gasbag wrote: Bigfoot, a hoax. Wow. Who would have thunk it?
Like this news story is a big surpise!
Now, come on... you know there are people on this forum who fully believe in Big Foot. A quick scan of the subject in Search will show the truthfulness of that statement.
One can only wonder WHY people continue to believe.
Eric
2003 Outback 25FB
There are only 10 types of people in the world:
Those who know binary and those who don't.
gasbag wrote: Bigfoot, a hoax. Wow. Who would have thunk it?
Like this news story is a big surpise!
Now, come on... you know there are people on this forum who fully believe in Big Foot. A quick scan of the subject in Search will show the truthfulness of that statement.
One can only wonder WHY people continue to believe.
You bring up a interesting question, as to why people continue to believe, not just in Bigfoot, but really anything.
I for one, have always been someone who needs to see the evidence before I believe anything.
If the evidence is there I will believe, if it ain't, well the jury is out, until I see convincing evidence.
But the difference is, that some seem to derive great pleasure in pompously mocking that, that they don't believe. BTW, I'm not referring to your responses, which I think are quite thoughtful and objective.
I've always attempted (not always easy) to maintain an open mind, as it has been my experience in my life and through my academic training, that change and new ideas are always developing. We don't necessarily need to embrace them, nor should we shun them, but at the very least, subject them to critcal (emphasis on objective) review.
To automatically dismiss an idea, because I don't see ready, convincing evidence that I find acceptable is not "on" , IMO.
You never know if 'evidence' will show up down the road.
We don't really know everything about the World and to assume we do, is arrogant, in my view.
You might say I'm from Missouri, except of course I'm from Canada. But you know what I mean.
There are stories of big foot in south east Oklahoma too but I dispute that as if there was one someone would have shot him by now probably more then once just because they were hunting deer or__________________ Fill in the blank
Chuck & Linda
Fred & Molly
2007 Four Winds Hurricane 33h
WH Chassis 8.1L Chevy
look out world here we come
We've (the participants in this forum) gone 'round and 'round about this very question a few years ago (March 2005 according to a search) when discussing what "reality" might mean. My position, as a Logical Empiricist, is that the question of whether or not big foot (or god or angels or ufos or whatever) exists or is real in any meaningful, objective way is irrelevant.
Reality is that which can be measured and if you can't measure something, it isn't real. The usual argument centers around invisible, purple unicorns living in your basement. There is no way you can DISPROVE they actually live down there, but so what? If they do not impinge on reality in any measurable way, they don't exist.
The question of whether Big Foot exists or not is irrelevant UNTIL adequate evidence for his existence is offered.
The beauty of Logical Empiricism as a philosophy is that it does away will all concerns about belief. Something either registers on a meter or it doesn't. If it doesn't there is no reason to waste time wondering if it's "real" or not. If a meter is moved, then it is real and can be incorporated into one's world view.
It seems that scientists recently discovered that there are twice the number of western lowland gorillas in the Congo than previously thought. There is a group of about 100,000 previously undiscovered large primates (the number, not the species) that were not hiding, but were instead out in plain sight for anyone looking to see. Now, if this huge number of large primates remained undiscovered from inquiring scientists all these years, isn't it at least possible that a few, intelligent primates (whose sole existence hinges on them not being discovered) continue to remain hidden except for an occasional chance encounter?
Though I've never seen a bigfoot, I have seen black panthers here in Louisiana, on two separate occasion, over 30 miles apart. To this day wildlife experts deny their existence in Louisiana, in spite of numerous reports to the contrary. Granted, this is an elusive nocturnal animal that due to it's predatory nature is very stealthy and found in small numbers - similar to the way a bigfoot type creature would have to exist.
Healthy scepticism is good, because it forces us to seek for incontrovertible scientific evidence. Cynicism is bad because it closes our minds to the truth blinding us to new ideas and discoveries. Most importantly, arrogant self righteousness destroys the wonder of nature in our hearts and minds.
There are many things that we postulate exist because of the circumstantial evidence, testimony of credible individuals, logical assumptions, etc. We then set up experiments to search for evidence to confirm the reality of their existence. For example, the SETI people have been searching for radio transmissions indicating extraterrestrial intelligence exists (assuming that ET would use radio transmissions as we do) for many years. If they search for many more without finding any evidence does this prove that ET does not exist? Perhaps ET doesn't use radio waves to communicate as we do.
We will always look up at the glory of the universe and wonder, just as we will always wonder at what mystical undiscovered creatures lurk in the forests and oceans of the world. This quest for knowledge is what it means to be human.
We've (the participants in this forum) gone 'round and 'round about this very question a few years ago (March 2005 according to a search) when discussing what "reality" might mean. My position, as a Logical Empiricist, is that the question of whether or not big foot (or god or angels or ufos or whatever) exists or is real in any meaningful, objective way is irrelevant.
Reality is that which can be measured and if you can't measure something, it isn't real. The usual argument centers around invisible, purple unicorns living in your basement. There is no way you can DISPROVE they actually live down there, but so what? If they do not impinge on reality in any measurable way, they don't exist.
You've got them (invisible, purple Unicorns) in your basement,too, eh ? I thought I was the only one. I'll have to ask the pest control guy to come around again. This time I'll show him your post, so he'll know I'm not the only one!
The question of whether Big Foot exists or not is irrelevant UNTIL adequate evidence for his existence is offered.
The difference between you and I, I suppose, is that I enjoy the chase....the newspaper articles, the TV sound, bizarre bites. I don't believe there is a Bigfoot, because I haven't seen any compelling evidence, but rather than close off all discussion, I remain open to discussion.
The beauty of Logical Empiricism as a philosophy is that it does away will all concerns about belief. Something either registers on a meter or it doesn't. If it doesn't there is no reason to waste time wondering if it's "real" or not. If a meter is moved, then it is real and can be incorporated into one's world view.
Simple!
I like hearing, reading about other's 'belief', even if I don't share a particular belief. Even more so, now that I'm newly retired. I find I have an increased capacity.
sushidog wrote: Here's an interesting article that makes me believe that there is at least a huge possibility if not a probability that bigfoot exists.
Interesting story. I noted that the last census of the apes was done 20+ years ago and they are found in "remote Lac Tele Community Reserve in northern Republic of Congo, a vast area of swamp forest."
So the scientists knew the gorillas were there, but they are surprised by the numbers. That's a lot different than suddenly stumbling over 100,000 gorillas where no one expected them.
And it's a LOT different from finding a man-sized mammal (or larger, depending on whose story you believe) in the well-trampled lands of the United States.
lesmore49 wrote: I like hearing, reading about other's 'belief', even if I don't share a particular belief. Even more so, now that I'm newly retired. I find I have an increased capacity.
I believe retirement is GREAT! Bailed out a bit more than 2 years ago and haven't looked back. Congrats on making it, Les!
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probably more then once just because they were hunting deer or__________________ Fill in the blank
