A Pseudoscientific Checklist with a Hoaxed Coversheet.

Greetings. Prior to taking a single tentative step into the morass which are the pseudoscientific aspects of the UFO subculture, one declaration needs to be made: The image attached to this particular blog posting is a historical hoax. 

A hoax. A hoax. A hoax. A hoax. 

Additionally, anyone who possesses a relatively comprehensive knowledge of the history of the UFO phenomenon will be able to name the hoaxed photograph in question, without engaging in a Google search or some hasty book reference. Among those persons who are unable to name the hoaxed photograph are likely to be a number or writers, bloggers, or broadcasters in the UFO arena; sailing along the tinfoil-wrapped waves while lacking any substantive knowledge about the subject matter being discussed or promoted. 

Now, moving beyond the hoaxed....

The problem of unidentified flying objects has remained unanswered, despite the dedicated efforts of generations of UFO field investigators and archival researchers, today's generation excepted. One particular aspect of the effort to explore the possibilities has always been a tripping point for many involved in the exploratory exercise. The problem of pseudoscientific ideals and procedures. 

I don't have any answers to the UFO problem, nor do I claim to have any experience with the phenomenon, having never witnessed anything that I could not identify, but I do have a checklist of sorts that might serve as a reminder of how to recognize and actively avoid pseudoscientific traps and pitfalls. 

1. Does the UFO problem rely on anecdotes, personal testimonials and/or unsubstantiated claims? 

2. Does the investigative effort to explore the UFO problem lack consistent peer review processes? 

3. Do members of the UFO subculture, including some researchers, commit errors in reasoning, in other words, logical fallacies? 

4. Are conspiracy theories embraced to fill gaps in knowledge and/or valid information? 

5. Do alleged witnesses and researchers make firm declarations despite a lack of sufficient proof or evidence?

6. Do some UFO researchers and/or witnesses double-down on their claims, even when disconfirming evidence comes to light?

The fact that some, even a single one, of the aforementioned questions can be answered with a affirmative response has to be troubling, a truly disconcerting red flag. Laypeople, celebrities, and researchers alike all fall into the intellectual trap of pseudoscience, usually in an unconscious attempt to confirm their own beliefs and/or positions. It happens to all of us, for we are only highly fallible, imperfect apes.

This does not change the fact that the UFO problem is worthy of scientific scrutiny, however, such an investigative undertaking has to be conducted in an legitimate, objective, and non-pseudoscientific manner. Anything less just won't cut the extraterrestrial mustard. Period. 

Note: The photograph attached to this blog posting was allegedly taken by Mr. Paul Villa on June 16th of 1963 in the vicinity of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Multiple independent UFO researchers have demonstrated that the image is a hoax.

A hoax. A hoax. A hoax. A hoax.

Thank you for your time and consideration.