"What To Do..."  Some Rules of Thumb When Encountering the Unexplained

©2002 by Craig R. Lang MS, CHt.  

Minnesota MUFON Field Investigation Coordinator

  

You are alone in your car, perhaps out on the highway in the wee hours of the morning.  Only a few other cars are on the road.  A mile or so ahead, above the road, you can see a light - not familiar looking.  Perhaps it's an airplane.  As you drive further, you note that this strange light has descended toward the road, settling slightly to one side.  As your car gets closer, you realize that it is not an airplane, not a car, not anything you have ever seen before.... 

What should you do?  Who can you tell?

 

Knowledge of the UFO and close encounter phenomenon it is based almost entirely on witness descriptions of events such as the one described above.  Understanding depends on learning as much as possible from each and every encounter.  Unfortunately, most UFO events occur when the witness is not expecting them, and therefore is not prepared to make accurate, detailed observations.  By the time a researcher can record the account of the event, even if it is only a few hours old, precious information can be lost to memory.

 

It is usually not possible for a potential UFO witness to carry a research laboratory with them.  Thus, about the best one can do is to suggest some rules of thumb to follow in case of an encounter with the unknown...

 

So, what should you do if you see a UFO?  To help future researchers of the phenomenon, it is important to note as much information as possible at the time of the sighting.  The more independent, reliable sources of information, the better the knowledge of the event.  For example, having multiple witnesses is generally preferable to a single witness.  Even better is the presence of some type of corroborating evidence, such as photographs, physical traces, etc. 

The following are some general, common sense suggestions for the time when an unexpected sighting occurs.  Following these as much as possible can help you provide knowledge that can shed more light on the phenomenon.

 

The first rules of thumb are these:  Keep your cool and try to stay objective.  Try to determine if there might be a normal object which you are mis-perceiving.  If you truly suspect the object to be a UFO, document as much as possible and locate as many witnesses as you can.  As soon as you can, find someone you trust, and tell them about it.  Also, as soon as possible, and if you are comfortable doing do, report the sighting to a research organization such as the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON).

 

When seeing a UFO, try to note as much as possible about it and the sighting circumstances as quickly as you can - while your memory is still fresh.  What was the time and date of the sighting?  How long did it last?  Assuming that you don't have a camera or camcorder, try sketching the object.  Try to estimate its size by comparing it to an object such as your thumb or your hand, held at arms length.  Also note its direction and elevation, its path and behavior, and any maneuvers it might have made.  Try to note whether it passed in front of or behind any other objects - such as a tree, a distant building, or a cloud.  Also note the weather conditions and as much as possible about your location and surroundings.

 

For distant encounters, with a low level of "strangeness", this is not too hard to remember.  However, it becomes more difficult to keep your wits about you when the phenomenon becomes "up close and personal".  (I have heard at least one witness tell of remembering, just after an object departed, that they had a camcorder well within their reach.)

 

A close encounter of the first kind (CE1) is an event in which a UFO is observed at close enough range to make out a high degree of detail.  This is typically on the order of a few blocks or less.  Often times, the temptation is either to approach for a better look or to panic and try to run away.  If possible, try to do neither, but instead stay where you are, observing as much as you can.  Try to note the time that you first saw the object, and as much detail as possible about it and its surroundings.  After the sighting, again note the time, and as much as possible about your location.

 

A close encounter of the second kind (CE2) is similar to a CE1, with the exception that physical traces of the event are left.  In such a case, try to follow the same criteria as for a CE1.  However, where physical evidence (such as a residue, burned vegetation, compressed soil, etc.) remains, try to contact an organization such as MUFON as quickly as possible - taking care to inform them of the existence of these traces.   Try to protect the traces, for example, by covering them with a plastic sheet.

A close encounter of the third kind (CE3) is also similar to a CE1, but where entities are also observed.  The witness actions and circumstances should be similar to those in a CE1, but the level of "strangeness" will be even greater. 

Try to stay where you are and note as much detail as possible.  Don't try to either flee or approach.  Doing either could alert the entities to your presence, turning your CE3 into something more.  Again, if you can, try to bring the object (and entities) to the attention of any other people around you.  Also, again, try to notify MUFON or another research group as quickly as possible.

 

A close encounter of the fourth kind (CE4) is where an interaction takes place between the entities and the witness in the reality of the phenomenon.  A CE4 is no longer simply a sighting but becomes an experience.  In such a case, the witness seems to be the focus of the phenomenon.  A possible CE4 experience can be suspected if the following is observed:

1)      A diversion of attention toward the phenomenon.  This can include the sighting of a UFO, a change in the environment (such as a sudden quietness or sense of unreality), or a change in state of mind (such as the compulsion to pull the car over to the side of the road, or a feeling that for some reason you must go outside).

2)      A capture scenario, in which the witness is somehow immobilized, “fetched" by entities, and transported into their domain.

3)      A subsequent encounter with the entities in the reality of the phenomenon.

4)      A return to the location of the initial encounter - usually after a delay on the order of an hour or two.  This may include a discontinuity or ambiguity in your memory of the sighting, where the sequence events may not make sense.

5)      An aftermath of possible confusion, and psychological and/or spiritual side effects. 

 

Since events in a CE4 seem to be under the control of the phenomenon it is not as meaningful to suggest any procedures for the witness to follow.  However, as much as possible, try to follow the rules of thumb for a CE1.  Again, try to keep your cool, and note as much as you can, including the time both before and after the event.  Do not try to keep the event to yourself.  Instead, if possible, try to inform someone you trust about it. 

 

If you feel that some medical symptom may be traceable to the event, contact your health care provider.  He/She may or may not be willing to believe your account so you will need to decide how much of your experience you want to share with them.  However, it is important to document as rapidly as possible, any medical effect that might be related to the encounter and to obtain treatment for any condition that may have resulted.

 

Finally, if you have memories or feelings possibly related to a CE4, don't try to deny them.  Rather, in a way in which you feel comfortable, report the event to a trusted UFO researcher.  This can be someone from MUFON, or from another organization.  The most important criterion is your level of comfort in discussing the event. 

 

For better or for worse, a UFO sighting or encounter can be an incredible experience.  These suggestions can provide some guidelines so that your experience can be of benefit to the greater UFO research community.  Hopefully, with enough data from witnesses like yourself, this phenomenon can be better understood.

 

---