From: Marty Murray <bubastis@warplink.com>
Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 14:09:41 -0500
Fwd Date: Wed, 02 Feb 2000 18:46:20 -0500
Subject: Re: Officer Stevens responds to CSICOP


 >Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 22:58:28 -0500 (EST)
 >From: Sam Sherman <FLEXARET2@AOL.COM>
 >Subject: Re: Officer Stevens responds to CSICOP
 >To: CURRENT-ENCOUNTERS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM


 >I was on the TV program 'The Mark Walberg Show' with a panel
 >about the UFO phenomenon, including Joe Nickell.

 >When I walked on the stage I knew nothing (as I had been told
 >nothing) about who the other guests would be. Joe Nickell
 >already knew all about ME. Off the air the first thing he said
 >to me was a wisecrack "Sell any Tapes today?". In reference to
 >the Air Force UFO Audio Recordings from Edwards Air Force Base
 >which my company markets. I replied "Yes, the tape is doing fine
 >and the public likes it."

 >I further stated to Nickell, that the Edwards Air Force Base UFO
 >pursuit of October 7, 1965 was a well proven and documented
 >event. Nickell replied to me, "Its unimportant, its an old
 >case".  I then asked him if "World War I, World War II, the
 >Korean War and the Vietnam War were unimportant, as they too
 >were old events". He then stopped talking to me.

 >I further asked him if he was ever a member of the U.S. Military
 >or now belongs to or worked for a U.S. Intelligence Agency. The
 >rather talkative Nickell was then silent and would not respond
 >to me.

 >On the program he proceeded to reduce a woman abductee to tears
 >and rip apart abductee therapist Yvonne Smith, who was another
 >on air guest. I have never before seen or met such a rude,
 >coarse individual on a TV or radio program. He is obviously with
 >some official government group that wishes to ridicule the UFO
 >subject, as they feel they are afraid to have the public realize
 >the truth of the topic. Maybe they are right, there may be a
 >greater threat than any UFO investigator realizes. However,
 >sullen, imperious, know-it-alls like Joe Nickell are not the way
 >to deal with such a possible national security threat.

 >I have debated Phil Klass (who has far more class than Nickell)
 >and was up against retired AF Major Jim McGeha on the GERALDO
 >RIVERA SHOW. I say give me the Major and Phil Klass any day over
 >Joe Nickell. At least they are human beings and they know
 >something. I have been told that Joe Nickell's only listed
 >credits are being a "magician". Well, his verbal sleight of hand
 >is not equal to the task of pulling the wool over the eyes of
 >the entire American Public!

 >I hereby challenge him to debate with me one on one on a live
 >national Television program the veracity of the UFO subject!

 >- Sam Sherman


Hello Mr. Sherman!

I said basically the same thing about Joe Nickell on this list a
few days ago, a bit more bluntly, perhaps, and was attacked for
it. However, as you have just described, what I said was the
truth. It is also typical that Nickell refuses to give any of
his background - education, work experience, etc., which
qualifies him in any way as a scientist or an investigator of
UFOs and other phenomena. If someone is going to present
themselves in the media and to the public as an "expert," then I
expect that person to show at least some kind of qualifications
for making that claim. I'm not surprised that his background
could be in magic. They seem to like magicians over there at
CSICOP. The "Amazing Randi" used to be their "public face" for
the longest time.

CSICOP is not interested in the facts or the truth, only in
quick, easy explanations which can be used to ridicule the
witnesses and sweep the reports rapidly under the carpet. Their
arrogant and condescending views don't stop at the topic of
UFOs. Anything "paranormal" is fair game, including a belief in
organized religion or God. CSICOP has referred to religion as
"the optimist's paranoia." If you have faith in anything outside
of science, it seems, then you are automatically deluded.

And I agree. Phillip Klass might be an extreme skeptic, but at
least he conducts himself with a certain amount of class. Joe
Nickell's behavior shows what type of person he is, and as they
say, the proof is in the pudding. If this is the public persona
which the group wishes to present, then who am I to argue with
their excellent choice.

Take care,

Marty