Dr. Matthew Johnson: The Guttenberg Press, Wittenberg Door, and Facebook

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!!!