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Definition:
The Bigfoot is supposed to be a large, bipedal, hominid-like creature which reports
claim lives in the American Northwest, particularly in the densley wooded areas. Stories
put it at between 7 and 10 feet tall with very large feet and large amounts of hair
all over its body. There have been any number of reports of bigfoot tracks and even
a film of an alleged Bigfoot, but there is no way to distinguish hoaxes from something
which might be real.
One factor speaking against the reality of Bigfoot is that, in order to maintain a stable gene pool, there would have to be quite a few of them around - and because their home would be areas where humans do travel, it is strange that there isn't more evidence of them.
The second factor making their existence doubtful is the total lack of physical evidence. No one has found a single hair, bone, dropping, or other bit of matter which would point to such a creature. Once again, with so many of them wandering around, and with so many true believers on the hunt, some bit of evidence should have been discovered by now.
A primary origin of the modern Bigfoot phenomenon was the discovery in August, 1958, of large footprints in Humboldt County, California. The idea of a large creature living in the California and, eventually, upper midwest wilderness caught on as people came to believe that America had its very own Abominable Snowmen. Unfortunately for true believers, it has been revealed that these footprints were a deliberate hoax created by Ray L. Wallace. Experts had long believed that he was responsible for them, but when he died on November 26, 2002, he family revealed the truth for the first time.
Wallace may have also had a hand in the create of the most famous "evidence" for the existence of Bigfoot, the so-called Patterson film. In 1967 rodeo rider Roger Patterson captured grainy celluloid images of an erect ape-like creature walking away from his movie camera. Wallace's role? He told Patterson where to go in order to have the best chance of finding and filming a Bigfoot - near Bluff Creek, California. According to Wallace's son, Ray's wife Elna had admitted to being filmed in a Bigfoot suit at least once.
Wallace's role in providing information about the behavior of Bigfoot, often through his own films, were well known throughout the community of believers. However, he rarely received open credit - probably because acknowledging his role would have been embarrassing. The revelation from his family should be even more embarrassing, but it does not appear to have fazed true believers at all.
Also Known As: Sasquatch
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
