OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: November 1991
Volume: 14
Issue: 11
Price: $3.50

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated November 1991, presents a diverse range of topics, including a "Special Sealed Section" focusing on state-supported executions of children, an exclusive report on OMNI's first orbital experiment, and a feature on a Russian cosmonaut stranded in space. The magazine also includes a piece on Frederik Pohl titled "Cruising the Eclipse."

Antimatter: UFO Update

The "Antimatter" section delves into the often-unseen personal toll of being a UFO researcher. Contrary to the romanticized perception of tracking sightings and probing abductee psyches, researchers describe their work as intensely stressful and demanding, significantly impacting their families and personal lives. Richard Hall, who worked with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, noted that having "UFOs on my résumé interfered with me getting straight jobs for years." David Jacobs, an abduction expert and historian at Temple University, finds his work to be a "bottomless pit" of time, and faced pressure from his department to return to regular historical scholarship to advance his career. His abduction work has also strained his family life.

Toronto psychotherapist David Gotlib, who provides therapy for abductees and produces a newsletter for abduction researchers, reports losing thousands of dollars worth of time due to his involvement. He reassesses his commitment to UFOlogy every six months, considering ending the newsletter if he enters a serious relationship or gets married.

Larry Bryant, head of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy, has sacrificed his social life for UFO work. As a Pentagon employee, his UFO activities led to a poor job rating, which he only managed to improve after legal intervention. Artist and abduction expert Budd Hopkins describes a "terminal impotence" stemming from the inability to stop abductions or fully help abductees, which deprives his family of "time, energy, and love."

Despite these significant drawbacks, researchers like David Jacobs remain committed, asserting that "the abduction phenomenon is the most important thing that has ever occurred."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI magazine appears to maintain its characteristic blend of science, technology, and speculative topics, often with a critical or investigative edge. The inclusion of a "Special Sealed Section" on sensitive social issues like child executions, alongside reports on space experiments and the personal struggles of UFO researchers, suggests an editorial stance that is unafraid to tackle controversial subjects and explore the human element within scientific and paranormal investigations. The magazine aims to inform readers about cutting-edge research, personal experiences, and societal issues, encouraging critical thinking and discussion.