When Too Much Becomes Troublesome
Nick Redfern
7 Comments
The new issue (Vol. 23, No. 4) of UFO Magazine includes an article from me titled When Too Much High Strangeness Becomes A Problem.
Many researchers of Fortean phenomena assume that an abundance (or even an over-abundance) of data is a good thing. After all, the more information we have in-hand, the higher the likelihood is that we'll solve the puzzle (whether it's UFOs, Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or whatever), right?
Wrong.
Within Forteana, the rules are always different to those that govern the "normal" world.
For example, in my article for UFO Mag, I specifically point out that one particular UFO hot-spot in central England has also played host to encounters with werewolves, a glowing-eyed Bigfoot-like creature, ghosts, and a diabolical entity that sounds like a combination of Mothman, the Jersey-Devil, and a gargoyle. And on top of that, there is evidence of pagan activity in the area, too.
And that's the crux of it all for those of a rigid mindset: an over-abundance of extremely varied high-strangeness does become too weird - for both "nuts and bolts" ufologists and "flesh and blood" cryptozoologists. Why? Because it's not acceptable - or, at the very least, it doesn't sit well - within their rigid, belief-based framework.
Of course, if you're not governed by that aforementioned rigid belief system, then the problem of having too much high-strangeness goes away. The only problem, in fact, is that we're still left scratching our heads as we try to come up with a better theory - or theories.
I certainly don't claim to have all the answers; but when a Bigfoot, a werewolf, a gargoyle and Ufological Grays are all seen at one particular location - and across a period of time that runs to decades, no less - then I suggest revisions of the more conventional views on both Cryptozoology and Ufology are in dire need.
Reader Comments (7)
Just like many branches of science, including anthropology, paranormal research has become too specialized. A researcher will specialize in Bigfoot or UFOs or werewolves, but rarely all three, and never steps back from his chosen subject to view the larger picture; therefore, he will miss connections that become apparent when you view the phenomena through a wider lens.
In their blind dedication to achieving “scientific acceptance,” many paranormal researchers miss seeing the larger questions. The irony is that we will never achieve that scientific acceptance. For to accept paranormal phenomena as real, scientists would have to throw out most of what they think they know about the world around us.
I've always marveled at the over-specialization of some paranormal researchers. I am controversial among local groups because I'm willing to investigate anything fortean. "Ghost" people laugh at talk of UFOs...UFO people scoff at Bigfoot...and so on. In academia, it is perfectly normal to specialize in something narrow; in paranormal research, I believe that a "big picture" approach is essential.
Osiris
Very good words. Specialization and neatly separating things into different compartments has slowed the progress of understanding what lies at the heart of Forteana for decades.
Skinwalker Ranch comes to mind. Haven't heard any new updates on that place in a while. So Nick what do you think is happening in places like this? Seems like some sort of interdimensional doorway opening into other vast realms of the cosmos. During my encounters I saw a wide variety of beings. Some with hoods in the woods standing around a weird box. Beings of Light. Beings that looked like they just stepped out of a fantasy novel. So many.. They do seem to happen in swarms of uniqueness. Perhaps they all work together or are connected. It is very interesting to ponder.
Jeffery
www.themabusscarab.com
J:
I do indeed think there is a great deal to the idea of so-called window areas. There are a number of places in Britain that clearly fall into this category, and I think (from my perspective at least) this is indicative of the possibility that all these things are somehow inter-linked, even if the reasons why still aren't clear to us. Yes, the Skinwalker ranch is a perfect example.
Nick,
Definitely some interdimensional travel going on with this stuff. I recall seeing 3 black pyramid type craft come out of an energy vortex the energy that opened was orange and green. They came out of this hole in the sky. My mother saw it with me it was the first time she had ever seen anything Ufo related. She about ripped my arm off scared to death and said Oh My God! All of this stuff is so fascinating because whatever it is seems to be playing by a whole other set of physics. One that I would love to catch on to. I also wonder if it is technology that enables them to hop around or just plain natural instinct. For instance the creatures at Skinwalker ranch it was just so natural for them to travel weirdly out of thin air. So mysterious and fun to ponder. Plus it interests me so much because I want to do it. As well with Ufos I want one. =)
Jeffery
www.themabusscarab.com
J:
Very interesting re the black pyramids!