Magonia - No 33 - 1989 07

Magazine Overview

Magonia Issue 33 (July 1989)

This issue of Magonia, a journal devoted to the examination of anomalous phenomena and their interaction with society and the individual, presents a diverse range of articles and letters. The cover prominently features a piece titled "TROUBLE OOP AT T' BYPASS?" inviting readers to "Read David Clarke's Pennine Diary, page 3." The issue also includes "SUPERSTITION AND REASON: Part Two" by Steuart Campbell, "READERS' LETTERS," and "BOOK REVIEWS."

From My Pennine Valley Notebook

David Clarke contributes a piece that begins by referencing an August 1988 article by Peter Rogerson in Magonia, which suggested that ufologists should accept their role as recorders of stories, effectively folklorists. Rogerson posited that the dominant folklore in British ufology at the moment is "earthlights or spooklights," appealing to a romantic notion of open spaces before the advent of TV and streetlights diminished their wonder. Clarke then introduces a specific, strange story from the haunted areas of the Pennine hills, despite the prevalence of "TV and streetlights."

The story, detailed in a September 27, 1987, Sheffield Star article titled "'Ghost' sightings on a new road," concerns a bypass being built near Sheffield. The report describes "weird happenings" on the Stocksbridge bypass road, involving "terrified security guards" who called in police and clergymen after spotting "ghosts." A sergeant and constable reported feeling "a presence" while patrolling the scene. The security guards, Steven Brookes and David Goldthorpe, were disturbed and sought to know if the area had once been a graveyard, even asking a local clergyman if an exorcism was possible.

Clarke's investigation involved contacting police officers and visiting the scene. He interviewed witnesses and accompanied them to the site in a police Landrover. The witnesses, PC Richard Walton and Special Constable John Bellamy, described seeing "something moving across and around" a pallet box. They initially attributed it to reflections from the steelworks but later observed nothing moving. The incident occurred near a section of the bypass patrolled by security guards.

Reason vs. Superstition

Steuart Campbell's "Superstition and Reason: Part Two" continues his exploration of these concepts. He begins by addressing Ralph Noyes's definition of superstition as "persistence in a belief in the face of contrary evidence." Campbell argues that Noyes's definition is flawed because it ignores the need for a belief to be widespread and that it fails to account for the subjective nature of evidence. He contrasts this with dictionary definitions that emphasize a "widely-held but unjustified idea."

Campbell proposes his own definitions: science as "a set of beliefs justified by reason and experience," and superstition as "a belief not justified by reason or experience." He asserts that this symmetry helps distinguish between the two. He agrees with CSICOP that belief in psychokinesis is a superstition due to a lack of justification and evidence. Campbell criticizes Noyes's claim of "overwhelming" evidence for UFOs, stating that evidence is in the eye of the beholder and that Noyes has misinterpreted data. He argues that while Newton's laws of gravity are a model, they are based on scientific principles, unlike superstitions. Campbell concludes that it is crucial to distinguish between justified and unjustified beliefs, as one leads forward and the other backward.

Readers' Letters

Dennis Stacy, editor of the MUFON UFO Journal, responds to an editorial on "free market ufology." He notes that while he shares some responsibility for the Journal's contents, events can render articles moot. Stacy points out that differences exist between MUFON and CUFOS regarding the Gulf Breeze case and that the MJ-12 phenomenon remains relevant, with an article on it in the MUFON UFO Journal. He also discusses the success of MUFON in terms of field investigators, noting that subscription lists are comparable to CUFOS. Stacy emphasizes his own approach of grounding ufological axes by independent third parties, which often leads to criticism from both sides.

Thomas Bullard, ex-President of MUFON, comments on Hilary Evans's review of Philip J. Klass's "UFO Abductions: a dangerous game." Bullard argues that Klass rightly cautions about hypnosis but ignores cases that occur without it. He points out that many abductees recall significant experiences without hypnosis and that the consistency of abduction reports, regardless of hypnosis, challenges Klass's argument. Bullard suggests that abduction accounts share similarities with supernatural being lore and that their reality is not assured but neither is their subjectivity a foregone conclusion.

