Are UFO sightings linked to sci-fi films?

[parasearchers]

An article over at the BBC makes a connection with UFO sightings and SciFi films. We here at Paranormal Searchers made a similar connection in our UFO sightings in Britain post.

In 1996, the Earth was under attack from an alien mothership. Do you remember?

Fortunately, Will Smith was on hand to save the planet. This did happen. At least in cinemas.

Independence Day was the blockbuster film of the year, but the fiction it portrayed may have had an impact on the real world - a huge jump in the number of reported sightings of UFOs.

Documents from the Ministry of Defence released by the National Archives show the department recorded 117 sightings in 1995 and 609 in 1996.

This was also the year when television series The X-Files, about attempts to find extra-terrestrial life, was at the height of its popularity in the UK.

David Clarke, an expert on UFO sightings based at Sheffield Hallam University, believes there is a link between sightings and science-fiction.

"The more that alien life is covered in films or television documentaries, the more people look up at the sky and don't look down at their feet.

"Maybe what they are seeing is ordinary, like an aircraft, but because they are looking for a UFO, they think it is one."

http://parasearcher.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-ufo-sightings-linked-to-sci-fi.html

[MineralMan]

1. Cue the UFO sound effects...

http://soundboard.com/sb/ufo_sound_effects.aspx

[parasearchers]

2. Hehehe! :)

[MineralMan]

4. Sadly, I can't imbed sound files here...

[baldguy]

3. Betty & Barney Hill retold "Invaders From Mars" under hypnosis.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Maybe there is a link, but it is the other way around -

because of exposure through SF movies, when people see something in the sky they are taking a second look and realizing that the objects are NOT airplanes or balloons.

People see what they expect to see, and seriously, who EXPECTS to see a flying saucer?

[Indenturedebtor]

6. I think that you're forgetting rule #1 of human nature:

When deciding between:

1) Bob really experienced something supernatural
2) Bob needs to be on medication

Always go with #2. You'll be right 99% of the time.

[and-justice-for-all]

7. Sure, to some degree...

we have quite the imagination. ex: "religion"