|
Post by bigfoothunter on Jul 1, 2012 23:19:55 GMT -5
I have seen most every 'Finding Bigfoot' episode and I have sat in disbelief at things that were being said on the show. I understand how it could be entertaining to the general population, but is it doing more harm than good for the Bigfoot Community as a whole when it comes to us being capable of serious field research?
For instance, the show has certainly brought attention to the topic of the Sasquatch, but is it good attention or bad attention? I would like to hear your thoughts.
|
|
|
Post by Captain Morgan on Jul 2, 2012 19:32:28 GMT -5
I have seen most every 'Finding Bigfoot' episode and I have sat in disbelief at things that were being said on the show. I understand how it could be entertaining to the general population, but is it doing more harm than good for the Bigfoot Community as a whole when it comes to us being capable of serious field research? For instance, the show has certainly brought attention to the topic of the Sasquatch, but is it good attention or bad attention? I would like to hear your thoughts. You mean like Fatt MoneyTaker telling everyone he invented BF hunting and discovered tree knocks? That BF likes to twist and break the legs of their prey? That they build hunting blinds? The list goes on and on and on . . There's a resurgence of programs where nominally educated people wrestle turtles and alligators and live off the land, why not another show where BF investigators whoop back and forth at other BF groups and chase cows with a thermal camera? Really? How would one show do more damage then the rest of the BF community does on average with hoaxing, bickering, fighting and "hearing BF in their thoughts" . . . There's nothing that Fatt Moneytaker can do that affects me one bit. Nothing he says or does has any bearing on what I do, where I go and how I practice my research or investigation. That all falls on me and how I act to the rest of the BF community and the general population. My integrity is intact as is yours and most anyone else we consider "serious field researchers". I doubt we get lumped in with the stereotypically over-enthusiastic weekend warriors. Coming on the heels of MonsterQuest and prior programs, I think it legitimizes the number of sightings that people have and spreads first hand testimony from ordinary citizens, not all of whom wear camo and\or married to their cousin. I think the attention is mostly a good thing, no program is perfect and we're never gonna get Bill Curtis to narrate a string of forensically defensible factoids about a creature that hasn't been "proven to exist". BUT I WOULD LIKE TO. I've mentioned wanting to put together something that would just showcase well known historical sightings, recent sightings and stories by researchers about Sasquatch and the history of the research and community. .
|
|
billr
Really into this!
Posts: 856
|
Post by billr on Jul 2, 2012 21:27:47 GMT -5
I don't think the average person thinks any more about this program then good entertainment. If anything I think that people would only get a bad impression about the people on the show.
|
|
hotdog
No life here!
Posts: 49
|
Post by hotdog on Jul 3, 2012 1:34:48 GMT -5
What amazes me is how many people complain about the show and yet they still watch it. If I don't like a show I simply don't watch it. It's a waste of my time. Watching a show, whether it's liked or not, keeps their ratings up and that ensures that the show will continue for another season.
|
|
|
Post by thomassteenburg on Jul 3, 2012 5:22:26 GMT -5
I got a e-mail from from them yesterday. They want to talk to me about coming up to BC soon. we will see what they have in mind?
Thomas Steenburg
|
|
|
Post by lorelei on Jul 3, 2012 12:11:10 GMT -5
I got a e-mail from from them yesterday. They want to talk to me about coming up to BC soon. we will see what they have in mind? Thomas Steenburg Practice saying things like "it looks squatchy in here" and "whoah, what was that? Must be a squatch!".
|
|
|
Post by westerncanadian on Jul 3, 2012 18:59:54 GMT -5
If those guys come up here they have to play by BC rules. None of the nonsense they come up with in the States. This is Canada and we do not have sasquatches lurking behind every tree. I am actually good friends with two of those guys on that show, but if they want to do something in BC they better realize that us BC investigators are not given to silly pronouncements and we do not believe that sasquatches are as easily contacted as their show makes it out to be. I did not see the Alberta episode, but the fact that they even looked at Todd Standing's garbage photos and listened to his unbelievable stories shows a real lack of judgment. Nobody in BC except maybe the nutso rock throwers and paranormalists would ever have anything to do with a guy like Standing yet Finding Bigfoot actually makes this guy the centre of attention in a show. They might be showing a bit more sense now because they did contact Thomas who is our good friend and an investigator who commands respect. That is more like it. I dread to think what would have happened if they had contacted Randy Rockthrower as some other BC promoter is making him out to be a major contributor. At least FF went to Thomas who is legit and that is better than talking to complete wastes of time like Standing. I know what a man of integrity Thomas is, so I am sure he will put FF straight if they try and pull any of their stunts up here. Those people need to realize that if they do come up here, their publicity machine will contact BC media and they must realize anything they do up here reflects back on all of us in the sasquatch investigation field here in BC. I don't want the media writing tongue-in-cheek stories about sasquatch research in BC because of any goofy nonsense that might occur here. I take this subject very seriously as does everybody else here and if FF is going to come here then they better respect our ways and defer to BC people. My two million dollars worth.
