OMNI

Magazine Overview

OMNI magazine, January 1989 issue. The cover prominently features a striking illustration of a lion's head and includes headlines about a memo on terrorism, predictions for the year 1999 by prominent authors, and a focus on high-tech rescue of endangered species. The cover price is $3.50.

Forum: True Confessions

This section, authored by Pamela Weintraub, delves into the phenomenon of alien abductions, presenting anecdotes from over 2,000 Omni readers who completed a December 1987 questionnaire. This questionnaire, developed in conjunction with UFOlogist Budd Hopkins, aimed to uncover repressed encounters with aliens and UFOs and study the mysterious phenomenon of alien abductions. The data was processed by Don Berliner and Bruce Maccabee from the Fund for UFO Research, and analyzed by Robert Swiatek, the fund's "abduction czar."

• Key findings from the analyzed responses include:
• 75 percent of respondents had seen a UFO.
• 42 percent had experienced missing time (periods of amnesia).
• 33 percent reported unexplained wounds or scars.
• 39 percent reported strong but seemingly unexplained fear of particular places.
• 31 percent reported odd displacement, finding themselves in different locations.
• 41 percent reported recurring dreams about UFOs.
• 65 percent felt UFOs might be extraterrestrial in origin.

A trick question about the invented word "trondant" was only recognized by 5 percent of respondents, suggesting a degree of seriousness in their answers.

Many respondents attached notes describing their abduction experiences. Swiatek identified "four percent of the male respondents and eleven percent of the female respondents" whose answers closely matched accepted abduction lore, qualifying them as "probable abductees."

For those identified as probable abductees, Swiatek sent a "primer" written by Budd Hopkins and David Jacobs, which emphasized the profound impact of investigating abduction experiences. The primer warned that deciding to investigate could permanently alter one's life and that there would be "no turning back" if one discovered they had undergone UFO abduction experiences.

The article also discusses the process of finding competent abduction professionals, advising that they should be either hypnotists or work with one, be well-versed in abduction patterns, and ideally be therapists or work with one to help abductees process memories.

The Fund for UFO Research plans to interview respondents personally in the future to further investigate their claims. They aim to build a network of investigators, mental-health professionals, and therapeutic groups to assist abductees.

Criticisms of the questionnaire are also presented, with UFO skeptic Philip J. Klass arguing that the poll is biased, attracting responses primarily from those who already believe in extraterrestrial explanations for UFOs. Klass suggests that if the results indicate abductions, Omni should encourage the FBI to investigate.

Ohio University psychologist Steven Jay Lynn is using the questionnaire to explore whether the UFO abduction experience is rooted in modern myths. His study involves subjects recounting experiences after a simulated encounter, comparing those who saw the Omni questionnaire beforehand with those who did not, to see if it influences their narratives.

Hopkins believes the questionnaire has already confirmed his fear that many people genuinely believe they've had abduction experiences and have avoided trick questions.

Readers interested in obtaining a written report from Swiatek and his fund can write to the Fund for UFO Research, Inc., Box 277, Mount Rainier, MD 20712.

Other Content

The cover also highlights a memo from G. Gordon Liddy to the President regarding the potential for massive terrorism on U.S. soil. Additionally, the issue features predictions for the world of 1999 by notable authors including Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Robin Cook.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The January 1989 issue of OMNI magazine appears to cover a range of speculative and serious topics, including national security (terrorism), future predictions, and paranormal phenomena (UFO abductions). The magazine seems to encourage reader participation in research related to these topics, as evidenced by the questionnaire and the subsequent analysis of responses. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into controversial subjects, while also acknowledging and presenting critical viewpoints.