Your Paracast Newsletter -- April 17, 2010

[ArchieBedford]

I agree that abduction research must be placed in the hands of professional therapists. If a layman gets involved, do so with the therapist at hand and only to provide some background about the UFO field and its historical context.

Yes Gene, everyone agrees with this, and always has, for 30 years or more. There are no dissenters from this view, as far as I am aware. It's what Budd Hopkins for one has always been asking for, petitioning for, pleading for since the early 1980s.

In the early years Budd traded his artworks or paid psychologists and psychiatrists his own money to work with people and to do the regressions. He stood to one side, taking no part in the clinical work, and for years this is how things went on. All the memory recovery in all the cases written up in "Missing Time" was done by psychiatrists like Dr. Aphrodite Clamar and others. It looked quite promising when John Mack finally became involved, plus other qualified health professionals such as John Carpenter, Yvonne Smith and a few others.

But there's not enough of them. No-one wants to work for free, forever. Most just can't afford to, don't have time or are simply not dedicated to the subject. The phenomenon does not officially exist: it's taboo, ridiculed, sidelined. So what are people who have these experiences supposed to do, exactly?

It's all very well to proclaim that "Abduction research should be placed in the hands of professional therapists." "Placed in their hands" by whom, exactly? Who is going to pay them? With what resources? Who exactly is going to oversee this, and with what authority, from whom?

Address these questions, please, people. Without tackling this issue, this is a meaningless, pointless, sterile debate going absolutely nowhere. The reason the current researchers dominate the field is quite simple: they are the only ones willing to continuously give up their personal time, free of charge, to help these people and respond to the thousands upon thousands of cases which turn up at their door. Most "health professionals" with a few exceptions want nothing to do with such a fringe and taboo subject.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Start with MUFON since they got a grant last year to do research. The point is for UFO investigative bodies to either seek volunteers who are qualified to perform this sort of investigation or raise the money privately to cover the costs.

You have any suggestions?

 

[Paul Kimball]

It's all very well to proclaim that "Abduction research should be placed in the hands of professional therapists." "Placed in their hands" by whom, exactly? Who is going to pay them? With what resources? Who exactly is going to oversee this, and with what authority, from whom?

The same people who pay for anyone's treatment by a mental health professional, no matter what the case.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

On the long haul, perhaps the U.S.'s new health care bill will make it possible for people who cannot afford to receive therapy to cover their visits.

 

[Paul Kimball]

On the long haul, perhaps the U.S.'s new health care bill will make it possible for people who cannot afford to receive therapy to cover their visits.

I was, of course, speaking of more civilized countries than the U.S.

 

[Tom From Hong Kong]

While I am not an expert in the mental health field, I have trouble seeing how a trained professional who is compensated by Uncle Sam can justify a sustained course of treatment for someone who complains of abduction-related issues --- unless they make the more serious diagnosis of schizophrenia (which, as we know, is typically not the case). In fact, I doubt the U.S. government would approve hypnosis as a means of treatment period, given limited resources and the number of cases of cancer, heart disease, etc. that go un- or under-treated every year. I believe Archie is right in many respects: unless the abductee is independently wealthy, has a doctor who will "hide" the true nature of the patient's claims and treatments from the insurance company or Welfare, or is the lucky recipient of pro bono services, there may not be any easy solution here. This all assumes, of course, you can find a enough mental health professionals to work alongside the abduction researchers from a reputational perspective.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Unless the patient is on Medicare or Medicaid, the new U.S. health care program strictly involves private carriers. I realize certain political demagogues have attempted to create a different impression.

As to the actual claims, I suppose the underlying condition can be used, such as severe anxiety. It doesn't have to be schizophrenia or bi-polar unless those conditions apply, and the specifics of the discussions are still part of the doctor/patient privilege. So it shouldn't impact coverage to any material degree.

 

[Tom From Hong Kong]

Unless the patient is on Medicare or Medicaid, the new U.S. health care program strictly involves private carriers. I realize certain political demagogues have attempted to create a different impression.

As to the actual claims, I suppose the underlying condition can be used, such as severe anxiety. It doesn't have to be schizophrenia or bi-polar unless those conditions apply, and the specifics of the discussions are still part of the doctor/patient privilege. So it shouldn't impact coverage to any material degree.

Gene, that very well may be the case -- I have never been involved in the submission of a claim to Medicare or Medicaid. Perhaps all that needs to be detailed is 'severe anxiety' or a rather generic disorder that doesn't raise suspicion, with hypnosis being omitted as one course of treatment. On the other hand, you can envision a situation where a psychologist working alongside Budd Hopkins attracts the attention of the Medicare/Medicaid/government officials at some point. If I was the psychologist I may feel a little uneasy being put in that position (news expose' on the local Channel 7 evening news in NYC?).

