Thursday, December 01, 2005

Science and the UFO Franchise

An interesting little colloquy is underway over at UFO Planet. While the original topic was alleged underground alien bases, it has evolved into a discussion of whether or not a serious scientific investigation / study of the UFO phenomenon will ever be undertaken.

The full thread can be found here.

One contributor, "Cozmikdebris," has shown a penchant for prophecy in his comments:

"I think the last thing the current 'leaders' of the ufo franchise want is true comprehensive scientific investigation. Science has a tendency to turn the mysterious into the mundane, after all. I think if the actual and true explanation for the ufo phenomenon were fully known, it would be rejected out of hand by the ufo crowd if it indicated anything but: alien visitation on Earth. Common way among ufologists: Complain that mainstream science won't investigate ufos. When a mainstream science effort is mounted, complain that it's too slanted in favor of scientists. Insist that ufo believers be part of the team. Start badmouthing the results before they are in, out of suspicions they won't support the ETH. If possible, get enough ufo believers in on the team so that it's no longer mainstream scientific. Overrule any finding that doesn't support ETH. End 'investigation' without resolving anything or explaining anything, but point out that the ETH wasn't disproved and further investigaton is warranted. Go on ufo confrence speaking tour. Sell books. Go on Coast 2 Coast. Sell more books. Wait six months. Complain that mainstream science won't investigate ufos."

I responded:

"What can I say? That about sums it up, at least for the majority of ufologists (there are always exceptions). Well said, and a solid dose of reality. The ironic thing is that more than a few ufologists (mostly in the pro-ETH camp) go on and on about how the "alien reality" will change everything (if it was real, this would probably be true), and rant against those who like things the way they are now, here on Planet Earth. What they don't understand is that if there was ever a serious scientific study of the UFO phenomenon, it too would change everything - and not in ways that the ufologists would like. Forget about potential conclusions - the harsh reality for ufology is that most of them would be quickly cast aside as unqualified to help in any meaningful way (again, there are some exceptions)."

Similar comments have been made to me in private over the past year by ufologists (those good "exceptions" I mentioned) who are fed up with the state of ufology, which would have trouble these days qualifying as even a pseudoscience. The interesting thing is that more than a few of them recognize that, should a serious scientific study of the UFO phenemenon ever be mounted, it probably wouldn't involve them (just as it wouldn't involve me), but they are okay with that. To us, the truth is what matters, not the "franchise," and our place in it.

Paul Kimball

1 comment:

fatrobot said...

"most of them would be quickly cast aside as unqualified to help in any meaningful way (again, there are some exceptions)."

well someone has to live in their parents basement
that helps doesn't it?