Endless PG Debate; Yeah, But There's Just One Thing . . .

For some perverse reason, I found myself once again lurking on the JREF message board in the surreal and looooooooooooooooonnnngggg (oh, so very long) thread Calling All Skeptics! Help Kitakaze End PGF Controversy - Pitch to Discovery Channel. As usual, I was struck by the bizarre and pathological - obsession of skeptics and debunkers to discuss, mock, and argue the non-existence of Sasquatch. And in particular, as on the above mentioned thread, the Patterson-Gimlin footage. "Kitakaze," as we know, has been on that hobby horse for some time; his crusade has been, well, interesting, as well as unnerving. (For example, see Melissa Hovey's comments about this on her blog The Search for Bigfoot.)

So, reading the last couple of pages in this thread, the sheer number of which boggles the mind -- it's what, around elevenity-million or something -- I had the idle thought that it doesn't matter if the P-G footage is a hoax or not, because, because, because: people have seen Bigfoot! Very simple.

Of course it does matter if the P-G film is of a real Sasquatch; my point is, in the great scheme of things, proving the P-G film is a hoax doesn't prove at all that Bigfoot does not not exist.

My question (rhetorical; please, if you're a skeptoid do not attempt to engage) is: if it's proven the P-G film is a hoax, will the discussion of Bigfoot's existence end for you all?  I doubt it; look at how many threads on the JREF there are about Bigfoot. A few dozen, easily. Not the first time I've asked this but I am intrigued: why spend so much time on something you believe doesn't exist? That you believe couldn't possibly exist, despite the number of witness accounts? 

JREF Bigfoot Thread Watch

This topic almost deserves a blog of its own.

Anyway, in the "What was that again, cognitive dissonance, irony calling" statement of the day, comes this comment from a BF thread over there titled 'Calling All Skeptics! Help Kitakaze End PGF Controversy - Pitch to Discovery Channel' certainly a long winded title. Thread starts off with the somberly serious self-congratulatory and yet endearingly naive plan to make a BF documentary that will forever silence BF believers and gratify skeptics. Then the thread devolves into fights amongst the debunkers themselves, namely William Parcher. But anyway, on the issue of why so many damn BF threads about something that doesn't exist by people who don't think it exists, this statement by "Blackdog":

I think people are wasting their time in the woods chasing BF but I don't think it's a waste of time to discuss it.

I love it. Just a delicious example of debunkers and their evil ways of moving goal posts, contradicting themselves, general dishonesty, and utterly oblivious to their own surreal exhibitions of humor.

So; going out and actually doing physical research and investigation in hopes of finding physical evidence, proof even, hopefully vs. staying at home and typing on your computer endless non-productive arguments about how something you don't believe exists, doesn't' t exist.

Sounds rational to me!

Cool Beans: Links to Moi on the JREF

A Trickster's Realm column I wrote awhile back on the JREF threads on Bigfoot, as well as this blog, got the notice of one of the more snarly skeptics over there.

Bigfoot Roadkill

Rather, the lack of bigfoot roadkill proves its non-existence, according to some posters at the JREF in yet another Bigfoot thread: So; Where is all the Bigfoot road kill?


The first post on this thread gives his reasons why there should be Bigfoot road kill, and then offers up "answers that won't cut it" playing the uber-skeptics game of goal post moving.

JREF BF Thread No. 30 Something or Other. . .

"Tianca's Starship Bigfoot Thread" yep, on the James Randi Forum. We're up to 32, 33, 35, I don't know, something like that -- over 30 threads about Bigfoot, which doesn't exist, on the good old JREF.

NEW Bigfoot Thread on the JREF

Believe it or not, there's a new Bigfoot thread on the JREF: Is Bigfoot at the Top of the Food Chain? What, makes 31 threads now? About a creature they don't believe exists?

Feeling a Lack of Control? Bigfoot Can Help

This is my column for Tim Binnall's site week before last. I'm posting it here since it has to do with Bigfoot. My new TR column should be up sometime on Monday; it's about Mothman, animals and their awareness of the weird . . .

TRICKSTER'S REALM
Binnall of America

10.13.8
Feeling a Lack of Control? Bigfoot Can Help

News has been floating around the internet about a study done that concludes the following: if we're feeling out of control, we see things that aren't really there. Wait, it gets better. We see Bigfoot. And UFOs.

First, when I hear that someone is seeing something that isn't really there, I have to ask: how do you know it isn't there? The huge complicated subject of mental illness aside, it's terribly arrogant to assume that someone is seeing something that "isn't there" just because the other person can't see whatever it is that isn't there. Or is it. The tester didn't put the thing there, that's how they know it isn't "really there." Hmmm, maybe. It could still be there. Opens up all kinds of philosophical and esoteric possibilities.

