Name Change

[poliphilo]

You may have noticed that UFOs are no longer being called UFOs but UAPs- which stands for Unidentified Aerial Phenomena.

This name change doesn't seem to reflect any real shift in perception or understanding- so what's the rationale?

I suspect it goes something like this:

Politicians and government agencies and their tame media have been telling us for decades that only loons believe in UFOs.

But now we have a problem. The official line is changing- for whatever reason- and government agencies and their tame media are telling us that, "Actually, these things do exist and we have the evidence and we're prepared to show you some of it".

So how do the government agencies and tame media dodge the stigma they've created and propagated- along with the imputation that they've been lying their heads off?

How about this?

Wipe the slate clean. Start afresh...

...And call the damn things something else.

UFOs are so 20th century-

But now we've got these things called UAPs- and it's perfectly respectable to believe in them...

Comments

[basefinder]

I think you've nailed it.

[poliphilo]

Thanks. Now I want to know why the authorities are changing their stance...

[lokbiiviing]

I confess that I don't really believe in them although I would not reject the presence of other non-hostile life forms. Maybe they could teach us something about peaceful living. But about the name change: UFO as an acronym has style! It is easy and impactful to say. UAP is kind of uninspiring. :/ It sort of makes me think of some smaller branch of a delivery service.

[poliphilo]

I suspect most of us will carry on calling them UFOs for that very reason.