UFO course dumped at university

From PhysOrg.com from 12/29/2008 seen today (1/4/2009) "Hong Kong University has removed a popular course on UFO's", from its official curriculum. Not because of lack of interest however. Because university's that address any topic, just doing so, can appear to legitimize a certain subject. Also various governments have different types of control over their individual academic institutions. I would really like to know the real reason they closed the course...

reply to post by arbiture


The reason sounds valid to me given UFO's are not proven scientifically at this point. There also isn't any commercial use for UFOlogy. It's mainly a hobby/past time/passion undertaken by the individual at their own expense. Also the Uni might have been suffering greater credibility issues teaching fortean subjects. Why don't you dig deeper? Write to the university instead of looking for shadows that may not exist!

I honestly don't see a conspiracy here. However, I have no doubt that the conspiracy theorists would have been ranting that the fact this course existed in the first place was part of government disclosure... or part of the set-up for a false flag holographic UFO invasion by the NWO.

People see what they want to see but there's nothing to be paranoid about here. Sometimes things simply are what they are and there isn't any dark secret behind them.

IRM

[edit on 4/1/09 by InfaRedMan]

OK, here is the direct link to the article so people can read exactly what’s on it.

The course was delayed and discussions were held on offering it at a later date after some academics expressed reservations about its content, Moon Fong, a committee member of the institute, told AFP.

"Some members of the university's science faculty were concerned that the course would present only the views of the UFO experts," Fong said.

"But we believed that they were just worried about the possibility of ufology becoming a mainstream discipline at the university," she said.

How could they actually give a passing grade on a subject that NOONE knows the answers too?

How do you differentiate between a "right" or "wrong" answer? Although I would thoroughly enjoy attending such a class, to set up different experiments and discuss different hypotheses and theories... it seems doomed to fail.

I would LOVE to see the teachers proposed curriculum and what outcome they expect with it.

reply to post by Alter-Ego


Exactly! You hit the nail right on the head there fella! The best they could do is give em a cheesy vox pop on UFO folklore.

i.e. What does UFO stand for?

IRM

You guys are exactly right on that one.

I am a firm believer in all sorts of stuff regarding UFOs, but my rational side has to tell me that this was probably the right call for the University to make. The reasons I say that are perfectly outlined in the posts above this one.

[edit on 4-1-2009 by Jay-in-AR]

double post. sorry.

[edit on 4-1-2009 by Jay-in-AR]

Well it wouldn’t necessary need to address an “answer” to the phenomena, because as you’ve pointed out, and rightly so, there isn’t an answer at the moment.

They could go through the UFO cases from an historical perspective, perhaps look at the most significant books written on the subject, the most significant UFO researchers; study the Governmental documents and reports, and so on.

It wouldn’t necessarily deal with answers, because there aren’t any, but there are still lots of ways to make it an interesting and in-depth look at the field and the phenomena.

I for one don’t think it could hurt to have a course on ufology, and who knows, maybe people would come up with more and better theories and methods of studying the phenomena.


[edit on 4-1-2009 by danx]

I wonder about the sociological imperatives of UFOs. There is a strong latent pressure to believe in them. Could this be peer pressure. People whoo have seen UFOs have had an 'experience' and does this make them feel more special?

Anyway, they're all a bunch of wacko loons so who cares, but I do wonder about their mutual self appreciaation mechanisms. It's like wondering about neanderthal man really.

I take my post back.

I don’t want to feed the troll.



[edit on 4-1-2009 by danx]

I can see a legitimate course in UFO's or Ufology. It all depends on which College sponsors the course.

I could see the course fitting in the curriculum in History, Sociology, Cultural Develpment, Mythology, Phillosophy, or some other Humanities subject. I would have a problem with it in the Science dept.

There is no doubt though that UFO's have had an impact on our society as a whole and therefore it is a legitimate subject in that regard.

It is at least as relevant as some of the other fluff classes that exist.

It seems to me that studying the Governments response in a University setting would cast a negative light over the Learning Institutions reputation, as it would force people, through proper research, to speak against their Government.

[edit on 4-1-2009 by Jay-in-AR]

Who cares about right or wrong answers?

This class would fit right in with philosophy classes. They don't have right or wrong answers...just opinions...and you can get a full degree in Philosophy.