 

[trainedobserver]

The reason the current researchers dominate the field is quite simple: they are the only ones willing to continuously give up their personal time, free of charge, ...

I think you've hit the nail on the head. There is no funding and no interest in the subject in the professional mental health care arena. Also, I think folks who raise the subject of alien abduction with mental health professionals are quickly labeled as delusional and are treated as such but that is just conjecture on my part.

To do alien abduction research properly it seems to me you would need an organization like MUFON to organize and administer a program that "hired" mental health professionals to carry out the "interviews" while simultaneously conducting some sort of monitoring and surveillance of the alleged abductees. It looks like something like this was partially done in the past called, The Ambient Monitoring Project, the results of which is unknown. The MUFON project is mentioned here in Joe Capps' blog under MUFON vs The Aliens - Who Won?

The paradox we face is that someone is going to have to capture some very convincing evidence that alien abductions are "real events" before it considered a valid public safety and health concern worthy of funding and attention by agencies equipped to do so. However, this subject has been studied now for decades without any convincing evidence popping up out of the background noise so what are the odds of seeing any in the future? I'd say nil. Until such time as the phenomena chooses to "reveal itself" I think it will remain a mystery.

 

[IndigoEyes]

Gene, that very well may be the case -- I have never been involved in the submission of a claim to Medicare or Medicaid. Perhaps all that needs to be detailed is 'severe anxiety' or a rather generic disorder that doesn't raise suspicion, with hypnosis being omitted as one course of treatment. On the other hand, you can envision a situation where a psychologist working alongside Budd Hopkins attracts the attention of the Medicare/Medicaid/government officials at some point. If I was the psychologist I may feel a little uneasy being put in that position (news expose' on the local Channel 7 evening news in NYC?).

Am I reading this right? Are you saying that one of your concerns is that hypnosis would NOT be approved if mainstream medical professionals were involved? And THIS bothers you!?!?!

---------- Post added at 05:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------

I agree that MUFON could, if it so desired, become the scientific objective organization it purported to originally be, and take this on. I suspect grants may be forthcoming from private individuals (I am channeling the strange name "Bigelow") who are interested in this subject.

Throwing up one negative after another to STOP any change in the current abduction research scenario is not fruitful (I am channeling the strange name.....never mind). Let's try to put on our thinking caps (as they used to say when I was a kid) and come up with ideas, as Gene suggested.

I think the MUFON idea is excellent, except I do wonder if they have the will to do so. I've heard reports that MUFON is beginning to melt into the Exopolitics pot. If true, then we can kiss MUFON goodbye as a legitimate organization. But does anyone listen to PARACAST and/or read the forums who has power or influence at MUFON? A few well-placed phone calls by people who are known in the field might be useful.

Ufology has Roger Leir who (I believe) volunteers his services to do so-called alien implant removals. I suspect that if there were a legitimate organizing group (with people who have some corporate and organizing skills), therapists would volunteer to help, albiet perhaps anonymously.

I think the fears of government intrusion (e.g., stopping the use of hypnosis!?!?!) are, frankly, absurd. Why are Americans so terrified of their own government when it does something FOR them once in a blue moon whereas they couldn't seemingly care less if it does BAD things to other people? (Sorry, political commentary slipped in). As Gene noted, the current health care bill (awful as it may be in comparison to universal health care, like most other civilized countries who have fallen to the evils of socialism), does funnel all funds to private insurers and private medical systems. That's capitalism at its finest - using government funds to enrich private corporations. Long Live the American Way! Sorry....

The idea that Big Brother will descend upon the poor alien abductee patients just smacks of a Jim Marrs conspiracy theory. Doctors know how to game the system and play the game well. As noted, they can simply diagnose someone as having extreme emotional distress or chronic anxiety disorder. They don't have to write "patient thinks aliens are abducting her".

AFTERTHOUGHT: You do realize that if such a volunteer organization was put into place, it would put Jacobs and Hopkins out of business, right? What need would there be for them? MUFON or some other group could easily brief PROFESSIONAL medical therapists on ufology. There is no reason whatsoever that a patient would need to work with Hopkins or Jacobs AND a mental health professional. Seems we would be effectively culling the bogus herd of ufology "abduction researchers" with this approach, and they would howl and bellow like a wounded moose! I predict if this idea actually got off the ground, the name-brand abduction researchers would scream bloody murder and find every way possible to derail it (like Republicans....e.g., "If there is reform in this area, it will result in death panels to eliminate alien abductees. If there is change, people will become victims of Marxist Nazi therapists who will insert liberal ideas into their subconscious! If there is a new methodology, America will become the new Soviet Union!"). Yes, I'm joking but just you wait - the abduction research industry will lobby against any change that damages their franchise (i.e.,where will material come from for their next lurid book?).

