Is it crypto? I find
myself asking that quite a lot these days.
I work with both hauntings phenomena and cryptozoology and sometimes it
is very hard to figure out which is which.
One of my current cases involves a First Nations community
in Ontario. Several things have been
reported, some of which are clearly ghostly in nature. There are a couple, however, that test my
theories from the very beginning. One is
a report of “little people”. We’re not
talking about just one or two small-ish folks.
The report is a virtual colony of small humanoids that behave in very
human fashion. They aren’t gnomes, or
fairies, or any of the other typical “wee folk”, just pint sized humans. The reports of this colony go back over 75
years! Clearly crypto? Not so fast.
How would we know? It would seem
that the litmus test for cryptozoology would be physical evidence. If we could find a body, or some other sorts
of artifacts, then perhaps this would put this solidly in the crypto category. Sasquatch, however, has left us no such definitive
proof and we still place him in this realm.
Another report in this area is that of a man with hooved
feet. He walks upright and looks into
windows. He also reportedly leaves
tracks. Does his ability to alter the
ground in this way make him a cryptid? And
what about “shape shifters”?
Generally, for most cryptozoologists, it comes down to a
belief system. Many think that the idea
of ghosts is ridiculous, yet firmly believe in Bessie or the Loch Ness
Monster. Since cryptozoology is generally
more of a science based endeavor, skeptics are more likely to lean toward
acceptance. As the research into
hauntings continues to blossom, however, more and more scientific method and
results are being reported by investigators.
I struggle with this classification system quite a lot with
the reports of Mothman specifically. In
this case, there are not only elements of cryptozoology and hauntings, but also
strong evidence of UFO involvement.
Should we pick a path and stick to it or would the subject be better
served by a team (or a person) of all three specialties?
I’m greatly interested in your feedback on this. What makes a cryptid a cryptid?
My groups are
ReplyDeleteGhosts Myths Folklore Legends.
That group includes UFOs
Wildlife Trail.
Flora and Fauna.
Big Cat Sightings Anywhere
Can be any type of large cat...real or otherwise.Hoping to discover the existence of the non indigenous big cats are lurking in the undergrowth in the UK
Sky Weather
All types of weather phenomena
Scottish Wildcat SOS... Hoping to save our own remaining wildcat from extinction.Please come and help out here.
I have other small groups.
I basically use the smaller groups as a filing system. The Cat Groups as public.