Welcome to The Curious Cryptid
Sasquatch Through the Eyes of Science
Bringing scientific thinking to the subject of Sasquatch.
Open Science is about sharing ideas, information, observations, and experiences. Nobody learns from secrecy.
It is not about disclosing identities or locations unless expressly authorized by all involved.
The
clan will require the help of others to collect observations and
information - the privacy of contributors will be strictly respected.
ABOUT
Bringing Scientific Thinking to the Subject of Sasquatch
MISSION ONE
Listen respectfully to eyewitness
experiences. Respect the often traumatic nature of encounters,
and try to understand: They had the experience, their perception
is the reality of the experience. Remember that fear may have
shaped the memory of the experience. When explanations are made
(eg: why and how), try to understand those conclusions and ask
questions to clarify the observations leading to those
conclusions. Ask questions to try and rule out mundane
explanations. Get detailed observations - if they use vague words
like ugly or evil clarify details - ugly
and evil are personal judgements, not descriptions. Try to get to
clear observations of all details.
MISSION TWO
To promote and explain scientific ways of thinking, to make observations and avoid explanations in the field, to separate beliefs from observations and facts - beliefs are valid observations, but are often explanations; try to drill down into the observatsions leading to those ways of thinking. Even the strange things that don't make sense may be important - do not suppress observations in the field or important knowledge can be lost. There is plenty of time to analyze observations later and decide with care and deliberation what phenomena may be related and then determine how to verify those conclusions with further observations and field research.
MISSION THREE
Do field work, look for them and their
signs. Share observations with people using the research area,
apply the processes of open science. Nobody learns from
secrets. Everybody wants to be Columbus, but nobody seems to
realize he was the last guy to discover America - everyone
else had already been there. Do not dismiss the observations of
people who have interacted with these beings. They may understand
things differently than you do - that does not make them wrong, they
just think differently. It is collaboration and open exchange of
ideas that will bring knowledge to people more effectively.
In the early 1990's I set aside the puzzle of Sasquatch. I
figured someone would get it all settled out within a few years ---
yeah, still waiting for that one. It is astonishing they are so
elusive. It is also clear that many so-called authorities on the
subject are speaking from personal beliefs not born of analysis of all
available information. People often have a compulsive need to
answer questions posed, even if they do not have an answer.
Many people are unwilling to use the phrase I don't know.
I consider it to be the foundation of wisdom. What has been
discovered about Sasquatch in the last 30 years does not change the
conclusions I expected to be upheld so long ago. In a way that is
profoundly disappointing; however there are some new ideas in that
time.
Many do not realize this, but a
small number of very educated people are applying the scientific method
to this puzzle; more are needed. One of the things that
distinguishes these people from believers and enthusiasts is the
discipline to separate what one wants to be true from things we know to
be based in fact. There are others who are at least applying
resources into trying to be smarter about the pursuit of the subject -
they are applying more technologies which might, even with a lack of
scientific objectiveness, result in more success than was found in the
past with lesser technologies.
Many who
have experienced these beings have trauma to resolve and questions
which we simply cannot answer - and the lack of answers is, itself, a
form of trauma.
And so, for reasons I will
discuss as I explore this puzzle, I am back in the game. I will
be applying scientific processes to the collection of both knowledge
and evidence. I will be seeking to help those whose questions
cannot yet be answered; and just the act of listening respectfully and
accepting their experience often helps.
The Clan is Just Getting Started
2020-March - Just launching the website; all
pages are new. The Curious Cryptid has been poking about the
Internet for the last year and a half; soon it will be time to start the
first few projects. Why now after all these years - movie
reference: They're Back...
I am interested in encounter stories and locations with current activity; I have a practical range of around 600 miles from Seattle.
I will be applying open-science in these projects - however that does not require disclosing names or locations - only observations and experiences. If you do not want name or location disclosed, appropriate psuedonuyms and vague descriptions can be arranged.
