Merseyside UFO Bulletin - Vol 5 No 3 - 1972

Magazine Overview

Title: Merseyside UFO Bulletin
Issue: 5:3
Volume: MUFOB 5
Date: Summer 1972
Editors: John Harney and John Rimmer

This issue of the Merseyside UFO Bulletin delves into the complex nature of UFO reports, advocating for a rational and demythologized approach to the subject. It explores how UFO phenomena can be interpreted through the lens of mythology, psychology, and cultural narratives, distinguishing between genuine unexplained events and those rooted in human psychology or ancient archetypes.

Editorial: Physical Aspects of UFOs (by John Harney)

The editorial addresses the shift in ufology from investigating physical phenomena to focusing on psychological aspects and witness testimonies, a trend spurred by the Condon Report. It asserts that genuine physical phenomena, such as unexplained radar/visual sightings and strange effects associated with UFOs, still exist and are worthy of investigation by 'nuts and bolts' ufologists. However, it stresses the necessity of first 'demythologising' the subject to clear away fashionable fantasies and misinterpretations, allowing for a clearer view of the actual facts. The editorial criticizes the tendency to dismiss reports that can be explained as modern versions of ancient delusions and superstitions, advocating for a focus on genuinely inexplicable phenomena like car-stopping cases and radar/visual reports.

The Mythology of UFO Events and Interpretations (by Peter Rogerson)

Peter Rogerson examines the growing complexity of UFO phenomena and their interpretation, suggesting a transformation into mythological statements. He identifies a core myth of the 'deus ex machina,' where UFOs are seen as precursors to a new human mutation or a discontinuity in evolution. Rogerson traces the nurturing of these myths not just by UFO cults but by professional myth-makers in comics, films, and science fiction. He cites 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' (1951) as an early example of a science fiction allegory involving a prophet arriving in a flying saucer, which served as a warning against nuclear war. The film's impact, according to Rogerson, fueled the growth of contactee cults. He further discusses Arthur C. Clarke's 'Childhood's End' and John Wyndham's 'The Midwich Cuckoos' as works that explore themes of a coming generation of 'changelings' with supernatural powers, symbolizing the end of history. Rogerson notes the growing power of the 'changeling' myth, originating from primitive interpretations of deformed children, and its manifestation in literature and UFO cases. He also touches upon the myth of being taken to 'Magonia,' where individuals are either destroyed or gain new powers, leading to reorientation and separation from ordinary human experience. The 'Man in Black' is presented as a significant symbolic figure, a projection of undesirable qualities onto which men project their flaws, akin to the devil in witch traditions. The 'Dero' is discussed as a symbol of dark atavistic forces and dehumanization. The UFO myth, Rogerson concludes, is dual-natured, capable of creation or destruction, mirroring the power of science and knowledge, and serving as a modern translation of universal myths.

UFO Reports: Some Notes on the Need for a Rational Approach (by John Harney)

John Harney emphasizes the scientific requirement for theories to be disprovable. He finds most existing UFO theories unsatisfactory in this regard, with the exception of Menzel's early work, which posited that UFO reports are generally misinterpretations, delusions, hoaxes, or unfounded rumors stemming from diverse causes. While acknowledging that Menzel's theory can explain the majority of reports, Harney notes that thousands remain unexplained, and a single conclusively demonstrated case of an alien spacecraft encounter would invalidate Menzel's hypothesis. He criticizes the tendency of skeptics to dismiss unexplained reports as incomplete or inaccurate and to suggest psychological explanations, often relying on the lack of unequivocal physical evidence. Harney observes that Menzel's theory is unpopular among ufologists, who often infer that if a skeptic's explanation is wrong, their own (e.g., UFOs as spaceships) must be correct. He also points out that some skeptics confuse the issue by being irresolute or prejudiced, leading to irrational beliefs among some ufologists. Harney discusses the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), which gained traction during the 1947 UFO wave, but notes its weaknesses, including the lack of physical evidence and the difficulty of proving or disproving it. He critiques the methods of writers like Keyhoe, who allege government secrecy and scientific bias to support the ETH, while acknowledging Keyhoe's point about the complexity of the UFO problem. Harney mentions Hynek's complaint about inadequate investigation of puzzling reports and the impact of the 1960s UFO reports on the Colorado Project. He notes that the Condon Report, despite criticism, dealt a blow to the ETH, leading some ufologists to accept Menzel's theory or deem the problem insoluble, while others turned to the paraphysical hypothesis. Harney highlights the challenges of the paraphysical hypothesis, similar to psychical research, due to emotional involvement and lack of provability. He questions the availability of detailed, multi-witness reports, citing examples like the Marcilly-sur-Vienne and Monza cases, which lack detail despite numerous witnesses. He also notes that classic cases often involve witnesses with close ties, suggesting psychological explanations. Harney argues that while many UFO witnesses may appear sane, the notion that they must be 'stark, raving mad' is a misconception. He concludes that the UFO phenomenon can be viewed as a psychological one, with ufologists sometimes suffering from paranoia due to emotional involvement and frustration. Harney suggests that psychological explanations are often adequate for contactee stories and multi-witness sightings, but acknowledges the 'noise level' of spurious reports makes detecting genuine ones difficult. He proposes that every UFO event should initially be presumed to have a psychological cause, with efforts made to find fitting explanations, acknowledging that some cases remain difficult to explain but may involve witnesses who have distorted their perceptions due to alarm or excitement.

