30 replies to this topic

[flareobox]

Hi there again guys,

I am a beginner in the field and what should I do to get all the knowledge and skills I need for Cryptozoology? I know this has probably been asked before and sorry for the repetition.
i.e Books, classes, etc

Edited by flareobox, 17 December 2012 - 05:01 AM.

[keninsc]

Cryptozoology isn't a real science,  at best it's a pseudo-science. Meaning it's up to you to determine what you're looking for and what you're going to accept as factual or not. My only real advice is to sit down and think about what it is you really want to do, take pictures? Cast footprints? Maybe even shoot one. If you really plan to be out in the woods alone or maybe with a friend then be sure you're both in shape. Good physical conditioning is basic to being able to get where you need to be. Learn basic survival skills: How to make a fire, basic first aide, land navigation, stalking and tracking techniques. Learn what real creatures sound like and what their prints look like.

I know this all sounds like pretty basic stuff but you'd be surprised how many people decide to do things and just jump in and before you know it they've gotten themselves into a pickle because they didn't know what they were doing.

Also, don't expect to see Bigfoot on your first time out. I've been hiking and camping all my life and I've never seen anything like them.

[flareobox]

Thanks alot. I think I think I might join a scouts club and I will study Zoology in university.

[evancj]

just watch finding bigfoot and you will have all the state of the art and up to date crytozoologist training you will ever need.

[Sakari]

evancj, on 17 December 2012 - 05:28 AM, said:

just watch finding bigfoot and you will have all the state of the art and up to date crytozoologist training you will ever need.

[Jeff Albertson]

As long as you follow the scientific method cryptozoology is not a psedo-science any question can be answered with science and math. What sets science apart from psedo-science is the scientific method. The best thing to do would be read Chad Arament book cryptozoology, it the close thing there is to a beginer guide to cryptozoology. You might think about joining the center for fortean zoology, there website is http://www.cfz.org.uk Also pick up Karal shuker books and On the track of unknown animals, and In the wake of sea serpents by Bernard Heuvelmans, Searching for hidden animals: Inquiry into zoological mysteries By Dr. Roy P. Mackal. There is a journal of cryptozoology that is published by the center for fortean zoology. Here are a couple of websites with good information. http://frontiersofzoology.blogspot.com and http://karalshuker.blogspot.com Cryptozoology you need to study biology and Natural history. It actual real common in the profesion of herpetology that cryptozoology is applyed in.

[catch-me-if-you-can]

evancj, on 17 December 2012 - 05:28 AM, said:

just watch finding bigfoot and you will have all the state of the art and up to date crytozoologist training you will ever need.

And when I'm done laughing I'll get back to my day job, lol.

[Night Walker]

flareobox, on 17 December 2012 - 04:56 AM, said:

I am a beginner in the field and what should I do to get all the knowledge and skills I need for Cryptozoology? I know this has probably been asked before and sorry for the repetition.
i.e Books, classes, etc

I reckon that the knowledge and skills needed is largely dependent on the type of cryptid in which you seek to specialise and whether you seek to solve mysteries or promote them. So what interests you?

[WatchingTheStars]

Hmm...there's a lot of debate on if cryptozoology is actually "science". To my knowledge, there's no classes or training for cryptozoology.

So, I'd would just say just go out and start collecting data. Looking for newspaper clippings and reports of the cryptid, read books and previous searches for it, go out and try to catch evidence of it, etc. I'd say that's enough.

To be completely honest, I always say being a cryptozoologist as more of a hobby.

[keninsc]

There's no debate at all, Cryptozoology is not a real scientific discpline, plain and simple.

[Jeff Albertson]

keninsc, on 17 December 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

There's no debate at all, Cryptozoology is not a real scientific discpline, plain and simple.

keninsc, on 17 December 2012 - 11:05 PM, said:

There's no debate at all, Cryptozoology is not a real scientific discpline, plain and simple.

Lets see cryptozoology has and is used within scientific specialtiys I can give serveral examples of this. So how is this a psedo-science? It is only psedo-science when citizen science don't use the scientific method. Cryptozoology is a legitamite citizen science and also some profesional scientist use cryptozoology with in there specality. Sounds like there is no depat.

[keninsc]

Simple. What college can I go to to study Cryptzoology? Can I get a degree in Cryptzoology? Can I get an advanced degree?

