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Topic: Monstertalk - new cryptozoology podcast (Read 705 times)
Dinotoyforum Administrator Dr Admin member is offline
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.
Joined: Jan 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 3,744 Location: Nottingham, UK
Monstertalk - new cryptozoology podcast « Thread Started on Aug 31, 2009, 3:27pm »
This is a cool new podcast on the topic of Cryptozoology - the newest episode features an interview with a plesiosaur specialist: http://www.monstertalk.org/wordpress/?p=164 enjoy!
Very informative, thanks Adam. Brace yourself for the angry letters from cryptos, though. LoL.
Dan, more than Adam, perhaps, I'm afraid, shows an almost complete misrepresentation of cryptozoology's take on the Loch Ness Monsters, The Plesiosaur Hypothesis, and how cryptozoologists would react to Adam's presentation.
First off, I must note that MonsterTalk (the new creation site for this podcast) is a stalking horse for CSICOP.org, the Skeptical Inquirer, and a variety of other debunking alliances. It is produced, clearly, with a point of view in place, and must be realized for that bias.
With that said, here are some points to be made about this podcast:
1. The Plesiosaur Hypothesis is one developed early in the British promotion of theories to explain reports of unknown animals in Loch Ness.
2. Most American cryptozoologists from the beginning, and, indeed, most critical thinking cryptozoologists today reject The Plesiosaur Hypothesis. The people I call cryptozoologists are not creationists. We realize that these extinct marine reptiles are extinct, and to promote them as logical candidates for Lake Monsters is irrational.
3. Various theories by cryptozoologists encompass folkloric traditions, skeptical insights, misidentified pinnipeds and other animals, and the exploration of the survival of varied fossil and extant but undiscovered mammalian forms.
4. The "Surgeon's Photo" was not held in high regard by mainstream cryptozoologists for decades (as it appeared to be a diving bird or otter), but, nevertheless, the legend of the hoax claim is a remarkable story unto itself. The "deadbed confession" did not occur; a tale was told and two years later the man who told it died. The media and the Internet has carried forth the myth of the "deathbed confession." The materials said to have constructed the "toy submarine" model were not yet invented and/or in widespread use in 1934.
The photographer, btw, wanted to keep quiet his taking of the two photos - not one static image as often shown - for he was having an affair that weekend, during his trip to Loch Ness.
5. It is silly to use the word "angry." I have great respect for Dr. Adam Stuart Smith, as well as his colleague, Dr. Darren Naish, who is a friend and frequent correspondent of mine.
Naish's paper on crypto-pinnipeds is a landmark contribution in which he has examined the evidence and ventured forth with some challenging insights, for all of us.
To think that Adam would receive angry notes from "cryptos" merely reinforces a schism that does not exist between two groups that generally work together more than apart on this material.
Dinotoyforum Administrator Dr Admin member is offline
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true.
Joined: Jan 2008 Gender: Male Posts: 3,744 Location: Nottingham, UK
Re: Monstertalk - new cryptozoology podcast « Reply #3 on Aug 31, 2009, 9:47pm »
I feel that the interview was primarily an opportunity to talk more about what we know and don't know about plesiosaurs as real prehistoric animals, this was my main reason for agreeing to the interview. Also, while most cryptozoology enthusiasts will have already discounted the plesiosaur hypothesis for Nessie, the vast majority of the public still make the connection, which is how I got involved with the 'living plesiosaurs' topic in the first place. I didn't come to Nessie, she came to me, so to speak.
I never mentioned it in the interview, although I wish I had, that despite the lack of convincing scientific evidence for living plesiosaurs, I'd naturally love for a living plesio or two to be discovered Wouldn't that be wonderful! There is nothing intrinsically ridiculous about the idea of plesiosaurs surviving to the present day, there just isn't any scientific evidence for it.
I feel that the interview was primarily an opportunity to talk more about what we know and don't know about plesiosaurs as real prehistoric animals, this was my main reason for agreeing to the interview. Also, while most cryptozoology enthusiasts will have already discounted the plesiosaur hypothesis for Nessie, the vast majority of the public still make the connection, which is how I got involved with the 'living plesiosaurs' topic in the first place. I didn't come to Nessie, she came to me, so to speak.
I never mentioned it in the interview, although I wish I had, that despite the lack of convincing scientific evidence for living plesiosaurs, I'd naturally love for a living plesio or two to be discovered Wouldn't that be wonderful! There is nothing intrinsically ridiculous about the idea of plesiosaurs surviving to the present day, there just isn't any scientific evidence for it.
My feeling is that the first 20 minutes about the Loch Ness Monster was a waste since there is absolutely no evidence. The rest was rather interesting, but a little long.
I never mentioned it in the interview, although I wish I had, that despite the lack of convincing scientific evidence for living plesiosaurs, I'd naturally love for a living plesio or two to be discovered Wouldn't that be wonderful! There is nothing intrinsically ridiculous about the idea of plesiosaurs surviving to the present day, there just isn't any scientific evidence for it.
Thank you for sharing this.
It is obvious you have a passion for this subject (plesiosaurs) that shines through, and reinforces the educational efforts in which you get involved. In all their forms.
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Wouldn't that be wonderful! There is nothing intrinsically ridiculous about the idea of plesiosaurs surviving to the present day, there just isn't any scientific evidence for it.
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