- bother with is the sort of person who wrote the following letter: I am postmaster here at - and I hesitated before reporting this subject to the postal inspector. But after a great deal of serious thinking I felt I could not be a good American citizen if I did not ask these questions, 'What was the lighted object and where did it come from?'1 The reliable UFO reporter is generally acknowledged in his community to be a stable, reputable person, accustomed to re sponsibility - a family man, holding d0wn a good job and known to be honest in his dealings with <;�hers. It has been my experience that UFO reporters have little in common by way of background. They come from all walks of life. Yet in addition to a shared reputation for probity they often experience a marked reticence to talk about their experi ences, at least until they are assured of the interrogator's sin cerity and seriousness. What I have written ... is for you and your research work . .. I have never reported any of this. But I do believe you should have this information in detail. But for no newspaper, no reporters ... I am still reluctant, but somehow I feel you are the right person.2 I have discussed this matter only with two men - one a prominent manager in our area, and the other my pastor.8 I can tell you one thing - if I ever see another one, mum's the word. We called the city police first to ask if anybody had reported a UFO, and the man at the telephone laughed so long and loud that I'm sure he must have almost fell off his chair . .. [the paper] ran some darn smart aleck story that made all of us look like fools.4 Such expressions of embarrassment and hesitation are frequently encountered, and the very fact that the reporters, in the face of almost certain scorn, have persisted in making a report indicates a genuine feeling that the information is of importance and should be transmitted to someone. Reporters' actions likewise indicate a haunting curiosity about their ex-
34