Informacni bulletin KPUFO SK - 2012 No 02

Magazine Overview

This document is an informational bulletin from the KLUB PSYCHOTRONIKY A UFO KPUFO.SK/EU – Slovenská republika, titled "INFORMAČNÉ OZNÁMENIE č. 2 / 2012 – 15.02.2012". The main article, "Tajná správa o stave slovenskej záhadologie a ufológie" (Secret report on the state of Slovak cryptozoology and ufology), provides a comprehensive historical analysis of the field in Slovakia from the early 1990s to 2012.

State of Slovak Cryptozoology and Ufology

The report defines cryptozoology and ufology as distinct fields of human activity that intersect with professional, educational, philosophical, sociological, religious, and psychological domains. It notes the difficulty in comprehensively assessing the state of these fields.

The state of Slovak ufology is described as fluctuating between sensationalist events, VIP banquets, euphoric enthusiasm, and grand-sounding programs lacking real substance, ultimately leading to conceptual chaos and despair. The report aims to clarify the stages Slovak cryptozoology has undergone and their characteristics.

Historical Phases and Influences:

• 1990-1994: Slovak cryptozoology was part of national Czech-Slovak structures (ČsAAA), but also began developing independent projects like "Trójsky kôň". The UFO center in Košice, led by Miloš Jesenský, aspired to a leading role. The initial concept of the UFO center resembled the Czech project Záře (1992), focusing on collecting and evaluating UFO cases in Slovakia. Other Czech influences included the samizdat publication ZAZ, and M. Jesenský's own publication "Terra X" (which only had two issues in 1994). This period also saw the establishment of local UFO clubs and the significant contribution of the magazine "UFO magazín" (founded in 1992).
• 1992-2005: The magazine "UFO magazín" played a unifying role for researchers, publicists, and enthusiasts. Initially, it showed Hungarian influence (1992-1998), followed by Czech influence (1998-2001). However, the magazine is criticized for publishing articles and materials without a clear conceptual framework or critical analysis, often leaning towards religious themes.
• 1998-2001: The Czech magazine "Fantastická fakta" began circulating in Slovakia, introducing various aspects of Czech cryptozoology, including UFO cases, crop circles, and other local and historical mysteries. This period is considered the most productive for Slovak cryptozoology.
• 2001-2008: A crisis emerged in print magazines, with some (like "Fantastická fakta") ceasing publication. Remaining publications were often commercial, with little interest from editors in solving mysteries, leading to low quality and the repetition of old questions. Researchers had no influence on their content. The decline of researcher-led magazines was seen as fatal for the movement, leading to a loss of self-presentation opportunities.

The Internet Era and Beyond:

• Since 2009: The trend shifted towards the extensive use of the internet, particularly social media, for promotion, sharing materials, and communication. In 2009, a Czech exopolitics group formed in Slovakia, initiating a similar development. This period also saw a crisis in the cryptozoology scene, with a lack of clear direction. Fraudulent themes and nonsensical foreign claims gained prominence, blurring the lines between sci-fi and cryptozoology. There was support for groups lacking institutional backing, leading to the rise of "phantasmagorists" influenced by global "confused exopolitics". While this offered a semblance of a new direction, it proved to be ultimately unproductive.
• 2010 onwards: Changes in the presentation of views occurred, partly influenced by KPUFO.EU/SK, which demonstrated the possibility of original online e-zines without high demands. This led to the creation of other e-zines that often copied existing materials and eventually disappeared.

Trends and Elements in the Slovak Cryptozoology Scene:

The scene is divided into rationalist, exopolitical, New Age, and contactee streams. The exopolitical trend tends to absorb the others and attract sci-fi fans, heavily influenced by foreign trends. The rationalist current lacks institutional backing, being primarily represented by KPUFO.EU/SK, and faces difficulties due to a decline in educational levels.

