the UFO phenomenon before the reported event, and that their report was reminiscent of fictional stories of menacing aliens which were common at that time.

Recently the number of alien abduction reports has dwindled and UFO circles are starting to distance themselves from the abduction hypotheses. This is perhaps because of an increased understanding of how hypnosis works. Throughout this time there have been other, minor changes in the extra-terrestrial aspect of UFO reports. Always prevalent is the typical sighting, where no alien is seen. These stories have become a modern day mythology for many people and an understanding of the Phenomenon might be helpful in people's lives.

Problems/Findings: One obstacle in getting a good sampling of what people see in our skies might be the area of un-reported sightings. People don't always report a UFO sighting out of fear of ridicule from the public. The most verifiable reports come from pilots, police officers and trained observers, but these same people have the most to lose by making such a report as their perception and mental state might be called into question. Also, the secrecy of some UFO sightings on the behalf of the government prevents one from receiving a full picture of what is being observed. This secrecy is understandable on some level assuming that the government has secret programs involving our skies, most likely that of secret aircraft. However, assuming not every sighting is military in nature, this secrecy can obfuscate the matter of finding out what else is out there. Add to this the possibility that if UFOs are real then the government might consider that classified information in it own right. These factors cloud the truth, what-ever that may be, and might cause considerable anxiety to us on the societal level.

Another difficulty in attempting to find accurate information on the phenomenon is the work of the hoaxer. The motives of a hoaxer might be for personal gain, be it money, fame or the satisfaction of fooling people. Some hoaxers might be believers themselves intending the hoax to bring others to their point of view. Regardless of the motive, a hoax has the effect of increasing the difficulty of finding an objective viewpoint on the real events because they provide false information.

A study of UFOs might also be a study in mass psychology. When one person perceives an event, their memory of that event can be altered by what has been reported by others in the past. When hypnosis is used to "aid" in recollection, the results can become even more convoluted. When Betty and Barney Hill (see above) has a strange encounter one night, their later recollection of that event under hypnosis might have been altered by an episode of The Outer Limits that was on TV around that time. Later, when another person has a strange event at night, their memory of the event might by clouded by their knowledge of the Betty and Barney Hill case. These are all factors that prevent us from determining the true nature of unexplained aerial and alleged extra-terrestrial phenomenon.

Summary: The motive of society, when faced with a problem which is not fully understood should be to come to a basic understanding of what the problem is, so that solutions and explanations can be found. The problem with the UFO phenomenon is that society has not yet determined just what the problem is. Possible entries span the range from alien invasion to simple misperception, from hoaxes to secret government air-craft. By addressing these issues in an open discussion, we can attempt to solve the mystery, and gain the benefits that comprehension gives us over ignorance.

Recommendations: The best way to come to agreement over these events, real or otherwise, would have to involve an open discussion under these possible guidelines.

1. A group of moderate thinking, scientifically minded individuals should be formed to review as much of the sum total of UFO related reports as is possible. All reports should be considered, regardless of its apparent incredulity. The committee must consist of experts in many fields, including psychology, geology, aviation, mythology, etc. The goal of this group would be to come to a conclusion on likely causes of the phenomenon as well as its effects on society.
2. Reports to the discussion would have to be free of judgments or ridicule. By allowing people to freely report their experiences, obtaining a more complete record of the big picture will be easier. Reports can be made anonymously to the committee.
3. The committee that partakes in the discussion will have to be free of influences of a secretive nature. Since government and military sources might have motivations that require secrecy, the involvement of said organizations would be on a consolatory basis only.
4. One goal of the discussion would be to determine those reports which are un-true. That being where the reporter is the perpetrator or victim of a hoax, or where the reporter is mistaken either because of sensory of cognitive failure. These reports would be marked as such and would have to weigh less towards the conclusion.
5. Another challenge the committee must overcome will be to decide how current reports have an effect on future reports. Reporters will have to be interviewed to determine there current knowledge and beliefs of existing reports so that the committee may better understand the mind set of the reporter.

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