Talk about ruffling a few feathers! Journalist Rod Liddle, who obviously puts no credence in UFOs or alien visitation, has stuck his foot in his mouth, and writer Faye Preston of the Louth Leader brought it to public knowledge.
Stating that the folks in Lincolnshire, UK are either "delusional or alcoholic," the Sunday Times newspaper writer has become the target of many UFO enthusiasts.
Liddle made the comments after being told about the large number of recent UFO sightings in the United Kingdom, especially Lincolnshire. I guess everyone can express their opinion, but don't you think Liddle went a "little" too far?
Comments
Billy is there a link to this story?
He really did misspeak himself. There are as many reasons for people seeing the things that they do as there are people themselves. Each person has to be taken individually. It is illogical to apply a generality to a specific, and even more so to a collection of unique individuals.
Rob Liddle is sarcastic and confrontational; this habituality sometimes spoils his cleverness. Such people are prone to making generalised comments. Having said that, he can be very entertaining.
Since we do not have more information about the circumstances of his accusation it is impossible to see whether he was joking…..
Sadly almost no one I know accepts UFO’s as being possible. I think most people are of that mindset until they SEE ONE! I saw one when I was 14, there was no mistaking it, and ever since then I’m a true believer. I was neither of that “writer’s” discriptions so he obviously isn’t going to believe in UFO’s until he see’s one himself. If he ever does, I hope he prints a retraction. But I won’t hold my breath waiting for it. Some people are just to arrogant for their own good.
I certainly believe in aliens, though have doubts of UFOs visiting our planet. None the less, I respect these “delusion or alcoholic” people. Their belief systems our based on as much fact, perhaps more, than that of Christians. The only difference is that Mr. Liddle would have to confront an entire religious institution that has a firm and influential place in today’s society. Society has more credence in the teachings Christianity than in UFOs only because their teachings date back to antiquity and have influenced history. (However, I can’t say that the Catholic church has had a positive impact on history.) I expect that, due to the church’s Procrustean rule, conventional ideals and resentment of change, that Christianity will someday be demoted to no more than superstition, perhaps not above the standing of today’s UFO beliefs. In my view, the belief in aliens is the founded in the most logic, and may supersede Christianity one day as the frontier religion or belief system. Mr. Liddle’s arrogant incredulity is a distinct reflection of his lack of imagination. As a writer, he should know how to respect the belief systems of others, whether that be Christianity, science, Judaism or UFOs.
Dear Rebekka Fahrenbruch,
Are you saying that Christians cannot believe in UFO’s? I beg to differ. I know of many Christians who do.
Billy,
Liddle can believe and say whatever he likes and that’s the beauty of a free press in a democracy. Having said this, it would be interesting to hear his thoughts if he were to see something indescribable in the sky on a sober and lucid occasion! The only important note to this story is a footnote, ‘everyone interested in considering UFO’s should continue sharing sightings, documenting, reviewing the sightings and documentation, researching, discussing, and sharing any demonstrable and reasonable findings’! So, ha, Liddle!
I am a retired US Air Force pilot with over 8000 hours of flight time – and a graduate of USAF test pilot school. I’ve worked on many projects and continue to test all types of military aircraft to this day. I am also an amateur astronomer well versed in objects in the night sky.
I believed that UFOs were mis-identifications of common aircraft, and indeed, most are. HOWEVER: I have seen UFOs that defied ALL form of explanation, and of which I have no explanation for what they could be. I don’t have enough information to say that they are extraterrestrial or even piloted by aliens, but the thing that I saw was not military, it was not misidentified (by me), nor was it anything that I have any experience with.
To categorize people who see UFOs as drunk or delusional is as bad as saying that all reporters that work for the Sunday Times Newspapers are ignorant drunken slobs. While not all reporters for the Sunday Times are slobs, some certainly are.
Guido Pilot,
I haven’t been on this site long, but you seem to be the first reasonable and reasoning observer I have run across yet here. I’m intrigued, what did you see?
UFO is nothing but a United States product. And its origin is Area 51. And most of the UFOs are seen in US. If its not the product of this earth, then I’m sure that its the military forces who came just to erase United States map from this earth.
What the test pilot says is true: many (including myself) have seen things while sober and of clear state of mind which, by their appearance and performance, are put in the category “unidentified.”
Like the test pilot, I do not make conclusions which are unsupported and unsupportable by existing human knowledge.
