Comments on: What Do You Think of John Keel?

By: johnstownmonster

johnstownmonster — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:43:52 +0000

Keel was interesting. Although I definitely do sympathize with those who found his ideas less than “productive,” I do always want to see room in the field for these more “conceptual” approaches. I really do think they add texture to the discussion and frankly, who knows, they may even have a shred of validity at the end of the day.

By: galactus_westerberg

galactus_westerberg — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:55:04 +0000

Let’s call a spade a spade, boys and girls. Keel, and his kith and kin, put the “crypto” in “crytozoology”. Without him, what you’re doing here is just “zoology”.

His ideas are what make this field special.

By: BMNunnelly

BMNunnelly — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:23:58 +0000

When considering the works of Keel, in a cryptozoological framework, his impact has been negiligible. Some would say even detrimental. Without doubt Loren has been the “Worlds Foremost Cryptozoologist” and done more to bring the fledgling science, or ‘pseudo-science’ (whichever you prefer) of cryptozoology out into the open than any one man in history.

But Keel isn’t a cryptozoologist. He’s a fortean investigator - BIG difference. I know because I’ve been accused by some of being both. Forteans aren’t bound by the strictly scientific paradigms most ‘cryptozoologists’ adhere to when looking into accounts of anomalous phenomena. In my own experience as a fortean investigator, I found that only when one looks objectively at the entire Fortean phenomena puzzle can one begin to make some sense of any single piece of it. For example, most Bigfoot researchers focus solely on the hairy humanoid’ data, completely oblivious (often by choice) that this is merely a single aspect of the larger “Beastman’ mystery. We have apemen but we also have dogmen, catmen, mothmen, owlmen, wolfmen, batmen, birdmen, fishmen, frogmen, lizardmen, etc. It’s so much easier to focus blindly on a single phenomenon rather than looking at the whole picture. After all, how does a die-hard, modern-day ‘cryptozoologist’ hope to explain a 7 ft tall, hairy humanoid creature with wings, no head, and glowing eyes in its chest, capable of attaining flight ‘without flapping its wings’ and reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour while emitting a beeping noise? Giant owl? Sandhill crane?

These are the types of things which fortean investigators frequently find themselves faced with. As such John Keel, at least in my own eyes, ranks only just below Charles Fort in the importance of his work - and surely deserves the title of “Greatest Modern-Day Fortean Investigator”.

I wish him well.

By: hlw

hlw — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:31:01 +0000

The highest praise I can give John Keel is that he always made me think. In a field where writers copy each others work as a way of life, John Keel was always a breath of fresh air. Thank you John Keel for being you.

By: peterbernard

peterbernard — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:30:52 +0000

John Keel taught me the meaning of the word “agnosticism” when I was twelve reading his books and has had a much deeper impact on my life than almost any other writer or artist. He’s far more important than any of the “nuts and bolts” UFO or crypto researchers I’ve ever read, no offense. He’s one of the most interesting men of the 20th and 21st centuries. I’ve been told he coined the term “Men in Black” which is why the agents in the comic book and movie are named J and K (Keel’s initials). Also, Speilberg won’t admit it, but he met with Keel for days before doing the first Indiana Jones movie and I have little doubt that Keel’s Jadoo period was partial inspiration for the Indy character. I know Speilberg has said differently, I’m not arguing that point, I’m asserting that Keel has had a huge but hidden impact on our culture and how we think about UFOs and cryptids as a people.

By: eireman

eireman — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:09:53 +0000

HoosierHunter, feel free to use the term. I’m not sure if I have coined it here or not. It may exist already. It seemed a good way to distinguish between the two disciplines.

By: Adrienne2012

Adrienne2012 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:24:22 +0000

I would like to say that John Keel has influenced me to search for answers about unexplainable events and to believe in the truth. He has helped many people believe in things that are happening all around us despite the fact that we may not ever see them. He was part of one of the most strange and facinating events ever to take place. It is important for people to understand that cryptozoology and UFOs ect.. are both unexplainable phenemona. Granted finding a new species of bird or lizard is not unexplainable but much of cryptozoology is. I believed John Keel understands that and because he may not be just a cryptozoologist dosn’t mean there is not a connection between it and unexplainable events. I feel very strongly about a connection between these things and it is important to acknowledge that. The world needs to know the truth and he played a major role in doing so. I am saddened he is ill and I hope he does understand what he accomplished by sharing what he knows with the public

By: Va-Bigfoot

Va-Bigfoot — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:35:09 +0000

I spoke with Mr. Keel a few years ago concerning the Sasquatch/Bigfoot creatures. He was sure they are some type of paranormal entity. He also said not to waste my time researching them as I will never come to a logical conclusion. I seriously thought about his recommendations, but I really enjoy the cat and mouse chase, even if it leads to other dimensions.

Va-Bigfoot

By: Tatzelwurm

Tatzelwurm — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:02:22 +0000

I always thought Keel was more of a UFOologist or something like that than a cryptozoologist.

By: HOOSIERHUNTER

HOOSIERHUNTER — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:08:34 +0000

eireman: I really like your term “parazoology”. Would you mind if I borrowed it for a book I’m working on about local happenings? I think its the best descriptive term of that branch of investigation I’ve seen. I’d even give credit if I knew your name!