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We Love Bigfoot,
Even Though We Hate Him - 20081107
by R. Lee
I happen to think that Bigfoot
exists. I don´t know this for a fact, because I´ve
never seen one. I do know a number of people who have. These
are people I know, trust, and are -- contrary to the opinion
of ignorant or knee-jerk uber-skeptics -- often educated,
professional people. The fact that some of these people have
college degrees and work in white collar jobs doesn't mean
that those who do not hold degrees or work in fields like
education are any less intelligent or credible. In fact, those
who spend much of their time hunting or camping, or living
in rural areas and are familiar with the wildlife, have just
as much credibility as anyone else.
I also have this opinion based on years of
study about the phenomena. Given the fact I know people who've
seen Bigfoot, and my own explorations, I have the strong opinion
Bigfoot exists, not only here in the contiguous United States,
but I also have the opinion a Bigfoot like creature exists
in several places the world over.
Naturally, I could be wrong. But so far, I
haven´t come across any compelling evidence to convince
me that the reasons for its nonexistence hold up.
Uber-skeptics and debunkers have a very different
opinion about Bigfoot of course. It doesn´t exist, end
of story. Well, you´d think that´d be the end
of the story, but it isn´t. For something that they
are certain doesn´t exist, and that only the liars,
delusional, or drunken/drug addled see, the pathological debunker
spends a huge amount of time arguing about its nonexistence.
For some reason, I find this stubborn insistence of disbelief
fascinating.
The James Randi Educational site is a popular
on-line site, with its own message board: the James Randi
Educational Forum. The forum is divided into several different
sections, like religion, politics, etc. and, of course, one
category called "skepticism and the general paranormal."
Everything from ghosts, UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, all the
expected and usual stuff, is discussed here, including things
that don´t make much sense at all as to their inclusion,
like being a vegetarian.
Bigfoot is there too. Bigfoot is currently
being discussed, in one way or another, in thirty-seven different
threads (!) on the forum.
Thirty-seven separate threads on why Bigfoot
doesn't exist! Wow.
To be fair, some of the threads are obvious
jokes and attempts to have fun at poor Sasquatch´s expense,
like "I Saw Bigfoot Kissing Santa Claus." A few
are just snipe fests: attacks on pro-Bigfooters, or, attacks/defenses
from pro-Bigfooters in the midst inside Skeptoid Land. One
thread is actually interesting; that´s the "Native
American myths/traditions support Bigfoot? A critical look"
thread.
Overall though, the number of threads insisting
that Bigfoot doesn´t exist is an intriguing insight
into the mind of the debunker. To argue, so insistently, so
persistently, that something doesn't exist seems . . . well,
a waste of time, for one thing. Sheesh.
We´re still left with the big question:
what is it that people are seeing? To dismiss such reports
as, at best, cases of mistaken identity (a bear, an elk, etc.)
and at worst, being an ignorant drunken fool, ignores the
fact of the witness.
I happen to believe (but take note, it is
not a dogmatic belief) that Bigfoot exists, but I don´t
have thirty seven separate threads going on about it. The
skeptics, who don´t believe, do. Which is the more rational?
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