I say (said, on 2 different occasions) “Wow! What is that??!! That’s all one can say. But we are free to speculate and that is probably a good thing. Just don’t jump to unwarranted conclusions and start making pronouncements – pro or con.
I’d bet if that “journalist” who called UFO sighters alcoholics (etc) saw what I and others have seen: he’d change his tune pretty fast.
richu,
The part of what you say about Area 51 is true, to an extent. All Unidentified Phenomena, flying or otherwise can be attributed to either mistaken identity or is just simply unknown. Were are not omniscient, at least, not yet. LOL There have been such cases reported at Area 51, which after declassification of govt. docs., were later proven to be the result of military experimentation. This is also the type of thing I suspect Ken Arnold, in the late 1940’s, saw when he told the press that the objects were flying in a manner that looked like “saucers skipping over the surface of pond”. The press then hyped the story and coined the phrase “Flying Saucers”. Since then, people have been seeing myriads of round disks in the air. The funny thing, though, is that what Ken actually saw about 7 flying crescent shaped objects, not disks at all, flying in formation (military). To my mind, they would have looked not unlike the WWII Messerschmitt Me 163 KOMET or the Messerschmitt P 1101, (He probably didn’t know what a delta wing was or what one looked like, and would have had a difficult time describing one.) The P 1011 likely was the direct ancestor of both the Russian Mig Series and the U.S. Super Sabre and it’s kind. In fact, I have a photo of one at Wright Field. Look up pp. 666 in “Warplanes of the Third Reich.”(To the Bible thumping numerology types out there, don’t let the page number freak you out, it’s just a page in a book, ok?) If not one of those, they could have a copies of some other German plane or taken from German plans that were never fully developed, or even some modification of one or another or both. The Germans were experimenting wildly on various designs (they were desperate to win the war for obvious reasons). Both the U.S. and Soviet military were anxious to capitalize (my apologies to any commies out there) on the spoils of war as it were. If my hypothesis is correct, the military would not have been in any hurry to confirm Arnold’s sighting, for obvious reasons.
Next, after the “Flying Saucer”, report, came the Roswell crash. A round object, not a crescent, mind you, which turned out to be a weather balloon carrying top secret pressure instruments. Again, the military was in no hurry to correct the original story to the press, which could have been either a genuine mistake made by a low level officer, or perhaps a Red Herring to keep the Ruskies off guard or a little of both. A happy happenstance. Perhaps the resulting confusion about UFO’s over the years ever since, have proven to be a boon to intelligence gathering, I don’t know. It is interesting to note; however, that “space visitors” in Russia tend to look a lot like Stalin’s “Super Soldiers”, and the one’s one West tend to look like aliens depicted in the film, “Earth vs. the Flying Saucers” ca. 1956. Actually, I really think that movie was the original source and foundation for “The Gray’s”.
Now, as to whether or not, if I’m wrong, and they’re here to wipe out the U.S., as you suggested. Let me say this, they must have come from beyond our Solar System to get here. They have been for a long time already, milinea, some suggest. With so much obvious power and time at their disposal, if they wanted to destroy the U.S or take over the planet, they could certainly have done so, long age. The fact that they haven’t, despite the claim by some, that we’re working for them already, is evident in the eternal strife of mankind and his lack of common purpose. Plus, there the fact that in the U.S., anyway, we’re pretty much free to do as we please. Therefore, if they are in fact here and hiding somewhere, their purpose is benign at worst.
Nevertheless; as word of caution, I think it is ill advised to be sending messages out into space, stating who and what we are and giving away our present location, until we know better what really is out there.
Nuff said.
Augustus:
Prior to my sighting, I was under the belief that UFO were, in all cases, mis-identification of aircraft or astronomical phenomena. I don’t believe that now.
I was driving to Edwards AFB – through Los Angeles – at about 4 AM on the last day of February of this year. Specifically, I was in Mission Hills, headed north on the 405 Freeway. The reason that I’m so specific with the location is that this area is on the approach path for the Van Nuys, Burbank and LAX airports…so I’ve seen literally thousands of aircraft in this area, and without fail, I can identify them as aircraft at just about any altitude.
On this morning, I spotted two lights – both a deep topaz-blue – fly from my two o’clock high position into my 10 o’clock high position. Both kept a perfect distance from each other, and they both appeared to have a slight yellow “halo” around them. They hovered there for about 20 seconds, and then quickly sped away – up and out of sight – in about 3 seconds. At first I thought it was a reflection of a bluetooth device, but I had none with me that morning and I lowered my driver’s side window to verify that what I was seeing was not a reflection of some sort – it wasn’t.
