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I noticed that there is no thread about the sasquatch, which is one of my favorite monsters. I have spent a fair amout of time researching the phenomenon surrounding it, and I find the belief and following of it fascinating. It has certainly evolved much over the decades.
First, let me say that I do not believe any such creature exists. BUT I find it fascinating that people are so fascinated with it. It falls into the category of mythology and as a monster it characterizes some inner fear of a society (as myths will do)
Keep in mind, I do not believe in God either, but I post a lot on the philosophy forum, as I find philosophy and religion (mythology) fascinating. I always want to hear about people's religious beliefs, how they evolve and the how and why of their meaning to a person or a group.
Therfore, I am not in search of proving or disproving the creature exists, I am searching for what people believe about this beast. My interest in this creature is in describing it and tracking it as a socio-cultural myth.
I am not looking for explanations of what it might be (A hoax or a neanderthal or an unknown species of ape, for example) I am looking for what people view it as. In short , I want it's very essance of being as described by it's stories.
I do not engage in arguments about "Oh yeah it's real" and "Oh no it's not"
If you saw one, if one came and ate your deer meat out of your deep freeze, ok fine
Consider a few things
Sasquatch dates back to Native American legends, and could be explained apologetically at the time as the paradigm of the wildman, or the shamanic healer who has to move away from society for years living alone in the forest. I have had eye witnesses refer to it as the "Wildman" again lending some parallel to the creature as an "Iron John" Type of myth/fable (See Robert Bly)
Throughout the Cold War, the creature was frequently reported as aggresive, rarely seen, it was viewed as dangerous and often hostile.
At the end of the dol war throughout the ninetys there were reports of the creature living a peaceful and simple existance without threat to humanity
After the terror attacks, as soon as the Afghanistan war began, something new appeared, the theory and stories of the sasquatch as a cave dweller. It has now become more menacing again, throwing rocks at reporters, stealing food and moving quickly after striking.
Myths originate to capture and symbolize this, and the sasquatch is that almost anti-American threat that few see but we know may be out there.
Not an attempt to proove anything- just my own little experience.
I have lived in Bigfoot country, Northern California, not to far from Willow Creek. I've been in the area near 25 years. Bigfoot stories are not too common. But when there is one, it's from credible people, people who have lived in the area for many years and know the nature of their surroundings and the wildlife habits, many are hunters.
I have not personally encountered Bigfoot. But my daughter, brother in-law and our big dog encountered something very unusual and both say it could only be Bigfoot. We all went up to check on the spring and start the pump to fill the water tank for the upper house. While down at the tool shed, the three of them continued to the spring. At first they thought it was a bear. Common scenario for sightings, it's our first guess as to what something like that could be. When it took off running down the mountain, it ran on two legs and waved its arms to move branches out of the way. That's when they realized this is not a bear. The dog took off after it and my daughter followed. No sight of it after that.
While Bigfoot has its myth here in North America, other countries have thier myths too. Half a world away is the Yeti. While down in South America at the source of the Amazon river, my father found and took a castings of a large human like foot prints. He showed it to the local indigenous people and they has stories about a Bigfoot like creature.
My dad was a entomologist wanting to preserve the rainforest. It would not benefit him in anyway to lie about such a thing. And he never took it to any 'experts' or the media. I'm sure he was thinking heaven forbid they tear apart the jungle looking for this thing.
I think that they are out there- what they are and what they are doing I have not a clue. But everyone who has had some sort of encounter that I have talked to, is not seeking any attention or in want of the limelight.
I don't really see any reason for this to be some kind of fear thing with society. Never known anyone to be afraid of them. It's not like they are going around campground and peeking in windows and scratching on doors.
We too lived not far from bigfoot country but never knew or heard of anyone that really believed he was real. These kind of mysteries will always be with us: maybe real, maybe not but it is fun to think and talk about.
We too lived not far from bigfoot country but never knew or heard of anyone that really believed he was real. These kind of mysteries will always be with us: maybe real, maybe not but it is fun to think and talk about.
That is it, they are fun to talk about
I find it odd too that no hunter has yet to bag one. I know growing up in Texas, hunting occasionally, we had more than a few individuals with the mentality that if they did see one, they would shoot it.
And I know there have been a few stories of people claiming they shot AT it I find it difficult to believe that everyone who has (Albeit a few) has missed so far.....
Unless again, there is nothing there.........
That being said, I want to comment on Owlkamyst 's excellent post and thank you for commenting.
The person I spoke with in Texas who reported seeing something at Lake of the Pines in East Texas was neither the type to seek attention nor was he the type to spin yarns, in fact he had a very humorless personality, but his story was he was sitting on the back of his pickup drinking a beer, he had the tailagte down , he says he was near a cove, with watre about 4 feet deep, he heard a spash and looked and saw something large, black and hairy wading through the shallow water, perpendicular to him. Said whatever it was was on two legs and huge, as the water had to be 4 feet deep and it was waste high in the water. When he saw it, he did not wait around to see what it was or have it see him, Said he was gone so fast he never went back to look for his cooler that slid off the back and swore he would never go back to Lake Of the Pines again.
I have heard many reports of it as an aggresive species, most recently throwing things at people, but no verified attacks
I think if any government agency really wanted to investigate this kind of thing, it could. However, I dont think it is one of those areas you want to investigate too closely since it may raise more questions than it answers.
Professor Jeff Meldrum is pretty well known as a specialist in this area and there are other scientists taking an interest too.
I too live near Bigfoot country, and may have seen it. Camping, just about sunset. Somebody walked across a clear cut and in front of tree trunk that had been cut down. When I walked by the same trunk in the morning, I noticed that it was as tall as I was. But whatever had walked in front of it the night before had been a couple of feet taller then that.
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