This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/ufos by /u/3Dputty on 2024-12-09 10:15:09+00:00.
Original post here:
Original OP: u/jack181u
“There's been a lot of discussion on this and other subreddits lately about the possibility that the drone sightings and events in New Jersey can be summed up as nothing more than "Mass Hysteria".
In this thread, I want to discuss the evidence that this is not simply a case of mass hysteria and open a discussion on the subject.
This goes hand in hand with many of the videos posted here and on /UFOs, for example, being dismissed as commercial airplanes, helicopters, etc. This second part - the idea that many videos uploaded show only regular aircraft - is part of the "Mass Hysteria" conversation, but also could be happening even if there are actually "unusual drones" being sighted/recorded. For this reason, I hope that we can separate the ideas that 1.) This is all mass hysteria, and 2.) Some of the uploaded videos show ordinary aircraft.
I think it is likely that some or many of the uploaded videos do show helicopters or other regular aircraft, but I think there is also enough evidence to suggest something is actually going on, that unusual drones have been spotted, and that this isn't a case of mass hysteria.
I think the main reason we can rule out mass hysteria in this case - in my opinion - is that there have been so many instances of officials / authorities discussing this issue. I want to present some of that evidence here as a means of gathering it all in one place so people can have this discussion without having to scour many different sources.
This post is an effort to debunk the idea that mass hysteria is the cause of all of this and cite evidence to back this claim.
1.) The FBI has acknowledged the issue and requested information / photos from civilians.
This alone does not rule out mass hysteria, as this action could be taken as a means of calming or reacting to mass hysteria, but it should be considered, at least, that this happened very early in the timeline of all of this. Most people hadn't started paying much attention and most news outlets hadn't covered it much at all - so the early nature of this may give more credence to this not being a reaction to mass hysteria itself.
2.) Multiple police authorities have given statements,
including stating that they have seen the drones - which is different than stating that residents have reported seeing drones, especially in considering the mass hysteria idea.
2A: Florham Park Police Statement
Processing img j30dkggl2q5e1...
The parts that stand out as it pertains to the mass hysteria discussion are:
"Morris County law enforcement, in conjunction with our State and Federal partners, have been attempting to determine the launch point and landing location of these drones" (They could have stated they are attempting to determine the authenticity of the reports but this statement assumes they believe the reports and are at the next step).
"Several drone sightings have been reported above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations." and "Members of the local law enforcement community have been pressuring our partners for answers regarding this activity as their presence around our critical infrastructure is concerning." These statements imply the authorities are aware of activity over critical infrastructure - unusual for commercial or regular aircraft - and are reaching out themselves to higher authorities for answers.
"While we currently have no evidence or information to indicate these drones pose an imminent threat at this time, their presence appears nefarious in nature." - This is a direct statement from authorities implying both that A.) there are unusual drones, and B.) Their presence appears nefarious
"Please be mindful that not all low flying aircraft are drones as we have the Morristown Municipal Airport, on our western border, and Newark International Airport in close proximity." - An acknowledgement that not everything everyone sees is a drone.
2B: Evesham Police Chief gives briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JnvjkGleVw
The police chief mostly discusses resident's reports and videos, offering statements such as "As of last night there was at times they were hovering, there was times they were moving um we were unable to determine if they were looking at critical infrastructure at that time but it is something that we're definitely looking at."
He also discusses being in contact with other state and federal authorities about it and asks residents to provide any clear pictures or videos they capture to the police.
He also dismisses the idea that these were hobbyist drones, "we do get reports of drone activity but they're usually like you know one you purchase you know operate um last night was interesting just because of the the wind that was present um one of those small you know hobbyist drones wouldn't be able to fly these larger um you know I guess uh professional drone activity that was out there um gave greater concern especially in their ability to navigate the weather" (from YouTube transcripts)
2C: Evesham Police statements: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5C_fbid=pfbid0wsCZR7N8VpXNQDLBjK6rE48URcsaogyCuwdEeCThGP2vF863d6HYoyt51B3nb6D2l&%3Bid=100064889221541
Processing img uq897p287q5e1...
"The Evesham Police Department is aware of the recent surge in drone activity over the township. We are collaborating with state and federal authorities to identify the drone operators and understand the purpose of this activity."
2D: Evesham Police statements to media https://www.fox29.com/news/multiple-drone-sightings-across-nj-put-residents-leaders-edge
Processing img 03htq4sraq5e1...
"Police went out and were able to observe some of them," Evesham Township Police Chief Walt Miller, explained. "It looked like there were four to eight drones. They aren’t the typical types of drones you think of, like a hobbyist. These looked more like unmanned aircraft. Some of them were as large as an SUV flying around in the area."
FOX 29’s Steve Keeley asked, "Did it concern you this could be nefarious activity?"
"Yeah, especially with the advanced technology they seem to have," Chief Miller replied. "Most drones are within sight. These are obviously being controlled somewhere else. And, there’s obviously a purpose. They’re up flying."
2E: "Ocean County Sheriff's Office on Drone Patrol after Unexplained Sightings Statewide" - news segment: https://vod.prod.alticeustech.com/transcode/7b9ef2c9-1668-4e02-a01e-2675fd5a11c0/7b9ef2c9-1668-4e02-a01e-2675fd5a11c0/_1024x576.mp4
In this local news segment, a detective from the Ocean County Sheriff's office speaks about it.
News narrator: "Ocean County Sheriff's Office was on drone patrol Saturday night after a rash of unexplained sightings statewide. What began in Morris County has made its way down the parkway. It is the first time that the Ocean County Sheriff's Office has documented one of these encounters on camera."
Police Detective: "It was coming our direction. It spun around the 180 degrees, went back out the other way, then it kind of looped around and then took off past us."
News narrator "The drone team setup includes wide and thermal cameras. They say the object they saw was larger and faster than a recreational drone and unlisted on flight radar."
Police Detective: "We noticed it was flying a little bit lower than it should have been for a plane. We checked the radar, we didn't see that there was any planes in the area, five, six miles out, and it was, it was probably moving, probably about 60- 70 miles an hour"
News narrator "Sergeant Kevin (Fennesy?) says planes can be easily mistaken for drones, but this was no plane."
Police Detective: "Planes, they have, you know, a white tail light coming from them, and each each wing has a different color, whether it be red or green. Drones sometimes have different flashing lights. Planes are red and green or solid, whatever it is, it's different. It's definitely something. And we're just going to be looking into it a little bit more to see if we can figure it out."
2F: Morris County Statements
Processing img 71ztn8ztdq5e1...
Processing img k1xzqbbogq5e1...
This statement from the Morris County Prosecutor's Office states, "Last night, November 18th, 2024, drone activity was observed by law enforcement members on patrol in Morris County".
**2G: Florham Par...
Content cut off. Read original on https://old.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1ha6mwl/an_helpful_breakdown_nj_drones_debunking_the_mass/