Secret Sauce: “The Bigfootery Enquirer” Blasts “Bigfoot Bully”
Posted by: Loren Coleman on May 13th, 2010
For those who haven’t been watching, during the last couple years, a blog has been doing a bit of muckraking of its own special kind.
“The Bigfootery Enquirer: A Blog About the People of Bigfootery” has toiled away in the backchannels and back shadows of hominology. Some would say, it has been in the backwoods, too.
Whoever is writing that blog has decided to hide his or her identity, to the ultimate frustration of various members of the Sasquatch field. It appears some Bigfoot forums have been yelling for the author of The Bigfootery Enquirer (henceforth, TBE, rejecting his “BFE” designation, for now) to be “outed” for some time.
I only bring this blog up at this time, as TBE seems to be in full-force battle with the organizer of the forthcoming – this weekend’s – Ohio Bigfoot conference, Don Keating. I’ll get to that in a minute, but first an example of the TBE’s point of view. The blog author there laid out rather clearly the point of view of the writer when he posted his “principles” (sic) leading to the “5 Levels – ‘Bigfoot Researcher‘”:
1. You can be a “Bigfoot Researcher” by simply calling yourself one.
2. Your rise to other levels of “Bigfoot Researcher” is mostly limited by yourself. If you have a strong ego, can toss out a good line of BS, are relentlessly self promoting and want to invest some time you to can become a fourth or even a fifth level “Bigfoot Researcher”.
3. Your rise is hardly limited by a lack of education, a lack of money, a lack of looks, a lack of creativity or a lack of values (actually lacking values will serve your rise well).
4. Your mileage may vary.
The Bigfootery Equirer classifies “Bigfoot Researchers” into five levels. There is some graying of the levels, especially at the top ends.Level 1 – The Neophyte “Bigfoot Researcher” aka, The Newbie
Level 2 – The Inter – net Social “Bigfoot Researcher” aka, The Arm Chair Researcher
Level 3 – The Bigfoot Group and Field “Bigfoot Researcher” aka, The Gander Mountain Cammo Guys
Level 4 – The Self Appointed Ruler, Junior Profiteer and Hoping to be Famous ”Bigfoot Researcher” – aka, Carney Barkers
Level 5 – The Profiteer and Iconic “Bigfoot Researchers” aka, The Mavens
One commenter, John Phillips added this new category:
Bigfootery Pariah. The resume of detractors I personally have in tow would surely make the Guiness list. From armchair wannabes to psycho felons (who travel 300+ miles to stalk your family) it is indeed a list of the best and worst of level 1-4 practioners. Sadly, tho’ when you add up ALL of their accomplishments in the realm of Bigfootery it only amounts to .02 waiting upon change.
Now, let’s move onto the Don Keating internet fight. TBE appears to have started calling Keating the Bigfoot Bully (or simply, the Bully) long ago. I am not sure of the full historical/psychological origins of this moniker, as, frankly, I have not had time to do an indepth investigation in that realm, as I have had various real Bigfoot investigative and field work matters to tackle.
But I thought, for those attending the Ohio Bigfoot Expo, you might wish to not be blindsided by the steamy background of what’s going on behind the scenes. There appears to be a great deal of complaining, and a certain other (known female) blogger has jumped into the mess. See below.
TBE recently posted this:
Ohio Bigfoot Conference Update
April 30, 2010 by thebigfooteryenquirer
This update comes from an informant, we have not checked the facts but unfortunately it rings true. Our informant listened to an internet radio show and claims this is right from The Bigfoot Bully’s mouth.The stellar comment idea of having a canned food donation and our challenge to match the donations is, sadly, not going to happen. Too much greed. And evidently the admission fee has doubled from $5 to $10. Adding insult to injury, from our tip, is that greater bigfootery is being told to feel lucky the admission price is just $10 as others charge much more.
In a true double insult to injury, our idea to charge a package price for the “guided tour” has been stolen and people can expect to part with 5$, or $20/car, to have the privilege of visiting a free state park. That sounds like someone is setting themself up as an outfitter/guide and we are curious about licensing and other arrangements Ohio may have on such arrangements on public lands. Expect some investigation and possible inquiries to the proper officials in Ohio from one of the BFE’s crack stringers. Crack as in sharp and quick, not crack as in drugs, although some may disagree.
There has been one comment:
April 30, 2010 at 8:29 am | Reply
[from] Sharon
Since you love bashing Don so much, i would love for it to be known that Joyce Kearny is paying to fly in Bob Gimlin and Tom Yamarone AND that Tom and Bob have to pay for their own rooms at Salt Fork. Don is keeping all the money
We reply… gullible, is that you? That will add some money to the bully’s bottom line, which is substantial. Thanks for the info, it will be helpful, but not here. Goodness, his costs are near nothing (promises of gas money – that in past years were not always honored – compted rooms for a few, airfare for Meldum [maybe?]) and nearly every dollar will be profit this year, what a gig….
TBE has updated his/her virtual intelligence work regarding this weekend’s Ohio Bigfoot conference with a new posting on May 12th, discussing the issue of Keating canceling the weekend tour. If you wish to read about it, you can go there.
Look, I am directly sending you to TBE as well as to the Ohio Bigfoot Expo. But come back here to share both sides of what you Cryptomundians think about this whole issue. I am sincerely interested in what you wish to share below, in the comments’ section here. I have no opinion, yet, as to what TBE is saying.