As to seeing Bigfoot and UFOs, why would anyone see those things when they feel out of control? The theory is that seeing these things gives one purpose. Uh huh.

Let's see. I feel a lack of control in my life (hey, who doesn't? Unless you're independently wealthy and in excellent health, none of us are in control. Even with all that money and good health.) So I'm feeling wonky, depressed, maybe scared, even, and I see a Bigfoot, an eight foot or more, hairy/furry, smelly beast of unknown origin, and that's going to make me feel more in control? Who thinks of things like this?

UFOs are infamous for shape shifting. They come in all sizes, colors and shapes. They appear and disappear with astounding speed, almost magickal in their behavior. They're weird all right. They're unpredictable. So, feeling a lack of control in my life, I decide to see something that "isn't there" -- a UFO. And if I'm feeling a particular sense of a lack of control, I might see some aliens. Throwing in the towel altogether, I might even say I've been abducted. Don't blame it on my psycho boss, spouse, the kids, the government, but project all these things onto Bigfoot or UFOs.

Not to mention that all kinds of people, all ages, all walks of life, the world over, see these things.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Bigfoot really exists, that's why people keep seeing the things. UFOs are really here, they've been here for a very long time, and that's why people the world over keep seeing them.

What's contributing to this feeling of a lack of control over mundane issues is the media's and government's lack of responsibility when it comes to reporting these things.

The James Randi Forum has a new Bigfoot thread! I really can't keep up; I think it's at least 30 different threads now about Bigfoot. This newest one is titled "Bigfoot evidence gathering flowchart. Enjoy!

New JREF Bigfoot Thread!

Before you know it, I'm going to have to create a new blog just for threads about Bigfoot on the James Randi forum. Here's the latest: Bigfoot - Replicating the PG Walk (split from:Bigfoot - The Patterson-Gimlin Film)

Two New Bigfoot Threads on JREF

Honestly, I just can't keep up! It's almost at thirty --- close to thirty threads about Bigfoot on the James Randi message forum.

There's Why is it that everyone who sees Bigfoot is a lousy photographer? This thread has a poll! The question posed: Is there a good reason for this? You can imagine the choices, but better yet, visit the forum. There are a few sarcastic answers but not surprisingly, the majority of responses are in favor of, to paraphrase, "there ain't no such thing as Bigfoot, no how!"

There's also the thread "Today in Bigfoot news"
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=122947

NEW Bigfoot Thread on JREF: Bigfoot and Fairies

I've lost count, this makes 29? Give or take one or two? This one is titled "Photo Captures Bigfoot With Fairy."

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=122365

Yep, That's Right! A New Bigfoot Thread on JREF

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=121684

A new thread on the James Randi forum on why, how, it can't possibly be so, that Bigfoot exists. Or, doesn't exist. This one is called "Why Bigfoot Can't Exist in America."

New Bigfoot Thread on JREF!

There's a new thread at the James Randi Forum on Bigfoot. This makes 27 separate threads on how Bigfoot doesn't exist. Look on the menu on your right for the links.

New BF Thread on JREF: Bigfoot Body in Georgia!

Okay, as pompous and full of myself as this sounds, I wouldn't be surprised if a few skeptibunkies at JREF are intentionally putting up BF threads over there just to see if I'll play. Who knows, who cares, here's their latest:

Bigfoot Body in Georgia! This makes 26, no, 27 I think, threads over there!

26 Bigfoot Threads on the JREF

Yet another new one! I know, at this point it's possible that they're on to me and are just trolling and getting these threads up on purpose. Wouldn't put it past them. Then again, they are an obsessed bunch! Still, it's fun.

Check menu on right for all 26 links.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
This new one:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=119109

New! Bigfoot Thread on JREF!

This is too good! Yet another and new Bigfoot thread on JREF! The new one is called "Is Bigfoot an Alien?" This makes twenty-five threads on the James Randi Forum about Bigfoot!

Check menu on right for list and links.

New! Bigfoot Thread on JREF

This latest thread on the JREf is tilted "Bigfoot Audio Scam?" which brings the count up to 24, I think. Wowza. (Check menu on the right for list of links.)

Update to Running JREF Bigfoot Threads

The newest thread on Bigfoot from JREF is from a little over a week ago: Fox News and Bigfoot. Check the menu on your right under heading "JREF Bigfoot Threads." I think this makes 21, 22 maybe, thread on how BF doesn't exist.

New BF Thread On JREF: "Did The Skeptics Kill Bigfoot?"

This makes 19, or maybe 20, threads on the James Randi forum (JREF) about Bigfoot. This time they think the perceived lack of Bigfoot interest and reports is due to their hard work in skepticism. Oy.

New Bigfoot Threads on JREF

Two new Bigfoot threads on the JREF; check the sidebar on your right. 18 threads now over there on how Bigfoot doesn't exist. Gotta love it!