As others have mentioned it could be considered part research, philosophy, history, sociology and psychology class considering all play a part in UFO's.

Originally posted by Alter-Ego
How could they actually give a passing grade on a subject that NOONE knows the answers too?

How do you differentiate between a "right" or "wrong" answer? Although I would thoroughly enjoy attending such a class, to set up different experiments and discuss different hypotheses and theories... it seems doomed to fail.

I would LOVE to see the teachers proposed curriculum and what outcome they expect with it.

Ha! You've obviously never taken a Philosophy course.

Biggest waste of time.

A UFO course would be really interesting though. I'm not really a god person.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


Darn, just noticed your post!

reply to post by Anonymous ATS


OMG!!! Sign me up for that class in Japan! With an advanced degree in UFOLOGY im bound to make a great living for my children...



(EDITED: to add rolling eyes... cause thats exactly what Im doin..)



[edit on 4-1-2009 by Alter-Ego]

Universities have long offered courses, both for and not for credit, that are designed to evoke debate and analysis. These subjects are addressed from a phylisophical point of view. Often a course has as it's goal the objective to help students see an esoteric subject as a way to expand ones world view. In effect, to apply rational methods to analyze what seems like non-sensical, or unproven concepts. A course on folklore is an example. Such a course is not attempting to judge the validity of any one or more belief system, or the truth of a cultures folklore.

Examining folklore can be looked at as one manifistation of a societies belief system. UFO's have become a modern manistation of many ancient superstitions. Folklore has long been an attempt to rationalize for a society what are irrational events. It's a tool to examine historical and sociological events. I have presented a lecture on occasion in an attempt to see how people intergrate new or bizzare ideas such as the implications of UFO's.being "real" into their lives, if they do or don't. I have had students who believe the guy at the 7/11 is an alein, to the kind of person who woulden't notice if a UFO took their parking space. Most people don't go to those extremes, but fall somewhere in the middle. It's how they got to this view or another is what I find interesting. How might or might not they have an impact on any one person or group of people.

This is a case where there is no "end point" at which time we draw this or that conclusion. There is no "correct answer". What I as an moderator and fellow students usually find interesting is what mechanisim people employ to form an opinion on this, or any other subject. In the end it's not the abundance or lack of evidence that bring peolpe to one point or another, but how can I get this anomaly/event, to fit neatly into someones sense of self.

I actually took a course on UFO's back in 1991 at the University of North Dakota. The professor (John R. Salter) was the head of the Indian studies department and claimed he was abducted in 88'. It got a lot of publicity at the time and was a very interesting course. Stanton Friedman even gave a lecture there that year! I was most interested in hearing his abduction account of him and his son. I thought it was interesting that he was one of the few abductee's that recalled his experience without hypnosis.

The course might include:
Photos and newspaper reports from 1945 in one part of the course.
Then photos and speculation from before 1945.
Study and report on various origin theories.
Find the class consensuses.
Which won't mean much since they are feed approved lies.

This is a good survey mechanism for the Illuminati to measure
the cost effectiveness of their Alien stories.

Originally posted by Banater
I actually took a course on UFO's back in 1991 at the University of North Dakota. The professor (John R. Salter) was the head of the Indian studies department and claimed he was abducted in 88'. It got a lot of publicity at the time and was a very interesting course. Stanton Friedman even gave a lecture there that year! I was most interested in hearing his abduction account of him and his son. I thought it was interesting that he was one of the few abductee's that recalled his experience without hypnosis.

Very interesting. I was not aware Mr. Friedman or any family members had what they feel was an abduction event. I met Mr. Firiedman only once, and spoke to him once in addition on the phone. I found him to be a solid guy using the scientific method to evaluate this issue, and thats very refreshing. We need a lot more in the UFO field who take a systematic approach to judging how solid certain evidence is based on systematic, scientific analysis. While I may not come to all the same conclusions he has in this field, he starts and appears to proceed from a rational premise using systematic methods.

Stanton's background in the classified world, specificly working on early nuclear thermal rockets, and nuclear "powered" bombers is very interesting. Don't joke with the nuclear bomber idea. U.S. car makers, I can't recall if it was Ford or GM had hypothetical nuclear. powered passenger cars. I'm not kidding, you "google" this, or if I have the time will get the leads for you. I could hear Ralph Nader on this one. If I find the nuclear car data off hand, will forward same.