Walking on Eggs

When we read the responses of anthropologists and related professionals on the sasquatch/bigfoot issue, we become a little disheartened because of the arms length or negative approach they take. Few have taken the trouble to have a really good look at the evidence. Indeed, the vast majority completely ignores any issue that is not totally black and white.

John Green provided an excuse for the professionals at the first screening of the Patterson/Gimlin film, None of the scientists at the first screening was a primatologist or physical anthropologists, and their opinions were asked for after a brief look at the film with no time for research or reflection, so their comments, while damaging, are probably excusable. That, however, is as far as he goes, since he continues, There is no such excuse for their modern colleagues. Rene Dahinden was far less charitable; the words he used to describe professionals during the time I associated with him are not in your spell checker.

Nevertheless, I do believe scientist would really love to jump in and have a look at the sasquatch issue. I even muse that some of them have bought books about the sasquatch, carefully making sure the book is put in a brown paper bag.

The problem with the field of anthropology is that anthropologists don't have a wide selection for employment. Most of these professionals are employed either directly or indirectly by governments. Universities top the list, and there are only a limited number of positions available. However, because the field in highly interesting, there are many candidates for positions, far more than the number of positions available. In other words, supply greatly exceeds the demand.

As a result, most anthropologists "walk on eggs." If they are seen dabbling in anything suspect, such as the sasquatch, then they run the risk of ruining their reputation and losing their position, or at the least being passed over for advancement. In my opinion, the few employed anthropologist who have taken on the sasquatch challenge are truly intrepid individuals. We should not really expect to get anthropologist involved until after they retire and are not longer at risk, as it were.

While I do hold hope that we will be able to turn the tables in the sasquatch issue with more of the same (footprints and sightings), this approach is getting very thin. We definitely need something more for the scientists. Here I am referring to truly hard evidence, not photographs. If the Patterson/Gimlin film were taken in recent years, its credibility would be greatly diminished (or totally discounted) because of the increased difficulty to detect fabrications.

Tag: chris murphy anthropologists sasquatch bigfoot evidence john green professionals scientists primatologist physical rene dahinden anthropology governments universities footprints sightings evidence roger patterson bob gimlin photographs