Weird theories

Unconventional Theories

Is it just me, or has there been a surge of bizarre theories surrounding UFOs lately?

It appears there’s a growing belief that concepts like psionics or telepathy, or the idea of “letting your mind guide the flight” related to UFOs, are over the top.

My initial reaction: when have there ever not been outlandish theories about UFOs?

In my opinion, the most logical and reasonable UFO theory to date was the idea that “Martians are visiting us because they fear our nuclear weapons.” It seemed plausible: Mars is a tangible planet, with an atmosphere, seasons, and even canals (or so we thought), not too distant from Earth, and our nuclear capabilities posed a threat.

Unfortunately, that theory has been debunked—Mars has no canals, for starters.

The takeaway? Just because a theory seems logical and reasonable doesn’t mean it’s true. Conversely, theories that sound implausible are not automatically false. It’s typically easier to gather evidence for theories that align with common sense; uncovering proof for ideas that defy expectations and probabilities can be incredibly challenging.

Thus, I’m not quick to dismiss the concept of “psionics”—whether it refers to telepathy, remote viewing, or psychokinesis—which some people argue is too far-fetched given its seemingly counterintuitive nature. That’s a flawed approach to scientific inquiry (more on that later).

During my college years, I had a couple of experiences that felt like precognition while on an LSD trip at Laguna Beach, California. Sitting on the beach at dawn, I thought, “Someone will ride by on a horse.” Given how developed and secured Laguna Beach is, that seemed unlikely. Yet, minutes later, a rider appeared. A little later, as I walked back to my car, I thought, “I will see someone from work” (I was a bartender at the time). Sure enough, a fellow employee walking towards me along an access road appeared.

That said, I don’t consider myself a “believer” in UFO psionics; the specific idea of “summoning” or piloting UFOs requires concrete evidence, which might be forthcoming from SkyWatcher.

This reflects a form of skepticism: unless you have a compelling reason or personal necessity to adopt a belief, it’s best to maintain a hands-off approach. Don’t feel the need to resist—just let it be.

Barber, in a lengthy interview, discusses an emotional impact he felt was externally induced—this type of experience doesn’t squarely fall into the psionics we’re discussing. However, I do believe in a more general form of psionics—such as alien telepathy, paralysis, or a sense of “strangeness”—because there’s ample evidence throughout UFO history, dating back to the Hill abduction and even earlier. This phenomenon is so well documented that the UK MoD’s UAP report suggested some effects might be attributed to microwave radiation. Therefore, the claim that “psionics is too far out” seems to stem from a lack of understanding of the historical evidence surrounding these phenomena.

In fact, the evidence linking UFOs to mind-altering experiences is often more compelling than evidence supporting the idea that aliens visit us with advanced, physical technology from distant star systems (the same goes for time-traveling future humans). Yet, astonishingly, many in the ufology community still find the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) credible—portraying aliens as visitors from another galaxy with the capability of warp drive, seemingly drawn here by our nuclear developments.

Returning to the topic of belief, along with the skepticism regarding psionics come criticisms of those discussing psionics. These commentators are also dismissed as too far out.

I personally disregard claims made by Coulthart, Sheehan, Michels, and others, especially if they rely on hearsay. Most of what they