Strange Encounters

Artist concept of Morristown UFO.

In January, two men staged a UFO hoax near Morristown, NJ, to determine just how gullible some people can be, and to see how much, and what type, of media attention the hoax would receive. They weren't disappointed.

On January 5, 2009, Joe Rudy and Chris Russo, both skeptics with an interest in spreading the truth, carried their UFO hoax-making materials -- 5 3 feet diameter helium balloons, 5 flares, fishing line, duct tape and a helium tank -- into a wooded area near the border of Morris Plains and Hanover, NJ.

After rigging the balloons, they launched them one by one, striking one flare for each, letting them drift up and away at 15 second intervals. Off into UFO history. They perpetrated this hoax at least two times, to ensure that their glowing flares were seen, creating a sort of micro-UFO-flap for this area of New Jersey.

Those who are swept up in the great mystery of the UFO phenomenon may feel that hoaxes like this harm the field of UFOlogy, but the only harm done is relative to the UFO believer's own unwillingness to accept certain facts and possibilities that contradict that belief. Situations like this should be kept in consideration during any UFO sighting flap or investigation performed by any UFOlogist.

What these men have done is not some mean spirited mockery. They have demonstrated just how easy it is for people to grossly misinterpret what they are really seeing, and how everyday people can make a sighting of something mundane into something fantastic and out of this world.

Many witnesses interviewed, including a pilot, claimed that they saw the UFOs shoot off at high speeds. The objects never performed such maneuvers. They were red glowing flares, hanging from balloons, drifting on air currents.

We can apply this example to other areas of the so-called paranormal like ghosts, electronic voice phenomenon, shadow people, monsters, angels, fairies. Even Bigfoot. Though some staunch "Bigfooters" and cryptozoologists claim that Bigfoot doesn't fall into the realm of the paranormal, the system of belief and denial of the facts is the same for all "paranormal mysteries" and even religion.

Although their hoax may have been devised to make a point about gullibility and delusion, when watching their "How We Staged the Morristown UFO Hoax" videos, one might get the idea that by documenting their efforts and revealing their identities, they were seeking attention and their own 15 minutes of fame. It didn't come without risks...

Since their stunt was somewhat reckless and could have jeopardized the safety of aircraft on approach to local airports, Morris County prosecutor Robert Bianchi has indicated that he will be filing disorderly person charges against Russo and Rudy, stating, "If there is a single word to describe this... it is in essence stupidity."

I wonder if Bianchi believes in UFOs?

In an interesting side note, a recent Associated Press article on this story states that "The men said they did it to trick people who believe in UFOs." But that's not what the men said.

That is not a quote from the hoaxers, it is an off-hand statement made by a reporter who doesn't care about the facts and needs to draft a quick story for the newswire. But the problem there is that most people just accept what these reporters tell them as fact, and that is how inaccurate informaition is spread.

Misrepresenting the truth in this case prevents anyone from getting the point of the hoax! The real reason these men perpetrated this hoax, however hazardous, was to demonstrate how easy it is for people to stretch the truth, and embellish what they have witnessed.

Through lousy reporting the main point of the hoax will be lost, and it will be merely another trick pulled on an unwitting public. Too bad no one really gets it, especially those who delude themselves past the point of understanding the concept of a hoax like this in the first place.