Larry Surface: A statement about my video, and the world of Bigfoot critics [Guest Post]
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Larry Surface. With his experience in hunting, trapping, farming, and timber cutting, his goal is to prove the existence of Sasquatch so they can have legal protection. In November 2011, Larry Surface released night-vision footage of a sasquatch caught in southern Ohio around the residence of a senior citizen couple. Since the removal of the footage, Larry has received tremendous support from friends in the Bigfoot community. Others like Matt Moneymaker, president of the BFRO, have been critical of the footage, suggesting it's probably a man (or possibly even Larry himself).A statement about my Video, and the world of Bigfoot Critics.
First, the response was an overwhelming one of enthusiastic support. And I'm very much appreciative for that, thanks.
But about 15 percent had these things to say:
- I and all who believed it are stupid morons.
- I am a faker and it's not even a good fake.
- It's me walking in front of the camera.
- I'm faking it to get famous and make money.
- It's not a Bigfoot, it's a Man.
- I should be willing to take insults if I post online.
- Extraordinary claims take extraordinary proof.
- They are not convinced.
- The video is blurry.
- I made it intentionally blurry.
Answers:
Stupid morons? Well, that is a judgment call that they are not qualified to make without knowing each of us individually.
A faker? I was taught very strictly as a child to be honest, and there is no one on earth or in Heaven who can say truthfully that I ever committed a fraud or told a lie on anyone.
It is not me in front of the camera. It doesn't even look like me if anyone would take the care to look closely.
If I had posted it to make money, why would I put it up for everyone to see freely? I posted it because I was thrilled to catch it, and knew that there were thousands of other people who had been longing to see one too. My Blog does not even have ads on it to draw revenue.
Those that say flatly that it is not a Bigfoot, what evidence do you have that it is not? Just that you don't think it looks like one? That's because you just don't know what they all look like. You probably know what a Blobsquatch looks like, but this isn't a blobsquatch.
Take insults? I was not brought up on that planet.
Extraordinary proof? My intentions were not to write a scientific paper, but just to share what I caught. I don't need to prove it to anyone but myself. If you don't believe it I don't really care.
Blurry? When you are poor, your equipment is going to be poor also. This was a low resolution night vision scope with a camcorder attached to the back end.
I did not make it purposely blurry, the camera requires the subject to stop for about a second in order for the auto-focus to set, which he didn't do. I've been trying to get the video processed for a couple of weeks in order to make it clearer.
That's all the criticisms that imediately come to mind. But I am sure that the critics can come up with more. But I'm not going to make a habit of answering them.
And to my most famous critic, keep talking Matt, your serving of Crow will get bigger and bigger.
It was kind of Larry to make a Guest post here.
ReplyDeleteJudging from the way he's written,he seems like a stand up guy.
I can definitely relate to the equipment issue.Being passionate about what you do but only being able to afford so-so gear makes it more difficult,no matter how hard you try.
I still can't say it's a bigfoot though.I'm not saying it's fake or a hoax,I'm only saying that based on what was presented,I don't believe it's the big guy.
I'm willing to be proven wrong though.If that happens,I'll gladly alter my opinion.
Good luck with the enhancements!
ahhh, Larry can't wait to see the final!
ReplyDeleteYour sound uploads have been great. Thanks for the update!
Larry, I sympathize with you. You seem to sincerely believe that what you filmed is what you believe it to be. However, what you filmed is not a sasquatch. It does not in any way resemble what people expect to see when they picture a sasquatch in their mind. It appears to be lacking the build and the fur/hair typically associated with bigfoot. Perhaps someone in the area knew that you were attempting to catch a sasquatch with night vision gear and decided to have some fun with you. To most people who viewed the clip, it looks far more human than sasquatch.
ReplyDeleteThis is the dilemma with releasing any evidence publicly. One must really consider the two outcomes--a feeding frenzy of people poking around your homestead and bugging you to death or no one believing you. I'd like to see Larry just accept that his video, like any other video, cannot prove or protect BF. Without a body, we cannot prove the creature. Like UFO footage, it will remain unsolved. Larry's video will remain unsolved. I honestly do not believe that is a BF, but whether it was or not, video is not going to help the field but just make it more murky. We're getting sidetracked trying to figure out if it's a hoax rather than whether BF exists. This proves the case that video does not help us prove a thing. In the future, Larry, the video is not going to help and it's going to throw you onto the fire of skeptics. This is now how we will prove or protect our cousin. That will be done when we have some physical proof. If you want to further the field, work on the DNA front. I wish you luck. You seem like a sweet guy.
ReplyDeleteI believe I said if you post images of a bigfoot on the Internet, you should be willing to take criticism. There's a difference between criticism and insults, although I'm sure you probably got both, since this is the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI've been through years and years of voice lessons. Every time I had a lesson, I knew someone was going to tell me I was doing something wrong. Only when I learned to take criticism did I grow as a vocalist.
