I don´t know what on earth (pun intended) Kenneth Arnold saw that fateful day in 1947, but what if it was pelicans? American White Pelicans, to be exact, flying in formation. And this misidentification of nine majestic birds triggered the entire UFO craze, which is still ongoing! Of course, this super-flap was probably inevitable anyway. If Arnold hadn´t seen anything, some other trigger event would have taken place instead.
Here´s an often overlooked fact. The UFOs encountered by Arnold did *not* look like flying saucers. Quite the contrary: he described them as crescent-shaped. Yet, most UFOs seen by witnesses ever since *were* saucer-shaped. *Thus, the shape of these supposedly objectively existing flying craft as reported by thousands of eye-witnesses is based on a misunderstanding of Arnold´s words*. This in itself shows that the UFO phenomenon is a cultural construct rather than an objective reality. People see whatever they wanna see. And - to repeat myself - the UFO hype would have happened regardless since the entire American pop culture was saturated with pulp magazine science fiction and feverish dreams about actual space flight. Add some Cold War mentality and you´re almost done! Again: these are cultural constructs, not objective flying saucers from Venus, Mars or Elsewhere.
A more fringey speculation is that the UFOs aren´t physically real, but weird mental projections by the fairy. You see, the fairies can read our minds and make our observations match our fantasies and expectations. If we expect space aliens, we see space aliens. If so, the telepathic abilities of the fairy must be truly stunning, since they can brain-wash people at long distances, including in big cities! It´s almost as if a more likely explanation is that people entirely on their own "see" what matches their preconceived notions of what a strange light in the sky must be. No need for fairy lore.
I suppose another scenario is that actual aliens read American newspapers (in flawless English) and then reshape their spaceships accordingly...
Kommenterade Kenneth Arnold någonsin den senare UFO-debatten? Förresten, har du läst några av K Gösta Rehns böcker?
ReplyDeleteRehns böcker är några av de skickligaste försvaren för den utomjordiska hypotesen jag läst. Speciellt de två första. Men det finns märkliga inslag i hans syn. Han avvisar fnysande 50-talets contactees men accepterar rakt av det svenska Domstensfallet. Som nog. är lika osannolikt som contactees, men i motsats till dem direkt otäckt. När jag läste hans första bok i tolvårsåldern hade jag blandade känslor. Han argumenterade ovanligt skickligt, men Domstensfallet var så otäckt att det fick mig att inte längre VILJA tro på UFOs.
ReplyDeletePS, Skulle verkligen en erfaren flygare inte kunna se skillnaden mellan flygfarkoster och fåglar?
ReplyDeleteChatGPT:
ReplyDeleteDid Kenneth Arnold ever comment the later UFO debate?
ChatGPT sade:
Yes, Kenneth Arnold remained deeply involved in the UFO debate for decades after his 1947 sighting. He didn’t just fade into history as a “first witness”—he actively wrote, gave interviews, and even investigated other UFO cases. His views evolved over time, but he remained largely convinced that the phenomenon was real, significant, and inadequately explained by authorities.
🧔 Kenneth Arnold’s Continued Involvement in the UFO Debate
🔹 1. Public Statements and Beliefs
Arnold never retracted his account.
He emphasized that he never said the objects were “saucers” or discs—he described their motion as “like a saucer skipping across water,” but many media outlets misquoted him.
He remained convinced that the objects were real, physical craft, not hallucinations, illusions, or birds.
📌 Quote from Arnold (1950s):
“These were no hallucinations. Someone—and I don’t know who—knows a lot more about them than has ever been disclosed.”
🔹 2. Book: The Coming of the Saucers (1952)
Co-authored with Raymond Palmer (a pulp sci-fi publisher).
A mix of autobiography, speculation, and sensationalism.
Arnold expressed concern about government secrecy, misrepresentation of his case, and the growing wave of sightings in the late 1940s.
✍️ He also included material on the Maury Island Incident, a case he investigated personally and became suspicious about—possibly believing it involved intelligence agency disinformation.
🔹 3. Interaction with Project Blue Book & Air Force
Arnold was interviewed by military intelligence shortly after his sighting.
He expressed disappointment that the Air Force and other authorities were not more transparent and often tried to downplay or mock witnesses.
He became somewhat skeptical of official explanations but never fully embraced extraterrestrial theories without reservation.
