Forums are everywhere on the web and they're not much different than this one, except civility is a pre-requisite and the badmouths are booted. Here, for some reason, they are allowed to display bad behaviour, dictating their own rules according to their worldview. Even attacks on the moderator are left standing. (However, I digress).

Other paranormal forums are full of ignorance, wishful thining, theory and knowledge. But there's more noise than there is here, because the forum acts like flypaper and attracts silly novices and more hard core skeptics than we have here.

It's like looking for a good forum on religion or politics. There aren't many because it attracts the radicals and they come in all shapes and sizes, especially where paranormal phenomena are concerned.

As for "eye witnesses", they come in all shapes and sizes too. I know you want trained observers, so I suggest you read Timothy Goods' book "Above Top Secret". It is full of military pilot sightings and reports. This is the best of the best. It is all very convincing.....we are NOT alone.

>"I suggested we needed a place where reports of this nature by qualified observers, particularly experienced amateurs, could be collected and made available for public review by their peers".

I avoid most forums because I'm very old school when it comes to the subject of ufos, and I know too much and too many people to get involved with the skeptics. Why should I waste my breath on someone who hasn't studied the subject as long as I have and is just there to display contempt and ridicule? I'm more comfortable here when there is civility, because of a feeling of familiarty with many posters.

There are some accredited publications and some worthwhile organizations to join, however (like any church or political party), you'll find your scammers and radicals. I pulled out of the public research channels over 10 years ago but am still well connected and can get information from the top any time I need it. In the past 24 hrs. I have spoken at length with three PhD's interested in the field for over 20 years, each having contributed serious publications and research. (One is tenured, one is retired, and one is still teaching.)

Here's the book. You'll really enjoy <it.>