101 replies to this topic

[Vidgange]

It's been a long time since I made a thread in these forums, but I thought it was about time I became more active here again.

So, lately I've been watching documentaries (or rather, mockumentaries in certain cases) about cryptids. I've been watching stuff about Bigfoot, Loch Ness, Orang Pandek and the likes, and it suddenly struck me; what have cryptozoologists contributed with to science? There's always a self proclaimed cryptozoologist going after Mokele Mbembe or the Ropen in these expeditions, but they never find anything - do they? Meanwhile "real" scientists and zoologists travel across the world and discovering new species all the time.

So now I'm wondering what use crypto-hunters really are for. I'd like to hear what y'all think about this. Do we need cryptozoologists? Are they contributing in any way?

I'm not bashing on cryptozoologists, mind you. I'm just curious as to what use they are. The one thing that springs to my mind is that they help certain cryptids from falling out of peoples memories - but I don't know whether or not that's an entirely good thing...

[DKO]

Nothing I've heard of.

The Cryptozoology episode of Penn & Tellers: Bullsh!t sums the whole thing up. Good episode.

Small clip from the episode:



Full episode:



They also make their own dodgy bigfoot video in the episode and upload it to the internet. Fools a lot of people, many 'experts' contact them back saying "It's amazing footage!" lol

[jackball74]

I think that anyone out looking for something has a shot at contributing to science in some way or another.  So maybe you don't find the cryptid in question, but you may come across a new animal, plant, ancient ruin, shipwreck, etc.  And you may inspire others to become scientists of some sort or another.  It's all good in my book.

[keninsc]

I kind of agree with jackball74, however most of the guy out there are just looking to score big bucks. You saw that Penn and Teller got all sorts of responses and a couple of them were offering to help them make some money. Now, if you stop and take a good look at the footage they shot then you'll recognize that it looks like a whole lot of footage on the web. Now just a couple that look sort of the same but look almost exactly like it. None of this is proof of anything other than I got a picture of something, that's it you got a picture, nothing more, nothing less.

I recall a number of years ago a couple of my friends and I were talking and we wondered about doing the same thing, obviously we never followed through, but we thought about it.

Giant squid use to be sort of in that group as an unknown, but there has always been real evidence of them. It wasn't until a few years back that some Japanese scientist actually got footage of one in the wild that and some fishermen caught one that put it over the top.

Edited by keninsc, 01 October 2012 - 02:47 PM.

[OverSword]

The silverbacked gorilla was a cryptid at one time.  After rumors of it's existence there were multiple searches funded by the british governement and it took 50 years to verify it's existence so absolutely crypto zoology is legitimate.

[Bling]

OverSword, on 01 October 2012 - 02:57 PM, said:

The silverbacked gorilla was a cryptid at one time.  After rumors of it's existence there were multiple searches funded by the british governement and it took 50 years to verify it's existence so absolutely crypto zoology is legitimate.

Agreed. And Giant Panda's

[Junior Chubb]

Cryptozoologists may not have had much success in classifying the unproven beasts they are in search of but they have achieved a lot. The Crytpo industry must create thousands of jobs across the Globe, in Media and Tourism and generate a lot in merchandise. This must keep a good few families above the breadline...

So there you have it, they have not found Squatch or Nessie, but they have helped out the economy in some areas...

[wolfknight]

I think are are a joke. No real proof has been found. The real joke is Chris Moneymaker. Look at the last name moneymaker that i what he is all about. None of the shows have ever showen a cypto. Just so called signs and some sounds.

[Junior Chubb]

wolfknight, on 02 October 2012 - 12:52 PM, said:

I think are are a joke. No real proof has been found. The real joke is Chris Moneymaker. Look at the last name moneymaker that i what he is all about. None of the shows have ever showen a cypto. Just so called signs and some sounds.

I think you are confusing a Squatch Seeker with a Poker Player....

Matt Moneymaker is the man you are after.

I think they are related though and Moneymaker is actually their real surname.

Edited by Junior Chubb, 02 October 2012 - 08:13 PM.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

if it wasn't for Cryptozoology we'd not have gotten stuff like Hellboy, Fringe, Sanctuary.... so I'd say yes it's contributed something - fodder for excellent TV shows.

[R4z3rsPar4d0x]

These guys dont actually get paid to do this or do they??

[R4z3rsPar4d0x]

asdf1234, on 02 October 2012 - 11:15 PM, said:

Yeah, have a read of this thread..

http://www.yowiehunt...php?f=45&t=3586

we had a couple of sightings to report, so submitted one up to see how it was managed. It was never made public. In fact, we could only find a handful for our entire state area over a number of years. Where were all the other reported sightings? Yet when we questioned it, I was just hammered to supply the other siting we hadn't posted yet.

I realised their site wasn't about sharing all sightings openly,it was about using the public as spotters for them to keep the information just for themselves.

At the end of the thread the self styled cryptozoologist made the most condescending and arrogant dump on us, closed the thread, and locked and terminated our account for daring to question them. Certainly put us of pursuing any involvement with them.

So sad to hear that

[R4z3rsPar4d0x]

asdf1234, on 02 October 2012 - 11:15 PM, said:

Yeah, have a read of this thread..

http://www.yowiehunt...php?f=45&t=3586

we had a couple of sightings to report, so submitted one up to see how it was managed. It was never made public. In fact, we could only find a handful for our entire state area over a number of years. Where were all the other reported sightings? Yet when we questioned it, I was just hammered to supply the other siting we hadn't posted yet.

I realised their site wasn't about sharing all sightings openly,it was about using the public as spotters for them to keep the information just for themselves.

At the end of the thread the self styled cryptozoologist made the most condescending and arrogant dump on us, closed the thread, and locked and terminated our account for daring to question them. Certainly put us of pursuing any involvement with them.

So sad to hear that

[evancj]

Vidgange, on 01 October 2012 - 12:57 PM, said:

So now I'm wondering what use crypto-hunters really are for. I'd like to hear what y'all think about this. Do we need cryptozoologists? Are they contributing in any way?

Their pretty much useless.

Not one self proclaimed "cryptozoologist has ever discovered anything...not even a real animal.

edit to say; I guess they do have some limited entertainment value, but not much.

Edited by evancj, 03 October 2012 - 02:29 AM.

[orangepeaceful79]

jackball74, on 01 October 2012 - 02:00 PM, said:

I think that anyone out looking for something has a shot at contributing to science in some way or another.  So maybe you don't find the cryptid in question, but you may come across a new animal, plant, ancient ruin, shipwreck, etc.  And you may inspire others to become scientists of some sort or another.  It's all good in my book.

I love this post.  In essence Cryptozoologists contribute to science only by pure accident.....when they discover the remains of things that actually exist.   Sounds about right.