No aircraft that I know of – foreign or domestic – nor any astronomical phenomena – have those characteristics or behaviors. I truly observed something that I can’t identify, and something (two somethings, actually) that is not in my realm of experience.
richu:
Trust me on this – Area 51 isn’t what you think it is, sorry. Every shred of evidence from UFO “investigators” about extraterrestrial craft flying into and out of Area 51 IS a misidentification of aircraft or astronomical phenomena.
Well take me for an example speaking for myself I have often been labeled fat drunken slob but that in no way infers any amount of truth to that label.
Just because of my obesity and my apparent penchant for public inebriation plus my endorsement for
*Crystal Skull Vodka*
does not make me a delusional alcoholic!
Maybe an alcoholic, but not a delusional one, lol
Lisa Novak is now D. Akroyd, yes?
Gadrannanna:
LOL! Very astute observation!
Interesting case Guido. Yeah, Pretty much every so called proof of alien material at Groom Lake is either very shady in origin or really mis-identified. I know UFO’s are real but as to what they really are, Your guess is as good as mine. I’m sure they got some really cool stuff there, But UFO’s, No sir. And I respect their reasons for absolute secrecy.
D. Akrotd is D. Akroyd is D. Akroyd…
lol
Guido Pilot:
When you wrote back, I was so very glad to see that you are being as specific and accurate as possible. This tells me you really are who you claim to be. I get so tired of reading reports of mile long objects at an altitude of 1000 ft., traveling at Mack 10 or something of that ilk, when if the observer doesn’t know what it is that he’s looking at in the first place, he has absolutely no point of reference and can’t possibly judge size, altitude, or speed of the object in question. That’s why people had to spend months of training in the Observer Corps. in WWII. You didn’t even attempt it, good for you.
As for what you saw. Ruling out any possible temporary vision or mental abnormality, it sounds as if what you saw was similar to the FU Fighter phenomenon seen by both Allied pilots and German U-boot commanders in the European Theater in WWII. These lights seeming have been around for a long time. They have been reported by seafarers going back at least as Christopher Columbus. I am not certain about this, but I think they might always occur close to the seashore of large bodies of water. At any rate, I think they could very well be some, as of yet, unexplained atmospheric phenomenon. Let’s face it, we know very little about the atmosphere really. It wasn’t until the jet age, that we discovered that it had currents, like the jet stream. We also know little about magnetic fields, electricity, and even light itself, and more especially about how they might interact. So, I think that what you saw is most likely a real, albeit rare, normal Earthly phenomenon. It would be interesting to see if anyone else reported it.
What do you think?
Guido Pilot:
Thanks for your personal, qualified testimony on Area- 51. Perhaps now, we can finally put that one to rest!
Gadrannana and Augustus,
Perhaps it would be in the best interests of this blog and commenters that you would try and focus on the content and factual details of said comments instead of being distracted by the alleged identities of various commenters?
Say for example nobody asked me about my paranormal MIB experiences…
Suspicion does not qualify, in any way shape or form, as an astute observation…
guido pilot,
Id be very interested as to the specific location of the ‘USAF flight school’ you attended?
hmmmmmm?
It would be in the best interest of this blog if someone did not bother to insult famous people while pretending to be them. Perhaps you would claim that you are simply having some fun; but at whos expense?
Augustus is now Gadrannanna, yes?
LOL! Very astute observation!
Goodbye, Dick
D. Akroyd:
There’s no mystery as to where the USAF Test Pilot School is located…you can even google it. It’s located at Edwards Air Force Base, north of Palmdale, California. You can even get a tour of the base and of the school…even as a civilian.
Here is more information about the school:
http://www.edwards.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6467
Hope this clears up any “mystery” about it…
Cheers,
Guido
Augustus:
I actually reported the sighting to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC). It is there, on file. Try looking up “Mission Hills, CA”. I didn’t see any other similar reports, but since the majority of sightings go unreported, I’m not surprised if either no one else saw it or it just wasn’t reported.
I’ve seen all sorts of atmospheric phenomena, as well as astronomic phenomena in the air and on the ground. Several websites purport to show UFOs high in the atmosphere – as seen through night vision goggles or sniper scopes. I can tell you without reservation that the videos that they’ve posted are definitely satellites, and on several occasions, Iridium flares. What I saw was not a satellite or an Iridium flare…I have absolutely no idea what it was.
