MUFON and Credibility

After the events of this last week and the debacle surrounding another hoax image making it’s way through the UFO pipeline, I think it’s time for the community to take a serious look at MUFON and consider whether or not it is helping, or even necessary anymore.

As a relative newcomer to the community (I had just left highschool in 2017 when the tic-tac incident gained traction) I have always encountered MUFON as one of the cited pillars of the UFO community. An example of legitimate community based organizing in search of truth, especially for the international aspects.

However, I have also seen grumblings, mainly in the comments here, indicating that MUFON is at best, archaic in its organization, and possibly gatekeeping information behind paywalls. Additionally, there seems to have been a spate of recent cases where MUFON Is involved, the case is eventually revealed as a hoax, and some individuals will point to MUFON’s involvement as their first indication that the story may be suspect. Additional examples like materials being lost in the mail do not add to their credibility. I have even seen some claims that MUFON might be compromised from within by people seeking to discredit public organizations investigating the phenomenon.

My question therefore, for you the reader and the community here as a whole, is as follows:

Is MUFON a reliable and necessary organization for the UFO community? Do we trust them to accurately represent the information they have, and should they be trusted with new cases and materials?

Additional information and examples that you have to augment this discussion would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks for reading!