JS> > Where, IMO, the fallacy of the true believer comes in is that he
  > > rejects  all the possibilities of mundane events in favor of
  > > the one explanation,  aliens... just because he can't explain
  > > the event.  It seems that  he  WANTS to believe in ET so he
  > > isn't willing to accept the sensible  (IMO ) alternatives.
  > >I don't understand that.
JS>The above is a fanciful move away from reality for the sheer fun of
  >it. I look at it as a form of speculation carried to an extreme.
I can see having fun with the UFO phenomena.  It like discussing what we
are gonna do with our money when we win the lottery or sweepstakes.
Pretty normal to do that.  The real problems arise when folks start
taking their fantasies seriously.  I know a couple who, when they
received their packet from Ed McMahon, started _planning_ some pretty
exotic things.... seriously.  I've seen UFO believers get into the same
tailspin.
  >Many skeptics do not understand this, and sometimes take on an air of
  >superiority not knowing of the fun the "believer" is having with it
  >all.
I think I do understand it, but it bothers me when people start
committing suicide and conspiring to storm military bases in the name
of exposing the aliens.
JS>Some believers do seem to have a overwhelming wish to establish that
  >aliens are in our midst. I personally have a problem understanding
  >this kind of mind-set. Maybe it is akin to the fact that some
  >avid TV soap-opera fans put more reality in the program then they do
  >with their mundane real life. This mind-set is why some TV actors
  >have to have body-guards to protect them from stalkers who have lost
  >their connection to reality.
Sure, I can see how all the hype fuels the mindset and gets the
believers worked into a frenzy.  The soap-opera fantasies are a really
good comparison... for instance, I think the high divorce rate is, to a
great extent, a result of being told by the soaps that dissolutionment
is an acceptable alternative to marriage...  But the kernel of belief
has to be there already.  The UFO belief, I think, stems from our
deep desires to be immortal.  Unlike fairy god-mothers, super heroes, and
mythological gods, the UFO craze is anchored on truly physical events...
ones that we can't otherwise explain.  Already looking for immortality,
it is too easy to grab hold and hang on.
Gotta be careful here.... the ink on my mail order psychology
certificate isn't dry yet :)
Regards,
Ron
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 þ QMPro 1.02 42-7029 þ Is there a Lawyer in the House?  Blam!  Any More??
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