Dr. Matthew Johnson: The Guttenberg Press, Wittenberg Door, and Facebook
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on June 3rd, 2013
In 1450 Johannes Gutenberg made his first printing press. He printed the Gutenberg Bible (about 180 copies) and made it available to the common man which helped to eventually take the control and power away from the Catholic Church and the Catholic Priests. Needless to say, this DID NOT make the Catholic Church or Priests very happy.
In 1517, The Ninety-Five Theses on the “Power and Efficacy of Indulgences” (Latin: Disputatio pro declaratione virtutis indulgentiarum), commonly known as The Ninety-Five Theses, was written by Martin Luther and was nailed to the door on the All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Saxony. He is widely regarded as the initial catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. He initiated the disputation protests against Catholic clerical abuses, especially the sale of indulgences. Martin Luther gave Christians an alternative setting to worship in without being controlled or abused by the Catholic Church (i.e., The Lutheran Church). Needless to say, this DID NOT make the Catholic Church or Priests very happy.
Finally, in February of 2004, Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. They gave people all over the world the freedom to network and communicate with one another without being controlled and censored by others. Needless to say, this DID NOT make other Controlling Individuals very happy.
Until recently, Bigfootdom has been controlled by the “Good Ol’ Boys” network. In the past, they controlled the popular Bigfoot Forums, Conferences, Back Room Politics, etc. Then that silly Facebook thing came along in 2004 and revolutionized the world, including Bigfootdom.
All Bigfooters were finally freed up to network with other Bigfooters who shared similar theories, methodologies, and experiences. Reports of unusual Bigfoot encounters were no longer allowed to be swept under the carpet or deep-sixed into the garbage can because the witnesses reported experiences did not fit into the closed-minded, small, rigid box of the “Gigantopithecus Theory.” They could no longer threaten to burn Galileo at the stake.
We have been admonished to RESPECT the leaders in Bigfootdom and not question their theories or methodologies. I agree. We should RESPECT everyone; however, RESPECT doesn’t mean that we have to agree with them. We can RESPECTFULLY disagree with anyone in a CIVIL MANNER (i.e., No name calling, flaming, no slander or libel, etc.). Facebook has given us the avenue to do so.
Contrary to the opinion of some individuals, I have no problem if someone wants to disagree with me. HOWEVER, if they’re going to disagree with me, they just need to be RESPECTFUL and CIVIL while doing so (i.e., No name calling, accusations of lying or hoaxing, flaming, no slander and libel, etc.). If you cross over the line into DISRESPECT and being UNCIVIL, then I have every right to jettison your butt right out of this group. We can agree to disagree……. Just pretty please be civil about it.
THE OLD GUARD/PROMINENT RESEARCHERS:
John Green – Has he ever seen or interacted with a Bigfoot?
Grover Krantz – Never saw or interacted with a Bigfoot.
Rene Dahinden – Did he ever see or interact with a Bigfoot?
Jeff Meldrum – Has never seen or interacted with a Bigfoot.
John Bindernagel – Has never seen or interacted with a Bigfoot.
Henner Fahrenbach – Has never seen or interacted with a Bigfoot.
There are many more who have not been named. All of these individuals have contributed to the field of Bigfootdom. Most of us have learned a lot from them. However, most of their theoretical positions are errant and their methodologies unproductive. This includes their avid followers who promote their books, theories, and methodologies. Some of these same individuals are the ones who were easily fooled by the “Daisy is in the Box Hoax” and the second “Rick Dyer has a Bigfoot Body Hoax.” Anyone who really knows anything about the Bigfoot/Forest People would know enough not to even consider giving one serious thought to believing either one of these hoaxes were actually true.
Facebook has freed up many Bigfooters to go around the “Old Guard” and communicate freely with one another about alternative theories and methodologies as to who the Bigfoot/Forest People really are without the fear of retribution. The “Old School Network” no longer has control over all Bigfooters. The Bigfoot Vatican has lost its control and power.
The bottom line is if all you want to do is find more Bigfoot tracks, bedding areas, etc., then you keep following the above leaders. On the other hand, if you want to learn different theories and methodologies so you can actually increase your visuals and interactions with the Bigfoot/Forest People, then you will listen and learn from the “New and Emerging Leaders” in Bigfootdom:
Ronald Morehead – He has seen, interacted, and recorded the Bigfoot/Forest People for the past 40 years.
Arla Collette Williams – She has seen and interacted with the Bigfoot/Forest People for most of her life.
Thom Cantrall – He has seen and interacted with the Bigfoot/Forest People for several decades.