Daryl Collins addresses the editor, John Rimmer, regarding an article by Kottmeyer and Russo/Grassino. Collins expresses disagreement, feeling the authors are "armchair pontificating" without investigating cases. He states that he does not experience nightmares or hypnopompic hallucinations and does not lose track of boundaries between sleep and wakefulness, contrary to what might be implied by some abduction scenarios. Collins challenges the authors to explain cases where abductees are found miles away with no visible means of transport, and questions how they would address the fresh wounds and bleeding described in some reports. He also mentions the possibility of implants and the unresponsiveness of real abductees to leading questions under hypnosis.

Dear Sir (unsigned letter), responds to a discussion on "mirages," defending the idea that mirages can make stars and planets visible in daylight, contrary to the "received wisdom." The author proposes that Scheaffer, who attacked this idea, seems to know nothing about mirages and ignores the focusing effect. The letter also references ex-President Jimmy Carter's "UFO" sighting, correcting the date and providing astronomical data for the location and time, suggesting that the object's altitude might have been exaggerated.

Book Reviews

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Northern Echoes

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Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Magonia include the complex relationship between UFO phenomena, folklore, and superstition. The magazine appears to adopt a critical yet open-minded stance, encouraging rigorous investigation while acknowledging the limitations of current understanding. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between evidence-based inquiry and unsubstantiated belief. The editorial stance seems to favor a nuanced approach to paranormal claims, encouraging critical analysis of evidence and methodology, particularly in the context of abduction research and the interpretation of alleged sightings.

The magazine also highlights the international nature of ufology, with correspondents from France, Spain, Italy, and the USA contributing to the discussion. The issue reflects a concern with the quality of ufological research and publications, advocating for a more professional and less sensationalist approach. The debate between different factions within ufology, such as MUFON and CUFOS, is also touched upon, indicating an awareness of internal dynamics within the field.

Title: Magonia
Issue: 32
Issue Date: March 1989
Publisher: John Rimmer
Country: UK
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Editorial Content

This issue of Magonia delves into a variety of Fortean and paranormal topics, featuring a mix of articles, reviews, and correspondence.

Correspondence and Editorial Stance

The issue opens with correspondence from Steuart Campbell, who defends his views on UFOs and mirages, particularly in response to criticism from Scheaffer. Campbell argues that Minnaert's treatment of mirages is superficial and that his own explanations are consistent with scientific understanding. He also notes that while science accepts ball lightning, it rejects UFOs, despite perceived parallels. Campbell asserts his consistency in pointing out the lack of definitive evidence for many phenomena and expresses amusement at Ralph Noyes's recent discoveries.

UFO Sightings and Explanations

Several articles and letters address UFO sightings and their potential explanations. The case of Captain Mantell's UFO is discussed, with the established explanation of a Skyhook balloon being questioned due to the object's stationary nature. The USAF's conclusion that the object was Venus is also debated, as Venus was reportedly in the wrong direction. The issue touches upon Betty Hill's UFO report, suggesting Jupiter as a possible misidentification, but also acknowledging that Jupiter could not explain subsequent sightings. Gill's UFO sighting, described as predominantly blue light, is also analyzed, with Sirius suggested as a possible source, consistent with a mirage.

