Comments on: Top Ten Reasons For Cryptozoology Hoaxes

By: DWA

DWA — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:37:05 +0000

I’m not sure I see this reason among the ones listed: demonstrating people’s ignorance.

A number of hoaxes - or allegations of same - seem to be for the purpose of showing up not only proponents but skeptics. Watch the “skeptical” reaction any time anyone even alleges he hoaxed something. Not so skeptical, is it? It’s even conceivable that Biscardi gets taken, again and again, by people who enjoy not only the attention but how easy it is to fool The Bigfoot Hunter.

Then again, the public’s ignorance sometimes has the co-ignorant laughing, all the way to the bank. Or at least the newspapers.

By: Simon Townsend

Simon Townsend — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:39:40 +0000

There is a certain sort of person who perpetrates a hoax of a cryptozoological nature that I have come across in this country (Australia) and they are usually characterised by a particularly mean spirited disposition. They tend to be incensed that private individuals are going to some effort to investigate, at their own trouble and expense, something that might upset the hoaxers own personal universe (hicks v. geeks?) They can only respond by trying to create a milleux whereby the investigator is made to look like a fool or clown for the public to ridicule. These hoaxers are classic flat earthers and book burners and they exist at all levels of society. They don’t have the wit to be healthy sceptics like any one of a genuine scientific disposition, and I include worthwhile cryptozoological researchers here. Hoaxers need to be put in their place and appropriately chastised. There is nothing commendable, ever, in hoaxing. We researchers just haven’t got the time.

By: jerrywayne

jerrywayne — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:47:54 +0000

There is another type of hoax that isn’t often mentioned by advocates: I call it the Anxious Believer Hoax. This hoax is perpetrated by advocates of particular anomalies in order to advance belief. The hoaxer just “knows” that a particular anomaly or cryptid is “real” and becomes impatient when definitive evidence does not materialize. Since the hoaxer believes the cryptid exists (or ghosts, UFOs, etc. exists), he or she helps it along by creating a hoax that “verifies” it’s existence. Also, this feeds into the fantasy that the hoaxer has done something very important, even earth shaking: he or she has “proven” the “existence” of a cryptid (already “known” to exist in the hoaxer’s mind).

I would put Patterson in this class of hoaxers, although we should not rule out a monetary motive here as well. I would not put Dinsdale in this category. He proved trustworthy enough for us to accept his accounting of his Nessie film (which is not to say that he filmed Nessie, but only that his film is not a hoax).

By: Point Radix

Point Radix — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:27:58 +0000

On the other hand, there is always a market for books, television documentaries and websites on “Hoaxes & Swindles”.

So no matter how implausible or unlikely the hoaxed “event” may seem, once it get enough attention in the media/public, it will be a contender for coverage and attention for many years after the fact.

To some extent it seems to be the need that some individuals seem to have, for leaving a legacy of any kind, regardless of how dubious an honour the chosen method may seem.

That way they get much more than their 15 minutes of fame.

By: AlienBigCats

AlienBigCats — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:39:06 +0000

I think hoaxes are dishonest and noone should do them

By: Dan Gannon

Dan Gannon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:25:37 +0000

I don’t know, I still think the “Loys’ Ape” photo may not be, exactly, a spider monkey (at least, not a typical one.) The photographer captured something, and Loys’ used the photo as he saw fit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the photo itself was a hoax. I see some morphological differences between that photo, and photos of known spider monkeys. Maybe it was a different kind of spider monkey? Or, if it was bipedal, it could have been something else. I think, too often, people discount possibilities until the discounted possibilities turn out to be realities, that land on one’s head. For instance, there is at least some evidence, that hominoid evolution did occur in the Americas. Recall the many insistent claims that “experts” have made, that have later turned out to be false. (Such as, sabre tooth cats never made it to South America.) If Native American lore, and certain archaeological pieces of evidence, are to be considered and not just discarded out of hand, it appears that hominids/hominoids may well have been in the Americas for millions of years. There’s even a controversial site near Puebla, Mexico, that they’ve reportedly started digging at, again… that bears evidence of really, really old hominid tools and habitation. I’m not saying the primate in the photo is any particular kind of primate, I’m just saying, perhaps we can’t be too sure, at this point. Alleged political motives of one person involved, doesn’t necessarily define what, exactly, was the subject of the actual photo.

By: Lyndon

Lyndon — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:27:20 +0000

You missed out ‘Carnival Hucksters’, Loren.

The Minnesota Iceman was one of the best hoaxes.

By: red_pill_junkie

red_pill_junkie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:20:42 +0000

I think this particular case and its pathetic demise was a weird mix of reasons. There was an initial desire to get attention along wit the juvenile prank attitude. But once they were getting attention of serious Crypto sites (i.e. Cryptomundo) they decided to raise that stakes. After that it becames blurrier, spcially when Biscardi became involved. I almost feel this guy gave the 50k to these bozos so they could disappear, but somewhat Mr. Kulls spoiled the plan with his integrity.

How much money did Biscardi win by charging for the privilege to see the photos on his site?

PS: And the weirdest thing about all this, is that now I’m finding myself wanting one of those “Bigfoottracker.com” T-shirts, just for the memorabilia factor

PPS: Great to see this site up & running again!

By: Artist

Artist — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:27:58 +0000

Aren’t we forgetting just plain good ol’ STUPIDITY?

By: Sutter B

Sutter B — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:53:08 +0000

Don’t forget the Hollywood movie ending reason:

They sold the real body for ten million and “disappeared” to the south of France, covering their tracks with the hoax.