Thom Powell – He has seen and interacted with the Bigfoot/Forest People.
Joe Beelart – He has seen and interacted with the Bigfoot/Forest People.
Autumn Williams – She has seen and interacted with the Bigfoot/Forest People. She has also written a book, ENOCH, that documented interactions with the Bigfoot/Forest People that reads true when compared to our own personal experiences.
There are many others that I haven’t named. The point is, you can learn from the “Old Guard” and just find tracks, bedding areas, hair samples, and/or see a Bigfoot/Forest Person every “Once in a Blue Moon”, if at all, or you can learn from the “New Guard” and increase your level of sightings and interactions with the Bigfoot/Forest People. In other words, you can keep trying to prove that the Bigfoot/Forest people exist or you can learn to exist with the Bigfoot/Forest People. Fortunately, Facebook has given Bigfooters the FREEDOM to choose which direction we want to proceed and who we choose to learn from.
In “Team Squatchin USA”, we have Researchers and Habituators from all walks of life. We openly share our information and personal experiences. We don’t always agree. However, we can agree to disagree in a civil manner……. BUT….. name calling, accusations of lying and hoaxing, flaming, slander and libel, hosing, etc. is NOT permitted. Unfortunately, we have to occasionally boot someone from the group because they have forgotten what their parents and kindergarten teacher taught them so many years ago: “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” It is very possible for adults to disagree in a RESPECTFUL and CIVIL MANNER without name calling, flaming, slander and libel, hosing, etc. We actually don’t try and control the opinions of our members. You are free to believe what you want to believe. HOWEVER, we do expect everyone to be RESPECTFUL and CIVIL with one another while conversing, especially when you disagree with someone.
Please come join us in “Team Squatchin USA” where you can share and learn in a “Flame Free” environment. If you want to learn how to increase your visuals and interactions with the Bigfoot/Forest People, then we are your one-stop Bigfoot resource Facebook group. We have it all.
Big Hairy Hugs!!!
Dr Matthew A Johnson
(Owner of the “Team Squatchin USA” Facebook Group)
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
There must be money as motivation on this entire post. and I will also add that Amazing claims call for amazing proof. Frankly I dont trust anything this man says !!!!
Disclaimer. I do not think bigfoot, sasquatch or whatever exists outside the human mind. “An internal as opposed to external phenomena” as Carl Sagan once wrote. That said, I think Matt Johnson presents a good argument that there is a fork in the road and those interested in bigfoot really need to choose which path to follow since there can’t be a logical middle ground.
His OLD GUARD/PROMINENT RESEARCHERS essentually consists of, whether they are misguided or not, people who believe in natural world explanations to mysteries such as bigfoot and accept that scientific methodology is the best way to separate what is real from what is not.
His NEW AND EMERGING LEADERS by contrast essentually consists of paranormal, supernatural believers where what has been thought to be true by scientific methodology is virtually meaningless.
This article by Matt highlights an issue that has long disturbed me, not just about those interested in bigfoot, but for everyone else who is interested in cryptozoological subjects.
You really have to be 100% in one camp or the other. There is no middle ground. Either you live in a natural physical world or you live in one where virtually anything is possible.
Not saying one is right, the other is wrong, but you really do need to choose.
Well I definitely wouldn’t throw Meldrum in with the “old guard.” He’s just come on the scene in the last few years and he’s brought a lot of critical thinking to the field.
I’m all for fresh ideas if it’s for the good of the whole, and I’m not terribly respectful of the current Bigfoot crowds because there’s so much infighting and squabbling and “me first” mentality.
Whether new shifts will be a true community or just a different crowd of “know-it-alls,” I guess only time will tell. As for me, I’m just gonna keep researching the way I do best.
Dear sir. I’ve seen and interacted with bears I have photos and videos of them even petted one. Show me a pic if you interacted with them. Jeff Meldrum interacted with Sasquatch and it was documented on monsterquest in Sasquatch attack.these forest people if they exist must be proven if not they will go extinct BC as we increase in population more and more forest will be cut down and cleared cut. Even now secondary growth trees are being cut down. Its only a matter of time before these forest people if they exist will be exposed and then they will be removed and transplanted so if you know sometthing then now is the time to show your hand.
YGTBSM! Loren Coleman didn’t make either list?
The basic problem here isn’t that one camp is better than the other it’s that neither camp has landed a body and proved there is a beast to the world.
Dr.Johnson it looks like back to future to me with your “New and Emerging Leaders” that could be called “SQUATCHTACTEES”or “BIGFOOTEES” if you prefer. They are just like the UFO Contactees of the 1950s with less evidence than George Adamski. Also, the most important thing about respect is that it is earned which means you question the subject.
