Comments for

Comment on Longdendale Lights [updated 2011] by Dr David Clarke

Dr David Clarke — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:38:37 +0000

Sorry Jan I don’t believe this webcam is active any longer.

Comment on Longdendale Lights [updated 2011] by Jan greenwood

Jan greenwood — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:21:06 +0000

hi, please if possable, can you send link for this webcam which was set up to watch this valley, googled it , and all i got was a link to your site here, please help. jan

Comment on Worryingly big sea monsters by Dr David Clarke

Dr David Clarke — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:33:54 +0000

You’re quite right Darren I’m not a ‘UFOlogist’, if such a term even exists, I’m a folklorist (see the title of my blog?). For starters in order to be an ‘ologist’ there has got to be something to study. As there are no ‘UFOs’ to study, it’s actually impossible to be a UFO-ologist.
All we have are stories about UFOs told by people who see and believe in ‘UFOs’; it follows that the stories and the people who spread them are the only tangible thing we actually have to study.
Which is precisely why folklore, psychology and sociology (the study of people’s beliefs, experiences and traditions)are far more appropriate disciplines than ‘UFOlogy.’
As for the word ‘mythologist’, I think a more appropriate term for ‘professional UFOlogists’ is mythologisers because these are people who actively create and spread legends about UFOs and aliens because they want to be part of the myth and live in the heart of the myth.
As for being ‘taken seriously’ by UFOlogists quite frankly I couldn’t give two hoots. As nobody (other than UFOlogists themselves) treats this subject in a serious manner, why should I care what they think.

Comment on Worryingly big sea monsters by Darren

Darren — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:15:23 +0000

Correct the wording to mythology and people might take you seriously. Not ufology and you are not a ufologist your a mythologist. Big difference.

Comment on UFOlogy in a Field by Dr David Clarke

Dr David Clarke — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:02:33 +0000

You’re welcome.

Comment on UFOlogy in a Field by Ross

Ross — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:20:57 +0000

Thanks for the clarification regarding the “black panther” of Inverness Museum.

I have nothing against “skepticism” per se. In fact, my first comment (February 9, 2012) on “UFOlogy in a Field” was intended as a humorous poke at believers.

Comment on UFOlogy in a Field by Dr David Clarke

Dr David Clarke — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:20:36 +0000

So John has pointed out ‘that a black panther trapped in the UK exists, stuffed, in the Inverness museum’ so therefore it must true!
I think not. The cat in Inverness Museum is actually a puma (not black, or a panther) who was, according to the Scottish Big Cat Trust, not wild but ‘a pet who… was exceptionally tame’ and was also ‘old and arthritic’. The SBCT believe she probably escaped from a wildlife park, so was hardly ‘captured in the wild’. When she died in 1985 she was stuffed and can be seen in the Inverness Museum today.
The Trust’s own website says ‘Felicity the puma is often cited as evidence that there are non-native cats at large in the UK…others believe that her capture was a staged event.’
The museum also has a Scottish Wildcat on display (actually a native species), several of which have been captured or killed. But these are not ‘big cats’ or leopards of the type you might meet on the African plains!
The facts remain as I stated them: there is no evidence that black panthers, leopards or other big cats are on the loose in the UK. Back in the 1970s when the dangerous animals act was passed some real big cats may have been released into the wild; but if so, it’s unlikely they could breed without anyone in this tiny island finding some evidence. Despite thousands of sightings and claims of ‘physical evidence’ no one has so trapped one or found any convincing physical evidence of their existence. Fact. The Inverness puma doesn’t count, it’s a red herring.
This, Ross, is “my point”, which I thought I had made perfectly clear.
Quite where my ego comes into this, I have no idea. I suspect the problem you have, given the number of times you pop up, is an intolerance of others expressing their point of view. If you don’t like my views then don’t read them. No one is forcing you to visit my website. If you don’t like skepticism then go somewhere more suited to your point of view.

Comment on Worryingly big sea monsters by Sandra

Sandra — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:58:36 +0000

34cm, 7km under the sea? Really, is that right? That’s so funny!

Comment on UFOlogy in a Field by Ross

Ross — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:16:54 +0000

John has pointed out that a black panther trapped in the UK exists, stuffed, in the Inverness museum. Alien cadavers may be RUMORED to exist, but there is no proof that they do. That is surely an important difference. So why continue to automatically equate UK Big Cat reports with UFO reports? What is your point? Just trying to save face? Ego should have no place in these matters.

Comment on UFOlogy in a Field by Dr David Clarke

Dr David Clarke — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:22:26 +0000

Generally accepted by whom?
By big cat-ologists?
The analogy is obvious.
And as for stuffed aliens, there are plenty of UFO-ologists who would argue alien cadavers exist and are being hidden away by the gov’ment. UFO-logists would argue that it’s “generally accepted” (by some 50% of the US population) that aliens crashed at Roswell.
So your point is what precisely?