The term “UFOs” encompasses a wide range of unidentified flying objects, including misidentified balloons and planes. But what term should we use specifically for vehicles believed to be of alien origin? Precision in terminology is essential; it’s fundamental to scientific inquiry.
In the field of ufology, most people default to the term “UFO” even when discussing instances involving alleged alien abductions or eyewitness accounts of distinctly non-human entities, as seen in the Ariel School incident. Unfortunately, this broad usage means that “UFO” can refer to any unidentified flying object, often leading skeptics and others to dismiss the subject entirely by conflating all unidentified aerial phenomena under one label.
To clarify discussions about non-human craft, we need to establish a distinct, commonly accepted term. I propose using terms like alien vehicles or alien UFOs. Are there any other terms that could be used to address this topic?
I’m particularly interested in discovering sources that utilize terminology beyond just “UFOs.” What other terms do they employ? If ufology aims to gain greater scientific credibility, it should incorporate more specific language. For instance, the term “peculiar UFOs” could be useful when discussing unidentified aerial objects that exhibit unique characteristics, such as the so-called five observables.
Here’s what I’ve uncovered so far:
- The term Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) is sometimes used interchangeably with Unidentified Anomalous Vehicles (UAVs), but these terms can still lack clarity regarding their association with entities assumed to be extraterrestrial.
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Source: /r/UFOstudies’ article “Estimating Flight Characteristics of Anomalous Unidentified Aerial Vehicles in the 2004 Nimitz Encounter.”
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A U.S. government document consistently uses “vehicle” alongside “UFO.” The term “vehicle” suggests a purpose of transportation, which raises intriguing questions about unidentified objects that are resistant to man-made weapons.
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Source: Air Force Fact Sheet, “Unidentified Flying Objects and Air Force Project Blue Book” (available at http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.as_p?fsID–188).
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In Leslie Kean’s book UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record, the author describes a dichotomy where proponents assert that some UFOs are alien vehicles, while skeptics vehemently deny the existence of such phenomena. This ongoing debate has overshadowed meaningful discourse around the topic.
I also want to clarify that the term “alien” often implies more than just extraterrestrial life. For specificity, I sometimes use “extraterrestrial-origin beings” (ETOBs) when discussing claims related to alien abductions or suspected alien UFO sightings, as using just “UFO” can create confusion.
I’m on the lookout for more sources and alternative terms in this discourse. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Your inquiry into the terminology surrounding unidentified flying objects and their possible connections to extraterrestrial origins is both fascinating and essential for the advancement of ufology as a scientific discipline. Distinguishing between general UFOs and those posited to be of alien origin is indeed crucial for clearer discussions and investigations.
Here are some additional sources and terms that have appeared in academic or investigative contexts, along with some commentary on their relevance:
Extraterrestrial Craft: Some researchers have used this term to specifically denote vehicles believed to be constructed by non-human intelligences. This term appears in discussions around alleged recovered crafts or high-profile incidents like the Roswell Incident.
Non-Human Vehicles (NHVs): This term has been used in some discussions to describe the operational capacity of crafts or objects believed to exhibit control or intelligence not attributable to humanity.
Anomalous Aerial Vehicles (AAVs): A term that’s gaining traction in some government and military reports, particularly for objects that display flight characteristics not aligned with known physics as we understand them.
Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP): While widely used to encompass a broad range of unidentified objects in the sky, many advocates for more rigorous scientific investigation prefer to categorize certain UAPs as possibly being alien technologies, hence the importance of distinguishing between plain UAP and those believed to be of extraterrestrial origin.
Extraterrestrial Vehicles: This term is used in various discussions and literature to clearly refer to vehicles that are asserted to have been made by extraterrestrial beings. This distinction helps differentiate between objects that are merely unidentified and those that are claimed to be constructed by non-human intelligence.
Phenomena of Unknown Origin (PUOs): This term has been proposed in some circles to encompass any phenomena that cannot be readily explained, allowing room for both natural and artificial explanations, including extraterrestrial aspects.
As for further sources:
– The book “The UFO Experience” by J. Allen Hynek often discusses the need for precise terminology, and he famously coined the term “close encounters” to categorize different types of UFO experiences.
– “Beyond Earth: Our Path to a New Home in the Planets” by Chris Impey and Holly Henry discusses potential extraterrestrial technologies and the implications of finding them.
– Recent reports and presentations from organizations such as the U.S. Department of Defense and the UAP Task Force provide insight into how governmental agencies are beginning to acknowledge and differentiate between different types of aerial phenomena, some of which may imply non-human origin.
I encourage you to consult academic journals and papers on ufology, as well as documents released by government bodies in recent years. Increasing interest in UAPs from various scientific communities will likely yield more refined terminologies and classifications going forward. Your emphasis on specific language will aid in this progression and support clearer and more rigorous scientific inquiry.