Origin: XBN - 0035 - M:MUFONET
  From: JOHN POWELL                   Public  
    To: RICH BOYLAN
  Date: 05/12/94 at 07:07
    Re: PROBABILITY OF LIFE OFF-PLANET

Glenda's comments below:


It seems to me that the nature of alien contact is not verifiable by
so-called hard science.  How does one setup an experiment that can be
tested many times, to see the results?  

 RB> But to critique behavioral or social science data using physical
 RB> science criteria is off the mark.

 JP> I agree. Even after solid statistical evidence from the softer
 JP> sciences there is still the requirement for a "reality check" and
 JP> the harder sciences provide this by way of various elements. For
 JP> example, a certain specific category of human social behavior may
 JP> be seen to exist based on statistical evidence but it won't gain
 JP> widespread acceptance until it "matures" beyond the statistical
 JP> data and an example would be establishing the framework for
 JP> predicting the postulated specific human social behavior and then
 JP> repeatedly documenting that behavior as predicted within the
 JP> predefined framework. This has not happenned yet but we are
 JP> closer to the first part of this.

So, then, one way to use this hard science approach, would be to get
several people, and/or groups of people in different places around the
world, to plan to "call on" the aliens.

Each person or group would be a separate experiment to see whether
calling for contact results in contact being made.

To verfiy the results, you would need an impartial observer or
observers.  From reports of similar cases, having technical recording
equipment available might not be useful; i.e. they malfunction during
the contact period.  Therefore, the impartial observer can VERIFY
whether contact was made.

Let's say that this was done.  Let's say there were 100 groups, of
various sizes, from one person to 20 people who meet in designated
places for the sole purpose of hoping for alien contact.

Let's say that results of these 100 experiments is that 30 of them
result in contact being witnessed by the observer.  And let's further
say, that of those 30, 20 also had cameras and sound recording
devices, but in all 20 they malfunctioned.

In this hypothetical scenario, you will end up with 30 observers
who...

                         claim

that contact was made.

Of course you would have the members of the 30 groups who would also
claim that contact was made.

Now if anyone reading this, thought that these experiments might be a
good idea to at least try, then think again.  Because if you end up
with any impartial observers, claiming that contact was made, you will
still NOT HAVE PROOF.