Seriously Facebook 2004? There were plenty of ways to set up your own internet page, website, or forum before Facebook and “The Old Guard/Prominent Researchers” couldn’t control that too. That’s what the internet revolution was about.
Wow, all these researchers in the New Guard camp who have allegedly interacted with Bigfoot/Forest People. How come none of them have ever provided any better evidence than the so called Old Guard like Dahinden and Green etc?
Increase your level of sightings and interactions by learning from the ‘New Guard’? Erm, what about increasing the EVIDENCE? Dahinden and Green et all didn’t make stuff up. Seems like some of these New Guard people do. There’s the difference. I know who’s camp I’d rather be in.
Um, sir?
Those guys you are asking whether they’ve ever interacted with a bigfoot are coming to the same conclusions as me, based on a lot of evidence.
Now. The evidence I should trust you over them…?
The other “uh-oh’s”, which I didn’t have time to get to last night, are:
The “new and emerging leaders” are all listed as having seen and interacted–but, it’s allegedly seen and allegedly interacted. Unless they can prove 100% then it’s alleged. I can say I’ve seen Bigfoot, but without knowing me and without some kind of further evidence to back it up, it’s only as good as my word.
Not that I’m doubting these people had encounters, but as with any fanatic, you’re assuming these “new guard” are all beyond reproach or doubt. That bothers me. The Enoch book is the biggest red flag. While interesting, and while the experiences laid out there may well mirror other’s experiences, it’s still just a book. I’m on the fence about whether it’s legit or not. To throw that in there as unequivocal proof with the new guard, means to me that you’ve made a decision about what’s truth and what’s not already–which lumps you and yours right back into the same group as some of the “old guard” who think they know it all.
And yes, while the “old guard” never had sightings of their own, why does that cancel out their work? I’ve never seen BF either, but that doesn’t mean that anything I have to say on the matter is null and void because I’ve never had a first hand experience. In fact, I would be more of the mind to trust an objective perspective that is a proverbial “step away” from such a thing to look at evidence more objectively, as opposed to someone who has had an encounter and is gung-ho on the subject.
So, eh, I guess I’m with the old guard of flesh and blood critters–while I’m a big fan of the paranormal on some fronts, I’m not in the camp of mysticism and supernatural when it comes to the big guy. I’ve not seen near enough information for me to decide that Bigfoot is an interdimensional or alien being capable of jumping worlds and what not.
So, yes, I agree with you to the extent that we need to pick a camp. Cryptozoology is about finding animals, not using shamans and mysticism to prove our points. If that is indeed your aim, go create your own “science” and leave cryptozoology out of it. We’ve got enough problems without mucking up our field further.
Thereby, it’s as I feared and it’s just another group of fanatics and whose “open minds” are all cool as long as you go along with the “new guard’s” ideas. That’s not an open mind at all.
springheeledjack: right.
I’m not denying that habituators are having their experiences. But when they start rubbing noses in it…well, that requires something more than I’m seeing.
At least I know the “old guard” are being honest when one tells me he’s never seen one.
Sometimes – make that “usually” – the proponents are their own worst enemies.
I was proudly Booted from Team Squatchin by the Great Matthew Johnson. Here is MY response.
Enjoy!
I’m afraid this so called ‘freedom’ will only make a bad situation even worse. There’s people channeling (whatever that is) Bigfoot and grays (the little green men of the New Age) these days. I do not want to read about people that use telepathy to talk to Bigfoot, I’m sorry. I prefer science.
SaquatchVoice,
Thank you for your perspective.
Lyall M, you seem to hit the nail right on the head. These “habituators”, with their talk of “Bigfoot/Forest People”, seem to me to be exactly mirroring the contactee UFO movement of the 50s and 60s. Fantastic claims of interaction with benevolent “star-brothers” who if we would only listen to them and what they could teach us, would save humanity and the earth from utter destruction. Claims with no physical proof, other than books of their alleged experiences, or in Adamski’s case, faked evidence. I’m sorry, but if you claim decades long interaction with a bigfoot or group of sasquatches and have absolutely no physical proof of your claims – you’re telling me that in all that time you couldn’t produce a clear picture, video or recording? Persuade a real scientist or professional photgrapher to just “wait right here and they’ll show up”, or God forbid, even shoot one? – I’ve been a hunter for the last 40 years; and I have taken hundreds of pictures of deer, bear, bobcats, moose and other game and non-game animals with a trail camera; none of these people could do the same? To me “habituators” are living in a construct of their own mind.