Interview with John Mack, Psychiatrist, Harvard University (semi-vanity)

PBS.org ^

[RoosterRedux]

Pingaroonie

[kenavi]

Why “Humor”?

[RoosterRedux]

Because some folks will find it easier to laugh at this rather than cry about the idea that it might be true.

As my granny said, sometimes medicine (the Truth in this case) goes down best with a spoon of sugar.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

I thought Mack was dead. Maybe it was just brain-dead.

He was a big leftist in the anti-nuke, Nuclear Freeze movement in the 1980’s. Turned out that he was more of a liability than an asset to the Left.

[RoosterRedux]

Mack is dead.

That said, because a man is wrong at politics doesn't mean he is wrong at everything. Stay on topic...read the interview.

[Gay State Conservative]

Might there be thinking beings elsewhere in the universe? I suppose it's not impossible.Assuming they exist have any of these beings been kidnapping...or bothering in any other way...humans? Highly....highly...HIGHLY...unlikely.

Far,far,FAR more likely that those claiming to have been "visited" have *very* serious psychiatric,or neuropsychiatric,conditions.

[RoosterRedux]

Er...that is why you might want to read the interview. This is an interview with a psychiatrist who has examined such psychiatric conditions...and has rendered his opinion.

BTW, Mack (from 1980 to 1986) was the chairman of the executive committee of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

[Gay State Conservative]

BTW, Mack (from 1980 to 1986) was the chairman of the executive committee of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

I worked for 20+ years at one of Harvard Medical School's major teaching hospitals.While HMS has on its faculty some amazingly skilled chest surgeons,pediatricians,oncologists as well as physicians trained in every other medical specialty I can assure you that not all of it's psychiatrists are playing with a full deck.One bit of proof of my claim...the Dept of Psychiatry at HMS has,for years,held the position that homosexuality is just a different kind of love.Maybe that will give you an idea of what *they're* about.

[muir_redwoods]

John Mack is not a freak, he's a serious scientist. Get a hold of a copy of Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind by C. D. B. Bryan. Bryan is a serious skeptic but he explains this phenomenon and comes away undecided. Personally I think it's some, as yet, undiagnosed mental illness but that doesn't make it any less strange.

[RoosterRedux]

I don't disagree. John Mack is a hero IMO who defended his work against a storm of attack.

What is the bottom line...I do not know. But Mack's work is scientifically valid and profound. He ventured into an area of study that was considered verboten by all other serious scientists.

And his reports are perfectly in line with what any scientist would and should do.

[kenavi]

I might never have heard of this guy if not for your post. Whatever one might think about alien abductions, this fellow was definitely for real. Shakespeare was on the money when he wrote: “There are more things ‘twixt heaven and earth, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

[RoosterRedux]

I usually respect your comments, but here you are missing the mark.

Mack's tenure was subjected to examination, the goal of which examination was to deny said tenure, and after prolonged and in depth analysis, Mack won this case and retain his tenure.

Let me ask you, what is your problem here. Is it the subject matter in question or is it your linkage with Harvard?

Mack's tenure defense at Harvard was led by Daniel P. Sheehan and was supported by Alan Dershowitz. Mack was overwhelmingly exonerated.

[RoosterRedux]

Thx for that...read all you can find about Dr John Mack. Great guy, great psychiatrist.

Brave man!

[Gay State Conservative]

Mack's tenure was subjected to examination, the goal of which examination was to deny said tenure, and after prolonged and in depth analysis, Mack won this case and retain his tenure.

There aren't many things in this life that I know much about but I do have a pretty fair idea of the culture,the "inner workings" of HMS.My knowledge of that world comes,in part,from having had more long,frank,talks with faculty members of the school than you've had hot meals.

Let me ask you, what is your problem here. Is it the subject matter in question or is it your linkage with Harvard?

My basic problem is the plausibility of "alien visitation" and "alien abduction".Call me a "Doubting Thomas" but I need more proof in this matter than the tales of a few..."unfortunately afflicted"...folks and the beliefs of one,or every,psychiatrist in the country.Including the entire staff of HMS's Dept of Psychiatry.

[henkster]

I know I've seen his research assistant somewhere.....

[Larry381]

I was and am convinced that there is something going on in the world of so-called UFOs. This is only because of a sighting by my brother when he was a Marine radio operator in Japan. The sighting was seen for more than twenty minutes by hundreds of Marines at his air base as well as over twenty Japanese civilians in 1969.

While I was fairly convinced about UFOs I thought the alien abduction BS was just that-until I read John Mack's book, Abduction.
it is one of the most frightening books I have ever read and I consider Dr Mack a genuine hero for even writing it.

[RoosterRedux]

Who said anything about alien visitation?

And then you jump to insults about hot meals...that's an irrational leap. If you are a student of rationality (and psychiatry)...what is the basis for that?

You seem to have an inordinate fear of this issue (I can't blame you for that...it is an inordinately frightening issue)...

But you do not make concrete claims to oppose John Mack.

Have you read the accounts? And if you have, what is your opinion? Clinical opinion...not your personal opinion.

If you are not a psychiatrist, perhaps you can provide a link to one who has a differing opinion on the findings of Dr Mack.

Anecdotal accounts in the faculty dining room included.

Tell us about your findings.

We are not idiots here...tell us your personal findings and let us form our own opinions.

[RoosterRedux]

Brave comment! Thx!

[Kevmo]

John Mack got his ass kicked by CSICOP when they planted a fake abductee in his study and he failed to ferret her out; in fact, Mack held up her story as exemplary.