Saturday, August 11, 2012

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)

Hi all,

I have been using the term "Unidentified Flying Objects" (UFO) in my own research, since 1968. It is probably the most widely used term to describe those unknown objects seen in the sky and on the ground, which have been frequently reported since 1947. However, the term "UFO" is usually translated as "extraterrestrial spacecraft" by many people. I have found this particularly true in recent times when dealing with the mass media.

Is there a more neutral term which could be used? In Australia the RAAF used to use the term "Unusual Aerial Sightings" (UAS.) Overseas, other research organisations and individuals prefer to use the term "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" (UAP.)

After some discussion and debate with a few other individuals whose opinions I value, I have decided that, in future, I will use the term "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" (UAP) wherever possible, in my own research. Naturally, when citing others who use the term "UFO" I will use their nomenclature. You will also note that the title of this blog uses the term "UFO." This is the choice of the blog owner, Pauline Wilson, and I respect her continued usage of this term.

4 comments:

  1. Keith, I have a proclivity for using "flying saucer" for Westall because it seems to capture something of the atmosphere (excuse the pun!) of the era, and that's how many of the witnesses described what they saw - that's what it looked like to them then, and now as they remember it.

    As for "UFO", sometimes I reckon it could easily denote "Ultimately Frustrating Object"...but I try to stay more positive than that!! :)

    Cheers, Shane.

    ReplyDelete
  2. G'Day Keith and Shane.

    Yes way back around mid 80's I think it was, I noticed that "UFO=Flying Saucer=ET" creeping in when talking to folk discussing the subject and I would go to the trouble of correcting them, however over time it became a lost cause, finally hijack to mean UFO=et

    I had noticed in some of your post Keith and wondered, did you mean UFO as in "Unidentified Flying Object" or UFO=Flying Saucer=ET and then I read this on the net where you have been quoted, "Mr Basterfield, an expert researcher of public documents, says he does not believe in UFOs", which was a bit confusing to this little wood duck, so much so I mentioned it to George a while ago.

    http://www.sott.net/articles/show/247700-Frederick-Valentich-Truth-Was-Out-There-After-All

    Even though your post above endeavours to clear it up you can see the confusion.

    I mean did you mean UFO=ET or was it the interviewer/reporters hijacked interpretation of "UFO" that they "thought" you meant?

    Cheers Les



    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Les,

    I was interviewed by a reporter from the Adelaide Advertiser, by mobile phone, which is not the best medium for conducting an interview. The article does indeed say I do not believe in UFOs. What I meant by that is that "UFOs" does not automatically equate to visits by extraterrestrial spacecraft, which is the interpretation that the reporter placed on his question, from previous parts of our discussion.

    I do accept that there is an unknown phenomenon which is occurring, otherwise I would not spend so much of my time looking into it. However, I have no definitive explanation to offer people. I tend to lean towards the idea of interdimensional objects, e.g. visits from parallel universes. However, in individual cases I follow the evidence wherever that leads. In some cases it leads to mundane explanations. You will see from some of my cold case investigations on this blog that there seem to be mundane causes to some quite famous cases.

    Thus, I have now decided to use the term "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena"
    (UAP.)

    Hope this helps explain my perspective.

    Keith.

    ReplyDelete
  4. G'Day Keith.

    Thanks for clearing that up.

    As I said I could see way back it was a lost cause today you just listen or read someones post and you soon pick up as to what camp they are in regarding the use of the word UFO.

    If in doubt, ask as I have just done.

    I agree regarding "Mass Media" they have a lot to answer for.

    Cheers Les

    ReplyDelete

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