Evaluating Youth Interest in UFOs

[jeudi]

Is your speculation about the interest of youth in UFO based on perception or a survey?

My perception is that the interest is not lacking. Without a random survey of young people, I'm not sure we can conclude that there is a lack of interest.

Just my two cents.

[Gene Steinberg]

Originally Posted by jeudi

Is your speculation about the interest of youth in UFO based on perception or a survey?

My perception is that the interest is not lacking. Without a random survey of young people, I'm not sure we can conclude that there is a lack of interest.

Just my two cents.

Is your perception based on our contact with lots of people in the field? Just curious. On the other hand, if you have evidence otherwise, feel free to post it. Would you care to reveal your age?

[michael]

I'd like to offer one theory as to why many young people might not be interested in UFOs. Now, I have not studied this, but I'm going by general experiences. I'm placing the blame on science. Let me explain. Back in the middle ages the church pretty much told the people what the truth, as they saw it, was and because most of the people were uneducated, they believed what they were told. Those who questioned the church's teachings were censored or worse. (Copernicus)

Fast forward. The church doesn't wield the kind of power they once did because science has trumped many long held beliefs. I see science as being a kind of new church and scientists as being the new priests. Now, before I get flamed, let me say that science is good and has taught us many things, but I think too many people have come to rely on what the guys in white labcoats tell them and if the general consensus among scientists is that there's no extra terrestrial life, then that's the end of the discussion. I work with a young man who puts all of his faith in science. If it can't be proved through science, it's not true or doesn't exist, is his standard line.

I think that a lot of people are being brought up with that same logic and the fact that people who question mainstream scientific thinking are often ridiculed and labeled as wackos (see any parallels to the early church here?) doesn't help the situation.

Anyway that's just a theory. And just for the record, I'm a Christian and I believe in extra terrestrial life.

[Rramjet]

In my humble opinion, science is not to blame at all. In fact who listens to scientists? Scientists have been branded as on the "lunatic" fringe in the public eye throughout history. More recently depicted in Hollywood movies as wild haired madmen. Creators of Frankenstein and the A bomb.

No, it is merely the fact that youth can no longer stare up at the heavens and see the stars. Simple as that! Can't see the stars, can't imagine or speculate what might be going on out there. Throw on top of that a healthy dose of proagandist terrorist and economic fear from increasingly right wing governments and you have a youth with no speculative imagination and a determination to "fit in" to the current paradigm for fear of their future.

Further, the world has ever been forced to suffer under the yoke of religious dogma. Man is the centre of creation. Man is supreme under God. A peculiarly egocentric and paternalistic point of view. This outdated view of humanity cannot tolerate the existance of extraterrestrial intelligence for it would destroy the very foundations of its' belief systems. With whatever power it has left to it, it is fighting tooth and nail to subvert fundamental scientific exploration and rational thought lest this endeavour push God right out of the picture. UFOs and the paranormal are particularly easy targets. "A word in your ear..." the Archbishop said to the Governer... Oh no, it is not scientists who are to blame...

PS: Sadly, I am no longer one who could be described as a "youth". I do hope however that one of "those" beings will grace the presence of this forum in the future. Tragically, if the contention is true that youth are no longer interested in UFOs, that may be a forelorn hope.

Best wishes,
Rramjet.

[michael]

I have to disagree with you on a few points. The first is the question, who listens to scientists? A lot of people do. I work with an individual who proudly states "if science can't test it, measure it or prove it, then I don't believe in it". I think there are a lot of people out there who share that sentiment and I feel sorry for them because these are people who hold themselves up as being intellectual, when in fact they're nothing more than closed minded drones.

Second is the assertion that extra terrestrial life is somehow incompatible with the notion of God. While that may be true in some belief systems, it's not true for all. If you take the basic premise that God created the universe and all life in it, then how would life on other planets negate the existence of one creator? The simple fact is, it wouldn?t. There are many Christian denominations that accept the possibility of life on other planets, as they should. I think we've considered ourselves to be the center of creation simply because it's all we know and so far, it's all we can really study.

And as far as things such as the paranormal pushing God out of the picture, what is religion if not paranormal? I find it amazing that so many people willingly accept ghosts, demonic possession, mythical creatures, UFOs and such as distinct possibilities, but when it comes to a man being raised from the dead, well, that's just silly.

As far as youths and their apparent lack of interest in UFOs, it could simply be a case of too much X-Box.

[FOCrumbo]

I'm 55 and remember being excited about the prospects of UFO's as a kid. I read the Adamski books, was an avid Frank Edwards fan. I'm not trying to open a can of worms here, but maybe the question here should be why are the baby-boomers so interested in UFOs? I think the boomers were and are a unique group born in a point history which allowed them to pursue their visions and ideals. Are generations X and Y as involved with their imaginations? It seems to me that the culture I see developing around me is one which doesn't examine things too closely--one which is quick to pigeon-hole an idea or a person and push on to something else. I don't blame a generation for that. Part of it is media/information overload. "Deal with it quickly and move on."

[ufoman]

Theres too much other entertainment like DVD, Video Games, Sat TV etc. Its hard to compare with those of us that grew up when there wasn't as much entertainment.

[Ell]

Hey all, Im 26 and have had an avid interest since I was probably ??? well to be honest as long as I can remember. I even have pictures I drew of flying saucer type craft when I was 4 or 5 years old. By the age of 13/14 I was reading everything I could get my hands on regarding this whole area.

So my feeling on this is that as usual the truth lies somewhere in between what you guys are saying. That is, surely science and religion play there role at keeping people towing the line so to speak. But it does also seem to me that the current under 21 youth generation really aren't much different from any other. What I mean by this is that if any of you out there over 50 say, had x-box tech and all that high-tech all absorbing stuff, along with the current political climate you'd probably turn out just the same.

It just strikes me in my perception that there is a lot of 'youth bashing' lately. Not sure but it seems to me a short step from there to the old grumpy man that pokes his stick at the kid on his skateboard. A lack of understanding and compassion in other words! I hope you all see what I mean by this.

One more thing, we all see what we look for.....

And to be honest, along with perhaps 1 or 2 other friends open to this, I was pretty much alone in my passion and interest in this area, so its probably always a marginal thing.


Be happy all :-)

[auntiegrav]

When I talk to the younger generation, I'm not surprised if they haven't heard of some of the real UFO research or incidents. They are jaded from the get-go by television. Look, for example, at the X-files or any 'real' sensationalizing show about paranormal. The Batman show used to say it at the end: "Tune in NEXT week, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel". The media UFO plot is always the same marketing MO: "Are we being visited by Aliens? Look at these amazing photos and blurry video tapes! Tune in next time and we MIGHT have an answer."
Kids nowadays are used to science providing an answer in 30 seconds or less, usually involving a product that will cure their problems, which, thanks to commercials, are simple ones: sex, sex, sugar, sports, prescription drugs, TV...
Tell them that there are aliens among us, and they want to know if that will help them get a girlfriend. (And this is the 13 year olds)
Sure, there are some kids out there who are different (probably on the secular homeschool lists--now THERE'S a narrow bandwidth, eh?), but they have to first learn to ignore their teachers (the lab coat proxies), and if they do that, they are put on Ritalin.

I'm not aware of any surveys that single out youth.

The young have always seemed more interested in the profound. At the very least, as interested in numbers as adults.