---------- Post added at 06:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:14 PM ----------

Yes Gene, everyone agrees with this, and always has, for 30 years or more. There are no dissenters from this view, as far as I am aware. It's what Budd Hopkins for one has always been asking for, petitioning for, pleading for since the early 1980s.

In the early years Budd traded his artworks or paid psychologists and psychiatrists his own money to work with people and to do the regressions. He stood to one side, taking no part in the clinical work, and for years this is how things went on. All the memory recovery in all the cases written up in "Missing Time" was done by psychiatrists like Dr. Aphrodite Clamar and others. It looked quite promising when John Mack finally became involved, plus other qualified health professionals such as John Carpenter, Yvonne Smith and a few others.

But there's not enough of them. No-one wants to work for free, forever. Most just can't afford to, don't have time or are simply not dedicated to the subject. The phenomenon does not officially exist: it's taboo, ridiculed, sidelined. So what are people who have these experiences supposed to do, exactly?

It's all very well to proclaim that "Abduction research should be placed in the hands of professional therapists." "Placed in their hands" by whom, exactly? Who is going to pay them? With what resources? Who exactly is going to oversee this, and with what authority, from whom?

Address these questions, please, people. Without tackling this issue, this is a meaningless, pointless, sterile debate going absolutely nowhere. The reason the current researchers dominate the field is quite simple: they are the only ones willing to continuously give up their personal time, free of charge, to help these people and respond to the thousands upon thousands of cases which turn up at their door. Most "health professionals" with a few exceptions want nothing to do with such a fringe and taboo subject.

Archie, I agree it is very noble of the current crop of abduction researchers to give of their time and expertise to "help" abductees. All they get in return is material for their next lurid book, that's all! How noble, eh? I seem to recall in the EM tapes, Jacobs was bitterly complaining about the hundreds of hours he spent on her case. He was evidently going to make it the centerpiece of his next book, but now cannot do that. If his only intent was to "help" her, why would he then begrudge having spent all those hundreds of thousands of hours? Is it really about helping people or gathering material for the next publication or lecture series?

 

[ArchieBedford]

Archie, I agree it is very noble of the current crop of abduction researchers to give of their time and expertise to "help" abductees. All they get in return is material for their next lurid book, that's all! How noble, eh? I seem to recall in the EM tapes, Jacobs was bitterly complaining about the hundreds of hours he spent on her case. He was evidently going to make it the centerpiece of his next book, but now cannot do that. If his only intent was to "help" her, why would he then begrudge having spent all those hundreds of thousands of hours? Is it really about helping people or gathering material for the next publication or lecture series?

No, it's not about getting material for books and lectures.

Following the publication of "Sight Unseen" co-written with Carol Rainey in 2003, BH will never write another book on this phenomenon. He's 79, has health issues, and he's done. And do you know exactly, to the nearest USD100, how much money his previous four books made? I do. Believe me, if you're a leading 20th century artist with work exhibited in the MMA, the Met and the Guggenheim, with private collectors chasing your work, this is the way to make a living - not writing books on alien abduction.

To my certain knowledge, every other abductee who ever worked with DJ in 25 years has had a normal, mutually respectful and accommodating relationship. For example, if DJ has a full diary in mid-term with lectures, tutorials and essay marking (you probably know he has been consistently voted most popular Professor by the student body at Temple year after year - and it's a big Uni) and family matters, then the abductee simply arranges a session three or four weeks hence when he can fit it in. He is generous with his time when the time is available. You arrange a session, then wait. I know of only one abductee who has consistently pestered him several times each day on the phone and demanded total attention every day for years, like she was the only thing which should matter in his world. DJ's family had to take many of her f***ing phone calls, including on Christmas Day. How would you deal with it? That's why he "complained." Too damned generous, all time given free of charge. Most people would eventually have just told her to f*** off. I certainly would, but then I have little time for self-obsessed, attention-seeking psychos with no idea of normal respectful personal boundaries. Sorry but you raised this (in your usual way), not me.

Most other researchers don't write books about the phenomenon. They don't have the time, and books in this field don't make any money. Neither do lectures, for that matter.

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ----------

Start with MUFON since they got a grant last year to do research. The point is for UFO investigative bodies to either seek volunteers who are qualified to perform this sort of investigation or raise the money privately to cover the costs. You have any suggestions?