Disclaimer: TBE has mentioned on his website that he once donated a modest sum to the museum. I don’t know have any way to know who did that or when, and don’t know the identity of TBE. I will reveal that while I have had problems with Don in the past, in the realm of mending fences, we buried the baseball bats a few years ago during the Mass Monster Mash, meeting in the middle of our disagreements on the mutual mid-field of baseball to work some things out. I contributed to Keating’s forthcoming conference by donating two signed copies of my books for his auction. I have no favorite dogs of war in this battle, other than being somewhat concerned that such conflicts may not be good, longterm, for the field of cryptozoology.
Therefore, opinions, histories, and identity guesses regarding of TBE’s insights will be tolerated within the comments’ section below, pro-TBE, con-TBE, pro-BFE, con-BFE, pro-Big Bully, con-Big Bully, pro-Keating, and con-Keating, to support the full airing of whatever is going on here. Also, your guesses as to the secret identity of TBE/BFE can be noted too.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
From the text, it appears to me that TBE is just ticked and wants to spout some passive/agressive-ness around on the net. TBE’s obviously trying to insult and get under people’s skin. I’d say, let them rant…can’t do anything about that, AND ignore them.
TBE doesn’t have any credibility to influence the crypto world and they don’t even have the guts to stand behind their convictions by remaining anonymous–if they revealed themselves they’d have to actually defend their opinions and face the same kind of scrutiny they’re trying to dump on everyone else.
Roll your eyes and move on.
Really?!? People are upset by this? This TBE is little more than an armature level nuisance.
Anonymous people can say anything to anyone and they usually do. It takes courage to leave your name and contact info out there. It takes nerve to put up or shut up. It takes little more than a keyboard and a grudge to attack people from the shadows.
My experience with the belligerent anonymous posters are that they are 13 year old, acne faced, social outcasts with a fixation on their own genitals.
/dismiss and move on.
Oh, wait. LOL I’m an anonymous poster!!!!
I feel like I am back in high school. This kind of gossip is good for nothing, except distracting from real research and knowledge of BigFoot.
I try not to feed into this type of he said/she said gossip. It is distracting. I agree with previous posters’ comments. We should just ignore this unimportant juvenile behavior by individuals that have nothing positive to add.
This is more about bruised personalities, retaliation, gossip by people with idle time on their hands, and disruptive to real students of BF.
Enough said! Time to move away from this kind of negativity and ignore it altogether!
I almost forgot, you wanted us to guess the identity of TBE.
After cursory research in the late morning hours, it appears the domain name comes back to a static IP number in California for TBE. Who do we know that lives in Westwood, CA?
That’s about all the time I am willing to give to this.
Loren, you got me with the photo of Spider Man losing his mask and fearing for his life and family once they discover his identity. I actually have this comic at home, albeit, quite beat up. Your sense of humor is fantastic and I might suggest you try writing a book on just comedy, musings and your knowledge of all things Crypto, comedy wise! Now, on to Bigfoot. It’s a given, the easy way to make yourself look good or bring attention to yourself is to denigrate someone else. You’ve never lowered yourself to this and man, you are a fantastic person. Everyone take a lesson from the man himself (that’s a line from Dracula), Loren Coleman!
Ulysses is TBE
“After cursory research in the late morning hours, it appears the domain name comes back to a static IP number in California for TBE. Who do we know that lives in Westwood, CA?”
I think that is because that is where “WordPress” is located. Their blog, like this one, is a “WordPress” blog.
But I could be wrong…
I believe TBE says in a post that he lives in West Virginia.
I believe that TBE’s activities could be verging on the edge of illegal. I was reading on the web a while back about Cyber-bullying. And if I remember right there is a federal law on the books. The article said something about when you annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass someone on the Internet, you must disclose your identity”. I think a few cases even went to court and the perpetrators were fined and ordered to pay restitutions. Hope they have a deep wallets, looks like more than one person could go after them for harassment and defamation of character.
This is just more of what I have observed since I became interested in Bigfoot a few months ago. Typical, just typical. I think, basically, most of you are nuts in some form or another, not because you believe in Bigfoot, but because of behavior like this. Get over yourself and quit reading the blog, problem solved. It’s not the only smear campaign or character assassination attempt going on in the culture, why draw more attention to it than it already deserves? And yes, it is illegal, but it would cost you more to press charges than it would for the person to pay fines for cyber-stalking and harassment which is, at most, a misdemeanor.
jodie, your posting in this topic. So welcome to the nut house.LOL Your right that all this in-fighting is crazy. I’m just an observer who; every once in a while injects a little bit of sanity and truths.
It might be a misdemeanor but there could always be a civil suit??
I was just sharing some information for both bigfooters and bloggers.
Thanks for the welcome and the info EOAA. I had actually looked up the legalities of all of it when one of the blog talk radio shows chose to target a member of a now defunct forum about a month ago. I was amazed at both sides in the very public feud. I don’t put Cryptomundo in the same category although I’ve seen commentary on here before that amounted to a glorified pi**ing contest, just not quiet so bad. I consider this the lesser of the evils and my interest in cryptids is still there, just not in the majority of the other people who are also interested in the topic.