1985 05 00 OMNI - About Hynek

Magazine Overview

This document is a section from OMNI magazine, titled 'DIALOGUE FORUM,' featuring reader correspondence. The issue date is February 1985, and it is Volume 7. The cover headline is 'DIALOGUE FORUM,' and the magazine's logo is present. The document type is a magazine issue.

Reader Correspondence and Debates

The 'Dialogue Forum' section presents a collection of letters from readers responding to a previous interview with J. Allen Hynek, described as 'ufology's elder statesman,' which appeared in the February 1985 issue. The letters engage with Hynek's expertise, his views on UFOs, and the broader implications of UFO research.

Praise for Pamela Weintraub's Interview

Tom Burch from Poolesville, MD, congratulates Pamela Weintraub for her 'excellent interview' with J. Allen Hynek. Burch commends Weintraub for synopsizing the events, participants, theories, and opinions associated with the subject clearly and objectively. He highlights that Weintraub did her homework and was fair, avoiding snide remarks or adversarial questions.

Criticism of 'Pitting Experts'

Larry Bryant, Director of the Washington, DC, office of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy, expresses disappointment that OMNI pitted Hynek against another expert. Bryant argues that Hynek's expertise in popularizing the scientific aspects of the UFO controversy has its place, as does his own expertise in documenting and articulating the sociopolitical aspects, including government UFO secrecy and 'crash-landed' saucer occupants. He feels Omni exploited personality conflicts within the field and questions whether readers deserve more than sensationalism.

Questioning Hynek's Stance on UFOs

Carter Buschardt from Dallas questions J. Allen Hynek's stance on UFOs' existence and capabilities. Buschardt points to Hynek's discussion of the Betty and Barney Hill case, where Hynek reportedly stated it was a physical impossibility for aliens to travel vast distances. Simultaneously, Hynek is quoted as proposing that an advanced civilization might project a thought form to create a three-dimensional image. Buschardt asks if one fantastic theory should be discarded to accept another.

Skepticism of the 'UFO Phenomenon'

David Schroth from St. Louis critiques the term 'UFO phenomenon.' Citing George Orwell's 1946 essay on language, Schroth defines 'phenomenon' as a word used to 'dress up simple statements and give an air of scientific impartiality to biased judgments.' He argues that this term is popular with flying-saucer advocates but overshadows the fact that most UFO reports are mistakes or hoaxes. Schroth contends that UFO sightings should be solved as unrelated events, not as part of a larger, mysterious 'phenomenon,' drawing a parallel to how other unsolved crimes are not attributed to a single cause.

The Limits of Human Physics and Alien Interest

Shawn Bobbitt from Martinez, CA, addresses the common belief that current technology makes interstellar travel unlikely. Bobbitt suggests that if a supercivilization exists, human physics might appear archaic to them, and our understanding could be correct but incomplete. He also ponders why aliens have not contacted governments, suggesting it might be because they are not interested, and questions the assumption that human advancements like television, lasers, and nuclear weapons make humanity superior in the context of contact.

Birth Trauma Hypothesis and Hynek's Consistency

Alvin Lawson from Garden Grove, CA, comments on J. Allen Hynek's statements regarding his hypothesis that UFO abductees are reliving their birth trauma. Lawson, an English teacher, desires consistency and points out quotes from Hynek's interview that he believes contradict a scientific approach. These include Hynek's self-description as a 'thorough skeptic,' his assertion that 'it must be nonsense, therefore it is nonsense,' and his dismissal of babies remembering birth trauma. Lawson concludes that Hynek has been repeating himself for a decade and needs new scientific input.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this 'Dialogue Forum' are skepticism versus belief in UFOs, the scientific methodology applied to UFO research, the interpretation of witness testimony, and the potential for misinterpretation or psychological explanations for sightings and alleged abductions. The magazine, through its 'Dialogue Forum,' appears to encourage open discussion and diverse viewpoints, allowing readers to debate these complex topics, even when they challenge established figures like J. Allen Hynek. The editorial stance, as stated at the beginning, is to welcome speculation, theories, commentary, and dissent, emphasizing that the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the magazine.