Book Reviews

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to book reviews:

• Lake Monster Traditions: a cross-cultural analysis by Michel Meurger (with Claude Gagnon): This review highlights Meurger's work as a significant contribution to understanding lake monsters. It challenges cryptozoologists and skeptics by exploring how cultural backgrounds, folklore, and received notions shape perceptions of sightings. The book examines various reported forms of lake monsters and suggests that the 'mythic landscape' plays a crucial role in sustaining belief. The reviewer praises the book for its depth and its celebration of human imagination.
• The Airship Chronicle, and UFOs of 1896-1897: The Airship Wave by Robert G. Neeley Jnr.: This review commends Neeley's two reports for providing the best study of the American phantom airship scare. It notes that while speculation has surrounded the scare, few writers have conducted original research. Neeley's work is described as a chronological catalog of main reports, supplying a valuable resource for UFO researchers, though some pages are noted as illegible.
• Death by Supernatural Causes? by Jenny Randles and Peter Hough: This book is reviewed for its exploration of various mysteries, including the disappearance of Frederick Valentich, spontaneous human combustion, and cattle mutilations. The reviewer suggests that some cases may overstate coincidences and criticizes the focus on ufological explanations over natural causes for phenomena like cattle mutilations.
• Photographing The Spirit World: images from beyond the spectrum by Cyril Permutt: The reviewer expresses fascination with the images presented but questions how people could be fooled into believing they show supernormal phenomena, suggesting double exposures, hoaxes, or processing errors. The review notes the book's historical overview of photography and supernormal photography but criticizes the lack of a critical attitude towards the images and the omission of the Cottingley fairy photographs.
• Extraordinary People; an exploration of the savant syndrome by Darold A. Teffert: This book is reviewed for its exploration of the savant phenomenon, focusing on islands of ability within sub-normal functioning. Cases of individuals with exceptional musical, calendrical, or architectural talents are discussed, along with theories linking savant abilities to infantile autism and compensatory development.
• The New Tarot; modern variations of ancient images by Rachel Pollack: The review highlights Pollack's analysis of over 70 modern tarot decks, examining them from historical, artistic, and functional viewpoints. It notes the book's particular interest in women's tarots and praises its detailed commentary and illustrations, deeming it valuable for practitioners, collectors, and historians.
• A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism by Milton A. Rothman: The reviewer finds Rothman's book to be a fascinating exploration of science from a physicist's perspective, but criticizes his philosophy. The reviewer notes that Rothman ignores or discounts interpretations of quantum theory and dismisses philosophical debates on belief and knowledge. The book is seen as having a potential conflict between science and religion, advocating for the triumph of science.
• The Man Behind the Iron Mask by John Noone: This historical mystery is examined, with the author rejecting romantic suggestions and the standard identification of the masked man. Noone proposes a more mundane explanation, suggesting the status of the individual was enhanced by his jailer.
• A Brief History of Time; from the big bang to black holes by Stephen W. Hawking: This book is described as a short introduction to modern cosmology, with the reviewer noting the absence of the 'SF touches' found in other popular science books.

The 'Doctor John Dee: his word processor' Phenomenon

A significant article, 'Doctor John Dee: his word processor', explores the case of Ken Webster and his girlfriend Debbie, who claim to receive messages from a possessed computer. These messages purportedly come from time travellers in 2109 AD and are presented as a story involving historical figures and mysterious 'leems' (lights). The reviewer, Peter Rogerson, is highly skeptical, suggesting the phenomenon is likely a hoax or a product of unconscious trickery, citing the anachronisms and the 'cardboard character' of the protagonist. The article includes a lengthy, cynical counter-argument from a 'mystic friend' that attempts to legitimize the phenomenon through complex, esoteric connections.

Conference Report

An excerpt from a report on the fourth Rencontre conference in Lyon is included, detailing the author's experience with MUFON representatives and the general atmosphere of the event. The author expresses hope for future Magonia issues to publish translations of papers presented at the conference.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Magonia include the critical examination of UFO sightings and explanations, the role of cultural factors and psychology in paranormal belief, and the review of literature in the Fortean and paranormal fields. The editorial stance, as evidenced by the reviews and the analysis of the 'Doctor John Dee' phenomenon, leans towards skepticism and a demand for rigorous evidence, while also acknowledging the value of exploring human imagination and cultural narratives.