I realize you dislike this forum and it's occupants but they are probably a good representation of what the mainstream public is like outside the BF world. If the people here cannot be convinced of the existence of an undocumented primate it's a good bet the every day public isn't convinced either. The onus is on us, as researchers, to obtain the the kind of evidence that will convince them.
This was not directed at me, but I would like you to allow me to make a few comments.
I disagree that we are a "good representation of what the mainstream public is like outside the BF world". The posters here (at last the major participants of the bigfoot threads) are quite well informed on bigfoot lore. Much better informed that the "Average Joe". I dare say some here are better informed than the "Average Joe Footer".
We studied the evidence and the reasonings. Our interpretation of the evidence is the difference between skeptics and proponents, not how versed on bigfoot lore we are. The Average Joe was just exposed to some of the evidence and reasoning, usually just by chance.
Note that perhaps most of TV bigfoot programs (as well as websites) avaliable for the Average Joe are not skeptical. So, if Average Joe is skeptical of bigfoot, then proponents have a problem in their hands, and the problem is bigger than they think it is.
Your words quoted below
...snip... we tend to blame the skeptics for not believing when the truth is the evidence is lacking.
sum it pretty well.
In my humble opinion, I don't think anything short of a body or portions of a body will suffice and I've said all along it's going to take more than one body.
Well, I disagree. Many of us who conclude bigfoot is most likely a myth would happily jump in to the search for bigfoot iniciative if presented with any of the following (and I dare say this includes a sizeable chunk of "mainstream scientists"):
-Razor (ok, regular quality could do) sharp pictures or footage from people whose reputation would be ruined if somehow found involved on a hoax.
-Pictures or footage from the same creature (or from the same area) obtained by unrelated parties- this implies in reproductibility. Example: footage or stills of a Patty-like animal made in say, 1984, could make many of us rethink our positions regarding PGF, for example. But we are in 2007, and no such thing happened...
-Fossil remains of a big primate, bipedal or not, found in North America. Preferentially of an age that indicated a possible cohexistence with humans. But even remains that predated the first arrival of humans to the Americas could potentially help changing positions.
-DNA sample with the following result: Order- Primates; Family- Hominidae;
Subfamily: Homininae or Ponginae (indicating a link with gorillas/australopithecines/homo or Gigantopithecus); Genus- Unknown.
Any of the above would be considered reliable evidence. And do much more for the cause of those who defend bigfeet are real creatures than terabytes of discussions about PGF, MDF, footprint casts, mid tarsal breaks, sighting reports, rants against skeptics, etc.
But since the discussions seem to be focused on the above...
