Huge post - I recommend skipping to the next!
Can I take over as apologist for Creekfreak?
Wowser, my head is spinning. I've just re-read the entire thread, taking notes, in an attempt to understand who Creekfreak showed the photo to, who spotted the bigfoots/bigfeet and brought them to Creekfreak's attention etc.
However, I got sidetracked and my notes turned into more of a potted history of Creekfreak's posts in this thread than a who-what-where-when. I've pasted these notes at the end of this post, just in case anyone may be interested in reading them. I don't claim these to be an accurate reflection of what Creekfreak has said here, they're just things he said which grabbed my attention at the time. Whatever, re-reading the thread and then reading my notes made me suspect I may be wrong in my initial impressions that Creekfreak was a scammer/hoaxer.
FWIW, I now suspect that he's playing
fairly straight with us even if he does have a tendency to - ahem - exaggerate. My current opinion of what's happening here is that -
CAUTION - Speculation Ahead!
Creekfreak likes to hunt for Bigfoot. Maybe not the best use of his time, but not particularly harmful in itself. His friends and colleagues humour/encourage him because basically he's a nice guy.
He took a photograph of a helicopter, which he showed to at least two people - the internet friend "she" and ThunderFoot.
Someone he trusts has
possibly Photoshop'd the pic to include vague bigfoot-like creatures, or has simply put the idea into Creekfreak's head that there are two bigfoots/bigfeet visible in the photo.
His friends and colleagues have encouraged this.
Creekfreak
really believes he has a photo of bigfoot, that this photo is genuine and is worth a lot of money.
His friends and colleagues have encouraged this.
Creekfreak feels he is sitting on a potential goldmine - photos which he now thinks
prove the existence of bigfoot. He wants to maximise any potential earnings from this photo.
His friends and colleagues have encouraged this.
Creekfreak is very wary of showing the original/enhanced photo to anyone (other than trusted people such as "she", Darkwing and ThunderFoot) as he is fearful of losing his rights to any potential earnings from this photo.
His friends and colleagues have encouraged this.
Darkwing has indicated that the photo is possibly not as valuable as Creekfreak hoped it was. Creekfreak has trouble accepting Darkwing's assessment of the photo.
His "friends" and colleagues have encouraged this.
[End-Speculation]
Of course, your mileage may vary.
Here are the random snippets of Creekfreak's posts in The Thread So Far, in chronological order -
... I disided to take some pictures of the chopers that where flying real close to us . After showing the pics to a freind of mine on the internet she pointed out there was 2 creatures ... After haveing them enhanced the face of the larger one was ...
... I have hair samples also . If you would care to pay for dna testing by an expert Ill be happy to send some of it to anyone you choose fit to do the job . ...
... I am not claming this is the best picture ever taken but its good enough to open some eyes to what is out there . ...
... It doesent matter if I show it or not you people will shoot it down no matter what . Its not worth the agrevation of fighting with you about it . ...
... I most likely will not be posting any more unless I see something positive to post about ...
... 4. From your vantage point, how far away was it to the helicopter?
about 50 yards ...
... Oh and yes they do understand english and can speak it also . And yes they are a lot smarter then a lot of people Ive met . ...
... This one understands english and he even said a few words of it from a distance that I understude perfectly . He said who you 3 times in different octives it wasent my imagination . He could have been mimicking me though becouse I did say who are you when I walked up on him . ...
... Now we come to the facts as far as I know no one has ever found a bear that has died naturaly in the wild . ...
... I do beleave there is one that likes to watch me work . He even pounds on my door early in the morning to let me know he is here to watch me . ...
... I have to protect my intrest everything I have is tied up in this . ...
... Like I said they mess up sometimes and get seen . The grown male I saw got bold and was diging trough my trash in the daytime . ...
... You know except for the insults you guys are not a bad bunch I have to respect your thinking . I would never expect anything less from anyone I came to with my claims . I must say I commend you for your critical thinking . ...
... A man can only take so much ridicule before he just says the hell with it I am about at that point . ...
... put it this way if I would have had a boat the day of the fire we would not be talking about this I would have been able to get right in there face . ...
... I am in the field of bigfoot research not some troll out of the gutter of the internet . I am as real as it gets people if you think you can better come on down to the swamp and get ya some . ...
