The results from my first poll ("What do you think the UFO phenomenon represents?") are in. A total of 103 readers responded to the question.
Perhaps surprisingly, only 28 voters (27%) ascribed the phenomenon (or phenomena) to extraterrestrial visitors, mirroring the 28 voters (27%) who selected "Misidentification and/or the 'will to believe'" as the most likely culprit.
22 voters (21%) selected "Beings from a parallel world" while 18 (17%) opted for "An aspect of Jung's collective unconscious." A scant 13 readers (12% of the vote) selected "Time travelers" as a possible explanation.
But the "winning" vote went to "Other," drawing 36 readers and beating out "Extraterrestrials" with an in impressive 34%.
7 comments:
"Other" winning seems most appropriate, since we don't know, as the question was asked, "what the ufo phenomenon represents," or what it is in any specific, provable way, although the best answer may be closer to "a variety of possible unknown sources."
A multiple choice question with several silly answers provided is not much of a poll.
First of all it is a leading question by use of the term "UFO phenomenon" which is vague term and could mean anything. But the question itself screams "I am a believer". A more neutral phrasing is "What is the most likely explanation for an apparent UFO sightin that has not been investigated"
More neutral and therefore more useful answer should have been a) man made objects b) naturally occurring phenomena c) hallucinations d) other
instead of putting in your own inane pet theories like "Jung's collective unconsciousness" give me a break.
anon: It was Jung who applied his inane pet theory to the UFO phenomenon, not Mac.
@Justin--exactly. Carl Jung even wrote a book about what he thought might be the cause and meaning of the ufo phenomenon, as it's usually conceived. Jung's theories basically posited that the ufo phenomena might have several human psychological sources, particularly as a psychic representation of universal mandala symbology, and perhaps also as a unique kind of projection or vision derived from the collective unconscious.
Maybe in part, but generally his speculations, based on Freudian and his own psychotherapeutic biases, don't really work, and are not comprehensive, imho. Too many cases involving multiple witnesses and in some cases, associated external evidence, such as photographic, radar, and ground trace incidents.
I do basically agree, in turn, with anon that something like, "A more neutral phrasing is 'What is the most likely explanation for an apparent UFO sighting that has not been [fully] investigated[?]'" and might have worked better.
Captcha: quirli
More neutral and therefore more useful answer should have been a) man made objects b) naturally occurring phenomena
Why the hell do you think I included "Misidentification and/or 'will to believe'"? Did you even look at the answers?
I think the "Other" category results, outside of wrangling over semantics, is a interesting result that recognizes the chimera like qualities of the phenomenon.The inability to categorize it leads to this sort of sophistry in relation to providing an "accurate" menu of choices. You may have well put indigestion as a choice. I think a poll on each choice subdivided by choices within them would be a daunting and thankless task.
Bruce--
I think a poll on each choice subdivided by choices within them would be a daunting and thankless task.
My thoughts exactly. It's hardly a scientific poll, but perhaps not totally without worth.
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