Entropy and UFOs

The Concise Columbia Encyclopedia [Avon, NY, 1983], Page 269:

In INFORMATION THEORY entropy represents the “noise” or random errors, occurring in the transmission of signals or messages.

Entropy is a sine qua non of UFO reports, as noted here and at UFO Conjecture(s).

Is there some way to eliminate Entropy in the transmission of UFO reports? I don’t think so. The human factors – ineptness, slovenly accumulation of details or facts, cavalier research or investigation – don’t allow, can’t allow a suppression of Entropy.

As the second law of thermodynamics tells us, Entropy is inevitable and consequential.

So what can we do to hold Entropy, or errors and “noise” in UFO reports to a bare minimum?

Check and double-check as journalists are required to do with their reportage.

Yes, errors will occur, but they’ll be held to an insignificant (yet, still unacceptable) number.

For instance, in every UFO report extant, there is always some quibbling detail that is challenged by another quibbling detail, as is the case with the Betty Hill nose description of her alleged alien captors, or in the Roswell tale, the found disc is either a flying saucer or what was titled a flying disc/saucer in the vernacular of the time: something odd or out of the ordinary, an exotic thing.

In general witness testimony, when two or more witnesses provide testimony, there will invariably, be differing accounts. You are all familiar with UFO reports where this is so.

Entropy is the bane of UFO reports and has always been so. Why it is so profound in ufology, more so it seems, than other “disciplines – I’m using the word disciplines loosely here – intrigues.

UFOs create chaos in thinking and observation. Why? Because they are such an odd and out-of-the-ordinary phenomenon or topic.

In the Socorro event – one of my favorite UFO accounts (as you know) – the abused identification of the insignia or symbol seen and drawn by lone witness Police Officer Lonnie Zamora, flummoxes a possible explanation for the incident.

Entropy created, inadvertently and stupidly, by those involved.

Even with a calculated effort to diminish Entropy, Entropy prevails and will prevail.

Any hope of curtailing Entropy is futile of course, but it’s worth a gallant try to overcome this feature of nature, even if we won’t be successful by a long shot.

That’s the suggestion of Mythology: man can overcome the gods and fate by Herculean effort(s).

Are UFO devotees up to the task? They haven’t been so far, and the phenomenon is fading fast, only showing itself in an evanescent manner.

So time is of the essence, as they say.

RR