Guido,
As you have admitted yourself, anybody can google it. (including yourself)
This, in and of itself, proves nothing- except perhaps that you are prone to making outlandish claims.
Guido:
That’s exactly what I’m trying to convey to you. They are in the atmosphere, they are not man-made, they are not other worldly, they are not even ghosts or some other kind of sentient being. They are simply some form of energy that gives off light, like lightning does, but we do not know exactly what causes it, or exactly what it is yet. It has not been seriously studied. In fact, I’m even sure that we have the means to do so yet.
Here’s an example if it will help you. Up until a couple of centuries ago, most people thought that St. Elmo’s fire was just a drunken sailor’s tale or the product of a deranged mind. We now know that is just an electro-static discharge.
Mankind is not even close to discovering all the mysteries of this planet, let alone space.
Making space aliens responsible for everything maybe convenient, and mankind sure does love his conveniences, look at all gods and goddesses for example, but it’s not good science.
sure i enjoy a drink or two every night but I would say i’m not an alcoholic. I am having a drink right now as a matter of fact. Hey what’s that in the sky there?
Guido:
Thanks for the reference.
Augustus -
I agree – making space aliens the source of all sightings so limits our imagination and our ability to explain the mysteries that we may discover.
Thank you, by the way for your interesting and intelligent points. It’s refreshing to see someone such as yourself who is interested in furthering the field of knowledge than in deriding other people.
Guido:
The highest of compliments! I thank you!
Indeed, Truly what I call open minded.
D. Akroyd,
Thank you for your comments, you are obviously very intelligent and insightful in your perspective.
I only wish everyone were as concise in their articulation of the UFO issue.
Say for example, those who cannot resist flaming other parties in their comments. I believe it shows obvious lack of confidence and clearly indicates insecurity.
Do you feel that your MIB encounters involved teleportation?
OMG,
Will you guys give it a rest?
You guys sound like those chipmunks from the disney cartoons:
“oh, you go first”
“no, i insist”
“the highest of compliments”
“indeed, truly open minded”
oh, puhhhhhhleeeeeeze!
Ill drink to that.
I have seen a UFO on two separate occasions. Once during the day, at quite close quarters and the other time with 10 witnesses for over an hour. No one was drinking, including myself on either of these occasions. I, as well as the other witnesses are 100% convinced what we observed was of extraterrestrial origin.
I do look on this site many times for long time now because I enjoy subjects but sometimes not very interest to some comments which are not good, not clear. But to-day comments are very good and more full. Many good stories by good riters. Too bad so much back to forth praises and criticize of each other riters. Letters are interestind so keep to minimum facts that are looking like are true. Don’t spend time back to each other making compliment and praizes to each other.
Good French expression says, “arrêter les conneries”. Jus tell the story clear and full. Keep good stuff coming like to-day. I like those story coming from Guido Pilot and Angustus plus area 51 interested me very much. Am continue to look and hope read many more true good comments. André B.
I hear many thots like Ausgustus say to atmosphere, can be cause of unknown objets some people see in sky. Ocpital illusion sometimes look like a UFO maybe. Could be because others say so also. Very interesting theory for study more.
Over the past 40 years I have perused a plethora of information on UFO’s and looked at hundreds of pictures. This was prompted because of my own experiences. They are real, they are here and I wish that I didn;t know it.
augustus is andrè blondin yes?
very astute observation!
D. Akroyd – please excuse decided message;
Another – like you say – very astute observation!
It seem like you are like subject – Delusional or Alcoholic?
Why you like make problems for riters? We like to read ideas.
the highest spygame is ufo/alien search.
disinformation even killing would be common
ground in there.
the queen of england is part annunaki from
the house of hanover.edward the 8th married mrs.simpson a foofighter.
i have 4 aliens in my background and anyone
in europe would have a good 5% atlantis mix probobability.
so have a scotch or a beer and relax its
been going on for thousands of years on
planet earth.
A very interesting post Billy that demonstrates just how common it is for people to be met with ridicule, accusations of being delusional or on mind altering substances when sharing their experiences of flying objects they are unable to identify.
Targeting people with these kinds of attacks (and thats what they are, attacks), seriously hampers more people from coming forth and sharing their own experiences. It also makes me question what some of these peoples motives are.
I’ve read your site for some time and finally shared my own experiences with your readers on your last UFO sighting reports found here http://ufos.about.com/b/2009/07/23/ufo-sighting-reports-great-britain.htm (comment No 6).