|
|
billr
Really into this!
Posts: 856
|
Post by billr on Jul 3, 2012 22:52:51 GMT -5
Well John nobody better say you lack passion on the subject. I for one am glad to know that guys like you and Thomas are always ready to represent us
|
|
|
Post by bigfoothunter on Jul 3, 2012 23:54:06 GMT -5
What amazes me is how many people complain about the show and yet they still watch it. If I don't like a show I simply don't watch it. It's a waste of my time. Watching a show, whether it's liked or not, keeps their ratings up and that ensures that the show will continue for another season. My qurestion was how the show might effect the BF Community as a whole. I know good ratings means $$$ to the producers and etc., but I was wondering if anyone could see beyond that. As for not watching it ... I know a sect of the BF Community who say they watch it for the laughs, while others not caring anything about Sasquatch say the crew looks silly. I also think everyone here knows why people think this. The BF Community is usally seen as a whole by the outside world, so with that in mind ... is 'Finding Bigfoot' show a good thing or a bad thing for the BF Community as a whole?
|
|
|
Post by bigfoothunter on Jul 4, 2012 0:00:50 GMT -5
This is Canada and we do not have sasquatches lurking behind every tree. In all fairness, every geographical location has its share of those who believe there is a Sasquatch behind every tree. I welcome them all! I just wondered what others thought as far as that particular show doing more harm than good to the BF Community as a whole in the publics eyes.
|
|
hotdog
No life here!
Posts: 49
|
Post by hotdog on Jul 4, 2012 21:40:40 GMT -5
I have actually been thinking about your question Bill. There are some things said and done on the show that I don't agree with but Knowing two of the cast members pretty well I know a little more about what goes on behind the scenes so I'm just a little biased in their favor.
If the show makes a difference with the general public I think it will either be positive or no difference at all. The naysayers and skeptics will make fund of the show but these people are the same ones that don't get out from behind their computers and the extent of their bigfoot experience is the time they spend on forums like BFF. The believers, if anything, will just change their opinions of the cast members. The people that are new to the subject will make their judgements, good or bad, about the show itself. Not about bigfoot research in general.
There has been a flood of new reports come into the BFRO web site, and I would expect pretty much all other research organizations. It is bringing the subject into the spotlight with the general public and our never ending thirst for knowledge is getting them go looking for more information.
I really think the people that will judge the entire field by what they think of a TV show already had their minds made up before they ever tuned in.
|
|
|
Post by bigfoothunter on Jul 5, 2012 8:16:43 GMT -5
I have actually been thinking about your question Bill. There are some things said and done on the show that I don't agree with but Knowing two of the cast members pretty well I know a little more about what goes on behind the scenes so I'm just a little biased in their favor. The general public doesn't have the advantage of knowing what goes on behind the scenes, thus what you may or may not know about what goes on behind the scenes doesn't address the topic. If the general public only has a show like this in the forefront, then they have little choice but to see the antics on this show as a respresentation of bigfoot research in general. The lone skeptic (Ranae) is the only one who seems consistant when it comes to showing any common sense. While some of the witnesses that have been on the show seem credible, I am reminded that the 20 mile Bay watchman also seemed credible when telling a tale to Tom and I about he and another guy seeing a Sasquatch sitting up on as hill - possibly asleep. Tom and I went into the area where the sighting was said to have taken place and we too found the sleeping Sasquatch ... it was a rock the size of a school bus, thus their claim was busted. If a group comes across as guilable nit-wits, then it invites others to make bogus claims and in some cases they do it very convincingly. Reports are interesting, but they are only as reliable as the evidence is to back them up. One such example from the show was when a guy claimed that he and his kid saw a dark creature pushing on a tree. While something can look interesting on a dark film, below is the image when lightened. There is no doubt in my mind that the man and his kid knew they saw a person and not a creature as they had daylight which would allow them to see that their alleged creature wore pants, a coat, and a toque hat. Add one member saying that he can clearly see a Sasquatch print by looking at a partial dent on the ground and/or all Sasquatch have black noses, combinded with shooting off fireworks with the claim that this asinine approach will attract Sasquatch - I think that it doesn't show Bigfoot research in a good light. By the way, the creature on the Patterson film did not have a black nose according to Bob Gimlin.
|
|
Sean V.
