JS>[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.
JS>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.
I remember Jody very well.  He and I locked horns quite often.  He
frequently accused me (and every skeptic) of being a government
operative.
  >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.
In the end, he agreed that his idea was not really a good one.  He was
quite the fanatic, so he might have started up somewhere else.  I
seriously doubt that he had the resources to actually build an aircraft,
much less design AND build one that had stealth capability as he
claimed.
JS> > 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 
dissolutionme
  > > 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 
physica
  > > events... ones that we can't otherwise explain.  Already looking for
  > > immortality, it is too easy to grab hold and hang on.
JS>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.
I don't know.  To me, a religion has to have some aspect of
conscience "worship" in the true sense.  I see UFOlogy as a fanaticism
akin to a religious fervor, but without the worship aspect.  It is
difficult to draw a parallel with any other phenomenon.
  > 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.
That is understandable for a company that bases itself on a reputation
with its clientele.  No company wants to be perceived as fanatical about
a fringe belief.  It loses business.  In the free market a company has
the right as well as an obligation to its stockholders to maintain the
highest perception as legally possible.
From what I've seen, it wasn't necessarily Lan's beliefs nor directly,
his involvement in UFOlogy, it was the _degree_ of involvement and
exposure that he sought that caused his company to release him.  My best
guess is that if you knew both sides of the issue, you'd find that his
association with the company had already been questioned and this was
just the last straw.  Companies don't typically let a good, well trained
(especially in a technical field like storm photography), productive
employee go without serious consideration.
  > ...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)
Sure, and in the same way that extreme believers are fanatical about
their UFO beliefs.  There is also the extreme non-believer who uses his
religious faith as a hold-out against UFO beliefs.  This is the same
type that believes the earth is square because of the biblical reference
to "the corners of the earth".
JS> > Gotta be careful here.... the ink on my mail order psychology
  > > certificate isn't dry yet :)
JS>That's OK, Ron, your approach to UFOlogy and its effects on people
  >seems well thought out and on target.
Like any other study in human nature, it is interesting to say the
least.
Thanks,
Ron
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 þ QMPro 1.02 42-7029 þ Give me liberty, not equality
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