Editing MUFOB ARCHIVE/04 1966 MUFORG Bulletin 02 (section)

== TALKING POINT – “RESPECTABILITY” ==
There seems to be a general antipathy in some UFO groups against “respectable” groups, i.e. those who insist on a factual, scientific approach to the UFO problem. Mr Alex Kenyon, President of the Nottingham UFO Group writes:-

” . . . I would like to make one comment though if I may, and you can quote me if you like, that is in regard to the article on Ron Caswell and the Get-Acquainted Programme. The way I read it was as though it was said tongue in cheek (I may be wrong) but I feel too many “respectable” groups have what I feel we are all fighting, and that is a closed mind. These groups lose before they start . . .”

This opinion ties in with the Editorial in the February issue of Orbit, Journal of the Tyneside UFO Society. The most relevant paragraph reads:-

“Those individuals or societies, whose approach is purely factual and who believe that only in this way will the subject gain ‘respectability’ are indeed on dangerous ground. Some of the very people whom such groups wish to impress, namely the scientists themselves, are already way ahead and working on ideas which are anathema to those who seek to appear ‘respectable’.”

It also seems that we “respectable” groups are accused of being dogmatic, in spite of the fact that the dogmatic types will not touch the subject of ufology with a barge pole. And as for the closed minds. It is those who blindly accept all the contactees’ fairy stories and reject a critical and methodical approach to this most difficult of difficult subjects who have the closed minds. — J.H.

___