"Professional" cryptozoologists are defined as authors and editors of books and magazines. The report notes that many who initially drove loud programs eventually abandoned the movement once their ambitions were met or commercial goals achieved.

The internet has not fully replaced print magazines. The initial lack of widespread internet access meant enthusiasts were without information. Early internet users were often young and inexperienced, leading to gaps in knowledge from older sources.

Online magazines, while attempting to fill the void left by print magazines, often lack clear direction or goals.

Foreign Influences:

Following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the influence of ČsAAA waned. Hungarian ufology became dominant, particularly through the UFO magazín. Czech publicists had a brief influence in the late 1990s, with "Fantastická fakta" being key. Currently, Czech exopolitics attempts to influence the Slovak scene through "agentomania" and inciting hatred towards KPUFO.

Organizations and Associations:

Regional clubs emerged in the early 1990s, with up to 20 formed, some as official associations. However, they lacked clear programs. Attempts at unification in 1994 (Slovak Association of UFO Clubs) and 1996 (Association of UFO Researchers - AUFOB) were unsuccessful. The informal association AUFOB, led by Waldemar Urmínský, had no membership rules or clear direction. The report concludes that small regional clubs without a program cannot create a collective program.

• UFO klub Trnava: Functioned due to the prominent figure Miroslav Karlík, but his departure in early 2011 raised questions about the club's future.
• Klub Hyperion: Founded in 1993, it represented a counterpoint to irrational trends. Led by RNDr. L. Valenčík, it received funding for congresses and hosted figures like Erich von Däniken. However, Klub Hyperion has also declined, and in 2009, L. Valenčík was identified as an alleged collaborator with the ŠtB (Slovak secret police).

There has been a persistent lack of willingness for broader cooperation in Slovakia, leading to the complete atomization of the research movement. Currently, formal associations are virtually non-existent, with activities primarily online. A campaign against official associations, fueled by exopolitical "agentomania," further discourages researchers from adhering to traditional structures and responsibilities.

Virtual clubs often lack direction, relying on shared ideas and values that are too diverse to create effective groups.

Conclusion:

After a period of growth from 1990-1998, Slovak cryptozoology faced a deep crisis from 1999-2009, accompanied by structural changes. The lack of conceptual clarity and real results led to fragmentation and atomization. Economic problems also contributed to a decline in activities.

The Path of KPUFO.EU/SK:

The Slovak equivalent of KPUFO was established in 2004 by taking over the UFO.SK website. The current challenge is not what to research, but rather to define a philosophy, direction, and the usefulness of future steps. KPUFO.EU/SK aims to revive a broad approach to topics and create a network of researchers. In 2010, they proposed the creation of a Slovak Council for Anomalous Phenomena to unite active researchers from various viewpoints. However, the report dismisses the effectiveness of Czech exopolitics, calling its articles nonsensical. It concludes that any agreement or federation between differing viewpoints is impossible, and the conflict between the rationalist current and exopolitics/conspiracy theorists cannot be overcome. The latter groups actively foster intolerance and division among researchers.

The rationalist current must have a clear program, which KPUFO aims to provide, offering a clear goal and direction for thoughtful individuals. They must demonstrate that their rules are not arbitrary and that their organization has real strength and influence, leading to positive results.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bulletin strongly advocates for a rationalist approach to cryptozoology and ufology, criticizing sensationalism, unsubstantiated claims, and the influence of exopolitics and conspiracy theories. It highlights the fragmentation and lack of organization within the Slovak field, contrasting it with the perceived need for a clear program and unified direction. The publication positions KPUFO.EU/SK as the primary representative of the rationalist current, aiming to provide structure and guidance. There is a clear stance against what the authors perceive as "confused exopolitics" and "agentomania," which they believe are detrimental to serious research. The bulletin emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, evidence-based investigation, and constructive dialogue within the rationalist framework, while lamenting the difficulty in achieving broader cooperation due to ideological divisions.