Judge punishes UFO hoaxers

Just wanted to post this, if it has not been already.


www.msnbc.msn.com...=43001


I think that it is about time. Hoaxs, waste peoples time and effort, and if a little punishement makes people think twice, it is a good thing, i would think...... How about you guys???

Heck yeah, anything to deter hoaxes in hope that we can move on to the truth for a change. I say more aliens less flares tied to balloons! Who's with me?!?!

[edit on 8-4-2009 by DaMod]

Originally posted by DaMod
Heck yeah, anything to deter hoaxes in hope that we can move on to the truth for a change. I say more aliens less flares tied to balloons! Who's with me?!?!

[edit on 8-4-2009 by DaMod]

I say the same thing about aliens that I say about civilization, "I can't wait until we get one."

They weren't caught because the authorities properly investigated a mass UFO report. They were caught because they admitted it. The only deterrent is to admitting it. The authorities won't catch you unless you confess - that's the message it sends out.

People won't stop hoaxing. The fine will not deter them. AFAIK MUFON called it right. The authorities didn't. The authorities have greater resources than MUFON.

I think they were prosecuted because they made the authorities look as stupid as the press and Bill Birnes.

[edit on 8-4-2009 by jackphotohobby]

The guys were charged with disorderly conduct. Apparently, there's no 'Hoax Law,' and any charges would come from peripheral results of such an act. Interesting.

Now, about those crop circle guys . . .

Originally posted by Wonderer77
The guys were charged with disorderly conduct. Apparently, there's no 'Hoax Law,' and any charges would come from peripheral results of such an act. Interesting.

Now, about those crop circle guys . . .

Destroying some guy's crops for fun isn't really a crime, is it? I mean, come on, they're just trying to prove that aliens carry 40 acre note pads. Planted with wheat.

Originally posted by Gawdzilla

Originally posted by Wonderer77
The guys were charged with disorderly conduct. Apparently, there's no 'Hoax Law,' and any charges would come from peripheral results of such an act. Interesting.

Now, about those crop circle guys . . .

Destroying some guy's crops for fun isn't really a crime, is it? I mean, come on, they're just trying to prove that aliens carry 40 acre note pads. Planted with wheat.

And Corn...

2nd line sorry....

Originally posted by Gawdzilla

I mean, come on, they're just trying to prove that aliens carry 40 acre note pads. Planted with wheat.

I do believe you've hit upon something! Maybe we're beginning to see where that dusty, blanched-out grey color might come from . . .

But seriously - while I don't believe 2 guys could realistically be responsible for all crop circles, I do believe that those who would do such as destroy even a portion of a farmer's livlihood for the sake of a joke should be afforded the full extent of the allowed punishment.

reply to post by Wonderer77


I'm sympathetic to that, people hoaxing crop circles are basically wasting food, putting up insurance premiums etc. (assuming the farmer is even insured against crop circles), and that's wrong. Although, in the 1990s it briefly became something of a small industry in Wiltshire UK, with farmers charging small fees to see crop circles and taking a cut from crop circle tours. On top of the news coverage it was quite bizarre. I visited Wiltshire with my parents at the time (not sure exactly which year IIRC 1993 or 94,) and a lot of the tourist shops had crop circle merchandise. Doesn't justify the hoaxes, but is a ray of sunshine in an otherwise sorry tale.

I don't think crop circles were just down to Rod Dickinson and friends. I suspect there were far more people involved, who are yet to fess up. I remember the early the early 90s as being UFO crazy post X-Files. I don't agree with hoaxing, I don't think it is ethical, but IMHO criminalisation would make the situation even worse.

Originally posted by Wonderer77

Originally posted by Gawdzilla

I mean, come on, they're just trying to prove that aliens carry 40 acre note pads. Planted with wheat.

I do believe you've hit upon something! Maybe we're beginning to see where that dusty, blanched-out grey color might come from . . .

But seriously - while I don't believe 2 guys could realistically be responsible for all crop circles, I do believe that those who would do such as destroy even a portion of a farmer's livlihood for the sake of a joke should be afforded the full extent of the allowed punishment.

I swear, is missing the obvious a contagious disease? "2 guys"? Ever see a fad in action? "Let's be cool and do a crop circle!" Sheesh. "2 guys".

reply to post by jackphotohobby


Quite an excellent point and one I had completely overlooked. I would not be surprised if some farmers had arranged to have circles made in their own fields for precisely this reason. I do imagine they would be few, however.

I also agree that there have been many to go out on a night 'lark' creating circles in some field or other, Fun, attention, whatever the reason. Interesting suggestion that criminalization might make the situation worse - you may very well be right.

I agree. On one hand, hoaxing SEEMS kinda innocent, but on the other hand it is very wrong because it dilutes the evidence.