I'd say that I fell into the catagory of being a romantic. After all a world where there are unknown beings from both this world and beyond seemed a more interesting one then one without strangeness. However at some point I let it go, perhaps grew up, very late I might add too. After all the world was going on its merry way quite well without monsters and UFO's and didn't seem to need them anyway. I was quite surprised when I didn't need them either. But I still like them, I just don't need them anymore.

I think this a bit of a generalization. You can apply the term romantic to a very broad list of subjects, not all of which are bad or foolish. Applying to squatchery is imho short sighted until the mystery can be proven one way or the other.

Interesting question...I have no idea why some "believe". Personally I have never "believed" in BF, ghosts, UFOs, nessie, etc and honestly had I not seen something in the woods years ago I wouldn't give a hoot about BF and I would have spent ZERO time looking into the subject (ohhhh to have all those hours back, LOL).

I'd have to admit that the whole idea of an undiscovered manape somehow surviving in north america is a romantic notion. It is fantastic and incredible on the surface, but perhaps because of our own arrogance, we can't quite wrap our minds around the plausability of it.

I admit to having a little faith in those who have come forward and told their story, and that not all of them are hucksters.

This is all the reason I need, aside from the evidence, to do my own field investigations, and bring those findings to science.

SY.

Not to disparage the topic, but is there any reason why almost every recent thread has addressed the fundamentals of belief in sasquatchery?

It just seems odd that all talk of PGF, dermal prints, vocalisations, eyeshine, migration patterns etc. has been temporarily shelved while we ask deep questions of each other. I think it's healthy to do so, but I just wonder why now. A delayed reaction to the Ga. (non)events or simple zeitgeisty band-wagonism?

Ludo


(and can I be awarded points for the word 'zeitgeisty'? On a triple world score it'd be a game-winner).

Romanticism in squatchery is subjective to a large degree


PGF: neither proven or disproven
dermal prints: touchy subject for some, neither proven or disproven
vocalisations: neither proven or disproven, often misidentification
eyeshine: see vocalization
migration patterns: one of many theories, along with habituation, neither proven or disproven, or with anything more than conjecture



band wagon, to put it mildly.

It seems to me that the "proven one way or the other" line gets thrown around without clear recognition of the assumptions built in to that claim. We simply don't have the appropriate confluence of technology and resources to disprove the existence of bigfoot at this point.

To satisfy those demands, it seems to me that we would need an indefinite "one way or the other" timeline at this point.

The very idea of a lone feral hominid living almost entirely on it's own is fascinating. To wander the country side with what seems like not a care in the world.

Thanks, Ganglian. And also thanks Crypto-jack. I have to say that the feral hominid, the man-beast, the half ape-half human is MY monster. It's the unknown creature I'm truly scared of. This is where the 'romanticism' comes in - my imagination (and atavistic fear) is fired, simply, by the idea of such an animal. Actually it's pure coincidence that North America might harbour such a thing. I'm not so much into the idea that bigfoot exists, I'm into the idea of bigfoot. That he may exist is a bonus for me. I hope you get what I'm saying.

Not to trivialise, but it's like this; my daughter loves unicorns (especially if they're pink). That's her mindset. If China or Burundi or Sweden had a wealth of unicorn reports, it'd feed her obsession and make her think unicorns might be real. She'd read and post and analyse and posit as much as she is is able - which isn't a lot - she's just turned four. But a legitimate way to describe her love of unicorns is romanticism. And so it is with me and bigfoot.

But I'm not four and I've got an irritating scientific, sceptical, practical side, which vets what I read and questions what I (or others) think. So I'd love to know the truth.

There was nothing romantic about the 2 UFO's and tracks I saw. Perhaps some luck. I know UFO's exist and have known since I was in the 8th grade. (Nothing from our world touches the technology of what I saw it do) "Growing up" and "needing" a monster has nothing to do with what I saw in the sky twice with 20 or so years in between each sighting. Truth is that people see UFO's and people see a large hairy ape-like creature. Nothing romantic about it in my opinion. Scary maybe, but not romantic. Just my O.

Zeitgeist - I liked the beginning section, but the rest was a bunch of crap....and proven to be just that as well.

Of course its romantic.....for those of us who are believers..the romantacism has been replaced with the info you have gathered that has turned the romantic notion into possibility.....for those non-believers its still that romantic possibilty that keeps us here.........somewhere along the way rational thinking and the plausabilty factor has been pushed back behind the info and romantacism for the believer.........and thats OK.......for in the end what does it matter if your a romantic, non-believer or believer....neither of us actually know for sure......except for those who have seen Bigfoot...for them its a lonely insight they have......whether it be real or not...

Well, if find romance in a 8ft tall, smelly ape like creature, I'm game!

