Comments on: The scientific tourist #2 — a quick tour of the Roswell UFO Museum http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/ Science for people who never knew it could be interesting Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:29:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Green Eagle http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 Green Eagle Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:52:51 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/#comment-1063 I found myself in Roswell a couple of years ago, returning from Marfa, Texas after working on "There Will Be Blood". I was actually quite surprised to see the amount of negative information about flying saucer claims included in the Roswell UFO Museum. Contrary to my expectations, the museum actually seemed pretty even-handed. It was an amusing experience of Americana, and far less offensive than so much of the anti-scientifc crap that one can find online. By the way, if you walk around the corner, you will find a great little bookstore filled with conspiracy books and other materials. I enjoyed talking to the owner, who seems to be a perfect example of the notion "buy into one conspiracy, buy into all of them", and I bought a book which gave me a good deal of innocent amusement on the way back to L.A. I found myself in Roswell a couple of years ago, returning from Marfa, Texas after working on “There Will Be Blood”. I was actually quite surprised to see the amount of negative information about flying saucer claims included in the Roswell UFO Museum. Contrary to my expectations, the museum actually seemed pretty even-handed. It was an amusing experience of Americana, and far less offensive than so much of the anti-scientifc crap that one can find online.

By the way, if you walk around the corner, you will find a great little bookstore filled with conspiracy books and other materials. I enjoyed talking to the owner, who seems to be a perfect example of the notion “buy into one conspiracy, buy into all of them”, and I bought a book which gave me a good deal of innocent amusement on the way back to L.A.

]]> By: Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » Skeptics’ Circle, the 91st http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/comment-page-1/#comment-1056 Sorting Out Science » Blog Archive » Skeptics’ Circle, the 91st Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:25:54 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/#comment-1056 [...] Roswell paraphernalia is well represented here — after all, I was part of an expedition there myself, once. UFO-themed merchandise seems to be quite the cottage industry in the dusty little town. My friend [...] [...] Roswell paraphernalia is well represented here — after all, I was part of an expedition there myself, once. UFO-themed merchandise seems to be quite the cottage industry in the dusty little town. My friend [...]

]]> By: Sam Wise http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Sam Wise Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:27:06 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/#comment-91 I don't think it's *intended* to be just another roadside attraction. I got the impression that the people who created / maintain the place are UFO "true believers" who come up short in terms of critical thinking skills (and the motivation to develop them). They really, truly, WANT to believe in UFOs. The locals (at least, the long-term ones that didn't move to Roswell to be near the hub-of-all-UFO-thought) definitely seem to have a tongue-in-cheek perspective on the museum and on UFOs. I doubt any of them would take the risk of publicly criticizing something that (from all appearances) brings a lot of tourists through town. Geese and golden eggs, and all that... I don’t think it’s *intended* to be just another roadside attraction. I got the impression that the people who created / maintain the place are UFO “true believers” who come up short in terms of critical thinking skills (and the motivation to develop them).

They really, truly, WANT to believe in UFOs.

The locals (at least, the long-term ones that didn’t move to Roswell to be near the hub-of-all-UFO-thought) definitely seem to have a tongue-in-cheek perspective on the museum and on UFOs. I doubt any of them would take the risk of publicly criticizing something that (from all appearances) brings a lot of tourists through town. Geese and golden eggs, and all that…

]]> By: Mike Haubrich, FCD http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/comment-page-1/#comment-90 Mike Haubrich, FCD Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:17:16 +0000 http://sortingoutscience.net/2008/01/08/armchair_tourist_--_2_a_quick_tour_of_the_roswell_ufo_museum/#comment-90 I get the impression from your review that it is intended as "Another Roadside Attraction" and the locals are rather bemused by their town's only real claim to fame. Woe to the Chamber of Commerce member who suggests true museum quality, which would debunk any claims of ufologists and cut off a cash cow. It reminds me of the 6th Floor Museum in the Dallas West End Marketplace, which presents all of the Kennedy Conspiracy theories. The frustrating thing about it was that the main viewpoint was that there was a conspiracy, and it gives all of the kooks equal weight. But it's in Dallas, in a tourist location, so they make money. Or at least they did. I haven't been there in 15 years, so I am not even sure if it is still there. It was right next to the mini-golf, too. I found your blog through Mike The Mad Biologists blogroll amnesty. I get the impression from your review that it is intended as “Another Roadside Attraction” and the locals are rather bemused by their town’s only real claim to fame. Woe to the Chamber of Commerce member who suggests true museum quality, which would debunk any claims of ufologists and cut off a cash cow.

It reminds me of the 6th Floor Museum in the Dallas West End Marketplace, which presents all of the Kennedy Conspiracy theories. The frustrating thing about it was that the main viewpoint was that there was a conspiracy, and it gives all of the kooks equal weight. But it’s in Dallas, in a tourist location, so they make money. Or at least they did. I haven’t been there in 15 years, so I am not even sure if it is still there. It was right next to the mini-golf, too.

I found your blog through Mike The Mad Biologists blogroll amnesty.

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