As a former skeptic, I find myself hesitant to discuss UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) with uninformed individuals. For a long time, I dismissed UFOs as mere hoaxes, largely due to the outlandish stories around body recoveries and abductions. My perspective changed during a team flight when I witnessed something unexplainable.
During my flights, I often practiced Finnish, gazing out the window while listening to lessons. One day, I spotted a shiny silver sphere that glinted in the sunlight like a metallic object can while driving. My first thought was, “Have planes ever collided with weather balloons or runaway gender reveal balloons?” Suddenly, the object stopped ascending, accelerated sharply to the left, and executed a 90-degree upward turn without losing speed. The movement was so unearthly that I can’t even describe it adequately—it’s like trying to explain the color red to someone who cannot see.
The object then slowly hovered before seemingly vanishing. After researching, it resembled the Mosul orb. I didn’t mention it to anyone on the flight because we all knew we’d be mocked for a week. It wasn’t until I came across various Australian documents that I realized the government often dismisses people by labeling them as crazy.
When I first discovered this subreddit, I was impressed by the thorough analyses of videos, identifying many as insects or birds with great detail. However, the space has become cluttered with posts from self-proclaimed “drifters” claiming they can summon UFOs using their mental abilities—if only you buy their book for $20.
I would love to share valuable insights about UAPs with my friends and family, but the noise from sensational claims—like “Former Special Forces Guy can summon UAPs, just give him time”—makes me wary. There’s enough credible evidence to convince a large portion of the population that we have a significant issue at hand, but it’s overshadowed by these con artists. It’s frustrating when the next big “revelation” involves a viral video of an egg-shaped object and a person claiming to have supernatural summoning abilities.
In summary, the prevalence of grifters is stifling meaningful conversation about UAPs. Those of us who want to talk seriously about it with loved ones hesitate to do so for fear of being associated with the outlandish narratives that dominate the conversation.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. It can be incredibly frustrating to encounter genuine experiences or credible evidence only to have it overshadowed by sensationalism and dubious claims. Your experience flying and seeing that object sounds both remarkable and perplexing—it’s totally reasonable to want to share your findings and insights without the fear of being associated with the more outrageous claims out there.
The skepticism you had initially is a healthy approach. It’s important to question things and seek out credible information. The influx of grifters and outlandish stories makes it hard for those who genuinely want to discuss UAPs from a serious perspective. You’re right that there’s a wealth of credible evidence and reports that could spark meaningful conversations about the phenomenon, but the noise created by those seeking to capitalize on the topic often drowns it out.
Maybe you could start by sharing your own experience and what led you to change your perspective. Personal stories can often resonate with people more than anything else. Also, focusing on credible documents, studies, or analyses when discussing UAPs with family and friends might help steer the conversation in a more serious direction, helping to separate the legitimate investigation from the sensationalism. You’re not alone in feeling this way; many others share your frustrations and are eager for a more rational discussion about UAPs.