References

The issue includes a list of references, citing various articles, books, and conversations related to UFO phenomena, mythology, and psychological interpretations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the interpretation of UFO phenomena, the distinction between physical reality and psychological/mythological constructs, and the need for a rational, scientific approach to ufology. The editorial stance, particularly from John Harney, favors rigorous investigation, skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, and the application of scientific methodology, while acknowledging the existence of genuinely unexplained events. Peter Rogerson's contribution highlights the deep-seated mythological and symbolic dimensions of UFO reports, suggesting they tap into universal human experiences and archetypes.

This issue of MUFOB (Merseyside UFO Bulletin), Volume 5, Number 3, dated August 6, 1972, explores the concept of ufology through the analogy of 'game playing'. The publication is an informal, small circulation UFO magazine.

Ufology as a Game

The issue begins by referencing John Keel's book 'Operation Trojan Horse' and the common complaint that ufologists and percipients are manipulated into playing 'bizarre games'. The author suggests that critics might find Keel's book more useful if they didn't take it so literally. The core argument is that the overwhelming majority of UFO phenomena are driven by forces of nature, limitations of the human brain, fallibility of human senses, and a pre-existing frame of reference, the ETH (Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis).

Drawing on the work of psychiatrist Thomas S. Szasz, who discussed game playing as a model for human relationships and mental illness, the article applies this concept to ufology. Szasz's idea that a game continues only if players observe the rules is highlighted. When rules are broken or become unacceptable, the game collapses, and new ones must be devised. The author observes this happening in ufology, with the ETH game collapsing and the paraphysical game emerging.

The ETH Game vs. The Skeptic

The most familiar game in the UFO field is identified as the ETH. The basic conflict is between believers and skeptics. The believer's aim is to convert skeptics, with converts scoring points based on their education or prominence. The skeptic's goal is to undermine believers by exposing hoaxes and offering rational explanations for sightings. The more impressive the sighting explained away, the higher the skeptic's score.

Spectators and Players

Games also have spectators, categorized into those who know the rules and those who don't. Players recognize their fans as 'armchair ufologists'. Those unfamiliar with the rules, like journalists asked to report on UFOs without prior knowledge, can produce 'silly' reports. Witnesses to UFOs are described as pawns who can either get involved or join the play, typically siding with believers.

Witness Reactions and Future Predictions

The analogy is extended to predict patterns in witness and investigator behavior. Typical reactions of first-time UFO percipients are examined, quoting examples of individuals certain they saw something not made by man, or policemen who initially laughed at UFO stories but later became convinced they had seen a flying saucer. The article suggests that witnesses readily accept the 'flying saucer' explanation as if it explained the phenomenon. This leads to predictions that future UFO reports will feature excited witnesses, likely to distort and exaggerate accounts. These witnesses, newly aware of their ignorance, will be receptive to ideas from UFO investigators, who will then spread these ideas further, involving more people in the UFO game.

Towards a Better Investigation

By considering the unconscious roles adopted by researchers and witnesses, and the perceptual distortions caused by excitement and preconceptions, investigators can be better equipped to tackle puzzling UFO aspects. A more detached attitude from investigators, avoiding unwarranted assumptions, is also proposed as a way to gain the interest of the scientific community for truly baffling reports.

References

The issue lists numerous references to books and articles on UFOs, including works by Donald H. Menzel, Donald E. Keyhoe, Jacques Vallee, Brad Steiger, Gray Barker, Albert K. Bender, John A. Keel, and Thomas S. Szasz. It also cites newspaper articles from 'Empire News' and the 'Liverpool Echo'.

Local UFO Report

A 'Local UFO Report' from Liverpool details a sighting by Mr. Vic Stephens and his wife on August 6, 1972, at 8:45 p.m. BST. They observed a bright, iridescent object stationary at a tremendous height. After three minutes, it veered rapidly west and remained suspended for two minutes. During this time, a condensation trail, similar to that from a jet, appeared and disappeared. While hovering, red flames seemed to issue from the rear. The object then sped rapidly out of sight. The witness also recalled a similar, though lower and faster, object seen about 12 months prior.

Merseyside UFO Bulletin Editorial Information

The 'Merseyside UFO Bulletin' is edited by John Harney, with John A. Rimer as Associate Editor and Alan J. Sharp as Science Editor. It is described as an informal, small circulation magazine, welcoming letters and opinions from contributors, though not necessarily shared by the editors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the analysis of ufology as a 'game', with a focus on the psychological and sociological aspects of belief, skepticism, and witness testimony. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, advocating for a more detached and analytical approach to UFO phenomena, moving beyond simple explanations like the ETH and exploring the underlying psychological and perceptual factors. The publication aims to foster a more scientific engagement with the subject.