Deserving of Legitimacy, not the Norm.

Greetings. I take great pains to maintain a certain level of objectivity, but I often fail, which is to be expected since I am just a bipedal mammal, subjective and prone to error. This particular blog posting is purely an opinion piece, by definition, subjective.

Witnesses. Are they getting the respect and consideration that they deserve? In two words, hell no. The UFO subculture is chock full of nonsensical content, much of it shamelessly promoted in the effort to make a buck or two, gain some notoriety, or to advance stature within the confines of the UFO entertainment industry.

Does this promotional activity help people who have experienced anomalous, unexplained activity? No. Does this sensationalism help people overcome their emotional trauma? No. Does this entire situation help people get some closure and answers so that they can move forward in their personal lives? No. The selling and promotion of merchandise and memberships has nothing to do with legitimate investigative work on the UFO problem, and it sure as hell does nothing to address the issues that witnesses are dealing with on a daily basis.

Witnesses should be heard, their testimonials chronicled, and their events examined and scrutinized. Definite answers can be acquired with such an approach, answers which may alleviate some of the troubling issues that many witnesses deal with behind the scenes. Buying a documentary, or a MUFON membership, or a t-shirt from one of the innumerable UFO-themed events does absolutely nothing to help witnesses, but the people selling the merchandise don't care, not in the least.

I am guilty of writing about some of the same issues, seemingly all the time. There is a reason for this: I am passionate about the UFO problem, and the absolute necessity for a legitimate investigative approach. Some of the same tired words appear in many of my writings: shameless, nonsensical, notoriety, fame, etc.... They are highly descriptive of the current situation, hence their continual usage by yours truly. Despite my occasional frustration with the UFO subculture, and its penchant for embracing the entertainment aspect of the topic as opposed to legitimate investigative efforts, I will not keep quiet about the negative and self-destructive problems within the UFO subculture. Nobody seems to have the balls to speak up and address the issues, so I'll keep doing it.

Thank you for your time and indulgence.

Comments

Liars, Frauds, and Misrepresenters.

Greetings. I am occasionally asked why I write about so many of the troubling issues within the UFO subculture. One reason, actually two. One, because the troubling issues exist, and I cannot in good conscience simply ignore them. Two, I am passionate about the UFO question, and I care deeply about the integrity of the entire UFO subculture, even though I am not an active participant in the movement. There are many outstanding people involved in UFO research, individuals with integrity, an unshakable commitment to the work, and a high level of professionalism. They consistently grind the research stone in the never-ending effort to solve, or at the very least, learn about the UFO problem and it's innumerable questions. I cannot offer enough kind words of support and encouragement to those people, they are all deserving of our accolades, for they conduct their workmanlike efforts behind the scenes, without attention, out of the limelight, and beyond the prying eyes of the UFO subcu

Cringeworthy Promotion, Dolan Style.

Greetings. Mr. Richard Dolan is one of the most well-known figures in the UFO subculture. Known as a historian of the UFO topic, Mr. Dolan has commented at length about the UFO problem on various platforms, on broadcast media, during his own show, and on various social media outlets. Mr. Dolan is a highly active participant on the UFO circuit, making appearances at many UFO themed festivals and conferences, actively promoting himself throughout. Now the simple act of promotion is not necessarily a negative course of action, but it is strongly suggestive of a change of course. In UFO circles, the act of self-promotion is a slippery slope, one that many well-known public figures have fallen into, some seemingly by accident, others by choice. Mr. Dolan seems to have chosen his course of action, and is apparently quite comfortable in his new surroundings. Some UFO researchers have lost their professional credibility and integrity in the name of fame, notoriety, and financial gain. It ha

MUFON: Peddling Nonsense or Unknowingly Ignorant?

Greetings. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) was once a legitimate investigative organization. Back in the 1970's, the organization worked alongside, but not in cooperation with, the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) and the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP.) By the 1990's, MUFON was the only game left in town, with APRO and NICAP having passed into UFO history. In recent years, the organization's focus has shifted away from UFO investigations towards the UFO entertainment industry and the nonsensical content it embraces. The organization has experienced several setbacks in recent years, self-inflicted wounds that tended to occur at the upper echelons of the organization, with the names Jan Harzan, John Ventre, and Steve Hudgeons immediately coming to mind. Despite this situation, there are several local chapters that have maintained a level of investigative focus and legitimacy, keeping the chaos of the higher organization at arm's

William G. Pullin

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