I suppose in this case you either agree with Heuvelmans, or you don’t.

I can say that, were I Chow, I’d be very careful with how I proceeded, especially given the contentious nature of many toward the idea of hairy hominids still roaming the globe.

Then again, I have a skeptical mind. While I want to believe, I’d go over any evidence with a VERY fine toothed comb, and be sure I had all my ducks in a row, before going public (perhaps Chow slipped up here in leaking any info on the photos to the press, but fallibility is a human trait, and I won’t fault Chow for this one slip.)

Also, if you will allow me to relate some personal experience from my work as a journalist, I would tell you that rushing forward with a story is often the first instinct. But this is not always best. Even with something as simple as a car accident early eyewitness accounts and the final police report version of what happened, based on evidence such as angle of strike and tire tracks, can vary considerably.

So I will say that I feel patience is necessary because, from my experience, things are not always as they seem on initial examination. As I explained to one police officer after being pulled over for driving too slow, my opinion is that, when on unfamiliar, steep, curving country roads, driving deliberately is the prudent thing to do.

Remember too that the team who captured Architeuthis on film waited a year to release the footage, and that was with an animal that was already, undisputably known to science from carcass evidence. Doesn’t it make more sense then to be twice as prudent with a previously undescribed specimen?

Quote:

Dear all,

If you are steeped in Antropological, Zoological and Paleontological interests, will you have a clearer understanding of its significance when found as it will provide numerous elusive answers to researchers regarding a primitive man-ape that has confounded the world as regards to its ability to survivie all odds to see the present times.It will provide an insight into the evolution of Man and his kins and could expose how our ancestors coped with environmental changes and challenges through evolutionary processes.It may not excite Malaysians but the world’s fraternity of scienist will flock to Johor for obvious reasons.

If we take a ’so what’ approach, then we will remain as skeptics, and still not accept facts as they are revealed.Skeptics and cynics may remain so but the academic world will see things in a very enlightening light and Paleontology may require a rethink about its theory of Man’s ancestry as well as his evolutionary path.

If found it will probably be the find of the century and Malaysia will be praised for its efforts in conservation of the forests until even a primitive creature is safe and snug, to be found , 500,000 years ( supposedly BF is descended from the Giant Ape-Gigantopithecus blackii) after it was reported to go extinct due to weather changes as well as being predated upon by others like Homo erectus.

Johor is suddenly on the map of everybody’s mind, especially overseas. What impacts it will have on our toursim industry it is not known as yet, but I suppose it will attract the curious and the serious to Johor. Then perhaps, it will add a few dollars more to the common trader as he is now able to sell a little more than ordinary times. Cumulatively, the tourist dollar should add a lilttle fillip to Johor’s economy, and that is a positive index for Johor’s economy.

I would like to welcome anyone to follow me on one of my evidence-seeking trip and perhaps, in the right environment, one will not be bent on proving BF is for real, but get to enjoy the natural world that is there. If BF is found, we should be thankful that it is happening in Johor , not in Vancouver or the Himalayas.

BF should be treated a a rare form of our fauna, and may still remain as a myth, a mystery, and a subject for all to debate freely. Everyone is entilted to his or her own opinion , whatever yours may be, I will have to give my due respect.

Vincent Chow

The fact of the matter is that Chow has inserted himself into the Mawas story from the beginning a few months ago. There’s no going back now.

jjames1, here’s my view about why we should at least try to be patient:

Imagine what it would be like if Chow (or anyone else for that matter) had, all of a sudden, showed the pictures to the world. I think reactions would range from total disbelief to incredible excitement, not only in the scientific community, but also the entire world in general. And there would almost certainly be tons and tons of questions directed at Chow. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you’d want to be in that situation if you were Chow.

Just as you would in a crucial card game, you’d make sure that you held on to your trump card until you were certain that showing it would lead to a sure win. Now, I’m not saying that Chow is doing this for personal gain, but he has every right to play it the way he sees fit. He has his reasons for doing so and these might or might not coincide with those I’m mentioning here.

By taking some time to sort out the facts, evidence, etc, I believe Chow and his co-authors are trying their best to organise all the information and present this incredible find to the world in a concise, practical and believable manner. There is no point in carelessly releasing the photos at this point in time, which might lead to even more controversy and debate than what we’re seeing now. I think no matter how clear and convincing the photos are, there would still be the usual hardcore skeptics who need to see the real thing or a dead animal to be convinced.

My point is that the potential value to science if (and that’s a BIG if…) these pictures are real overwhelms any private/monetary benefit to those that control the pictures. Why should the world “be patient” in a matter like this? Don’t just repeat yourself. Please give me legitimate reasons WHY waiting is better than releasing the pictures now. I’ve yet to hear one single reason over the past few days here…