[snip]
 > 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.
We used to have a chap named Jody Weber who was adamant in his
belief of the government's "unauthorized" cover-up at Area-51.
He was determined he was going to build an aircraft that would
fly over the base un-observed so he could take pictures of the
area. Either he eventually abandoned the idea, or he is wasting
away in some dungeon somewhere.
 > 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 
issolutionment
 > 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.
That would firmly establish the UFO craze as a religion. ...Which to
some extent it is. ...A religion that is not accepted by mainstream
thinking. It's OK to believe in UFOs, just don't tell your boss about
it. If you've been following the ACC/NEXXUS posts of mine, you will
have read of the guy who was fired because of his UFO interests.
He was a photographer for a "storm-chasing" outfit, and accidently
got some rather good UFO footage that set him on a new course in
life. His bosses fired him because they were afraid he would bring
his "tainted" beliefs into his company's reputation. You as a skeptic
can well understand what some believers have to go through when they
admit to having more than a passing interest in UFOs. ...And then
there is his counterpart, the avid "debunker" (I once coined the
expression "skepti-bunker" that ruffled a few feathers). This
extreme mind-set is also unto a religion of sorts. (IMHO)
 > Gotta be careful here.... the ink on my mail order psychology
 > certificate isn't dry yet :)
That's OK, Ron, your approach to UFOlogy and its effects on people
seems well thought out and on target.
Regards,
Jack
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