... my name is Gary carlsten AKA Creekfreak this photo belongs to me . ...
... You people have a lot of nerve asking to see the original . Well there you have it this photo is real I give my word that it is . I am willing to show it to the worlds best photo experts . Find them and I will show it to them ...
... lock I have answered every question that has been asked by the mabrc . I have not withheld anything they just have not received all my imformation and that is an original unenhanced copy . ...
... I told Dark it was a man that did the enhanceing he made the mistake of saying it was a women not me get your facts straight . I women brought it to my attention but she had nothing to do with enhanceing it . ...
... yes there is a record it was a big fire with alot of fire fighters and many witnesses . I even know who started it . ...
... I am geting tired of defending myself I really dont owe you people any explanation for anything . The photo is real get the experts on it . ...
... what i have presented to you is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me God with my hand on a bible . ...
... if your not a prof what do you do ? where is your lab and what are you studying ? ...
... One last thing noone has realized is . The helicopter could have been air lifting them out with his bucket . ...
... and the fact it was naked and covered with hair he was not a pretty sight folks . I know its insencitive but he had **** hanging off his ass and matted in his hair .I guess the reason I did not smell him is becouse he was down wind from me . ...
... And why hasent the palm dates that I have in my frezzer that could have dna on them that I think a bigfoot has sucked the juice out of have not been asked for ? ...
... Come on down to my swamp and ill train you to be the main man in bigfoot rerseach ! I am geting old and I need to pass on what I know or it will be lost . ...
... It must keep them up all night thinking of ways to trip me up but they cant . When you tell the truth you dont have anything to worry about . ...
... I say this is a picture of some bigfoots or bigfeets I came here to debate it but no one has proven it is not . If it is not bigfeets then what are they ? ...
... I say I have the proof prove that I dont its pretty simple . ...
... why dont you get the experts to take a look at it ? ...
... And I also consider the MAN that did the color enhancing to be an expert also . If you would like to bring in your own experts you are welcomed to but you havent so ...
... I told you Dark is one of my experts the other will remain nameless at this time . ... then I will allow them to look at it untell then your just going to have to take Darks word for what he finds . ...
... I havent been given a better one so far from any of you I am still waiting where are your experts . Mine is Dark of the mabrc who are yours ? ...
... Sorry Dark but your assesment is worng I can see it plain as day even with this moniter you are mistaken my good man . All you have to do is adjust the blues in the photo and the eyes will show up again sorry but you are worng on this one . ...
... The photos I sent dark are of the same spot and it is clear that there are no bigfoots in it the next day . He has made a mistake on this and I will prove it if I have to go back and take more . ...
... This is not over yet guys I am going the distance with this everything will be proven in time . ...
... All that has been proven here is that Dark and I disagree on his assessment . ...
... I said it was good not the best it needed to be enhanced to show what is there . no hoax just makeing it better I dont see anything worng with that ...
... It is very clear Dark did not intend to give this a positive reveiw from the start ...
... peter wheres is that agreement ? you may get to see it after all I need to know your real name and any other imformation you can provide me . Web sights that have your work ,back ground, military experience ect
... And at this point I will go with out a lawyer but I need to know who this man is with out a dout . ...
... I dont disagree with all he [darkwing] has said just some of it . And what Ive said I disagree with has not been proven not to be true . ...
... I have not refused any one anything you are twisting my words this is very common with people like you . ...
... the creatures where pointed out to me by some one I sent them to before I knew they where there . I was telling her about the intresting few days I had ...
... Dark let me talk to TF about this first I value his judgement as well as yours ...
ETA - and a belated "Welcome to the forum" to Creekfreak's friend and colleague, ThunderFoot.
ETA2 - What Apology says -
I'd like to thank Darkwing for his participation in this thread and say that I don't blame him or MABRC for this debacle. I think Darkwing handled the situation as fairly and objectively as possible. I know that MABRC members have expressed a concern that Creekfreak's behavior reflects negatively on all of them as a group, but I don't think it has. As a matter of fact, MABRC has shown more skepticism than I expected from a dedicated, pro-Bigfoot forum, so I personally see Bigfoot enthusiasts as a little less kooky than I'd imagined before I visited MABRC.
Somebody wake me when it's over.
hmigod-what-have-i-done-smiley