Romance would be that sasquatch and human got along in harmony. It would be that nobody would be afraid of going into the woods for fear of meeting up with a sasquatch. The scenario would go that we would be camping and one might visit our campsite and maybe have a few beers with us before going on his merry way. We'd leave him alone and he'd leave us alone afterwards.

Not sure I'd share a couple of beers with him... what if he's a "mean" drunk.

Possibly he wouldn't need to be drunk to be mean. Also, so many humans are not only mean, but also stupid drunks, that whatever he might do would probably pale in comparison to our own deeds. IMO

Hi

I have always had a warm spot for the Beer angle with Mr Bigfoot, If your out there and he comes along might as well offer it, What else are you going to do Run, If he wants ya he will get ya, So why not just stay sitting there and make that beer look mighty good, Try to draw him in get closer look, You don't have to do a full blown Beer commercial or nothing, Just make some ahhhhhhh thats good noises,

Peace
Tim

Not like the Jack Links ad, though, right? NOT mocking you.

LOL I imagine myself tossing/rolling him a tennis ball (if I didn't have a tennis ball then a pine cone would do.) Of course, he would find this entertaining because he probably does the same thing with his kids, and so we'd play ball for a little while.

My concern would be after a few beers Ole Bigfoot would get the 'beer goggles' on and start to take a liking to me........I do look quite masculine by fire-light if I should say so myself........anyways, and one thing would lead to another and I'd wake up alone in the morning feeling abit dirty and used......and covered in fleas........and maybe a little sore as well....and.....and....well....all the the promises that we made the night before would all mean nothing........and my heart would begin to hurt...and I would slowly wander back along the trail, back to my car with my head down....maybe stopping to carve our initials in a tree whilst wiping the odd tear that blurs my eyes as it runs down my cheek....I hear a distant wolf howl, or could be my Bigfoot girl feeling as I...knowing that a love like ours could never work in this mixed-up, knuckled-up, shook-up, crazy world....

Hi

Nar can't be like the Jack links stuff, It has to be a class act all the way, With real feel and emotion so he can pickup on it and know your not a threat, Soft happy voice and no eye to eye contact, Got's to be just like you were drinking and having fun

Peace
Tim

A swell post Rod

SY.

"Want a ride?"

Again romanticism is subjective and with all the folklore attached to the subject how would you not have some romanticism?

Sounds like you're a cheap date but then, there's no hurtin' like when sassy tears a hole in ya!....I got meds if you need

Always know just what to say.

Well he is from the land "down under"

Like I said!!!!!!!

Don't let'em get to ya, Rod. Chin up. Here's a little something to help get you through...

I met her in a club down in old Soho
where you drink champagne and it tastes just like Cherry Cola
C-O-L-A Cola.
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance.
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said, "Lola"
L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Well, I'm not the world's most physical guy,
but when she squeesed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Well, I'm not dumb but I can't understand
why she walks like a woman and talks like a man
Oh my Lola, lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
Well, we drank champagne and danced all night,
under electric candlelight,
she picked me up and sat me on her knee,
She said, "Little boy won't you come home with me?"
Well, I'm not the world's most passionate guy,
but when I looked in her eyes,
I almost fell for my Lola,
Lo lo lo Lola, lo lo lo Lola
I pushed her away. I walked to the door.
I fell to the floor. I got down on my knees.
I looked at her, and she at me.
Well that's the way that I want it to stay.
I always want it to be that way for my Lola.
Lo lo lo Lola.
Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls.
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world,
except for Lola. Lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo Lola.
Well I left home just a week ago,
and I never ever kissed a woman before,
Lola smiled and took me by the hand,
she said, "Little boy, gonna make you a man."
Well I'm not the world's most masculine man,
but I know what I am and that I'm a man,
so is Lola.
Lo lo lo Lola. Lo lo lo Lola.

Jungle Love
It's driving me mad
Making me CRAZY,CRAZY!

This one went right down the porcelain throne. I can't even gripe cause you're all not even off topic.

Rod,



That is probably the funniest thing you've posted to date. Trying to imagine that being said with a Steve Irwin accent makes it even funnier.

Hi

I agree

Peace
Tim

Love me tender, love me sweet........

So that was her name 'Lola"....I thought she said 'roll over'...so I did and well............look you all guys, so what if I'm easy....cheap even.......I am comfortable with that.......

When you have seen one..it isnt a matter of romanticism. I think as far as the old documentaries,films and television shows from the 70's that influenced many of us..there is a certain romanticism because it usually involves a good memory from childhood. My only worry is that these magnificent beings will become extinct before we can do anything to save them. I just saw where some logging companies are looking at logging in untouched,pristine rainforests...shame. When will we learn that concrete cannot replace trees? Probably when its much too late to do anything about it.

For me it is a matter of Realism.

