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From: Brian Cuthbertson <brianc@fc.net>
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 11:27:15 -0500 (CDT)
Fwd Date: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 09:22:03 -0400
Subject: Re: Sheffield UFO Incident 2?


Dave Bowden writes in response to Stan Friedman ...

 >Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 22:14:34 +0000
 >From: dave bowden <dave.bowden@cableinet.co.uk>
 >To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
 >Subject: Re: Sheffield UFO Incident 2?

 >>From: Stan Friedman <fsphys@brunnet.net>
 >>To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
 >>Subject: Re: Sheffield UFO Incident 2?
 >>Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 23:18:02 -0300

 >Roy's original question was:

 >>Could you please tell us if you personally believe at anytime
 >>in the last 25yrs or perhaps beyond that there has been at
 >>least one visit to this planet by any form of Extraterrestrial
 >>craft?

 >That is a very good question and since there are so many
 >'ufologists' out there maybe one kind soul could answer that
 >(what I perceive to be) simple question.

The simple problem with that simple question is the simple word
"believe".  I assume for example you aren't looking for
religious zealots.  Rather I assume you expect reasoned belief
based on acceptable evidence.  And as this list demonstrates
over and over again, one person's acceptable evidence is another
person's hoax/BS/etc.

A "No" answer here is easy; after all no evidence need be
provided then.  Advantage skeptics.

But the only reasonable "yes" response is to toss out a a
supporting set of examples, at which folks can then take pot
shots.

Allow me to demonstrate:

Yes, I'm of the opinion that we've been visited in the
last 25 years.

One example which I think supports this viewpoint is the
Travis Walton case.  The case impresses me almost as much
as the extraordinary attacks on it (unsuccessful in my
opinion) by skeptics like Klass.  Walton goes into some
detail in his book responding to Klass's attacks; its
an interesting read.  (the book: Fire In the Sky/
The Walton Experience)

Now watch what happens; meanwhile I'll head for cover :-)

In this weedy field, the questions may be simple, but the
answers seldom are.

Now as to whether I can be considered a 'ufologist' qualified to
answer your query - that's another matter.  Unfortunately I
inadvertently tossed out my ufologist card with the cereal box
it came in.  But I've accumulated and read a lot, and I've
followed both this list and UFO Updates for over 2 years now.
And I did work with Jan to create the cdrom archive of Barry
Greenwood's work, if that's worth anything.  A Jenny Randles,
Stan Friedman or Jan Aldrich I'm most definitely not, however.

-Brian

PS.  I guess you might call me a "ufologist" instead of a
"Ufologist".  It strikes me we really do need a professional
exam for this field.  Perhaps Klass could suggest some of the
questions to go on it?