I found it a real shame that some one called Augustus likened my experience to a LSD trip they had on their prom night. It felt like I was being accused of being on such a substance which is a real shame as I’ve never taken anything of the kind.
Please Mr. Akroyd – accent on my name, André, is “accent aigu”, (é).
You use “accent grave”, (è), which is wrong way. No offense for sure.
I offer simply to correct so you can know in case we speak again.
P,S. – If you are real Mr. Dan Akroyd I wish to say I like very much your movie Blue Brothers. Congratulation to you. André B.
Please excuse me for I have to point out that I have four aliens in my backyard right now.
They are not at all friendly and can be rather contrary.
If you would deem it necessary to try to take one to task you might end up with some anomalous wounds and perhaps and alien implant or two.
No, I have not been drinking, save for some refreshments made from Crystal Skull Vodka ®
André well I feel so flattered that you would imply we might speak again…
D. Akroyd – Well that is up to you, but not if I can help it. Au revoir cher ami.
andrè,
not if i see you first
Akroyd i have had aliens in my backyard and I hope you can get them out of there. Not only do they take our jobs, but they live 12 to a house and often can be found stealing. I’d call the police if I were you.
Jay:
I really am so very glad that you wrote back on the subject. Seriously, I really am; though, perhaps a bit disappointed that you wrote to Billy and not to me personally, since you feel I am the cause for your complaint. I’ve been checking the site often for a response from you. I do not know which others you are referring to, but as to my motives, if you have been reading my comments for the past couple of weeks or so, I thought you would have known or at least guessed. This is especially true, since I have been trying my damnedest to be as clear and concise and open as possible, and also since you are a very bright and articulate man. I also try to be as spontaneous as possible in my reactions to other peoples comments. This sometimes leads to some confusion on the part of my readers when I give full reign to my emotions. I know for a fact that this has been the case with at least three people, who have had the common decency to say so, including yourself. Thanks to all. I am also, an extremely poor typist and speller, as many can attest to. I have an incredibly quick, gifted, and analytical mind, and sometimes I leave out entire phrases in mid sentence, since the typing is so slow and difficult for me. I usually don’t try do much correction, though it would be easier on my readers. So, please bare with me.
I have always been intrigued by the mysteries in the world since early childhood, and my purpose in my extra-curricular studies has been to shed as much as possible on them. Not to put any kind of moral judgment on them, just discover the true facts and origins of the subject in question.
As to why I wrote what I wrote to you. I sometimes use cynicism as a writing tool. It can be useful, if not over done, to bring people out a bit. In this case, more of a playful challenge than an “attack”, as you put it. I did not say, nor mean to imply, really, that you personally, were on drugs at the time. I wasn’t there. How could I know one way or the other? I simply offered it up as one possible explanation as to why some people see of the things they see. My actual first gut reaction to your comments, was that you are a talented aspiring fiction writer. At any rate, I would be interested in going over your story, point for point, if it is agreeable to you.
(by the way, has anybody caught the black panther that has been reported roaming the Devon country side, and the big cats elsewhere in England? Also, has anybody identified who or what the Devil of Devon was, circa. – 1889 – not positive of the date, it’s been a long while since I read the article.)
Thanks for the reply Augustus. I would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the experiences I’ve had. I’ve not got access to the Internet all the time, so please bare with me when it comes to replying. I shall endeavor to answer any questions as fast as possible.
I didn’t reply to your comment as I believe its everyones right to his or her opinion. However, I thought the topic of Billy’s article made for the right time to highlight how I felt when reading your post as an example.
As for the recent sighting of the Devon big cat caught on video, and if its the same video I viewed the other day (Cat was on a railway line). I couldn’t see this cat was any larger than your average moggy. I’ve seen quite a few sightings that people have caught on tape (most are reported on our local news as and when they come to light), and have seen better examples than the recent one (IMO), but I fail to see the importance of most.
We have a number of Zoos in the Devon area so its not too far fetched for one of them to accidentally allow a panther or something similar to escape. Similarly there are many farms around here so it could be quite easy for someone who illegally keeps such an animal to do so without raising suspicion. Of course if said person went on to loose the animal, they would definitely not mention it to anyone.
Re: – (49) D. Akroyd says.
Mr. Akroyd: Again you have chosen wrong accent. Should be “accent aigu”, (é).
Not “grave”, (è).
Try to remember. You would not like to see your name spelled wrong (Arkoyd) ??