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FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONS

“Folklore reaches groups of people who share personal connections, values, traditions, and beliefs - and other forms of lore – that in part define them as a group”

  - (Sims and Stephens 2011:5).

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The folklore and traditions of UFO Support Groups is varied and constantly being reproduced. The methods of reproduction vary, such as personal encounters, new UFO footage, news and media coverage regarding UFO’s, or simply sharing experiences and mythologies with others during designated meeting times. Some UFO experiencers might also believe in government coverups and conspiracies, as well as have religious beliefs, that can intertwine or influence the individual’s UFO experiences.

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Some examples of folklore reproduced by UFO support groups:

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  • Abductee narratives (some of the media famous narratives including the abduction of Betty and Barney Hill, The Allagash Waterway abduction, and the Travis Walton abduction).

  • UFO and extraterrestrial sightings (sightings include witnesses from both public and governmental entities)

  • Men in Black sightings (Rojcewicz 1987:148-150).

  • The presence of Angel Hair (a cobweb like, sticky substance left behind after a UFO encounter, also has ties to religious beliefs and the Virgin Mary) (1).

  • The use of technology in UFO encounters/experiences (such as implants, vehicles, and advanced/otherworldly technology) (McRobbie 2016).

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Many UFO Support Groups also have a variety of traditions they adhere to, the most prominent tradition being the act of shared story-telling amongst group members, but there are other traditions present, such as outings and field trips, research projects, conventions/conferences, or group therapy (Sims and Stephens 2011:69-70) (McRobbie 2016) (mufon.com).

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Many meetings occur during the same time and at the same place, monthly or annually (mufon.com). During UFO support group meetings, there is also a tradition of “no recording devices, and no media”, further ensuring that the meeting is a safe place to discuss what may be considered “ridiculous” by mainstream society (Basu 2016).

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Some UFO Conferences include Ozark Mountain UFO Conference, the MUFON symposium, and events held by the International UFO Congress (plus many others not listed here).

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Memory recovery is a strong tradition among UFO experiencers, and therefore is also prominent within UFO Support Groups (Bader 2003:672) (McRobbie 2016). Hypnotic regression therapy may allow the experiencer to remember or relive their abductions after the fact, witnessing aspects of their experience that may have been forgotten or suppressed afterwards (McRobbie 2016).

                              Betty and Barney Hill Hypnotic Therapy Session                                                                             Scene from the movie "The Fourth Kind"

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