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Sightings, reports, public interest, lecture and conference audiences and enthusiasm amongst ufologists themselves have all been in steady decline since the late ‘90s. The growth of internet sites and forums has dealt a heavy blow to the hands-on, social exchange of information and research. Ufology has ebbed and flowed in this way many times since its inception in the late ‘40s, and no doubt will be reborn anew when the next big public case hits the tabloids. Ufology has always had a decidedly sociological element, and this fact is one of the many psychosocial aspects that BUFORA has always conceded. The days of “flying saucer enthusiasts” and skywatches on windy hilltops have long gone. The subject has evolved in both content and sophistication, and so has BUFORA.
In November of 2005, the membership voted to restructure the Association in a way that would reflect the changing attitudes and habits of those interested. Paid membership has been discarded, the printed Journal has ceased and the regular lecture programme has been suspended. BUFORA is now concentrating its efforts and resources on this website, which will be the sole vehicle for disseminating research, investigation reports, news and articles.
Originally posted by SunTzu22
reply to post by IsaacKoi
Lots of hoaxes, im sure.
NEW HOTLINE POLICIES - Because the steady stream of pranks and obscene telephone calls has not abated, we are considering a change in our policy regarding staffing of the Hotline. On a typical day, 50-80 percent of the calls we receive are hoaxes and pranks, more often than not, accompanied by some of the worst profanity a person could imagine. This situation is having a deleterious effect on the Director, and we are going to have to fight back, if the National UFO Reporting Center is going to continue providing its service to the public. We will be posting those new policies, which may include posting of the telephone numbers of the individuals who continue to pester our operations. Perhaps visitors to our website could induce these cretins to stop disturbing us with their foolishness.
www.mufon.com...
Originally posted by IsaacKoi
Perhaps the sheer volume of data (as opposed to information) now available is so overwhelming that people simply get fed up with the deluge of material - particularly since it may seem that there are no quick and easy way of identifying the material which is worth examining.
Originally posted by IsaacKoi
Since the invention of the Internet, things have changed within Ufology.
The old big, centralised UFO groups and publications have been failing one by one.
There are some indications that the biggest group, MUFON, may be disintegrating or at least becoming less significant to UFO investigation and research.
Here in England, BUFORA still exists but in a very different form to a few years ago. BUFORA's own website states:
www.bufora.org.uk...
Sightings, reports, public interest, lecture and conference audiences and enthusiasm amongst ufologists themselves have all been in steady decline since the late ‘90s. The growth of internet sites and forums has dealt a heavy blow to the hands-on, social exchange of information and research. Ufology has ebbed and flowed in this way many times since its inception in the late ‘40s, and no doubt will be reborn anew when the next big public case hits the tabloids. Ufology has always had a decidedly sociological element, and this fact is one of the many psychosocial aspects that BUFORA has always conceded. The days of “flying saucer enthusiasts” and skywatches on windy hilltops have long gone. The subject has evolved in both content and sophistication, and so has BUFORA.
In November of 2005, the membership voted to restructure the Association in a way that would reflect the changing attitudes and habits of those interested. Paid membership has been discarded, the printed Journal has ceased and the regular lecture programme has been suspended. BUFORA is now concentrating its efforts and resources on this website, which will be the sole vehicle for disseminating research, investigation reports, news and articles.
Several UFO publications have folded in the last few years, blaming (among other things) the freely available and up-to-date information on the Internet for their inability to survive.
Is the above statement by BUFORA right to say that "The growth of internet sites and forums has dealt a heavy blow to the hands-on, social exchange of information and research"? Surely internet sites and forums have INCREASED the social exchange of information and research, rather than dealt them a "heavy blow"?
But has the increased ability to communicate - by email, on forums via social media websites - improved UFO research? I'm far from convinced.
It seems to me (although I wonder if others share my perception) that the rate of turnover of those interested in UFO research has increased and with it the amount of reinvention of the wheel. Perhaps the sheer volume of data (as opposed to information) now available is so overwhelming that people simply get fed up with the deluge of material - particularly since it may seem that there are no quick and easy way of identifying the material which is worth examining.
What about the search tools that are now available? From Google to various Firefox plug-ins, the ways of finding and storing information relevant to UFO research have increased dramatically - but are those tools being fully utilised?
At the moment, there seems to me to be fairly wide divide between the search and technological abilities of members of some Internet forums and the use of such tools by the older and more established members of the UFO research community. Perhaps these things simply take quite a while to get adopted by people that are, presumably, on average somewhat older than the members of ATS.
But can't the divide be bridged so that younger, more energetic and technologically savvy work more closely with the older and most experienced researchers?
Have the changes in the last few years been positive or negative for UFO research?
All the best,
Isaac
Originally posted by cripmeister
Originally posted by IsaacKoi
Perhaps the sheer volume of data (as opposed to information) now available is so overwhelming that people simply get fed up with the deluge of material - particularly since it may seem that there are no quick and easy way of identifying the material which is worth examining.
I think so, there's too much garbage out there. But places like ATS is, or at least can be, of great help by reviewing this information. But sadly, many knowledgable and in my opinion important members have chosen to leave ATS, many out of protest.
Originally posted by Pimander
Originally posted by cripmeister
Originally posted by IsaacKoi
Perhaps the sheer volume of data (as opposed to information) now available is so overwhelming that people simply get fed up with the deluge of material - particularly since it may seem that there are no quick and easy way of identifying the material which is worth examining.
I think so, there's too much garbage out there. But places like ATS is, or at least can be, of great help by reviewing this information. But sadly, many knowledgable and in my opinion important members have chosen to leave ATS, many out of protest.
The garbage is not there by chance. Do you really think normal people spend hour after hour of their time posting garbage UFO footage and reports on the internet? Is that really likely?
Have the changes in the last few years been positive or negative for UFO research?
Originally posted by Pimander
The garbage is not there by chance. Do you really think normal people spend hour after hour of their time posting garbage UFO footage and reports on the internet? Is that really likely?
Originally posted by Hitoshura
I don't think we need MUFON's or BUFORA's nowadays like we used to, but instead good quality networks.
Originally posted by zorgon
YEAH There ya go" Toss out the old... in with the new ATSUFON (at-soo-fon) We gotz the prime investigation team here
We get to the bottom of things quickly... well mostly... well okay... but hey were good
ATSUFON Field trip...
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