UFO interest spans millions far beyond the active subculture’s size.

Evidence

The number of Americans who actually participate in the UFO subculture—by buying books, magazines, and videotapes; attending conferences; visiting Web sites; and engaging in similar activities— cannot be precisely estimated. But survey data make clear that those who do participate represent merely a fraction of a vast number of people interested in the subject. Whether they are open-minded or simply credulous, it remains the case that millions of Americans view UFOs with considerably less skepticism than do the government and the academy. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy, 403

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: UFO belief stayed remarkably stable and high across five decades of polling. — Michael Barkun, A Culture of Conspiracy: Apocalyptic…, 408