What would you do in Todd's position?

[eddiez]

It's easy to sit back, and criticize and complain about what Todd and his team have done so far. I've seen this pattern in forums before - endless bickering about what is evidence and what is not, and whether the person is just trying to promote a hoax for fame or fortune, what their motives are, picking out parts of previous statements, tossing them in the air and blasting them with a cannon. Obviously people want the freedom to express their opinions and have other people read them, and discussions on forums can be great fun, but sometimes when I get to the end of say a 20 page thread, I realize that I could have skipped the 19 pages in between and saved myself a lot of wasted time.

So, if you were holding the footage that Todd has described and had the experiences he has related, what would you do? I'd really like to hear someone come up with a detailed plan on how to deal with individual and professional skeptics, the media, and hecklers. If you have some footage that you really think is special, how do you get it into the right hands - how do you prevent someone from taking it, editing it and doing their best to discredit it, after which point it may be extremely difficult to get anyone with skills to take it seriously (and to take you seriously)?

[Paul]

What would I do?

Well I can't really start where Todd is now as I would have never taken that path.

If I could get close to BF consistantly, I would continue to go out and shoot a bunch of film. I would then edit all of the film to only show the "money" shots. Then I would post all of the films on my website and allow unlimited access.

I would never have pursued any protection, not faulting that approach but it's just not something I would do (I'd leave that up to someone else). I also wouldn't go out and do interviews, etc. If I wanted some attention I may shoot an email to some of the more reputable researchers to say "check out my videos". I wouldn't share with anyone how I found BF, the same way that I don't share how to find a big buck or a big fish.

After that I would just go on with my regular life, the end.

[darrenbonk]

We have an old saying in Northern Ontario-"Don't heat up the frying pan before you shoot the moose" Todd is seeking protection for a creature he has not proved exists. If I were him I would do the reverse. Prove the animal exists and then seeks its protection. Otherwise people take you for a fool.

[buddharat]

It's like saying you have a cure for cancer, but you won't show the definitive proof until the FDA gives it legal drug status on what little you're showing. If he really is the best Bigfoot researcher and can repeatedly get evidence like he says he can on almost every interview, then get the info and bring it to CNN.

I'm sorry but that's one thing I really don't get. He says that he wants species protection because his knowledge in tracking and getting close to bigfoots are so good that he can do it over and over and he's worried people will use his knowledge to find and kill lots of Bigfoot. OK, SO DON'T TELL ANYONE HOW TO FIND THEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T SHOW GOOD VIDEO OR A PICTURE OR SOMETHING! I mean, scientists don't tell you how to make a deadly weapon, but they will show you the proof that it exists. I can't figure out how to make it from just looking at a definitive picture or video. If people can't find them now, nothing will change if good evidence comes out. Todd said himself that they are one of the most cunning creatures out there.

So then why can't Todd use his skills and get the amazing footage he says he can? Once he gets it, he'll get his species protection.

That's what I would do in Todd's position. Show the proof but hide the Bigfoot finding techniques until after species protection.

And if he doesn't really have proof and this is all a hoax, then he should apologize to the Bigfoot community and all the people he duped, because at the end of the day, hoaxing is worse then saying it doesn't exist. It makes all us believers look like fools.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I hate when I see someone pulling a hoax on something this big.

[The Truth]

"So then why can't Todd use his skills and get the amazing footage he says he can? Once he gets it, he'll get his species protection."

Has anybody really considered the obvious? This man really has no evidence and is constantly making up excuses to hide that fact? He's had his Blair Bigfoot Project on the open market now for at least 6 months and all he has to offer is double talk and run around. Even the word Sylvanic is Greek in origin and refers to ,"an association with the forest or woods." Just look it up on Wikipedia. Todd claims this is the name the First Nations gave this "hidden valley". Must have been some Greek scholars in that tribe! Also claiming that this "Sylvanic" is unknown and unnamed is a crock. Every stream , valley and mountain in North America is mapped and named. I've tromped around in the woods for over 40 years and I can go to REI and get a vinyl map printout of the most remote place I can think of! He probably drove 10 miles off the highway until he found a place that looked right for his film school endeavors and calls it a "lost world". Unbelievable. But even more unbelievable that anyone falls for this stuff!

[Paul]

The said:

Has anybody really considered the obvious? This man really has no evidence and is constantly making up excuses to hide that fact? He's had his Blair Bigfoot Project on the open market now for at least 6 months and all he has to offer is double talk and run around. Even the word Sylvanic is Greek in origin and refers to ,"an association with the forest or woods." Just look it up on Wikipedia. Todd claims this is the name the First Nations gave this "hidden valley". Must have been some Greek scholars in that tribe! Also claiming that this "Sylvanic" is unknown and unnamed is a crock. Every stream , valley and mountain in North America is mapped and named. I've tromped around in the woods for over 40 years and I can go to REI and get a vinyl map printout of the most remote place I can think of! He probably drove 10 miles off the highway until he found a place that looked right for his film school endeavors and calls it a "lost world". Unbelievable. But even more unbelievable that anyone falls for this stuff!

He has captured more footage than me, although not concrete evidence it is a start. I figure he has one shot to back up all of the things that he has said. If he doesn't produce, he is labeled a quack (IMHO) and I move on.

Even if he doesn't produce, just look at all of the fun we've had shooting the bull around here! That has to be worth something! ;D

[The Truth]

Paul said:"He has captured more footage than me, although not concrete evidence it is a start. I figure he has one shot to back up all of the things that he has said. If he doesn't produce, he is labeled a quack (IMHO) and I move on.

Even if he doesn't produce, just look at all of the fun we've had shooting the bull around here! That has to be worth something! "

Paul- you're right about the fun part of it being worth something. It's great entertainment to stretch the imagination and shoot the bull!

As far as having more footage than you or me: I could easily replicate what he did. Get a guy in a large fur coat and a pointy fur cap and have him go up on a hill side (in the darkening dusk)and have him stand up and sit down with his back to me for about 15 minutes, all the while making sure I shook my video camera here and there. Then I'd go back and edit until I got the most convincing five seconds worth. We all know this is what he did. I don't call it real footage.

[Paul]

The said:

Paul- you're right about the fun part of it being worth something. It's great entertainment to stretch the imagination and shoot the bull!

As far as having more footage than you or me: I could easily replicate what he did. Get a guy in a large fur coat and a pointy fur cap and have him go up on a hill side (in the darkening dusk)and have him stand up and sit down with his back to me for about 15 minutes, all the while making sure I shook my video camera here and there. Then I'd go back and edit until I got the most convincing five seconds worth. We all know this is what he did. I don't call it real footage.

Ya, I guess I was giving him credit for the other video that I haven't seen but only heard about. I suppose I shouldn't do that, so based on the one public video.....Ya, we could probably put something like that together.

I suppose Mr "The Truth", I give people a little more leeway than I should when it comes to BF. I should be a little more skeptic, but I guess based on some silly little experiences I've had in the woods I keep hoping that someone will give me a picture or video of something so I can say "Ya, that's what it must have been".

I guess I need to be a little more impartial or scientific in my approach to whether or not there is such a thing as BF. You know the thought of no BF makes me sleep a little easier anyway....especially when out in the bush.