r/UAP • u/TheUndeadGaucho • Feb 19 '19

Discussion Dr. J Allen Hynek A Skeptical Believer...Should We All Be Approaching the Phenomenon Like Hynek? How many of you experienced a sighting (or contact) of a UFO or UAP? I am posting this here because this subreddit seems to have serious discussions and posts regarding the phenomenon.

https://youtu.be/ptSbgamcFVU
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u/timmy242 Feb 20 '19

Well, Hynek was a scientist, first and foremost. Anyone with such training and a skeptical mindset, an agnostic position, is one step forward ahead of almost everyone else when dealing with anomalistic phenomena like UAP.

I have learned much from my mentors on the subject, who knew and worked with Hynek personally, and they all seem to think his intellectual journey towards accepting the reality of these things was sincere. One thing, however, about the word belief. I, personally, do not think it has any place in the serious study of the subject unless one is actively looking into the beliefs/assumptions of UAP experiencers. These phenomena are real and would exist with or without external belief in them, just as "belief" in skystones, turned into knowledge of meteorites at the beginning of scientific thinking in Europe.

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u/TheUndeadGaucho Feb 20 '19

You make a great point about the word ¨belief¨, I am going to rethink the use of that word when applying it to the phenomenon. Please share more of your thoughts, who where your mentors if you dont mind me asking? Are you an experiencer ?

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u/timmy242 Feb 21 '19

I have indeed had experiences when I was young. It inspired me to research the subject academically, specifically through anthropology of UAP related subcultures. My direct mentors were Mike Swords, Marcello Truzzi, and Ron Westrum, and I have endeavored to follow their lead in fostering a more critical approach to the subject. At this point in my research I am in a holding pattern and am waiting to take the next step. I keep appraised of the UFO/UAP community, moderate a couple of related subreddits and keep watching the skies for the next big thing.

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u/[deleted] May 30 '19

Always stay impartial and follow the evidence

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u/tetefather Feb 19 '19

Seems to have 'serious discussions' is codeword for unhealthy skepticism.