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Tips for Beginners


flareobox

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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
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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.

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

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

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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.

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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?

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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.

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:

steampunkbigfoot2.jpg

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Jeff, I'm not say that average people haven't found new species, they most certainly have, however that doesn't make them scientist by default. It means they stumbled onto it and reported it to real scientist who then verified they found something new. Assuming Bigfoots are real then most likely they will be "discovered" by someone who's not qualified to do the proper research or testing that verification requires. However, to repeat myself, if you find a Bigfoot and bring it to a qualified scientific institute, that doesn't make you a scientist suddenly. You're just the guy who found or captured or shot the creature. The real science and such has to be done by qualified people, with real degrees in various disciplines.

Now you seem to be hung up on terms, "Citizen Science" according to Wikipedia:

Citizen science is scientific research conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or nonprofessional scientists, often by crowdsourcing. Formally, citizen science has been defined as "the systematic collection and analysis of data; development of technology; testing of natural phenomena; and the dissemination of these activities by researchers on a primarily avocational basis".[1] Citizen science is sometimes called "public participation in scientific research."

I might add this is a really poor definition.

People participate in all sorts of research, people down load SETI's software and assist them in analyzing radio signals. People often go on archeological digs to help find artifacts, that's what they are talking about, but these people are just helping out with the mundane stuff. The actual, research and study of what they come up with is up to the real scientist and researchers. Nothing more.

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OMG NW! I very nearly spit coffee all over my screen. Be a good fellow and warn someone before you do that again.

:w00t:

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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. Need more? .

The question is still how is cryptozology a psedo-science? I am not claim to be a scientist all I am stating was how cryptoozoology can and has been used by profesional scientist. Yes most people who are intrested in cryptoozology are amatuer and will remain amatuers when using the cryptozoology method but it is used by profesional that can follow the scientific method.

Edited by Jeff Albertson
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Because, by definition it's a pseudo-sceince, which depends on rumor and anecdotal stories rather than actual verified and repeatable facts.

This from Wikipedia:

Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός, kryptos, "hidden" + zoology; literally, "study of hidden animals") is a pseudoscience involving the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra; and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats (also known as Alien Big Cats).

The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983.

Cryptozoology is not a recognized branch of zoology or a discipline of science. It is an example of pseudoscience because it relies heavily upon anecdotal evidence, stories and alleged sightings.

I get that you want it to be more than it is, hell I wish it was more than it is, but it isn't.

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Because, by definition it's a pseudo-sceince, which depends on rumor and anecdotal stories rather than actual verified and repeatable facts.

This from Wikipedia:

Cryptozoology (from Greek κρυπτός, kryptos, "hidden" + zoology; literally, "study of hidden animals") is a pseudoscience involving the search for animals whose existence has not been proven. This includes looking for living examples of animals that are considered extinct, such as dinosaurs; animals whose existence lacks physical evidence but which appear in myths, legends, or are reported, such as Bigfoot and Chupacabra; and wild animals dramatically outside their normal geographic ranges, such as phantom cats (also known as Alien Big Cats).

The animals cryptozoologists study are often referred to as cryptids, a term coined by John Wall in 1983.

Cryptozoology is not a recognized branch of zoology or a discipline of science. It is an example of pseudoscience because it relies heavily upon anecdotal evidence, stories and alleged sightings.

I get that you want it to be more than it is, hell I wish it was more than it is, but it isn't.

Cryptozoology method is either to prove cryptid exist or disprove cryptid exist. It looks at anadotale story start the investigation not as proof. Like the discover made by profesional scientist looking for the giant geko they reied haevily on anadoltale story to figure out what island to start look on not a blind search but a starting point. It is only psedo-science when you claim you have proof that a cryptid is real. Not if you want to apply science (the search for the truth) to figure out if this story are based in reality or just myth and legends. It use the scientific method to advance our knowledge to seek the truth as it applies to myth and legends.

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Jeff? How can there be a "method" for a discipline that doesn't exist?

There are a lot of people who claim to have all sorts of proof of various things, but strangely they don't ever seem to put their proof out there for real science to study and verify. That isn't Cryptology, that is people who simply lie about what they have.

Many discovered creatures started out as cryptids, Mountain Gorillas are a good example. However, once they were discovered and verified that they were real they aren't cryptids any more, they're real creatures. Just because something starts out as stories told around the campfire doesn't make them any more or less real, just as those same stories make cryptology any more a real science. Don't get me wrong, if I had the money and time to do it, I'd be out doing my own searching for Bigfoot and yeah, I suppose I could call myself a crptozoologist. But that would simply be me trying to make myself sound all professional and stuff and all I am is a guy out looking around in the woods. Even if I shoot one and bring him into a college or university to do the study on, I'm still just the guy who bagged the beasty and brought it in to them. Even if they gave me an Honorary Doctorate Degree. I'm still just the guy who shot Bigfoot. You see what I'm saying?

