“:^) One of the striking things about alien abduction is how it resembles fairy abduction in much older literature (”True Thomas” from the 13th c being the example that comes to mind; first ran across that in “The Worm Ourobouros” by E R Eddison).”
Hm. Ourobouros. The worm swallowing itself. Fairy abduction.
The phenomenon does go back ‘way before space travel. And, as I mentioned, does cross into the realm of the occult, the “unseen world”.
Arthur C. Clarke: 3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.