FLYING SAUCERER’S APPRENTICE
Posted by anthonynorth on June 3, 2007
We need to ask a few questions about Ufology. First of all, would the UFO exist if Ufologists were not here to define it? And second, is the UFO a definite phenomenon, or does it constantly change?
The answer to the former question is difficult – a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario. But the latter question is different. Ufology itself defined the term ‘cultural tracking’ to explain its constant evolution to new forms.
SPECIFIC CRITERIA
The more I research the UFO, the more a specific methodology of change seems to present itself. And central to this methodology is a simple fact – where an evolved UFO, alien or scenario arises, a Ufologist has gone before.
Of course, this is not to say that unexplained phenomena does not occur before a Ufologist gets involved. There are many incidents where this is the case. But those cases rarely become defined until a Ufologist arrives on the scene.
Bearing this in mind, I want to put forward a simple theory. Could it be that, in becoming involved in a specific case or area of research, the Ufologist plays the primary role in deciding how phenomena will occur?
FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEM
Let me make something clear. I do not believe aliens are really visiting our planet. Rather, I think the UFO is a cultural phenomenon – a kind of psycho-sociology – and UFO scenarios evolve as the cultural interpretation changes.
The cultural interpretation invariably revolves around a Ufologist, or group of Ufologists. But for cultural change to actually affect the nature of the phenomena experienced, then the Ufologists involved must be central to the mystery.
One way to look at the problem is to place upon the phenomena the possible mechanisms behind the poltergeist. And central to a poltergeist infestation is the idea that at the centre of phenomena is a ‘focus’ – a person who makes phenomena happen.
THE CULTURE SPONGE
An important cultural change to the phenomenon often means media exposure for the Ufologist researching it. From this point on a form of synchronicity occurs, with similar cases coming to him, rather than him going to the cases.
The best way to explain this scenario in action is to view the Ufologist as a ‘culture sponge’, with people literally experiencing phenomena as he has defined it, and going to the Ufologist for validation of what they have experienced.
The whole scenario evolves into a ‘feedback’ system, with the Ufologist giving validity to people to experience phenomena as he says, and those experiencers further validating the scenario by coming forward with their experience.
WE CAN DO MAGIC
I am not implying any fraud or collusion in this feedback scenario. Rather, the whole phenomenon is involuntary, with the Ufologist having no idea – and certainly no intent – to so define the phenomena occurring.
If we go back to the days of Magic, supposed phenomena revolved around a specific form of ritual developed by the adept. The purpose of the ritual was to produce repeatable, and experienced, phenomena.
The upshot of the process was that life seemed to fall into line with the whims of the Magician. In a real sense, it was appreciated that reality bent to the way the Magician wanted a particular thing to play out.
THE INVOLUNTARY ADEPT
The above theory suggests that the principles around Magic are still in play today. What is really occurring is a process whereby the Magician purposely changes the culture around him, and thus defines how people will experience phenomena stemming from it.
This in no way suggests a real form of supernatural at work. It is simply arguing that culturally changing experience can be dependant upon what people expect to see, as advised by a person, or persons, upon which they place authority.
Be it a poltergeist ‘focus’ or a magical adept, the actual process is identical. The only difference is, the latter does it on purpose, the former does it involuntarily. And the history of the UFO suggests, to me, that the Ufologist is related to the former.
© Anthony North, June 2007
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anthonynorth said
In light of comments made elsewhere I must emphasise something I should have put in the essay. It has been pointed out that ‘UFOs’ have been sighted throughout history. In other words, before Ufologists.
Quite right. But they were reported on, and speculated on, by someone. Ufologists by other names?
Douglas said
One has to ask themselves a very simple question: “If there was nobody out there studying the phenomenon; would the phenomenon of people seeing unidentified flying objects continue?”
The logical answer is “yes.” People are going to see things in the skies that they can’t always explain. The idea that people are seeing something simply because someone has decided to study that phenomenon is among other things…(faulty logic on the part of Mr. North. The UFO phenomenon does not exist nor does it sustain itself simply because of some publisher’s spin.)
People all over the world are seeing “something” in their skies and they want some answers. SOME people are cashing in on this phenomenon…that is human nature…but this reality does not diminish the fact that there are people out there seeing and experiencing things that are extraordinary.