Has opinions now!
Alberta Sasquatch Researcher
Posts: 256
|
Post by Sean V. on Jul 6, 2012 2:44:57 GMT -5
I can't really give an opinion on how the show will effect the Sasquatch "world" as I have never been able to get through more than 10 minutes of a Finding Bigfoot episode.
I just can't sit there and watch as Matt pumps up his own ego throughout the show, claiming that he is the source from where all Sasquatch knowledge flows. He has been given too much air time over the years & it has gone to his head. I think he actually believes his own lies.
|
|
cherni
No life here!
Posts: 31
|
Post by cherni on Jul 8, 2012 3:12:11 GMT -5
As someone who used to work in the Vancouver media, I can honestly say that it'll be the same fluff stories with these guys as it is every Halloween with the tales of all the haunted places in Vancouver et al.
Now as for the show, I watched a grand total of 17 minutes of one episode somewhere in the Adirondacks or whatever. I think the show is a joke. I think it hurts the perception of what people who have genuine interest and knowledge have been working on for decades. To me, it makes the whole work of someone like John Bindernagel look foolish, like these dudes are on a continual wild goose chase. To me, I think they make everyone in the BF community look stupid, and I for one, wouldn't want to see any of these guys in our territory looking for "Squatch".
However, coming from a media background, I know ratings are ratings, and in essense, that's all the matters to have a show on t.v. But every time one of these bozo's starts screaming like a hyena, or using some pathetic term like "Squatch", it personally makes me shudder that these idiots (who I am sure are nice people off camera), are going to ruin a lot of the momentum that real researchers have made.
I think they're making a travesty of the science and legend of Sasquatch, and are only making people who have seen this mystical creature, and researched the hell out of it, look stupid.
When I first saw the previews, I was excited for the show. Now I would sooner watch re-runs of Billy Mays infomercials, as he tries to sell me SQUATCHIE-CLEAN!!!
|
|
|
Post by bigfoothunter on Jul 8, 2012 9:42:53 GMT -5
"Now as for the show, I watched a grand total of 17 minutes of one episode somewhere in the Adirondacks or whatever. I think the show is a joke. I think it hurts the perception of what people who have genuine interest and knowledge have been working on for decades. " "However, coming from a media background, I know ratings are ratings, and in essense, that's all the matters to have a show on t.v. But every time one of these bozo's starts screaming like a hyena, or using some pathetic term like "Squatch", it personally makes me shudder that these idiots (who I am sure are nice people off camera), are going to ruin a lot of the momentum that real researchers have made. " Well said!!! Personally, I don't watch the show for information on the subject, but rather to hear what idiotic thing will be said next as if it were fact. It started from the first show and hearing a continual onslought of misstatements of fact that caused me to continue watching in disbelief. A large portion of what comes from the teams own mouths cannot be blamed on editing. And while the participants may have become household names and the show can be seen as entertaining, I am reminded that the Trailer Park Boys, the Three Stooges, and etc., had also accomplished the same sort of thing. I have BFRO aquaintances and friendships that I hold in high regard even though I do not believe in many of their research practices, but when it's in private and away from the public, then it doesn't really cause a lot of harm. But with notoriety comes responsibility in my view. In one episode, one member belittled another over a partial heel shape dent on the ground. This seemed to be enough for the team leader to believe it was the heel of a Sasquatch - PERIOD! All I can say is that Steenburg and I have seen countless similar shapes on the ground and many times where the soil was such that if it was partr of a footprint, then other evidence would have also been present and wasn't. As a team, their level of competency and skeptisim bar seems to be laying on the ground most of the time with Ranea doing all she can to try and lift it back up. I wonder what will be next for the team when the show has finally run it's coarse ... celebrity rehab?
|
|