Comments on: Mowing devils, old hags, and phantom airships http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:41:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76771 Brett Holman Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:53:25 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76771 I think that's true, although I would probably say 'embellished' rather than 'detailed'! I think that’s true, although I would probably say ‘embellished’ rather than ‘detailed’!

]]> By: Avinash Machado http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76584 Avinash Machado Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:56:33 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76584 Good points. Yes the fear factor might have played a role in the popularity of the term Phantom Airship and also Scareship. One more thing I noticed is that the American sightings were more detailed. There are many reports where the Airships landed and the crew introduce themselves to the onlookers by name etc. In most of the British cases the Airships are generally seen in flight. There are hardly any cases where the crew is seen. Sort of adds to the sinister atmosphere of the sightings. Good points. Yes the fear factor might have played a role in the popularity of the term Phantom Airship and also Scareship. One more thing I noticed is that the American sightings were more detailed. There are many reports where the Airships landed and the crew introduce themselves to the onlookers by name etc. In most of the British cases the Airships are generally seen in flight. There are hardly any cases where the crew is seen. Sort of adds to the sinister atmosphere of the sightings.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76490 Brett Holman Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:33:37 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76490 It's a good question. I don't think the difference arises <em>directly</em> from the original accounts themselves, because 'phantom airship' was just one of a number of terms used in the British press (I'm less familar with the American case). I think it was settled upon by later researchers, and this is because of the different way the airships were presented: in America, as something to be marvelled at; in Britain, as something to be feared. What's interesting is that both historians and ufologists both use 'phantom airship', and yet the two groups seem to have done so independently of each other, because they don't refer to each others' literature. I wonder why that is. It’s a good question. I don’t think the difference arises directly from the original accounts themselves, because ‘phantom airship’ was just one of a number of terms used in the British press (I’m less familar with the American case). I think it was settled upon by later researchers, and this is because of the different way the airships were presented: in America, as something to be marvelled at; in Britain, as something to be feared.

What’s interesting is that both historians and ufologists both use ‘phantom airship’, and yet the two groups seem to have done so independently of each other, because they don’t refer to each others’ literature. I wonder why that is.

]]> By: Avinash Machado http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76401 Avinash Machado Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:14:52 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76401 Why the difference in terminology between the American and British Airship sightings? The American ones are generally referred to as the Mystery airship or Great Airship sightings, while the British ones are known as the Phantom Airship sightings? Is it a cultural difference or something? Why the difference in terminology between the American and British Airship sightings? The American ones are generally referred to as the Mystery airship or Great Airship sightings, while the British ones are known as the Phantom Airship sightings? Is it a cultural difference or something?

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76107 Brett Holman Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:09:36 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76107 Yeah, it's not much fun, is it! Luckily I don't experience it much these days, only once or twice in the past few years. About 6 or 8 years ago, though, I went through a period of sleeping on my back for some reason, and it was a lot more frequent then (apparently that's a common correlation). And that's also when I had the hypnagogic hallucinations. So eventually I went back to sleeping on my side -- that seems to provide protection against the the old hag! Yeah, it’s not much fun, is it! Luckily I don’t experience it much these days, only once or twice in the past few years. About 6 or 8 years ago, though, I went through a period of sleeping on my back for some reason, and it was a lot more frequent then (apparently that’s a common correlation). And that’s also when I had the hypnagogic hallucinations. So eventually I went back to sleeping on my side — that seems to provide protection against the the old hag!

]]> By: Paul Gilster http://airminded.org/2008/06/18/mowing-devils-old-hags-and-phantom-airships/#comment-76072 Paul Gilster Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:36:28 +0000 http://airminded.org/?p=512#comment-76072 Fascinating material on the phantom airships, which have long interested me as well. And by the way, although I haven't seen the 'old hag,' I'm also a sufferer of sleep paralysis, so I empathize! Fascinating material on the phantom airships, which have long interested me as well. And by the way, although I haven’t seen the ‘old hag,’ I’m also a sufferer of sleep paralysis, so I empathize!

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