-=> Quoting RON TAYLOR to FRED AUSTIN <=-
 FA> RT> In that respect, the witch hunts and the UFO phenomena bear a 
distinct
 > RT> similarity.  In neither case are the beliefs based on substantiated
 > RT> circumstance.  Rather, they were/are anchored on unexplained phenomena
 > RT> which progressed to mass hysteria.
 
 FA>         Hmmm, I think you are treading on dangerous ground here Ron.
 >I think is is not quite a fair comparison by  dragging in  Ufology.
 RT> Don't misread me Fred.... I'm not suggesting that UFOlogy itself is
 RT> akin to witchcraft.  I am making an observation that the hysteria based
 RT> reactions of some avid UFO believers while sincere, is similar to the
 RT> reactions of the Salemites to their witchcraft beliefs.  My examples
 RT> included the ones that would storm government and military
 RT> installations, irrational behaviour IMO, to gain the "truth".
    Hi Ron,
    I cannot disagree on the behavioral point. My only other  point is 
that hopefully our IQ's have gone  up since  the days  of Salem.   But 
then you are speaking of the over zealous.  Sadly in this world  these 
people exist in so many areas, not just this topic.  What drives them, 
I am uncertain.  Most of these people though, do have  some basis  for 
being suspicious.   If one  looks at  history, one  can see  that many 
governments  have  not  be  on the  up and  up with  the public.   Yet 
scandals are forgotten and life goes on.  So,  sometimes I  wonder if, 
just if, what if some of the more zealous claims are real.  As strange 
as it may sound,  of course  the old  joke is  truth is  stranger than 
fiction.  Well, I guess if we weren't there all we can do is speculate 
as to the sanity of the people involved.  Not an  easy task.   No hard 
proof, just some fellow saying he is being told to shut up by the NSA, 
or files  disappearing etc,  I'm sure  you have  heard these  stories, 
there are many.  Are they really happening.  Good question.  Or are we 
all just being jerked around, by people with  vivid imaginations.   If 
it is a joke, I see no point, the joke is becoming stale, there  is no 
novelty anymore.  Which can only leave me with the impression  that at 
least just  a few  must certainly  be sincere.  Yet it seems no matter
what, we  cannot get  past square  one.  Sincerity  is not  proof,even 
credibility is not proof, all it  is is  an indicator,  that there  is 
something  going  on.   Whether  it  is  psychosis or  reality is  the 
problem.
 >  I
 >think if you take a hard look at the world in action,  you will  start
 >questioning  the  sanity  of  us  all.
 RT> I certainly don't disagree with you on that :)
    Well, lets hope we at least remain the islands of sanity in  a sea 
of madness........
 Internet: Fred.Austin@juxta.mn.pubnix.net  
           Fred.Austin@sphinx.hughestech.com 
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