So What, So What?

I know I’ve written about this before, but a recent blog posting has me going.

I am as intrigued by those that study (and pretend to study) UFOs as I am the UFOs themselves. And so, I ask once more: what is it about the honest and genuine pursuit of the “UFO question” that just bugs the flippin’ crap out of some people?

They complain, frequently (and often rudely) that the exploration of UFOs is a time waster. And often they spend the same amount of time complaining about this as the so-called UFO time waster who’s wasting time. And anyway, it’s not theirtime, so who cares? As far as I’m concerned, a lot of people waste a lot of time on things, but I don’t waste my time telling them. (And no, thinking it’s ironic that I’m commenting on time wasters is not correct. They started it, and it’s my experience (s).)

It’s a waste of time for different reasons: no answers yet, not after thousands of years, lights in the sky, big whoop, the study of UFOs hasn’t “contributed” anything of merit to culture, society, scientific and academic institutions. That’s subjective, and I naturally disagree with that opinion, but, everyone’s entitled to their opinion. But I’m baffled as to why their incessant need to remind the rest of us of their highly subjective and tunnel visioned views every few weeks? Even with those last two aside (subjectiviy and narrow mindness) the question remains: why the persistant ire over those of us that ask, seek, wonder, explore, study, and research?

I suppose one of the things that amazes me about this view is that the critics of UFO studies don’t stop to ask the experiencer. Or witness, Contactees, abductee, whatever term you prefer. They’ll snidely give all kinds of pop culture psychological pontifications on a particular witness or researcher, but it’s often as far as it goes. They don’t seem to stop and think about one obvious thing: a really weird thing happened, and there are a lot of people who want to find out what that really weird thing was. During that process of finding out, a lot of interesting things happen along the way. Often, it is not so much about “the answer” as the journey itself. Or, the personal answers one finds is just that: personal and therefore highly individual.

Why is this so difficult to comprehend?

Yes, these things (UFOs) have been seen in the skies since forever. Along with all kinds of paranormal/supernatural experiences, UFOs have been with humanity a very, very long time. Have we gotten any closer to the “answer?” Maybe that’s the wrong question. It’s possible seeking one size fits all, magical answer is the wrong objective.

My journey has taken me a lot of places, personally, spiritually, and socially. Sometimes it is merely on the same level as a quilting bee. So what? Often times it’s much deeper. That is for me to judge, no one else.

Look, if you’ve experienced episodes of missing time, seen several UFOs, had psychic communication with others in the context of UFOs, with the UFOs themselves, and entities, I’d suspect you’d be “wasting time” trying to find out what the hell happened, just like I’m doing.

And if you’re not, that’s your choice too. (Alhtough, really, I am very curious as to know why you’re not.)

The point is, a lot of us have experienced some very weird things, and/or are fascinated by the phenomena. The reasons for this interest vary, but I suspect that somewhere in there, is included a process to bring us closer to something. A spirituality, perhaps? Maybe. A psychological, creative understanding of self, and our relation to others? Very probably. What’s wrong with that? Not a damn thing.

Then, too, there’s some of what all this UFO research reveals on the dark side: conspiracies, cover-ups, factual and historical doings of our government. (And others.) MK Ultra, for example. Not pretty.

We gain insights into our society, culture, different religions, the “folk,” mythologies, creativity, spiritually, and so much more studying UFOs.

No, it hasn’t cured cancer, stopped wars, ended world wide suffering in any way. Should it? Why do some expectit to? I don’t, and I never have.

It’s not people like myself, who are usually considered the kooks, who are guilty of magical thinking. I don’t expect UFOs to fix the ills of the world. I expect us -- you and me -- to fix them.

In the meantime, those who choose to study UFOs are hardly harming anyone, and often are bringing change in various and small ways. What are the critics doing? Nothing, except complaining about, and insulting, others.