The sighting that happened some months ago at Chicago-O’Hare Airport didn’t happen because people were writing books about the phenomenon. Numerous airport employees saw something that out of the ordinary that begs for an explanation. Neither the U.S. Air Force nor the F.A.A. has any explanation for the airport and airline employees who all witnessed something strange in the skies over Chicago.
UFOlogists didn’t create that event. They didn’t put subliminal items in the witnesses heads based upon some fanciful writings. They didn’t spin some new cultural understanding of the world that played into what those people saw. The event happened. It was reported honestly by qualified people. Now this event requires an explanation.
Dw-
anthonynorth said
I do not deny that strange events happen in the sky constantly. As I say above: ‘ … this is not to say that unexplained phenomena does not occur before a Ufologist gets involved … ‘ What I am discussing is the nature and preponderance of the sightings.
As you speak with such authority on the subject, I assume you have witnessed many sightings yourself, including the O’Hare incident.
No? Then how do you know about it? Perhaps you read about it? Now I ask a simple question: Could those words have helped in defining your understanding of what happened? Could those words have nudged forward the ‘evolution’ of the phenomenon in general?
People keep telling me that UFOs have been seen in the skies throughout history. Not true. The term ‘UFO’ is a modern cultural explanation. What were seen before were ‘gods on chariots’, ‘flying sailing ships’, ‘witches on broomsticks’, ‘airships’, ‘foo fighters’, ‘ghost rockets’, etc.
The explanation depended on the cultural interpretation.
Further, how do we know these objects were seen? We were not there. We know because we have READ about them, and our idea of them is coloured by those words. And this is true going back to the first would-be ‘Ufologist’, Ezekiel.
This is particularly noticeable in the nature of ‘aliens.’ For instance, the ‘grey’ became popular following Communion. Our understanding of genetic hybrid programs was undoubtedly something put in our minds by researchers. In the O’Hare case, could it be that airport sightings increased once Ufologists had constantly written that they are so?
Which brings us to the preponderance of certain evolved types of sighting. There are many cases on record where a UFO has been proven a hoax and people continued to see it. In some places, organised Skywatches see phenomena to this day – and the initial sighting was a hoax!!
I am not a sceptic. I know that sky phenomena occurs. I am as eager for an explanation as you are. Only I’m prepared to look everywhere. And one place is in the interaction of real environmental phenomena with the human mind, and the effect of culture, as advanced by writers on the subject.
TheGuyInTheHat said
Anthony,
I also find you’re logic flawed and showing an insulting lack of intellect. Almost to the point of not being worth commenting on!
For starters when you say UFO’s weren’t spotted way back in history and then they were put down to being Gods on Chariots… They were just under another name, and still Unidentifiable Flying Objects. Also of course we weren’t there, but how do we know anything from history apart from “READING” about it. *ROLLS EYES* Were you there to witness the Holocaust? No? Well how do you know it happened? Maybe all those photo’s were faked! Maybe all the evidence was fabricated! Maybe a WRITER/JOURNALIST got there and suddenly made up a big story, and really those people had the plague!
I am a firm believer in the simplest solution usually being the correct one. Look on wikipedia at the UFO sightings list. Why have hundreds of people from every continent on earth reported seeing “Flying Saucers”? Because the same deluded people keep going to these places at the right time and making up a story? Or because for a long time silver/grey flying/hovering disks have appeared across our skies? Although the latter has been made a point of ridicule through various government controlled media, this does NOT give the HARD PROOF (photographs, videos, military reports, public sightings by thousands of people from different cultures) any less scientific clout in my opinion.
Many people become Ufologists after sightings or alleged “abductions” due to the vast amount of information available on this subject, and the incredible nature of it. These disks are not fictional, and need explaining. We, the people of this Earth, would like our explanation.
anthonynorth said
Hi TheGuyInTheHat,
I put forward a hypothesis same as you. Occam, you see, has a lot to answer for. The simplest solution is dependent on the mind of the thinker.
I also object to two points in your comment. Those who speak of an insulting lack of intellect usually don’t know what that means. And as for your words on the Holocaust, I find them vile, disgusting and objectionable. Kindly do not repeat them on my site!