You can't use a scientific method with it because there isn't any science involved, just stories, legend, myth, superstition and chatelaines. There's no such thing as "citizen science" there's science and then there is.......well........nothing else. You're just trying to legitimize your own interest as being more than it is. You can call yourself a Cyrptozoologist if you like, there are plenty who do and I have to laugh at them because most of them are dressed in a manner that best resembles a cross between Moses and Rambo, haven't seen a barber in ages.......and sadly a dentist either. "Hi, I'm *insert some name* and I'm a Cryptozoologist." Dude probably never graduated high school, let alone ever saw the inside of a college. Most of these guys have turned this into a stereotype of laughable proportions.

Only method they use is the walk around with their eyes wide open method.

Now don't get me wrong, when I'm out in the woods I look like they do pretty much as well, but if I want people to take me seriously then I don't make a video and post it up on YouTube looking like a Grizzly Adams/ Neo-Nazi cross.

He ain't no scientist, he's a dude looking for Bigfoot, which is perfectly ok to be, if that's what you want to do. Just don't try to make it sound like you're wearing a fricking lab coat and taking notes for later publication when all you're doing is looking around in the woods, hoping to see or find something.

Need more? Then look up Cryptozoology on Wikipedia, but I warn you, it will probably hurt your feelings.

[evancj]

Jeff Albertson, on 18 December 2012 - 12:01 AM, said:

Lets see cryptozoology has and is used within scientific specialtiys I can give serveral examples of this. So how is this a psedo-science? It is only psedo-science when citizen science don't use the scientific method. Cryptozoology is a legitamite citizen science and also some profesional scientist use cryptozoology with in there specality. Sounds like there is no depat.

Jeff,

I would like to see the examples you are referring too. And how cryptozoology is incorporated into the scientific method.

[Jeff Albertson]

keninsc, on 18 December 2012 - 12:34 AM, said:

Simple. What college can I go to to study Cryptzoology? Can I get a degree in Cryptzoology? Can I get an advanced degree?

You can't use a scientific method with it because there isn't any science involved, just stories, legend, myth, superstition and chatelaines. There's no such thing as "citizen science" there's science and then there is.......well........nothing else. You're just trying to legitimize your own interest as being more than it is. You can call yourself a Cyrptozoologist if you like, there are plenty who do and I have to laugh at them because most of them are dressed in a manner that best resembles a cross between Moses and Rambo, haven't seen a barber in ages.......and sadly a dentist either. "Hi, I'm *insert some name* and I'm a Cryptozoologist." Dude probably never graduated high school, let alone ever saw the inside of a college. Most of these guys have turned this into a stereotype of laughable proportions.

Only method they use is the walk around with their eyes wide open method.

Now don't get me wrong, when I'm out in the woods I look like they do pretty much as well, but if I want people to take me seriously then I don't make a video and post it up on YouTube looking like a Grizzly Adams/ Neo-Nazi cross.

He ain't no scientist, he's a dude looking for Bigfoot, which is perfectly ok to be, if that's what you want to do. Just don't try to make it sound like you're wearing a fricking lab coat and taking notes for later publication when all you're doing is looking around in the woods, hoping to see or find something.

Need more? Then look up Cryptozoology on Wikipedia, but I warn you, it will probably hurt your feelings.

You can use a search engine and see the definition of "citizen science" with many real examples so with respect there is such a thing. If you look in the tread I started Artellia there you will find a least five real published papers and that are used in  refernces in scientific litterature. Of scientist in lab coats running around and taking notes for publication there is more publication out there by the way.Intresting are you not aware of how they found the Giant geko  you should look up that story it shows how they used the myths and legends to locate the island to search on. In regards to not using the scientific method at the very least you can use the Null Hypothesis (HO) AND SEE THAT IS A REAL THING USE A SEARCH ENGINE. In regards to a degree you would not be able to get a degree in cryptozoology and if there were degree it would be in the study of cryptids. How does a degree stop and scientist from using the method of cryptozoology? Darren Naish work sometimes deals within cryptoology other scientist with in a field would be  "The relict Hominiod journal" is not a example of scientist  with in a displicing dealing in a cryptozoology? So you think we should not look at myths and legends then once again there is publication by those scientist in white lab coats with papers writting publications looking at myths and legends there are  published on snake stones, and several using plants for treating snake bites taking from legends and myths.

[Night Walker]

keninsc, on 18 December 2012 - 12:34 AM, said:

You can call yourself a Cyrptozoologist if you like, there are plenty who do and I have to laugh at them because most of them are dressed in a manner that best resembles a cross between Moses and Rambo

Personally, I prefer the steampunk genre when out monster hunting - 'tis far more dignified: