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July 29, 2010

Tying Up Loose Ends

Hello everyone.

Yesterday I received the news, Teresa Hall has left the Bigfoot Forums. I was told to go check out a specific thread on the JREF, where she posted the news. So, I did.

Do I think Teresa is really gone?

Nope. Does anyone really leave?

Am I happy to see her leave the community completely?

Nope. Odd isn't it? Maybe it's because I have a cold.. No, I don't think that's it.

I don't know how I feel about Teresa's departure. Maybe, I will figure out how I feel about it, by the time I finish writing this article. This blog often times is a "theraputic" outlet. I type my thoughts, which, at times, start out fuzzy, then become clear. So much about this "community" confuses me. Who should we trust? Who should we talk to? Who is hateful? Who is really extending a hand of friendship? How do you tell the difference?

Teresa posted on the JREF, she wanted me (along with 2 others) to "leave her alone."

How do you make such a statement,

When you are front and center in the trashing of others? Why should anyone cut you any slack, and "leave YOU alone"?

I must admit, when I read her plea to be "left alone," I had a very primal reaction.

Since 2008, Teresa and her merry band of "friends" (far more than 2) have done whatever they could to make my life, hell. I have had some of the nastiest things posted about me, on the Internet, by these people ~ posted as if this information was true.

Teresa went right along with the lies told about me. She said nothing. I wrote specific blogs stating

"If you don't like me, or this blog, or my website, stay away. Leave me alone, and I will leave you alone!"


Did that stop Teresa and her friends? No, they said I was "playing the victim" and looking for "sympathy".

Did they "leave me alone"? Heck no. They didn't even stop to catch their breath.

When YOU know the truth, and YOU do not speak it, YOU are just as guilty for allowing a lie to run rampant. YOU could have spoke the truth, YOU chose not to. When YOU know the truth, and YOU speak the lie yourself ~ YOU are just as guilty.


Teresa and her friends just couldn't back off me. I have had to deal with far more mis~information, written about me, by this group of people, since 2008, than Teresa has ever had to deal with. Some of it she could have stopped, and chose not to. In fact, nothing on this blog posted about Teresa is untrue.

Teresa states she has been dealing with criticism for 3 months. Wow, that is horrible!! Wow, and I thought the more than 2 years of lies being told about me, by you, and your friends, was bad.

Whew,

I feel better now. Yeah, that's sarcasm.

Teresa wants me to "leave her alone?"

I have mixed feelings about Teresa's departure from this community. Why? I will be honest and say, I have no idea why she turned on me in such a vicious way.

For those of you who do not know, I was (I thought) friends with Teresa Hall. All that changed in 2008. It was almost as if she was looking to start a fight with me, on everything from the Administration of the Searchforbigfoot, to the Internet show we hosted together, "Let's Talk Bigfoot". I won't go into the details of those disagreements (unless Teresa wants to dispute my comments) but needless to say ~ it was stupid. Why was it stupid? I have co-hosted 2 shows since then, and while I have disagreed with my co-hosts, during discussions in reference to new guests and show ideas, we all remain friends to this day.

There was no disagreement, Teresa and I, could not have worked out. Teresa chose to turn it into an issue that would end our friendship.

When you call someone "friend" you should be able to disagree, and not let that disagreement interfere with that friendship.

I was warned, "If Teresa leaves the Searchforbigfoot, one by one, all her friends will fall in line, and you will be the target." Those people were right. My god, it was like watching domino's fall. I defended Teresa, against these comments, about her. I actually told these people, "No, she wouldn't do that. We are good friends and we have much in common. Why would she do that?"

I have thought about this since Teresa left the Searchforbigfoot in 2008. Why?

When anyone loses a friend, they want to know, why? Well, unless they are a robot, they would like to know the answer to that question. Even as I sit here today writing this article, I don't think she was honest about her reasons for being so angry with me. If she was honest ~ Wow!

The Teresa I knew, was funny. She had a sense of humor. Teresa, and I, would laugh on the phone for hours. Her and I shared so much in common. I felt like she would be a friend I would have for life. Well, we all know how that panned out.

Some people have said,

This blog should be about Bigfoot, and not the drama surrounding the people. I don't necessarily disagree with those people. But, in my emotional journey with Teresa, I discovered something.

It's easier getting into the woods to find a 9+ foot, upright, bipedal primate, than it is to get to know some of the people involved in this, make friends and keep them.

Why?

It's the lack of trust. I never would have thought, Teresa, would have turned on me the way she did.

That my friends ~ is a warning, a warning everyone should be aware of. When I became friends with Teresa, I was under the impression, if I conducted my research in a way that was anchored in sanity, I would have no problems with the people in this research.

I was wrong,

Instead, once my friendship with Teresa fell apart, I had everything about my life questioned, from my health to my personal relationships, on Internet message boards ran by her friends. Teresa knew and still knows the truth of these situations, yet she has chosen to remain silent. On some of those issues she chose to speak, and when she did, she towed the line of the lie.

Why shouldn't I be upset about that? Anyone with an ounce of feeling would. I used to trust, but now I am very leery. Do you blame me? I don't blame others for feeling the way I do. Once bitten and all.

I don't hate Teresa, or anyone. I am however disappointed. I am disappointed in myself for not listening to people who told me, exactly, how this friendship would end. Yeah, I chose to believe Teresa and had faith in our friendship. Does that make me stupid? No, just someone who once believed, you should treat people the way you want to be treated. At least that is what I was taught by my Dad.

What makes me angry is this,

You should be able to rely on honesty from those who know it. Especially when it's the same people who lecture about truth, and honesty, and call themselves your "friend".

Teresa fell flat on her face, when it came to the "truth." Could she have stopped the lies? Probably not. But, she also never spoke out against it either ~ instead she even opened up the show (Let's Talk Bigfoot) to allow one of these lies to spread, even further.

Now, Teresa wants to be "left alone".

If you play with the emotions of others, Teresa, you don't have the expectation of being "left alone."

You go on and do whatever it is you need to do, Teresa. But, if you return (as I think you will) and allow these lies to continue, I won't "leave you alone". I will extend to you the same "courtesy" you extended to me. You allowed not just myself to be hurt by your need to be "popular", but you allowed my friends, and my family to be hurt (who found some of the hurtful things you said, and allowed on "Let's Talk Bigfoot.")

You say you are "not a force to be reckoned with," as the justification to be "left alone". Funny, I never thought I was either, and it never stopped you. Did I ever tell you I should be treated any special way? Hell no. I did, however, expect that as my one time friend, you would not allow lies, you knew were lies, to be told.

I would never allow lies to be spread about you, Teresa,

Regardless of how badly you have treated me. Still, to this day, I would defend you against a lie. I'm sorry you do not feel it necessary to return the same in kind.

This blog, is my outlet to express what I see right, or wrong, within this field of research and the larger community. I chose to allow my situation to be an example of what will happen to anyone who enters this "Bigfoot Internet community," and they don't keep their guard up.

Heck, I have had people in this community HATE me, because of the lies told. Once they actually took the time to talk to me, and get my side of the story, they are now friends. Yes, I should be upset about that. Wouldn't you be upset if people hated you, and you didn't know why? Then you find out their opinion is based on lies told by former friends?

Am I happy Teresa says she is leaving this community? No. Why, you ask? Because no one should have to feel the hurt, I and others, have had to endure. Some would call it karmic justice. I don't. I see it as something that could have been avoided, and a complete shame. Would it make Teresa "popular" to have told the truth?

Heck no.

But, should we care about our "popularity" when it comes to speaking the truth? Should "popularity" be the determining factor, in whether we decide the truth is important?

Everyone needs to answer that question for themselves.

As for "leaving you alone, Teresa"

I will.

But, you should not expect better treatment, from people, you have treated with complete and total disrespect. I am not celebrating your departure, as you celebrated the horrific things said about me. I will still continue to not allow comments about you that are not true, and I will always ask for proof of things you are accused of.

I wish you all the best, and good luck in the future.

Someday I might even forgive you. However, I will never forget what you did, and did not do.

Which is a shame, because I know at heart, you are a good person, who got caught up in friendships you wanted more. But, I refuse to allow you to blame me, for the drama you find yourself caught up in now. You made the decision, it was a choice you made. You could have picked another path - and did not.

You made that decision, not me. Even now, as I end this article, I am still not sure how I feel about your departure, Teresa. But, I wish you the best.

Which is far more, than you wished me.

34 Comments:

  • At 2:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Teresa appeared to be getting off on the power trip and those she passed along the way really didn't matter to her.

    Years ago I had this feeling that she was someone who could not be trusted. I've since seen that suspicion come true several times over.

    Whatever her reasons for resigning, the likelihood remains that there will be no real change unless there is change from the ground up at BFF. This means 'Policy' and many of the individuals who have interpreted it. Brian needs to take a good hard look at where the conflicts develop and address whether the forum is taking the right position on what have become controversial issues.

    If BFF is supposed to be THE PLACE for discussing bigfoot, well then that doesn't mean excluding points of view that simply don't fit within the controlling groups narrow definition. Anyone who comes along with even a single element that doesn't fit within their tidy world of beliefs, well let the animals attack. That's NOT unbiased.

    But you've got a pack there now who will resist any meaningful policy change. And if they didn't, well their views are well set in stone from the last few years. Kinda like Teresa's acquiescing how people there told lies about you Melissa. That's how the worst of the mods and admins will treat change. So what kind of outward change can we expect if there is no real change internally?

    Bipto has a chance to truly grow his forum or just reaffirm what it has become. To grow however, it means realizing that maybe bigfoot is a little more complex then even he believes, and that maybe this has 'something' to do with the reason why we can't prove they exist.

    If BFF is going to claim they are 'open minded' well then they better live it and not just talk it, and NOT attack every claim of habituation or weirdness that comes along. Because guess what, bigfoot is a weird subject. They contradict what we were all taught growing up. We are not alone and in fact we DON'T know what they are, or where they are from for that matter. It is a good assumption that they have been here longer then us, but there isn't even any proof of that. So why not just approach the subject with a little more of that overly coined 'open-mindedness'?

    Oh yeah sorry, this was about Teresa. Good luck to her too, hope she finds her answers, even if they don't agree with her worldly view.

     
  • At 5:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    For me, when you get down to the bottom line, how much damage has been done to potential witness's and new people by the current leadership over "there". The simple downright nastiness is appauling, and that's my cleaned up term.

    I understand there are many people with many personalties involved with this research. But I don't understand why other fellow researchers allow the downright disgusting treatment of witness's and potential new researchers, without saying a thing. As far as I'm concerned, any group, or individual, that takes a sighting report from one or more persons, should be concerned. Afterall, don't the vast majority of us take witness reports and follow up on them if possible. So what makes that witness different from the witness that accidently finds the bff, and makes a post about their "normal" experience, and then gets drug through the mud by those that are so hateful............NOTHING!!! It certainly can't be because they didn't come to us first, can it? How do we know the next witness to be "abused" there, isn't the guy that lives around the block......oh we don't. I can't imagine how some of those people have felt after a negative posting event there.....hell would you ever go back, or even share your story with anyone, I probably wouldn't. How do any of us know, that the next report, won't be the one that leads to more positive results, or hell, even evidence? But maybe, not every researcher wants that. But that still doesn't make it acceptable to let such crappy treatment of others, go unchecked. The point here is we need as many witness reports as we can get, in my opinion.

    How much have we lost because of that scenario, we'll never know. But we are all doing the same basic thing, at least I thought we were anyway. A lot of us share info, and techinque, but even some believers/witness's are above that it appears. So exactly how they get control of the biggest info forum out there, is beyond me. I guess either jealousy, or greed causes some of there negative mindset, as I hope most of them weren't taught to interact that way with others, and I really don't believe they were.

    But after 40+ years of stomping around, we have about as close to zilch as you can get. Makes me wonder why. There certainly needs to be more of a non-competitive atmosphere with what we do. But then again.....I guess that depends on why each one of us are really doing this.

    Wammy....

     
  • At 7:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    The posts above cover very well the immediate problems regarding the BFF. No need for me to comment on that.

    Teresa, I have never been able to ask you these questions. I probably will never know the answers. Why were you ever involved in this field? What interested you about it and what do you think you accomplished? If you ever feel kind enough to answer me you know how to contact me.

    Melissa, I am sorry for the terrible way you have been unfairly treated. I am sorry that your friend did not stand beside you or speak up when she should have. The way you have always tried to do for your friends.

    In my opinion it was all about some type of envy. It was basically Melissa had the nerve to speak her mind (and always has) and try to be proactive in her thinking and research. She objected to the treatment being dished out by her former friends on the BFF. It ruffled the feathers of those friends who think that they run things. They think everyone is wrong or a idiot who does not agree or follow them. They felt a need to "put her in her place" or shut her up.

    It's that old saying: If you do not have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. Who are the quiet ones now?

    Keep on squatching lady,

    John Cartwright

     
  • At 2:24 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I dont have anything nice to say so I am not saying anything

    Creekfreak

     
  • At 12:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hmmm, I occasionally check BFF, expecting to finally see a signal of change, a Hallmark Moment if you will. You know, when the refreshed and enlightened leader states something like:

    "I came back because this place has really gone downhill and I must take responsibility for what it has become. I didn't understand how wrong we were in how we treated witnesses, or just members who have theories we didn't agree with. People have a right to their opinions, but we placed our own 'in crowd' above others and used our power to keep these others in their place. I've neglected to listen to the complaints of this all those years and even became part of the lynch mob myself. Can these people ever forgive me? Can they forgive how so many of our Admins and Mods have allowed and participated in such mistreatment? I guess I just wasn't sure what BFF was supposed to be vs what it could be. We truly fell short of a quality experience for everyone.

    From now on, I promise that the BFF will be a kinder gentler place. A place where people can share their experiences without fear of ridicule or abusive behavior. I UNDERSTAND and I will make sure the rest of the leadership UNDERSTANDS or THEY will be the ones removed! We will understand that just because we may not believe something happened in an encounter, we weren't there. We now understand that there are things we just don't have the answers to. We understand that most of our regulars have never had any kind of encounter, and are in fact, 'armchair researchers' as many have coined. No matter how much they dislike hearing this, it is true. Hearing a bigfoot or finding a track does not an expert make. Not even a single sighting means much other then the reward that brings to the witness. Most simply do not have the expertise to conclude what sasquatch are capable of, or what they are. We need to humble ourselves if we are to learn anything. We will continue to ask tough questions but we will do so respectfully. I am reworking the policies of BFF to reflect these changes. We have to accept that much of the world and even science is open-minded about things like ufo's and even the existence of alternate dimensions. We simply can't rule out a connection because we don't share those views or because of some unsupported view that science won't take bigfoot research seriously if we consider these connections. The fact is, they are mysteries too and for all we know, there could be connections that are yet to be explained. It would truly be arrogant of us to deny anything being possible. We understand now that these bigfoot are indeed very intelligent beings, otherwise they wouldn't have been able to outsmart us all these decades. So it is US that needs to adapt to a changing world, because these sasquatch aren't going to become what we want them to be. It is WE who need to adapt our thinking and accept whatever they turn out to be.

    If anyone violates this new interpretation of how to respect a witness or member, they will be dealt with by me. Its time we opened up our minds to not be afraid to consider all the possibilities. We may not agree with every story or theory, but we won't crucify people as a result of our own ignorance or admitted limited knowledge of this elusive species. We will be big enough to accept our errors and we hope people will afford us the chance to change. From now on if we treat someone badly, you can PM me and I will deal with those individuals accordingly. If I need to remove people because of behavior that has long been the accepted norm, so be it. That goes for Mods and Admins alike. It is time for real change at BFF!"

    Or, should we just expect?: "It is 'business as usual' at BFF!" lol

     
  • At 8:08 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Links to the lies please.

    Drew

     
  • At 9:25 AM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    Drew,

    You want a link to the lies she told? How about the most recent. Head back over to the JREF where she played William Parcher, GT/CS, and others like chumps:

    (http://forums.randi.org/showpost.php?p=6168505&postcount=287).

    Then, go to the BFF:

    (http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?act=Stats&CODE=leaders )

    and see if Teresa really did “resign” or if that was a sympathy plea on her part to back away (just long enough) for things to cool down.

    Funny, she is still listed as an Administrator on the BFF, although she said on July 28th she resigned her position.

    No, that’s not a question.

    If Teresa was really gone, we would be watching a flood of her pals on the BFF Staff leaving right behind her. That you can’t deny.

    What? Do you and others really think Administrators can’t log in anonymously (to not be seen)? If you do, wow, you my friend have a big ole‘ glass of BFF Kool-Aid….

    Last I checked Administrators on Invision Boards also have the ability to add or remove members - including themselves. I know this, because my board is an Invision Board. All it takes is the permissions to add new members, tell me Teresa wasn’t able to do that.. Please tell me that.

    Any other lies, you know full well about, considering you were posting on the Bigfoot Discussions forums, right along with Teresa, Redwolf and the others. No, I am not saying you were in on the comments, but you know all about them.

    Don’t play stupid Drew, it doesn’t suit you.

     
  • At 11:26 AM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    Update: In fact, Teresa logged onto the BFF as an Administrator this morning at 9:20 A.M.

     
  • At 2:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    To refer again to the adage; "the more things change, the more they stay the same". Ergo, the first attempt at open change at BFF by one of their members.

    Pnwskookum states this:

    "I'll ask this and then duck. With new Chief Administration, is it maybe, just maybe time to take a new look at among other things, how witnesses get treated here. In reading some older threads it just comes off like many of them either got run off, or chewed up and spit out.

    I just can't help wonder how much discussion that steers away. I ask only for the sake of playing Devil's Advocate to the status quo.

    Thoughts, folks?"

    Then Redwolf Replies:

    "PNWSkookum, this has been addressed by the current CA in the past:

    (I won't post the whole text, but its the same one I referenced in the 'BFF Drama Update' thread. You can bet that Redwolf is reading your blog Melissa. lol )

    http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?showtopic=6639

    Then Redwolf tells her to bring it up in another dedicated thread:

    "Now, let's keep this thread on track. If you have further suggestions for improving this forum, please post them here:

    http://www.bigfootforums.com/index.php?showtopic=17904"

    And when PNWSkookum does:

    pnwskookum
    Today, 07:54 AM

    "getting back to the original title of the thread, just an observation but maybe let a thread evolve a little more before being so quick to shut the down at times."

    This post has been edited by bipedalist: Today, 08:08 AM
    Reason for edit: posted quote of previous post.

    Did Bipedalist remove her own main question she quoted?


    MY guess is, the BFF is planning on burying any and all attempts at addressing any significant change there. Queen Redwolf would appear to be the one in charge of directing free thought to a dead end resolution.

    Not to rush it but it's been over a week, DO YOU REALLY THINK BIPTO HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT COMING CHANGES AT BFF?

     
  • At 3:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Melissa,

    Please hold from posting this and my prior submission. The second post by pnwskookum was a few weeks old from a cached page, even tho it said 'today', it wasn't. Don't have access to new info. sorry for error. The rest was accurate however.

     
  • At 3:51 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Melissa,

    This part here was based on a google cached page from late July. If you deleted this portion, the rest would remain accurate. We just don't know what the conversation is where she was referred because it is in the Member's Lounge.


    "And when PNWSkookum does:

    pnwskookum
    Today, 07:54 AM

    "getting back to the original title of the thread, just an observation but maybe let a thread evolve a little more before being so quick to shut the down at times."

    This post has been edited by bipedalist: Today, 08:08 AM
    Reason for edit: posted quote of previous post.

    Did Bipedalist remove her own main question she quoted?"

    And of course it could very well have been about the same subject matter as she has brought it up in the past. But we don't know for sure and I don't want to make such assumptions.

     
  • At 4:28 PM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    Anonymous.. I had already posted your first comment, when you sent me these two new comments. So, I was unsure as to what to post, so I decided to post everything because you explained your own mistake.

    Melissa

     
  • At 4:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    OK, that works too... lol

     
  • At 12:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Yesterday, I was curious to see if Teresa had logged into the BFF since her retirement. So I checked, and I was surprised to see she had logged in at 9:20am their time.

    Today, I was once again curious to see if she had logged back in since 9:20 am yesterday. I discovered not only had she logged in, but she had adjusted her account so the general membership can no longer see if she has logged in. (The adjustment of her account says that she logged in).

    I think it is very telling that this has been changed. It seems Teresa does not want people to know if she has recently logged in or not. I don't suppose I would want anyone to know that I was sneaking around anonymously. It looks like she did this so people wont know that she has not really resigned after all! If you cannot see when she last logged in, her cover story is more viable.

    However, Teresa, you got busted! I know you logged in yesterday, and now I cannot see when you last logged in! It tells me that you are hiding what you are doing!

    This is seriously funny stuff!

     
  • At 4:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    She has not left. Not a very credible forum. Sightings data base is great, rest is a social club.

     
  • At 11:18 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    It would appear that Jaylee has also now left BFF. I could think of a few new mods that need to follow. I wonder if Bipto realizes who the clones of poor management are?

    The thing is, just cleaning up some of the leadership by itself won't fix what's wrong. There is an indoctrinated behavior that will require POLICY CHANGE to fix. It goes much deeper then just the people who have enforced their point of view upon the group. It is an indoctrinated stagnant paradigm that BFF (and certain other forums) are taking the lead in enforcing. Guess what, the world is much more enlightened to accepting the other mysteries that are around us then you realize.

    Bipto also needs to recognize that the interpretation/enforcement of policy is too oftentimes engaged by mods/admins in an unbiased manner. One where they favor those who belong there before the new one who comes there to share. The gang of so called 'critical thinkers' becomes NOTHING MORE then a lynch mob as they attack individuals from every seemingly tactical angle. Often using goosed up logic that has little validity, and is merely nothing more than a coordinated attempt to keep the individual and their claims or new theories in their place.

    The thing about 'critical thinking' is that even it is based on the extent of experiences of the thinker. When you've never had an actual encounter, your frame of reference is miles different from someone who HAS had encounters. It's not surprising that most armchair researchers still view sasquatch as just some giant elusive ape. The 'armchair researchers' REALLY have little knowledge of this beings' reality or habits. The armchair researchers (including some mods/admins), needs to realize this. The long-timers on forums AREN'T the authority, and they MIGHT just stand to gain some insight if they would just LISTEN to those who have had encounters before shutting these people down or trying to find every little contradiction they THINK undermines someone's claims. Some people just don't understand that things can happen without an explanation. Man, armchair researchers can be real idiots sometimes, as they are only undermining their own potential by cutting witnesses off who attempt to offer their innermost interpretation of their experiences.

    So Bipto, can you recognize that the so called 'critical thinking' from the armchair researchers point of view, really can be self-defeating, because it is often without real life first hand experience?

    So called 'critical thinkers' are little more then people who have never had anything unexplainable happen to them and are stuck in a black and white world. Sure, maybe some so called critical thinkers have had a limited encounter, but they are a long ways from being enlightened to the idea of being a free thinker and actually making progress in their own insightful evolution.

     
  • At 12:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Yeah I had a feeling that when I saw "Comment up for review" that the censors would not be happy with my fair and balanced comment. Nothing but the truth spoken with zero vulgarity at all, yet the censor did not like the content so it will never be seen... Yup just like all the other Sasquatch talking heads ya just don't wanna except the truth...

    You my dear are another hypocrit...

     
  • At 6:06 PM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    Dear Anonymous,

    I have not deleted or purged your comment. All comments that come into this blog are reviewed, you are not special. Also, I was out doing what you apparently hate for women to do the most, looking for bigfoot, from Friday until Saturday evening.

    I did not post your comment, due to the obvious hatred toward women you have displayed in so very few words. Why do I say that? Because it is obvious you have not either read or paid attention to how all this started (in my case). It was not a caddy woman, it was men. Yes, that’s right. Had you paid attention, or read past the first few articles you would know that. Oh, don’t get me wrong, women were in there too, but the gossipy portion was actually started by guys.

    Instead, you assumed the problem was all about us “women”. Well, I am not sure how other women would feel about your “stay in the kitchen” attitude, but I found it more offensive than anything ever posted on this Blog. The veiled profanity did not help your case much either.

    Also, I would have more respect for your opinion, had you the guts to sign your name. I’m sure it chaps your buttocks that women are involved in this pursuit, but you would be well advised to get used to it - and keep your hateful opinion about the opposite sex to yourself.

    Or be sure to keep signing your name Anonymous.

    Melissa

     
  • At 11:21 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Wow with the latest news re BFF, I must look out the window occasionally to see if pigs have learned how to fly. I also keep watching for a new thread Melissa, but it seems you are holding off now to allow time for changes to take place. No need to, I think most will welcome upcoming changes. It does seem that Brian does feel that change is needed with the recent house cleaning, that was monumental! It shows some real conviction to the recognized need for real change. However he has a long ways to go, and it will come down to what the ultimate philosophical and policy changes will actually be?

    If he's hung around those who have real first hand knowledge of what bigfoot is like, he knows they are more than just some elusive giant ape. He will know there are some mysteries about them that simply can't be reconciled without being more open minded about those taboo subjects. He will need to recognize that there are many many more scientists involved in the subjects of ufo's or parapsychology, then there ever has been with bigfoot. These phenomenon actually have more credibility then sasquatch in daily life, it is 'we' who need to humble our field, and stop thinking it is preeminent or somehow insulated from these other phenomenon. It is not! Those whose limit of such phenomenon is catalogued as 'romanticism', well its those people who really don't have much depth or understanding. The human condition is meant to evolve, and for those who have 'sensed' they were being watched, then you should realize there is something to it.

    I've seen sasquatch more then once. I also know first hand that they display some 'traits' that we don't quite have the capacity to comprehend. If people can't discuss these things without being persecuted, then BFF will end up right back in the same place. That is where repeated division occurred on the forum, in addition to those who have claimed repeat encounters and get scrutinized to death as a result. BFF will need to recognize that many of these 'unbelievable' claims contain the truth, but its the masses who controlled the forum who didn't 'understand' and thus could not accept such claims. Yes there are some claims that may appear just too far fetched, but I guarantee, there just needs to be a little more latitude given because strange things happen. This world is full of mysteries that can't be explained. The police use psychics all the time. Our government studies it. There are so many ufo sightings, and some of those 'have' coincided with bigfoot sightings. The BFF (and other groups) can't be ignorant of this any longer if the field is to move forward. The field doesn't need (or want to) take it up as a 'religion' of belief, but it can be more open minded and tolerant to such claims and then investigate where it can. That is what the basics of science is supposed to do. Science DOES NOT go into a mystery with its mind made up about what something isn't!

    Cont..

     
  • At 12:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    There is a large group of individuals who have come to understand that the BFF was an entity that lived with actually an archaic view of bigfoot. They know that bigfoot is much more then forums like bff allow. BFF simply became a source of ignorance and arrogance. Not everyone of course, but the power holders. It doesn't mean these people with wild claims have any more proof, no, because we have come to realize that sasquatch seems to know if we are trying to trick them, and once we betray them, then they lose trust in us. The trust building is a delicate process, and once you violate it, you must start from the beginning. I've been there myself. So have many many others and bff needs to realize there is much more involved in this bigfoot thing then dressing up in camo and trying to be some covert field ops agent in hopes of capturing one on camera. These bigfoot are a 'people' in their own right. They are a very intelligent indigenous primitive being with an understanding of their own place in the world. If they are going to be understood at any level on the forums, then its going to require a little more open-mindedness of those who have had more interaction, juxtaposed to those whose entire knowledge is formed based on some preexisting perception because of the forum's policy statement.

    I truly hope that bff will be a changed forum. Not just in the area of tolerance to once taboo subjects but in many other ways that cause conflict and division. You have some people out there who have some amazing knowledge of these beings, but they are afraid to share that because of how they will be treated by forums like bff. And thus the forums never learn a damn thing as a result. Its in hope of positive change that I have commented as I have. Heck, if there is real change, I may even reveal my identity. lol

     
  • At 1:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hehe, Interesting! The scholars over on jref have concluded that not only are certain anon posts here are from the same person, but that it is Autumn Williams talking. It just goes to demonstrate the inherent flaw in forums that are practically designed to scrutinize whatever they can come up with, and be WRONG about it. They seem to run out of material and seek what ever they can exploit upon. They fail at finding the truth because they don't have first hand knowledge of specific subjects anyhow. I think its perfect, seeing them talk themselves down the path of self certainty. It's classic, forum-contrived faulty logic at work. Something that happens over and over where a misguided group relishes in their yet erroneous, self perceived certainty.

    Kitakaze states: "The main Anonymous who is having the drawn out exchange with Melissa is Autumn. Melissa is calling her a woman-hater for something she said about "caddy women" in the post Melissa didn't allow. She is clueless that it's Autmn. It's fall-down obvious it's Autumn. I only chose that last post there as one example. Almost all her posts clearly give her away as Autumn." or "Melissa, you donut, you're talking to Autumn. Autumn Williams is Anonymous."

    It would seem that Kitakaze is the talking donut. lol

    Of course jref seems to be a place that leaves zero possibility for the existence of bigfoot overall. There seems to be an army of laptop toting skeptics run amok in self grandiosity (some exceptions of course), rather then any form of constructive inquisitive group trying to solve a mystery based on personal experience. Hmm, not too much difference from the old bff. :)

    What's wrong with many of these forums is that they are made up of individuals that really don't have that first hand exposure to the phenomenon they are discussing. Their frame of reference is surely lacking personal knowledge. The vast majority have never seen an actual sasquatch and those that have, are finding forums a very inhospitable place and don't dare discuss facts with such a group. All those 'Critical Thinkers', that's funny. BIG LOL! Boy are they are clueless. They even remain in 'stuck mode' with respect to the number of members the CFZ Forum has, and how old the last post was there. Did they not have their 'Critical Thinker' caps on and read near the top where it says: "This forum is in archive mode - closed to new input"

    cont..

     
  • At 1:44 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hehe, Interesting! The scholars over on jref have concluded that not only are certain anon posts here are from the same person, but that it is Autumn Williams talking. It just goes to demonstrate the inherent flaw in forums that are practically designed to scrutinize whatever they can come up with, and be WRONG about it. They seem to run out of material and seek what ever they can exploit upon. They fail at finding the truth because they don't have first hand knowledge of specific subjects anyhow. I think its perfect, seeing them talk themselves down the path of self certainty. It's classic, forum-contrived faulty logic at work. Something that happens over and over where a misguided group relishes in their yet erroneous, self perceived certainty.

    Kitakaze states: "The main Anonymous who is having the drawn out exchange with Melissa is Autumn. Melissa is calling her a woman-hater for something she said about "caddy women" in the post Melissa didn't allow. She is clueless that it's Autmn. It's fall-down obvious it's Autumn. I only chose that last post there as one example. Almost all her posts clearly give her away as Autumn." or "Melissa, you donut, you're talking to Autumn. Autumn Williams is Anonymous."

    It would seem that Kitakaze is the talking donut. lol

    Of course jref seems to be a place that leaves zero possibility for the existence of bigfoot overall. There seems to be an army of laptop toting skeptics run amok in self grandiosity (some exceptions of course), rather then any form of constructive inquisitive group trying to solve a mystery based on personal experience. Hmm, not too much difference from the old bff. :)

    cont..

     
  • At 1:47 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    What's wrong with many of these forums is that they are made up of individuals that really don't have that first hand exposure to the phenomenon they are discussing. Their frame of reference is surely lacking personal knowledge. The vast majority have never seen an actual sasquatch and those that have, are finding forums a very inhospitable place and don't dare discuss facts with such a group. All those 'Critical Thinkers', that's funny. BIG LOL! Boy are they are clueless. They even remain in 'stuck mode' with respect to the number of members the CFZ Forum has, and how old the last post was there. Did they not have their 'Critical Thinker' caps on and read near the top where it says: "This forum is in archive mode - closed to new input"

    Melissa, the word 'paranormal' has been so stigmatized within the bigfoot field, mostly by those who have never seen a bigfoot or experienced any similar unexplainable phenomenon. Yet so many so-called paranormal things around us are accepted by popular culture. It is the bigfooters and these skeptic groups who have fallen behind. They rationalized away the Native People's claims. They ignore the fact that much of the population do believe that UFO's are indeed visiting earth. They don't even realize that ESP is a regularly researched academic and even government interest. How many people have 'sensed' they were being watched? What is that really? Until this field can come to grips with the possibility of these other mysteries, the ones they seek to explain may well continue to evade them. Not that I am saying there is any connection to ufo's, mind you. I don't know that nor would I advocate it. The problem is, we don't know either way and so its irresponsible to discount out of hand.

    From: http://www.cfz.org.uk/ 'Statement of Core Belief'
    "2.        That it is arrogant in the extreme for humankind to think that we know all the secrets of the universe, and especially those of the natural world. There are many processses of nature that we simply do not as yet understand."

    "6.        That zooform phenomena and other allied phenomena are not `supernatural` or `paranormal` but are merely defined by laws of science that we do not yet understand. "

    This still applies to those paranormal elements people fear so much. They are defined by the laws of science we do not yet understand. That's all it is, and yet so many people continue to chase witches that require persecution. What an antiquated world we live in.

    Was it right that Jane Goodall was once persecuted by her peers for being open minded to telepathy in animals? Is that how we are meant to treat exploration of new ideas? I'm just saying we can't discount these mysteries of hand. Are we so afraid of what we do not understand? Is it so frightening to consider that we REALLY DO have a dormant sixth sense and that maybe sasquatch has evolved this where we haven't? Is it merely a complex element of evolution that we don't YET understand? Of course after Goodall's own in-depth research, she also came forward in her belief that sasquatch exists, and she was equally persecuted for that by her peers. Is that what science is supposed to be, where new ideas are not even investigated because the NOs have a louder bullhorn?

    I'd say many of the forums need a reboot like BFF if they are to grow.

     
  • At 1:48 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    What's wrong with many of these forums is that they are made up of individuals that really don't have that first hand exposure to the phenomenon they are discussing. Their frame of reference is surely lacking personal knowledge. The vast majority have never seen an actual sasquatch and those that have, are finding forums a very inhospitable place and don't dare discuss facts with such a group. All those 'Critical Thinkers', that's funny. BIG LOL! Boy are they are clueless. They even remain in 'stuck mode' with respect to the number of members the CFZ Forum has, and how old the last post was there. Did they not have their 'Critical Thinker' caps on and read near the top where it says: "This forum is in archive mode - closed to new input"

    Melissa, the word 'paranormal' has been so stigmatized within the bigfoot field, mostly by those who have never seen a bigfoot or experienced any similar unexplainable phenomenon. Yet so many so-called paranormal things around us are accepted by popular culture. It is the bigfooters and these skeptic groups who have fallen behind. They rationalized away the Native People's claims. They ignore the fact that much of the population do believe that UFO's are indeed visiting earth. They don't even realize that ESP is a regularly researched academic and even government interest. How many people have 'sensed' they were being watched? What is that really? Until this field can come to grips with the possibility of these other mysteries, the ones they seek to explain may well continue to evade them. Not that I am saying there is any connection to ufo's, mind you. I don't know that nor would I advocate it. The problem is, we don't know either way and so its irresponsible to discount out of hand.

    From: http://www.cfz.org.uk/ 'Statement of Core Belief'
    "2.        That it is arrogant in the extreme for humankind to think that we know all the secrets of the universe, and especially those of the natural world. There are many processses of nature that we simply do not as yet understand."

    "6.        That zooform phenomena and other allied phenomena are not `supernatural` or `paranormal` but are merely defined by laws of science that we do not yet understand. "

    This still applies to those paranormal elements people fear so much. They are defined by the laws of science we do not yet understand. That's all it is, and yet so many people continue to chase witches that require persecution. What an antiquated world we live in.

     
  • At 1:49 PM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    What are ya gonna do? LOL. I hear complaints when I moderate comments, and I hear complaints when I don't... Oh well. I will just keep doing what I think is right.


    Melissa

     
  • At 1:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    What's wrong with many of these forums is that they are made up of individuals that really don't have that first hand exposure to the phenomenon they are discussing. Their frame of reference is surely lacking personal knowledge. The vast majority have never seen an actual sasquatch and those that have, are finding forums a very inhospitable place and don't dare discuss facts with such a group. All those 'Critical Thinkers', that's funny. BIG LOL! Boy are they are clueless. They even remain in 'stuck mode' with respect to the number of members the CFZ Forum has, and how old the last post was there. Did they not have their 'Critical Thinker' caps on and read near the top where it says: "This forum is in archive mode - closed to new input"

    Melissa, the word 'paranormal' has been so stigmatized within the bigfoot field, mostly by those who have never seen a bigfoot or experienced any similar unexplainable phenomenon. Yet so many so-called paranormal things around us are accepted by popular culture. It is the bigfooters and these skeptic groups who have fallen behind. They rationalized away the Native People's claims. They ignore the fact that much of the population do believe that UFO's are indeed visiting earth. They don't even realize that ESP is a regularly researched academic and even government interest. How many people have 'sensed' they were being watched? What is that really? Until this field can come to grips with the possibility of these other mysteries, the ones they seek to explain may well continue to evade them. Not that I am saying there is any connection to ufo's, mind you. I don't know that nor would I advocate it. The problem is, we don't know either way and so its irresponsible to discount out of hand.

    cont.

     
  • At 1:52 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    From: http://www.cfz.org.uk/ 'Statement of Core Belief'
    "2. That it is arrogant in the extreme for humankind to think that we know all the secrets of the universe, and especially those of the natural world. There are many processses of nature that we simply do not as yet understand."

    "6. That zooform phenomena and other allied phenomena are not `supernatural` or `paranormal` but are merely defined by laws of science that we do not yet understand. "

    This still applies to those paranormal elements people fear so much. They are defined by the laws of science we do not yet understand. That's all it is, and yet so many people continue to chase witches that require persecution. What an antiquated world we live in.

     
  • At 6:04 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Now that Kitakaze has apologized to you, it seems he must pit the different anonymous posters here against the center now that he's realized he was wrong. Problem is, he is apparently incapable of discerning the difference in posters. He WAS SO SURE it was Autumn and now he has another idea who the anon poster(s) is/are. And then he has to open that with name calling. What a pod, oh wait, he can't be one of them. lol Come on Kit, take a breath will ya, let the world expand a little bit around you. You might breath easier.

     
  • At 1:11 AM, Blogger Ed Smith said…

    I see where the JREF all Starr moderation team has sunk to a new low. The mods have struck out all posts considered off topic made by Melissa (you know the ones in defence of herself) and issued harsh warnings of any more off topic posts. Ah but wait there is more to this, All the posts of Kit's attacks which started this mess remained.

    How is this? Locknar, Tricky and Durat are by and large Hypocites!!!

    Critical thinking has flow right out the window in that place and this is the cherry on top.

    Yours truly,
    Ed Smith (Okie Ed) banned for expressing an opinion.

    PS: Little Billy has no idea of what he is taliking about when he was so sure that Penamunde was me it was acually Vance Dillon.

    Sorry Melissa if I wonder about on this commet.

     
  • At 11:20 AM, Blogger Melissa Hovey said…

    http://searchforbigfoot.org/index.php?showtopic=2821&st=0&gopid=28511&

     
  • At 1:50 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    After thinking about Kitakaze's prior 'chimp' comment and now seeing the latest 'hick footer sexist chimp' one over on jref, (he's speaking of me of course, well in part anyhow cause he apparently still hasn't figured out that there is more then one anonymous poster in the context he's tied together). lol Yip, he doesn't know I'm not the one who made the sexist remarks. Is that really sooo hard to figure out Melissa? :) I wonder if he'll offer me an apology?

    Anyway, Kit's conduct has allowed me to recognize an important trait normally associated with the worst of forum resident trolls. (No offense Kit with this one time use, but I'm also not a hick. lol) What some do is begin using disparaging names and labels to marginalize an individual. Tools scraped from the bottom of the intellectual arsenal. This isn't a method that is exclusive to Kit however, it's one that is utilized repeatedly on forums where the ruling class use it to marginalize those who introduce new or rejected ideas that go against the status quo. It is an effective method of gaining sympathy of peers and I think Kit has come to realize this. Strategically, it benefits the labeler to stereotype an outsider, whom is seen as some form threat to the generally indoctrinated position or status quo of a group. It was an everyday method used at BFF.

    I raise this now because it is used as a method over and over on forums when perceived outsiders come on the scene with new or non-accepted concepts. The favorite noun used by these ruling class is generally the word 'troll', but there are other derogatory internet terms as well. The thing is, those building these scheming character personalities are actually what some have called the 'resident trolls' themselves, digging in and protecting their own little territory. I don't mean to be part of the problem in using the same terminology, but it is apparently part of the dynamics requiring illustration. That's from a 'hick footer sexist chimp's point of view of course. lol

    I believe that this name calling/labeling is one major element that needs to be restricted on forums if they expect to change. Its obvious when you call someone a troll, you've called him an outsider, inferred he's unwelcome and should be rejected. To the NEW BFF, I hope you're reading this! Maybe JREF and a few other forums should take note as well.

     
  • At 1:53 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    After thinking about Kitakaze's prior 'chimp' comment and now seeing the latest 'hick footer sexist chimp' one over on jref, (he's speaking of me of course, well in part anyhow cause he apparently still hasn't figured out that there is more then one anonymous poster in the context he's tied together). lol Yip, he doesn't know I'm not the one who made the sexist remarks. Is that really sooo hard to figure out Melissa? :) I wonder if he'll offer me an apology?

    Anyway, Kit's conduct has allowed me to recognize an important trait normally associated with the worst of forum resident trolls. (No offense Kit with this one time use, but I'm also not a hick. lol) What some do is begin using disparaging names and labels to marginalize an individual. Tools scraped from the bottom of the intellectual arsenal. This isn't a method that is exclusive to Kit however, it's one that is utilized repeatedly on forums where the ruling class use it to marginalize those who introduce new or rejected ideas that go against the status quo. It is an effective method of gaining sympathy of peers and I think Kit has come to realize this. Strategically, it benefits the labeler to stereotype an outsider, whom is seen as some form threat to the generally indoctrinated position or status quo of a group. It was an everyday method used at BFF and this is a MAJOR error that the Admins & Mods couldn't figure out.

    Cont.

     
  • At 1:54 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I raise this now because it is used as a method over and over on forums when perceived outsiders come on the scene with new or non-accepted concepts. The favorite noun used by these ruling class is generally the word 'troll', but there are other derogatory internet terms as well. The thing is, those building these scheming character personalities are actually what some have called the 'resident trolls' themselves, digging in and protecting their own little territory. I don't mean to be part of the problem in using the same terminology, but it is apparently part of the dynamics requiring illustration. That's from a 'hick footer sexist chimp's point of view of course. lol

    I believe that this name calling/labeling is one major element that needs to be restricted on forums if they expect to change. Its obvious when you call someone a troll, you've called him an outsider, inferred he's unwelcome and should be rejected. To the NEW BFF, I hope you're reading this! Maybe JREF and a few other forums should take note as well.

    AnonA

     
  • At 10:22 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Sorry for what was essentially a double posting, you can remove the first one in fact, as I had added an important point in the second try. You can omit this too from posting if you do.

    My first attempt was actually rejected by the comment window because it was too long, so that's why it was cut in two in a second try. I guess it still sends it through to you for consideration.

     

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