Crop Circle Hoaxes

C R O P--C I R C L E--H O A X E S

We must all be careful in our investigations because the proof required for our extraordinary claims must be extraordinary itself. Do you believe the crop circles appearing in England are proof of an alien presence? Be careful. These quotes are from an article by Peter Williams entitled Hoaxing Explains It from the fifth issue of The Cerealogist. [The address for The Cerealogist is PO Box 1577, Andover, Hants SP11 7SH, England.]

There seems to be no alternative but to conclude that [crop circle] investigators have adopted a policy of disinformation about the circles that amounts to a conspiracy. Circle perfection has been exaggerated, and the ease with which they may be made has been played down.

A number of examples of hoaxed circles that reportedly fooled veteran crop circle researchers Busty Taylor, Terence Meaden, and Pat Delgado are presented. Hoaxing methods are also described.

In summary, the evidence is now better than ever that there is no feature of any known circle that cannot be produced by hoaxing. However knowledge of hoaxing is not by itself enough, for at least equal importance is some understanding of the psychology of practical jokers. At present it seems that this understanding, which need not extend to approval, is widely lacking, and that this is the crucial factor preventing the hoax hypothesis from gaining the acceptance it deserves.

Just when we begin to think we know without question that there is an alien presence on this planet something slaps us in the face to remind us of our arrogance. There is a lot that we suspect with good reason; there is very little that we know. But as a famous baseball player once said, "It ain't over 'till it's over," or something like that. The crop circles still have a story to tell.