About being a full-time Ufologist

Originally posted by Hitoshura
I'm planning on getting into Ufology, as in properly. What I'm wondering is : how would I be able to do that full time?

Be prepared to tell a lot of lies, and make anything up you like.

Originally posted by Hitoshura

Originally posted by Serafine
reply to post by Hitoshura

 

O..... K..... Hitoshura

First: Are you serious about this?

Second: Would you give a basic outline of any background you have? Any disciplines? how old ( abouts ) and what you have to invest in this... not only money wise, yet time wise etc....

Third: After that I'll have more to contribute... maybe! lol

I'm totally serious about it. It's either Ufology or The Paranormal as a whole, and I'm going to have to go for it. I'm 32 next month so I don't have time to mess around wondering with it any longer basically. Once I've picked exactly what I'm doing I'm going for it with everything. I'll spend all my time learning, getting stuff sorted like a website, etc, then I'm just going to start looking around for funding. I'll honestly go around contacting all types of people if I have to, I'll even seek out rich people that are known to have an interest if I have to and figure out reasons why they should see it worthwhile funding me. It's either this or nothing now, because my heart's not in anything else.

I've messed around trying to get into all other types of things, but this is something that I've been interested in since I was about 7-10 years old I think, when I'd read a huge book of all types of paranormal stuff at my Grandparents house on weekends. (Spring Heeled Jack is one that really sticks out in memory from that book because he was just such a weird character, have got to get back to researching that guy!)

The thing that held me back for so long was thinking I'd be an outcast if I came out and said this is what I wanted to do, but I've spent that much time cut off from people researching this type of stuff on and off recently that I've actually turned myself into an outcast already. So there's nothing to lose now.

All that's left to do is decide whether or not I go for being a Paranormal or UFO Researcher. It's going to be one of those things. In fact it already IS both of those things, I just don't get paid, but I'll either get paid eventually or die trying from here on out. I couldn't ever resort to researching or reporting crap/hoaxes either, because I couldn't live with myself, so don't think I'm talking that level of desperation. If it ever works it'll be straight up research. Would rather fail honestly than succeed with lies.

And sorry, ranting because I can't sleep...

edit on 19-4-2011 by Hitoshura because: (no reason given)

I can see that youre serious about it. Maybe I can give you some good advice. You should join a group to begin with. Why? 1) You learn more....2) More doors will open when meeting other people.

You should try researching a case. Pick one thats near you and area near you and begin to research with what you have. Once you have something then you can contact some people in the field. If your info is correct, dont worry doors will open for you or you'll get funded.

Jusr remember something, if you really want it, you'll get it.

Thanks for the advice all! Can't go through it all at the moment and comment back but will have a read soon and then have a think about everything that's here.

Just to add a final thing though : when I said I wanted to do this full-time, it wasn't with the intention of becoming one of those semi-famous or famous people, going around doing the lecture circuit, releasing books and becoming more well known, etc, I just think you should be able to do this as a profession in the way you want to and make a living. I really aren't into any of the fame stuff and would make an effort to avoid that type of thing if I could. Am getting a site sorted now anyway and will probably go for the paranormal in general instead of only focusing on UFO's. I think focusing on that too much would prevent you from seeing the bigger picture in some ways. Am aiming to specialise in Ufology to an extent, but not at the expense of everything else. Will just go for it and see what happens anyway, and thanks again.

Originally posted by Hitoshura
Just to add a final thing though : when I said I wanted to do this full-time, it wasn't with the intention of becoming one of those semi-famous or famous people, going around doing the lecture circuit, releasing books and becoming more well known, etc, I just think you should be able to do this as a profession in the way you want to and make a living.

What? A ufo researcher with no aspirations for flock and fame? Never happen... its the purest form of an oxymoron.

Why not start by joining MUFONs ranks at first. They have decent researching skills and seem to be a fairly level headed lot.

Good luck with this BTW.

Originally posted by Lost_Mind
What? A ufo researcher with no aspirations for flock and fame? Never happen... its the purest form of an oxymoron.

Yeah I just think it should eventually be accepted that working with the paranormal is a job like any other. It seems like there's either people who make no money and people who are making quite a lot from books, lectures, etc, and there should be a whole middle section that are just doing it as an everyday job. It could take decades for that to happen, but if enough of us try we might get somewhere eventually. Maybe one day it'll be an accepted scientific field and that's when it'll start, who knows though.

Originally posted by Lost_Mind
Why not start by joining MUFONs ranks at first. They have decent researching skills and seem to be a fairly level headed lot.

Ah I'm in the UK so I'll probably join BUFORA. Have had a look at their site too and they train people, so will maybe consider looking further into that in the near future.

Thanks anyway, and here's hoping this thread can be of use to others wondering about trying to work in this area too.

Originally posted by Dr Cosma
You should try researching a case. Pick one thats near you and area near you and begin to research with what you have.

You'll find that's a lot easier if you can say, "I'm a Field Investigator with MUFON", and point them to the MUFON website before they meet you. A lot of people are going to be wary of talking to someone who calls them cold and says, "Hi! I'm a UFO investigator and would like to talk to you about your sighting".

reply to post by Hitoshura
I'm not sure if there are more than about five guys in the world making a full-time living from ufology. Only Nick Redfern and Nick Pope come close as Brits and there are guys like Stan Friedman in the States. All the other 'big names' have day-jobs; even Vallee is a hedge-fund capitalist.

In that sense, forget about it.

There's an article about the subject that you might find interesting....

A Handbook for UFO Enthusiasts - Jenny Randles (NUFON)

'Enthusiast' is a dirty word to some, but who cares? SnF from me for having the optimism to even consider getting in the poisoned well.

reply to post by Kandinsky


Hi there, and thanks for the link, looks like it could be a decent help. And yeah the idea of making a living is looking less likely, but will try getting into the Paranormal as a whole to start with and see what happens from there. I think I've got a decent idea for a site coming together and am just in the process of getting a domain sorted and starting it up. If it works out will make sure to link it in the near future.

Originally posted by wasco2
You'll find that's a lot easier if you can say, "I'm a Field Investigator with MUFON", and point them to the MUFON website before they meet you. A lot of people are going to be wary of talking to someone who calls them cold and says, "Hi! I'm a UFO investigator and would like to talk to you about your sighting".

Good point, will try to remember that too, thanks.

reply to post by Hitoshura


Do you know who Edgar Cayce was?

An excellent introduction is a book by Thomas Sugrue - "There Is A River". It tells the story of Edgar Cayce, his life and work... That way when you come across the myriad of topics and books based on his "readings", you'll have some idea where it all came from.

If you are going to do "paranormal", it is essential you know this.

reply to post by Serafine


Have heard of Cayce and know he was related to quite a bit of paranormal stuff, but haven't read much about him to be honest. Have been way too obsessed with Ufology, but will have a read up on him eventually, so thanks for reminding me of him.

And anyone else with any pointers to areas of the paranormal : I should be ok from here on out, and will be researching as much as I can, so should eventually find my way around to whoever/whatever you're thinking of. The main thing now is to get the site started, and with it trying to cover all areas of the paranormal there's a ridiculous amount of stuff to get on with, obviously. Am hoping to start today and just get on with it, but can already see that I might be looking at years of work here. Freaking me out a bit just thinking about it actually! Once things are moving it should get better, and will link from my sig after I've been here 6 months, at which point the site might be moving along ok.

Then if that works out over the next year or so, will start looking into the investigative side of things more.