Philosopher Mike Cifone’s three dissections of this year’s “Utah’s Paranormal Conference” manage to be informative, thoughtful, funny, and downright lyrical at times; slightly irritating at others. (Of course, Mike’s “almost-surprise” at what he finds demonstrates that contrast between what non-Ph.Ds. in philosophy might term the difference between “theoretical” and “experiential” knowledge.) Despite an apparent condescending tone in them, these articles give an excellent “outsider’s look” into the necessarily-“real” world of current ufology, plus a plea and suggestions for trying to improve matters. Part One literally “sets the stage” for the event. In Phenomecon 2022 – A Review (Part Two) Mike challenges Sasquatch researcher Jeffrey Meldrum’s otherwise-decently-acceptable case on the key point of no palaeontological record and James Keenan’s efforts on — somewhat the reverse sin — trying to fit archaeological data into a wild theory. Mike worries about Meldrum’s choice of relict hominid illustrations and Keenan’s “it may be, therefore it (plausibly) is” thinking that’s itself rather the opposite tack to skeptics’ “it can’t be, therefore it isn’t” dictum. He applies a variation of this philosophical/scientific approach to Erik Bard’s “Skinwalker Ranch” presentation. Mike then pronounces My Final Word on Phenomecon 2022, in Which We First Comment on the Current State of Play of Ufological Matters. His last musings on “this wonderfully kooky” Phenomecon 2022 usefully discuss “Why Things Are As They Are” in ufology. There’s also seemingly downright invective against “Dr. Mr. T[ravis]. T[aylor’s].” presentation and apparent thought-processes. (WM)
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