Magonia Supplement - No 22 - 1999 12

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Monthly Supplement
Issue: No. 22
Date: December 1999
Editor: JOHN HARNEY
Publisher: formerly ETH Bulletin

This issue of the MAGONIA Monthly Supplement focuses on the current state and future trajectory of ufology, presenting a critical perspective on the field.

Editorial

The editor, John Harney, addresses the perception of the publication as 'polemical,' disagreeing with the label and comparing it favorably to other, more extreme, publications in the field.

THE FUTURE OF UFOLOGY

This section, the main article of the issue, delves into the historical development and current state of ufology. The author, John Rimmer, expresses surprise that his 1969 prediction of ufology dividing into separate study areas has not materialized, with most participants still identifying as 'ufologists.'

Historical Context

Ufology's origins are traced to the summer of 1947 in the United States. Initially, 'flying saucer' reports were attributed to misinterpretations of ordinary aircraft or natural phenomena. The idea of Soviet spy planes was an early suspicion, but belief in extraterrestrial visitation was rare.

The 'extraterrestrial hypothesis' (ETH) gained traction in the 1950s, making objective investigations challenging. The popularization of the ETH led to almost any unusual aerial sighting being reported as a 'flying saucer.'

Ufologists' Techniques

The article outlines a 'special technique' developed by ufologists to interpret reports, which involves:

1. Avoiding consultation with astronomers to prevent objective analysis of details like direction, speed, and orbit.
2. Prioritizing witnesses who report objects at rooftop height.
3. Giving weight to single witnesses who claim an object hovered or changed direction, while ignoring other witnesses who did not observe these maneuvers.
4. Asserting that objects could not be meteors due to flat trajectories and long duration.
5. Labeling dissenting critics as 'sceptics,' 'debunkers,' or 'armchair ufologists.'

These methods, present since the earliest writings on the subject, are attributed to ignorance or intellectual dishonesty. Donald Keyhoe is identified as a key figure who exploited the belief of some senior US Air Force officers that UFOs could be alien spacecraft.

Critiques of Keyhoe and Early Ufology

Keyhoe's writings, while containing genuine reports, are described as sensationalized and distorted, with naive speculations about alien intelligence. This approach is noted as being lucrative for some contemporary UFO authors.

Ufology became divided into 'contactee cultists' and 'nuts-and-bolts' ufologists. Those with a 'scientific approach' favored multiple-witness cases, but these are often easily explained as meteors or atmospheric phenomena. A failure to distinguish between radar-visual reports and actual radar blips, coupled with ignorance of radar malfunctions, is also highlighted.

The Arnold sighting of 1947 is presented as a seemingly sensible account, but the author points to the Maury Island case as evidence of the early presence of distasteful elements in ufology, including Men in Black (MIB) and 'paranormal' incidents.

The Current State and Future of Ufology

The article asserts that very few ufologists adopt a sane, objective approach. Some believe alien abduction stories literally, while others, though skeptical of abductions, believe some UFO reports can only be explained as alien spacecraft visits, yet are reluctant to have their cases critically examined. Skeptics who deride ufology without understanding it are also mentioned.

Ufology is predicted to continue indefinitely, not due to scientific interest, but because it has become established as popular entertainment. Most books on the subject are sensationalist or pseudoscientific. Skeptical books are often marred by over-simplification and the suppression of details. A partisan approach, whether pro or anti, is seen as making for more lively books.

Ufology now occupies a place on bookshelves alongside other 'saleable subjects' like the paranormal and pseudo-archaeology. Serious UFO books are rare and go out of print quickly. UFOs are a staple of TV pseudo-documentaries and chat shows, and conferences attract large crowds, often by excluding skeptical speakers.

While acknowledging that some ufologists conduct serious research, the author suggests that even they can be 'flaky.' For most, ufology is primarily for entertainment, socializing, or role-playing.

The author concludes that the interdisciplinary nature of UFO studies makes a coherent, scientific approach unlikely, predicting that ufology will remain a 'playground for eccentrics and paranoids.'

LITERARY CRITICISM

This section reviews several books related to ufology:

Kevin D. Randle. Scientific Ufology, Avon Books, New York, 1999. $12.50

Randle's book is presented as an attempt to investigate UFO reports logically and scientifically. The author questions what constitutes the most impressive UFO report, with Randle emphasizing multiple-witness cases. However, the review points out Randle's tendency to overlook the need for firm establishment of other witnesses in multiple-witness cases, citing the Trindade Isle case as an example where claims of many witnesses were not substantiated.

The Levelland, Texas sightings are discussed as puzzling, with issues regarding the reliability and accuracy of reports and the sources Randle used. The review notes Randle's reluctance to question individual witness accounts, even when they conflict with scientific explanations like bolides. The example of an object landing near a power plant in Eureka, Nevada, is given, where a single anonymous witness's account is presented without confirmation of power failure or other witnesses.

A physicist's opinion is quoted, stating that judging the size and distance of objects is difficult for people unfamiliar with what they are seeing, a point the reviewer agrees with. The review concludes that Kevin Randle appears to have become more skeptical over time, and while his book is biased towards the ETH, this is admitted by the author.

Ron Halliday. UFO Scotland, B&W Publishing, Edinburgh, 1998. £7.99

This book contains numerous Scottish UFO reports, some described as 'weirder' than the Livingston incident. The author notes similarities to the writings of John Keel. While some multiple-witness reports are included, they are often explainable as meteor or aircraft sightings. More mysterious reports are typically from individuals or small family groups without corroboration.

The book includes fascinating stories not exclusively involving UFO sightings, such as the 'pizza mystery' in Edinburgh, where two small, oddly dressed individuals ordered pizza but discarded it. A more complex story involves a UFO sighting by a family in Blairgowrie, followed by a military helicopter hovering over their house and a procession of strangely dressed males appearing at a neighbor's house.

Halliday attributes much of the UFO activity and hype in areas like Bonnybridge to media encouragement, particularly by Billy Buchanan and Malcolm Robinson. The author's speculations are noted as not to be taken too seriously, but the book is considered a useful account of UFO reports and ufology in Scotland.

David Coomer. The UFO Investigator's Guide, Blandford, 1999. £8.99

Coomer's book is an attempt to create a handbook for investigating UFO reports for newcomers to the subject. The review finds it to have a general lack of clear aims and a preoccupation with bizarre theories, such as the 'time anomaly test' for landing sites, which involves synchronizing watches and burying them. The author advises against attempting contact with extraterrestrials if a landed UFO is encountered.

The book suggests background research, including looking into the Freemasons, as a source of information. The reviewer notes the absence of any examples of the author's own investigations. The book is not recommended, with Allan Hendry's The UFO Handbook suggested as a better alternative.

PELICAN PRIDE

This section includes a quote attributed to Arnold regarding his sighting, stating that he did not believe it was an alien craft. It also features a humorous piece by Andy Roberts, who coins the term 'pelicanist' for himself and humorously advises on the commitment of owning a pelican.

Editorial Stance and Contributions

The magazine welcomes letters and short articles for publication. Contact information for the editor, John Harney, is provided, including a postal address in Bracknell, Berkshire, UK, a fax number, and an email address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is a critical examination of ufology, portraying it as a field largely driven by entertainment, sensationalism, and a lack of rigorous scientific methodology. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, emphasizing the need for objective investigation and cautioning against the uncritical acceptance of witness testimony or speculative theories. The issue advocates for a more grounded approach to understanding anomalous aerial phenomena, distinguishing them from scientifically explainable events like meteors and atmospheric phenomena, while also acknowledging the existence of genuine mysteries that warrant serious study.