I think if you are an intelligent human being who has become familiar with the majority that there is to know on the subject it is rather the Romantic side to assume that they do not exist.

I think that some are Romantic in that they still cling, as society has done since the Industrialist period, to the notion that we as a race are always on the cusp of knowing all that there is to know. It has been in our nature to feel confident that we are "in control" when in fact we are not.

To come to the conclusion that there are creatures that have existed prior to our knowledge is not an earth shattering blow.

But to come to the conclusion that there has been a large top predator existing outside of our knowledge all the while roaming the landscapes that we also inhabit is to suggest that we are not in control and do not have an accurate understanding of the planet that we live on.

These are the things of panic attacks and the mind tends to block these things out and file them away for reading later.

The "before they become extinct" says it all. That is the last out. It is the out I gave myself when I concluded there was no longer anything to the Bigfoot issue. The out I gave myself preserved all the old stories and Native American Legends and maybe even the Patterson Gimlin Film. This way nobody is a liar or a romantic. I predice that withing then next 5-10 years there will be no intrest in Bigfoot. We'll have tired of the perpetual ghost chase. The out will be Bigfoot has gone extinct. The legend will survive the search won't.

I do not believe that these creatures are going extinct,if anything they are moving farther north as it seem to be happening.I mean if you want to call me a romantic for believing that these creatures are thriving so be it.I just know that these creatures are alive and real and are living in our woods.Even though I do not have the proof I know without a shadow of doubt that they are alive and living well.I am very sure of this .

I think there will allways be new people coming into this research that will think they can do better, trying new techniques, new and better technology. It's why we have to document what has been tried, and share what results we have, whether it be positive or negative data. It's how we learn from our mistakes, and how we make progress. I think the legend will live on, because people will continue to see these creatures and the evidence will still be found. There is no other reason to even have an interest in this subject.

BTW the researchers who have been out in these active areas, despite having not seen these creatures, know that there is more to this than just a ghost chase.

SY

Crow - have you ever seen a track?

As long as reliable people keep seeing these creatures,as long as the evidence continues to pile up..there will always be those interested in the subject. As I have said,it isnt a matter of romanticism if you have seen one,so I try not to get caught up in debating skeptics about to whether they exist or not,I think some would not believe even if a body was hauled in. In watching how we have been slaughtering cougars of late I am leaning more and more towards hoping that the mainstream science never finds the creatures. Another mountain lion killed the other day.."it was a threat" and the tranquilizer darts didnt work so the bloodthirst cops had to shoot it..LOL yeah right. Mankind is the biggest threat on the planet other animals only take what they need to survive and nothing more. Peace.

No I've not seen a track. Only photos of alleged tracks. I have seen fully adult sized human tracks in some places where one wouldn't expect bare human tracks. On at least one occasion I followed an off the beaten track track line to find a rather large husky teenager fishing at an off the beaten track pond.

Am I being dense here? – if Bigfoot has gone extinct in recent decades, what are people apparently encountering now; and how do you see them being let off the “liar / romantic / etc.” hook?

I opine that the “out” which I find, means that people don’t have to be branded liars or romantics (some, of course, obviously are such). My “out”, however, is the kind which runs the risk of having BFF’s squad of “heavies” knocking on one’s door at 3 a.m. (please, nobody take offence – that’s meant as humorous hyperbole). I consider that I’ve heard the arguments from “flesh-and-blood pro” folk. What I see as common sense, makes those arguments seem to me more far-fetched, than there being involvement in this issue at some point, of the abhorrent P-factor. We’re all aware, of course (and are told so from the first) that this “take” on the subject is – just – tolerated on these forums; but is not at all widely held, and is not liked, here.

To suggest that bigfoot is extinct is as romantic a notion as that that it exists imho, as neither is proven.

My view is these issues came to us uninvited so we deal with them. Other issues that come about such as AIDS, global warming, terrorism.........etc....... and we deal with them. One can hide from them and pretend they don't exist as a form of finding mental peace, but this won't solve the problem. However, many people dwell on these occurances too much to the point of disruption.................I sometimes do. I agree with you; just push the issue aside and dwell on more important demands.

That was probably more frightening than seeing a BF at close range!

I got "lucky" and saw a track line in deep snow in 2004. I gotta tell ya man, seeing that did more than "make me wonder". Guess thats why I am here today, responding to you.

You are not a romantic since you have seen a track line meandering through the snow.

Have you ever wondered why BF wanders through the snow when the food is down in the lowlands?

Theory: BF needs a break and is looking for a nice cold ice cave to hibrnate in.

I would suggest that the role of 'romanticism' in the belief in Bigfoot is probably the instigating reasons many people wander to sites like this one....the others are those that believe that they have seen or have had a possible encounter with Bigfoot...
Its a good question this one....