Gene, I didn't know MUFON had received a grant last year for this particular issue. How much, from whom, with any conditions? What are they doing with it?

Speaking personally, I don't see that most people who have these experiences need "therapy" or a "mental health professional" - what they need is someone who might be able to help explain what is going on and piece it together with them. It's an external phenomenon which comes into your life from outside. What you want is to understand it. You need to work with people who are interested in it, have investigated it, know the complex common patterns, have knowledge about it. What good is a psychiatrist going to be until and unless they become acquainted with the phenomenon and its patterns? This takes time, dedication, interest, curiosity, study. Very few people want to do this. I tried "mental health professionals": complete waste of time. If it comes to a choice it's far more productive to talk to someone who has studied it for 30 years and understands it, IMO.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

For research, not specifically for abductions. But it does paint the picture of trying to get money to help pay the professionals you need, and perhaps there's money still available.

But I think it's premature to know whether these experiences are all external, or something internal. And that doesn't mean the internal experience doesn't have an outside influence, of course.

 

[ArchieBedford]

But I think it's premature to know whether these experiences are all external, or something internal. And that doesn't mean the internal experience doesn't have an outside influence, of course.

Well, they cut scoop-shaped chunks of flesh from the back of your shoulder and the back of your leg - if something "internal," I'd really like to know how that works.

 

[Gene Steinberg]

Well, they cut scoop-shaped chunks of flesh from the back of your shoulder and the back of your leg - if something "internal," I'd really like to know how that works.

This is one of many things that need investigation, of course. I didn't say all abductions were internal, right?

 

[trainedobserver]

Well, they cut scoop-shaped chunks of flesh from the back of your shoulder and the back of your leg - if something "internal," I'd really like to know how that works.

I would think that interviewing a few experienced practicing dermatologists would give you some idea about the commonality of scoop marks and their probable origins. Also, I would think they would be good sources for information about foreign bodies being found in folks.

 

[IndigoEyes]

Archie,

So the point of "helping" an abductee is to offer them a belief system to explain what happened to them? Gee, that is certainly helpful, especially if in involves terrifying belief in literal aliens that are creating hybrids that can threaten you and your researcher's life! A world filled with alien hybrids running amuck raping female abductees. A world where no one is safe in their own home.

Yep! That is just the kind of belief system a troubled person with paranormal experiences needs. I am sure that is just peachy! This reminds me of when I was an early teen boy, and started having (how to put this delicately so Gene won't get nervous) "sexual reactions" to erotic thoughts for the first time, often resulting in a damp spot on my bedsheet.

My parents would not discuss sex with me, so they sent me to a priest. He calmly explained it all to me. You see, as a Son of Adam, I was cursed with the need to have sex to continue the line of man, born into abject sin (of course!). However, God had ordained that masturbation (oops!) was evil, so this was a sin I had committed often during my sleep! Whenever I had erotic thoughts as a normal teenager, I was to realize this was Satan tempting me. In other words, my normal erotic reactions meant I was under demonic attack, and I needed to come to Mass more often and pray hard. Of course, the minute I got married in the Catholic faith, sex was hunky dory, and the more kids the better!

See what a difference an explanation can make? If only I'd seen an objective family doctor, he'd have probably told me this was just a phase of normal physical development as a human male, and not to worry about it. But then, this would have come from a PROFESSIONAL MEDICALLY TRAINED doctor, not a man of faith (which is what I consider abduction researchers).

Why should we even bother to continue discussing this then? Sounds like Hopkins and Jacobs have it covered. Thanks for enlightening me.

Archie, since you claim to be about the closest friend Budd and David have in this world, if they have any physical evidence, why don't you pursuade them to reveal it? If Budd is actually done writing books (fat chance in my opinion), why doesn't he then simply reveal all the evidence he has. For example, I saw in a UFO special about 15 years ago that he had hand drawn symbols that abductees had seen in spaceships and under hypnosis drew for him. He also has symbols sent to him by others. Well, if there are some direct matches, why hasn't he shared that with the world? Of course, people could easily respond that this material could be hoaxed, but if Budd had taken the forethought to have each drawing time-stamped by a notary republic or some other authentic dating system, then he could prove conclusively that abductees are going to the same locations. If the dear man is 79, what is he waiting for?


---------- Post added at 08:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ----------

I would think that interviewing a few experienced practicing dermatologists would give you some idea about the commonality of scoop marks and their probable origins. Also, I would think they would be good sources for information about foreign bodies being found in folks.

