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From: Tim Brigham - Devil's Advocate <devilsad@ksinc.net>
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 17:17:50 -0600
Fwd Date: Tue, 01 Dec 1998 23:59:33 -0500
Subject: Re: The Challenge


An open letter/rant to "abductionologists."


The recent, thought provoking discussion regarding the reason(s)
there are so few black/non-white abductees (or at least
_reports_ from people in these groups) in the American
literature brought me back to square one (which I never really
left in the first place, though I perhaps lost sight of it).

To the Hopkin-esque and Jacob-ian folks on the list, I ask:

__Can we be expected to rationally discuss the abduction
phenomenon as if it involves hundreds, thousands, or millions of
people being physically abducted by non-human beings when we
have no proof that any, much less the majority, of these
experiences are physically real?__

Here are some snips (ripped roughly and unpolished, but you'll
get the idea) from an article printed back in 1995 in the print
version of my mag "The Devil's Advocate" -
_________________________

"With all the talk about the countless acts of abductions of
humans performed by so-called alien beings, isn't it about time
to begin searching for physical evidence to support these
claims? We would like to present some very simple and
straightforward methods which could be used to attempt to
collect physical evidence of abductions. Before we begin we
should make clear our opinion that if attempts to collect
physical evidence fail, this would not necessarily prove that
abductions are dreams or products of imagination, but instead
would discount the theory that abductions are carried out
physical entities. Various other theories proposed (Persinger,
etc) could not be discounted because of a lack of this type of
physical evidence.

It's probable that these types of experiments have been
attempted by abductees and investigators in the past. The most
likely reason that the results were not published or made public
is because nothing was found, and the experimenters felt that
this fact would be used to support the claim that the
experiences were purely psychological in nature. By proposing
that these types of experiments be performed we are in no way
attempting to support a particular claim or prove a particular
theory, but instead we hope to gather information which may be
used to draw objective conclusions regarding the mystery of the
abduction phenomenon.

One of the most obvious ways to search for physical evidence
would be to use a motion sensitive camera. Devising a crude, but
effective motion sensitive camera should not be a challenge to
anyone with even a basic knowledge of electronics. Although we
have little knowledge of electronics, we feel we can safely say
that even a camcorder attached to a motion sensor, like the kind
used on outdoor lights, may be enough to get the job done. The
camera could be easily set up so that anything coming near the
bed of the abductee would set off the camera. To exclude the
possibility of the camera's presence being detected by the eyes
of an intruder, it could be easily concealed by hiding it where
it would not be obviously visible.

<snip>

The most important factor in this type of an experiment would be
the honesty of the abductee. They would have to agree beforehand
that any memory of an experience would be reported, even if this
experience resulted in no hard physical evidence. If the subject
should awaken with a memory of an experience during the previous
night, but fail to disclose this because of a lack of physical
evidence, the results would be biased and inconclusive. It seems
that devising a method in which the abductee could not review
the video tape would be the best solution to this problem.

Unlike some other aspects of the UFO phenomenon, the
opportunities to look for physical evidence of abductions are
clearly present. Before pro-alien abduction researchers start
slinging terms like "debunker" at those of us who attempt to
remain objective about the phenomenon, perhaps they should
attempt a few simple experiments and (gasp!) try to supply some
actual evidence to support their conclusions about the
extraterrestrial nature of abductions. Until they do, the E.T.
theory, like all others, will continue to be just a theory."
____________________

Since I first wrote this piece several years ago, I can think of
one group who actually claimed that they were going to do
exactly what I suggested in this article (it was a local/state
chapter of MUFON, actually). Excited as I was, it's been many
months and I've heard nothing new regarding the experiment. Was
it dropped in the planning stage?

Before you think I've written off every contact case ever
reported, hold on now, because even as I become more and more
jaded regarding the ufo and abduction phenomena, there are still
a _few_ contact cases which continue to intrigue me. Mostly
these are cases which don't fit the typical jacob/hopkins'
abduction stereotype, but I won't go off into that here. My
point is that I still think there have been some (as stan would
say, underline the "some" about 10 times) cases of contact which
actually involve _some sort_ of nonhuman intelligence, and my
mind is still open to such cases. But don't come up to me and
tell me you know 2 dozen abductees, or that by expanding the
roper poll and inserting the drake equation, you've discovered
that 18 quazibillion abductees exist in the galaxy. If that's
what you're selling, I'll be over here *as he points to the
psychosocial corner* watching for the mothership.

I'm quite sure that this missive will go ignored by the folks
who would have us believe in the physical reality of massive
numbers of abductions, just as it has in the past, but just in
case, here it is. Thoughtful and sane comments/feedback of all
types appreciated.

Best,
Tim Brigham

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