HOAXER------EXPLAINED

Just what is a hoaxer? Wikipedia's definition is as follows:


A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth.[1] It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment,[1] or rumors and urban legends that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.[2]


1.- MacDougall, Curtis D. (1958. Hoaxes. Dover. p. 6. ISBN 0486204650.


2.- Brunvand, Jan H. (2001). Encyclopedia of Urban Legends. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 194. ISBN 157607076X.


There are those in our circle of constituents that fall into this category. I don't have to dwindle but it not only pertains to individuals, but can also include group or organizations as well. People that make claims, either by written word, or video type media, without proper evidence or scientific proof to back up their claims.


They may, or may not, act in a responsible manner when they are "called out" to provide proof of their claims. The first act of self defense for these characters is to lay blame on others for their actions. A good case of this was the Bigfoot in the freezer episode that came out of Georgia a couple years ago. A lot of statements were made and claims brought forth, but in the end, when the truth came out and a cover up was impossible, scapegoats were invented and finger pointing started that almost made the entire cryptozoology community coward in corners and keep the lowest profile possible. Save a few that either seen through it from the beginning, or that knew the parties involved and never paid much attention to it except only to get a good laugh out of it.


Next come the Blobsquatchers. Let me begin that photographic or video evidence, outside of print casting or physical sampling, is all we have until a more definite piece of physical evidence is brought forth by any of the many researchers in the field today. Blobsquatching seems to have become a way of internet life for some. On the only hand, there are other that have nothing better to do other than make video's of their cousin Billyneck running around in a monkey suit so they can rush in and post them to You Tube or other media outlets. I just wish that these media centers would make them post to a separate category or section of their site specialized for such stupidity and keep the "real" research video and the unexplainable videos together.


Then there are the "researchers" that post video after video with titles such as BIGFOOT IN FLORIDA, to get viewers tuned in, expecting to see some trace evidence, only to get greeted by the face of a huffing and puffing, out of shape individual filming boats, trees and bushes. Over and over again. Some even go as far as to make point of reference to shadows, tree stumps, and common animal or mechanical sounds, and try to pass them off as....."WHAT WAS THAT?" These definitely fall into the second line of the Wikipedia definition:


It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment,[1] or rumors and urban legends that are passed along in good faith by believers


Now don't get me wrong. I have respect for ANYONE that gets out in the trenches and does legitimate work. After all, until someone come up with INDISPUTABLE evidence, every one of us are NOTHING but AMATEURS!


YES....I said it.....AMATEURS!!!!


There are those that have made names for themselves by appearing on the small and the big screen as professionals giving commentary and explanations of Cryptids and their backgrounds. But if you stop and think really hard.......what have they done to have anything other than an "Honorary" title as a professional. For the most part, it is hard work in the field, countless hours of collecting information and trace evidence.


Finally, in closing, until certain individuals and some research groups realize that their is no right or wrong way to conduct research. There is only a proper way to present it and a proper way to maintain integrety while researching for any Cryptid event. As long as research is misleading and the people involved continue to act in childish and a broken record manner and not take the advise of those only trying to help them, it will only make it harder for us, "real" researchers. When people trespass, try and pass off noises as something they are not, or just film that BLOBSQUATCH and make false claims, in the end, they will only be remembered for what they are.....closet HOAXERS!