🔹 4. Later Interviews & Media
In interviews through the 1950s–1970s, Arnold continued to assert that:
The objects he saw were structured, metallic craft.
They flew with intelligent control, in disciplined formation.
UFO ridicule was a problem that silenced good witnesses.
🎙️ 1970s Interview:
Arnold stated that he believed the phenomenon involved a real intelligence, but whether it was extraterrestrial, interdimensional, or technological wasn’t something he could prove.
🔹 5. Personal Views
He rejected wild speculation and wasn’t a “true believer” in the alien hypothesis.
He favored measured, credible research, and worried that UFO sensationalism (like contactee cults) harmed serious investigation.
He even criticized Project Blue Book for being dismissive of high-quality sightings.
🧠 In Summary
Kenneth Arnold:
Never retracted his 1947 sighting.
Was convinced the objects were real, not birds or illusions.
Wrote and investigated UFO cases in the 1950s.
Expressed skepticism of government transparency.
Avoided dogmatic extraterrestrial claims, but leaned toward the phenomenon being significant and unknown.
Would you like excerpts from The Coming of the Saucers or a deeper look at his role in investigating other UFO cases?
Mer här:
ReplyDeleteAccording to urban legend, Arnold said at one point: "If I saw a ten-store building flying through the air, I would keep quiet about it" (or words to that effect), expressing dissatisfaction about UFO sensationalism.
ChatGPT sade:
Yes, you're absolutely right — that quote (or versions of it) has been widely attributed to Kenneth Arnold, and it does reflect a sentiment he expressed more than once in different ways: namely, that public ridicule, media distortion, and government skepticism made him regret ever reporting what he saw.
While the exact wording “If I saw a ten-story building flying through the air, I’d keep quiet about it” may be a paraphrase or embellishment over time, it faithfully conveys Arnold’s feelings as recorded in interviews, writings, and public comments. Here’s how that idea appears in the record:
🧾 Documented Variants of the Quote
1. 🔹 The Coming of the Saucers (1952)
In this semi-autobiographical book, Arnold wrote:
“I have since wondered if I ever should have told my story publicly.”
And:
“If I ever again saw a formation of strange objects flying through the air, I don't think I'd say anything about it.”
This shows his disillusionment with the media circus and skepticism he endured after his 1947 sighting.
2. 🔹 Fate Magazine and Interviews (Late 1940s–1950s)
In later interviews, Arnold repeatedly said that he was:
“Sorry I ever said anything.”
“The whole thing has gotten out of hand.”
In one widely quoted paraphrase from a 1950s newspaper article, Arnold is said to have remarked:
“If I saw a flying saucer landing in the middle of the street, I’d think twice before telling anyone.”
This aligns with the “ten-story building” urban legend — emphasizing how badly he felt about the public reaction.
3. 🔹 Interpretation by Researchers
UFO historians like Jerome Clark and Curt Collins have noted that Arnold’s initial curiosity and patriotism (in reporting the objects) soon gave way to frustration as he became:
Misquoted by the press (leading to the term “flying saucer”)
Dismissed or mocked by officials
Burdened with unsolicited contact from cranks, hoaxers, and fringe theorists
🧠 What the “Ten-Story Building” Line Really Means
It’s not about buildings — it’s metaphorical. It reflects:
A feeling of futility: Telling the truth only made things worse.
Fear of being ridiculed: He was a respected pilot and businessman, not a publicity seeker.
Alienation from both skeptics and UFO fanatics.
So, while we can’t find a direct, word-for-word primary source for "ten-story building", the spirit of the quote is authentic and closely reflects Arnold’s actual documented statements.
Would you like a page reference or excerpt from The Coming of the Saucers where Arnold expresses this regret most clearly?
Jag frågade ChatGPT om pelikanerna redan i eftermiddags. Fick märkligt nyanserade svar. Systemet bedömer trovärdigheten som "medium". Pelikanhypotesen förklarar inte allting, åtminstone inte om man tar Arnolds hela vittnesmål på allvar. Å andra sidan är det inte *helt* vansinnigt. Ett av motargumenten är just att Arnold var en erfaren flygare.
ReplyDeleteHar kollat upp Domstensfallet. Tydligen en bluff. Lyckligtvis!
ReplyDelete