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A Unified Theory of UFOs or A Game of Three-Dimensional Chess?

It is a classic scene from vintage television science-fiction, the command crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise are playing a game of chess - on three levels and multiple-dimensions.  Chess is a game of strategy, logic, and great patience. To describe an individual as "playing three-dimensional chess" implies a higher-order understanding and mastery of the system beyond the comprehension of their peers or ordinary observers (source:Wikipedia).

In many ways, there is a link between that multi-level playing board and the entire study of the subject of unidentified flying, anomalous, or aerial objects. "Three-dimensional chess" is often used colloquially to describe complex, dynamic systems with many competing entities and interests, including politics, diplomacy, and warfare.  This is also a good term to describe the field of Ufology.

One classic dream of physics is a “unified field theory”, defined as a theory that attempts to describe all fundamental forces and elementary particles in terms of a single theoretical framework. It is also referred to as “Theory of Everything.”  Sometimes, in the field known caustically, or fondly, as “Ufology”, a similar file heading is desired.  UFT presupposes a single answer to everything and often a single causative aspect. Some ask if such a simplistic answer is probable or even possible.  

In reviewing the field of ufology there are some cases and events that do not quite "fit." They seem to be statistical anomalies or outliers that require special explanations. The response of the 1940's and 1950's was one largely of total acceptance of any tale of sightings, encounters, and experiences. As a result, extremely diverse and hard to reconcile examples of craft, beings, and messages emerged. This situation would continue well into the 1970's. The initial UFO community's response to this vast disparity was to adopt it all and then generate theories that explained the apparent disparity. 

Many times, the search for a simple and singular aspect to anything has been met with increasing levels of complexity.  If this is so in the “hard science” field – is it also true in the multi-faceted field of the study of the UFO or UAP?

The image of the “other”, the “alien”, in the context of the UFO/UAP timeline is a possible example.  Early accounts of beings were very diverse. Gnomes, hairy dwarves, and elfen creatures were reported das were tall blond beings with ‘godlike” personas. Uniforms and “space suits” were reported. These were from the reports that made it into newspapers or books. Behind the scenes another variety was being noted but most did not have access to that image. 

In the late 1960's, but especially in the 1970's, the field was still in flux; there was so much going on and it was difficult to see the forest for the trees.  The only publicly acknowledged government study, along with the early fieldwork of groups such as A.P.R.O. or NICAP, had suggested that there were several things being seen at one time.

In the early 1980's, however, a standard image emerged of the large headed, large eyed, smaller statured creature. This coincided with the publication of the Whitney Strieber’s novel, Communion and its now iconic cover illustration.  Going forward a debate resembling the “chicken and the egg” question was debated. Did the image merely portray things seen or did it solidify one specific image to become the accepted portrayal? 

Unidentified aerial objects of undetermined origin.

This was a catchall classification into which everything was tossed. Natural phenomena unrecognized by the observer (such as Astronomical events (meteors, comets, sundogs, planets, and stars); weather conditions (thunderstorms, lightening, temperature inversions).

Misidentified aircraft were often reported as the number one source of sightings. Pranks or hoaxes. This was always the lowest segment of any group

In the late 1960's and 1970's a new way of thinking emerged, fostered by the "New Age" movement and its mix of drugs, eastern mysticism, and new concepts in psychology and social dynamics. Continuing with the concept that the vast array of types and shapes and messages had to all fit in the same box labeled "UFO EXPERIENCE," a search for a common answer continued. One into which all the varieties, versions, and shapes would neatly fit.  People such as Jacques Vallee, and others as diverse as the battalion of "Contactees" and " New Age Drop-In Experiencers" conceptualized the UFO experience as a new emerging religious cult, a mystical-spiritual experience, better studied by sociologists, anthropologists, and psychologists than nuts and bolts scientists. 

LEVELS OF PLAY

If we conceptualize the topic of UFO's along the lines of that multi-level game of chess it becomes a bit clear that just as there are differing layers of protentional explanations, there are also layers of players at work as well. 

There was, from the beginning, the Military level (trained in standard and nearly unchanged mindsets and patterns of movement they were often too formal and rigid to respond to lightening swift changes in technology or society. Weary from years of a global battlefield they also were hypervigilant and , some, apparently uncomfortable in peace).

There was, from the beginning, the Scientific level (in the era of the first UFO's two generations were shifting positions, an older generation trained in science of the past, in many ways, and less able to abstractly conceive the possibility all those laws learned might have some flaws and the reluctance to accept new ideas or paradigms as their ancestors had when Galileo posited the position of the sun in the galaxy. Replacing them were younger scientists with a tendency to be more open, willing to test new ideas, and stretch the boundaries. As youth, they also carried a liability in ignoring issues of both ethics and morality in a pursuit of science just for the sake of science).

There was, from the beginning, the Government level (governments are always distant from the day-to-day realities they create and as a result they tend to develop false perceptions of their own value, their own power, and their role in their assigned tasks).  When protected levels are created, as they were with the Manhattan Project, the process of compartmentalization of secrets, of actions, of decisions, and a hording of power begins.  This would be the process - the nexus - where a secret intelligence arm began as a natural outgrowth of national security but fed by fear, paranoias, and hunger for power or prestige it grew, often unchecked and lacking any accountability).

THE CAST OF PLAYERS

The Unknown.  The mystery element, the mysterious dark helmeted knight whose origins are murky and whose loyalty may be open to question. A covert government, an alien entity, a super-secret cabal with goals shrouded in questions. 

The Experiencer or Observer. The people, normal everyday human beings, who observed or experienced something they cannot explain, can only poorly describe, but know with absolute certainty they saw or experienced what they have said they saw or experienced.

WINNING THE GAME

So, instead of trying to mix hairy aliens, tall Nordics "space brothers", and short grays together into one unified theory of the UFO Conundrum, maybe we should visualize it as a game of chess. Ask some basic questions, such as do we have access to the games being played by those other levels? 

Multiple layers of opposing factions all playing hard to win, all in opposition to the others, all willing for brief collaborative efforts to help improve the odds for their side and their master goal.

Maybe visualizing the issue in such a multi-layer and dimensional way the cases - those good and solid cases - might begin to make more sense.

Remember..."Three-dimensional chess" is used colloquially to describe complex, dynamic systems with many competing entities and interests, including politics, diplomacy and warfare..."

 --Marilyn A.Hudson