John Keel Quotes
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on January 22nd, 2014
“On the other hand, there exists a large and vocal group of men who are unreliable and often irresponsible. Over the past several years our work has brought us into almost constant contact with this group. They call themselves ”scientists” and they usually put a Ph.D. after their names. Science has become a sacred cow in this generation but that term is a misnomer. The gender is wrong. Science, by and large, is a lot of bull.”
~ John Keel
“In all fairness, we must admit that there are two kinds of scientists. Type A works for a large corporation or an important government agency. He is a proven producer. He has helped develop new soaps and toothpastes and atomic engines. He is rarely quoted in the press. In his spare time he writes scholarly papers that make a contribution to his chosen field. While he can have a large ego and other human failings, he does not seek publicity and his rare public statements are carefully worded and often make good sense.Type B is not a producer. He is usually a teacher at some university or small college. He is caught up in the vicious ”publish or perish” atmosphere of our educational system and so he also grinds out reams of books and papers, generally based on a systematic plagianism of the works of Type A. He seeks publicity and is frequently seen placing his foot in his mouth. It is a common practice for newspapermen to call upon the nearest available ”authority” when an unusual event occurs. If, for example, a meteor flashes across the local skies, the reporter will phone the professor of astronomy at the nearest school. This professor will either talk off the top of his head or he will scurry to his bookshelf and quote from the works of a Type A scientist.Much of the scientific rubbish you read in your daily newspapers comes from the mouths of Type B. Type A is usually too busy, too inaccessible, and too smart to pontificate for the press.For years Type B scientists have been telling us that the Abominable Snowman did not exist. None of these men had ever ventured closer than three thousand miles to the Himalayas. Their conclusion was based upon the fact that no scientific literature existed on the subject. Similarly, a number of college professors, without bothering to talk to a single witness, identified West Virginia’s ”Mothman” as a kind of ordinary bird.”
~ John Keel
About Craig Woolheater
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.
The antipathy towards science and scientists in some parts of the cryptozoology community is pretty amazing . . . It’s no wonder that almost all scientists are reluctant to have anything to do with crypto.
Wow. Somebody had to drop freshman biology and never got over it.
Well, …[wiping venom spew off glasses]…
If he’d left all the nastiness out, he’d be right on target.
“Scientist” tells me we’re talking about a person who, were he asked whether fairies are real and ride unicorns, would take off his glasses; polish them; and reply:
It would be nice. But what evidence do you have?
He wouldn’t say, in other words, anything he couldn’t prove, except to note that “…we’re not really sure, and would certainly need more evidence than we have.”
Scientists are the people we ask to reserve judgment; to not go off (like Keel did here) on their own version of Keel’s pet peeves; to go, well, wait a minute, but before you go off dismissing that…why would you want to? Particularly when there is evidence that supports it?
Science tests propositions. It doesn’t call them and the people who propound them silly; it doesn’t discourage youngsters who might solve the mystery with their science degrees; and it doesn’t consider “expert” an excuse to dismiss so you’ll look good to people who are requesting an honest answer, not a “no, me? I’m not crazy…”.
That’s science. Scientists, unfortunately, are too often true to the factual points Keel made about them. I think it’s all the math; crushes the curiosity right out of them.
I mean, this field separates the scientists (Meldrum; Krantz; Bindernagel) from the merely tolerably accomplished techies in narrow corners of the scientific vineyard.
Just fact, that.