It's not a real scientific discipline, there is no "method" in Cryptozology.......because it isn't a real discipline. Yeah, someone might compare something to stories of myth and lore, but that isn't anything but an anecdotal comparison and not a scientific observation.

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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.

Not all but some of the paper include -

Bayless, M.K. 1998. The artrellia: Dragons of the trees. Reptiles 6 (6):32-47

The papua Monitor Lizard of new Guinea (Varnus saladorii Peter & Dori 1878): Notes on its mystique Vara News 4 (2/3):6

The Reptiles of Papua New Guines British Herpetological Society Bulletin 37:15-31

2004. The local names of Pacific monitor lizards (Sauria:Vananidae) of Oceania & Indo-Malaysia, excluding Austraia. Micronesica 37 (1) 49-54

Mark O'Shea did a show on this T.V. show O'Shea big adventures season 2 episode 5 The tree crocodile.

Mark O'Shea also refences the name Artrellia as for the Varanus salvadorii http://www.markoshea...gift_mlopng.php

The link provided above didn't work but I found one:

http://xa.yimg.com/k....salvadorii.pdf

Nowhere does the article mention the terms "cryptozoology" or "cryptid". Do the others?

Varanus salvadorii is a known species, anyway. The lizard is hunted and skinned alive by tribesmen to make drums, who describe the monitor as an evil spirit that "climbs trees, walks upright, breathes fire, and kills men"; yet the tribesman maintain that the monitor gives warnings if there are crocodiles nearby.

Does the folklore subsequently make it a cryptid?

Edited by Night Walker
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Jeff? How can there be a "method" for a discipline that doesn't exist?

There are a lot of people who claim to have all sorts of proof of various things, but strangely they don't ever seem to put their proof out there for real science to study and verify. That isn't Cryptology, that is people who simply lie about what they have.

Many discovered creatures started out as cryptids, Mountain Gorillas are a good example. However, once they were discovered and verified that they were real they aren't cryptids any more, they're real creatures. Just because something starts out as stories told around the campfire doesn't make them any more or less real, just as those same stories make cryptology any more a real science. Don't get me wrong, if I had the money and time to do it, I'd be out doing my own searching for Bigfoot and yeah, I suppose I could call myself a crptozoologist. But that would simply be me trying to make myself sound all professional and stuff and all I am is a guy out looking around in the woods. Even if I shoot one and bring him into a college or university to do the study on, I'm still just the guy who bagged the beasty and brought it in to them. Even if they gave me an Honorary Doctorate Degree. I'm still just the guy who shot Bigfoot. You see what I'm saying?

It's not a real scientific discipline, there is no "method" in Cryptozology.......because it isn't a real discipline. Yeah, someone might compare something to stories of myth and lore, but that isn't anything but an anecdotal comparison and not a scientific observation.

So if there is no method in cryptozoology how would you go about doing it then? The method of cryptozoology is to either prove or disprove a species exist. You saying you can't firgure out any way to apply the scientific method to best apply if a cryptid is real or not, you can actively seek out empirical evidence for said cryptid or prove it is not real, or show it misidentification or not real. There are crytids that have been shown to be nothing more than mis identification and cryptozoology applyed science to show this. Cryptozology exist you might dout it not a psdo-science but it exsit. People lie about all sort of things are you not aware of the scientific publication that just got recalled because they lied about fracting? Just because some people lie or can't use the scientific method does not mean even one can't.. So what is the Journal done by Jef Meldrum is this not deal with cryptozoology and cryptids in regards to looking at bigfoot?.

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The link provided above didn't work but I found one:

http://xa.yimg.com/k....salvadorii.pdf

Nowhere does the article mention the terms "cryptozoology" or "cryptid". Do the others?

Varanus salvadorii is a known species, anyway. The lizard is hunted and skinned alive by tribesmen to make drums, who describe the monitor as an evil spirit that "climbs trees, walks upright, breathes fire, and kills men"; yet the tribesman maintain that the monitor gives warnings if there are crocodiles nearby.

Does the folklore subsequently make it a cryptid?

The auther of most of the papers Mark Bayless wrote those papers because of his intrest and study into cryptoozology in regards in investigating the crptid Artellia. It was first known in folklore before the identification of Varanuss Salavadorii was put forward. Personal I do think that it was a cryptid, because we thought it only existed in myth and folklore.

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Now you're just talking in circles because you don't want to concede the point.

There is no method because it's not a real scientific discipline, if it were then there would be an established methodology. Since there isn't, then it's up to whomever is doing what to determine what they want to do or not do. Which in itself isn't very scientific, but what the hey?

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Hey guys, no need to compete. I am sure you are both very experienced in the field and you can't let a disagreement divide our small community.

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