Of course, you are probably all well aware of the research into the scratches and bruises inflicted by paranormal entities in general? I recall John Zaffis doing a great deal of research on the physical manifestations inherent in possessions, so-called demonic harrassment, as well as plain old garden variety ghost hauntings. Yet, I am sure all of these physical effects are totally separate from the same type of injuries inflicted meaninglessly on abductees. No, it couldn't all be part of a larger paranormal "trickster" as Chris O'Brien has explained. No, instead we have literal aliens in nuts & bolts space craft that must keep doing the same surgical experiments on people for over 50 years, even though our modern science has moved ahead of them in the meantime. From what I've read from ex-Hopkins and Jacobs patients, many have confessed that if they bring up paranormal events that occur to them (e.g., hauntings, poltergeist activity), that information is left out of the final narrative. Yet, I have several books written about 70 years ago by Celtic lore experts that (wait for it!) claim that fairies often would leave what we'd call scoop marks on people.

Of course, Jacobs and Hopkins might then proclaim that earlier people were just simple minded and mistook aliens for fairies or elves. How arrogant we all are - they MUST be aliens because now we have Star Trek as a reference.

Anyway, at best a scoop mark illustrates that perhaps something paranormal happened. It does not support the paranoid fear based dogma of Hopkins or Jacobs.

 

[trainedobserver]

Anyway, at best a scoop mark illustrates that perhaps something paranormal happened.

Or that you or your partner need to trim their toenails.

 

[IndigoEyes]

Or that you or your partner need to trim their toenails.

Ah, your statement brings back some fond memories of my early marriage, when I'd often get up from bed with scratch marks on my upper back from a night of "bonding" with my wife.

I hasten to add that we still "bond" on occasion, but I make her wear mittens!

 

[trainedobserver]

they MUST be aliens because now we have Star Trek as a reference.

Aliens meaning a creature from another planet I guess.

The term "Aliens" should probably be expanded or changed to simply mean "beings from another reality." Whether that reality is rooted in another planetary biosphere that resides in this dimension or some other seems moot. Whether that reality is somehow coexistent with us on this planet is equally as moot. If it is outside of the accepted reality perceived by human beings on this planet then it is "alien" to it no matter its point of origin. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, greys, reptilians, or whatever ... are all aliens from the standpoint of what is termed "normal" reality.

I am of the opinion that these "alien" intrusions into our "reality" are things and events that are outside of the design specifications of our brain/mind systems and the senses that feed them. Our nervous systems simply cannot correctly perceive or display these things properly because they were not designed to by the evolutionary processes that brought us into being on this planet. They come from outside the system and therefore the system does not or cannot represent them correctly and therefore fills in the blanks (as in our "blind spots") with spurious information by default.

Another term that might be used instead of "alien" could be "weirdness from elsewhere".

 

[IndigoEyes]

Aliens meaning a creature from another planet I guess.

The term "Aliens" should probably be expanded or changed to simply mean "beings from another reality." Whether that reality is rooted in another planetary biosphere that resides in this dimension or some other seems moot. Whether that reality is somehow coexistent with us on this planet is equally as moot. If it is outside of the accepted reality perceived by human beings on this planet then it is "alien" to it no matter its point of origin. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, greys, reptilians, or whatever ... are all aliens from the standpoint of what is termed "normal" reality.

I am of the opinion that these "alien" intrusions into our "reality" are things and events that are outside of the design specifications of our brain/mind systems and the senses that feed them. Our nervous systems simply cannot correctly perceive or display these things properly because they were not designed to by the evolutionary processes that brought us into being on this planet. They come from outside the system and therefore the system does not or cannot represent them correctly and therefore fills in the blanks (as in our "blind spots") with spurious information by default.

Another term that might be used instead of "alien" could be "weirdness from elsewhere".

I agree with every word you wrote above, you lucky dog!

What clenches my keester is abduction researchers doing what you said, taking something beyond our comprehension and turning it into an explanable linear dogma, and then insisting that this is the truth. One time I was in a group of abductees (I have a very checkered past), and I said what you wrote above. The response was a lot of anger and exasperation. "If you don't think they are aliens from outer space, then what are they?" When I responded that I did not know and the answer may be beyond our current sense of reality, people practically went after me with pitchforks and torches, kill the monster! People are frightened by their paranormal experiences and DEMAND a firm answer, even if it is just totally made up. If anyone wants proof of that, just study all the world's creation stories. I love the one about how the world is just a flat surface like a big pie plate. What holds this up in space? There is a gigantic elephant underneath holding it up. What holds the elephant up? A giant turtle. What holds the turtle up? Well, there the myth tends to lose imaginative power because it responds "It's turtles all the way down through infinity".