Putting that aside, this is not the planet you grew up on. The Internet is a nasty place full of nasty people who will insult you simply because they can. Anonymity doesn't have a very nice effect on people's manners.
When I disagree with people, I try to make it about an idea or belief. Sometimes people identify so strongly with an idea or belief, they think I am insulting them. Usually that's not the case, although I'm far from perfect. :(
I do get frustrated with Americans with a lousy science education. I'm an American and I also had a lousy science education. I had a lousy CREATIONIST science education and my parents PAID for it.
Because I'm so interested in the natural world, it didn't take very long for me to realize that creationism is a load of crap. Evolution has all the evidence on its side. I've educated MYSELF by reading books. I see no reason why other Americans can't do the same unless they're lazy or simply afraid to read something against their religion. That's why it frustrates the hell out of me.
At one point, I, too, was afraid to be exposed to things outside my religion. I've long since figured out why parents instill this fear in their children: "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." - Phillip K. Dick
I loved this part...
ReplyDelete[“Stupid morons? Well, that is a judgment call that they are not qualified to make without knowing each of us individually.”]
It is amazing that "The Critics" know all there is to know about Bigfoot. It also seems that they assume so many of us can't determine our own opinions or think for ourselves. When the critics bash someone please remember there are those of us who can make up our own minds.
I have a question- WHY oh WHY would someone fake a Bigfoot sighting and use an image so drastically different than the preconceived image most people would think they’d see???
Just as there are all types of people I truly believe there are all types of Bigfoot and similar unknown forest dwellers out there. As civilization continues to encroach on forests more will be forced out.
What Larry filmed was and continues to be unidentified at this time. I suspect that when a true "Bigfoot" is found it might not fit our preconceived ideas. I admire Larry for trying and he got something.
I look very different than an Aboriginal. Why can't there be different types of the Forest people? It seems reasonable that different climates would require different body coverings. Humans have different kinds of hair and skin color, different heights, shapes, etc.
Thanks Larry for publishing the video and for this response. I appreciate them.
Keep up the great work Larry! I really apprieciate your honosty. To me, it does not look human, but man do I love how everyone can say exactly what sasquatch is supposed to look like! Lol! All the work you are doing will be beneficial to someone at some point, there is nothing wrong with gained knowlage on any topic.
ReplyDeleteLike @ape, I can't wait to see the enhancements!
Isn't a sasquatch supposed to be big and hairy? Isn't that what a sasquatch is supposed to look like?
ReplyDelete@AIF bigfootencounters had this link in the Dec newsletter..a really nice visual site with video and summaries of current research on human evolution. The title of the site is great: Evidence, How Do We Know What We Know. They have some good stuff on primate behavior too, like is altruism spontaneous or learned? :)
ReplyDeleteGoogle
lol well that didn't work..trying to put in hyperlink
ReplyDeleteso you have to cut and paste:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/evidence/evidence.html?#/tester
well it did create a hyperlink to the site..click on the "Google"
ReplyDeleteShawn - feel free to remove this post and the one just above! thanks!
@atheist in fundyland...really?? does every one of your posts have to attack creationist? Here is a point of reference we don't give a fuck how you were raised or what you believe or for that fact who you are. We all get it , you think you are important and right. We just don't care. Shew fly.....
ReplyDeleteThe video did not look human. Larry lives in a part of Ohio that has a lot of bigfoot activity.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately his night vision equipment, like most I have seen did not get the money shot. Keep trying Larry, I'm pulling for you.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@apehuman
ReplyDeleteThanks. I was going to ask you for a link, but I see you posted one further down the page.
See, Larry? "Anonymous" is behaving like an asshole. People who hide behind their computers can say anything they want to and get away with it.
ReplyDeleteHe's probably also a Christian since he can't stand anyone who disagrees. How did Christ tell you to treat people like me, or rather people who you perceive to be "evil." Let's see if I remember this. Ahem.
Luke 6:
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Dude, you screwed up. :) Ask for forgiveness and try again.
I think it's important that when one posts something they think is BF, they depersonlize it so that they're not attached to any criticisms or disbelief. This way no one will feel insulted, and will see that the insults that anons throw out are worthless.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that you posted it, for some reason it doesn't look like a BF to me, and I haven't heard anyone break it down and say "This is why this thing is not a human and not BF." Personally, it seems to have too much neck, where it seems like most BF descriptions are no neck.
Oh yeah, and I've posted that question a bunch of times, for some reason no one has addressed it.
ReplyDeleteCan someone please look at this and let me know if this is a Bigfoot. Thank you!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS6riq1F_UA
Luis
@ dave...the range of variabilty in primate species is pretty big..just look to humans..it follows the range is great in BFs as well.
ReplyDelete@apehuman
ReplyDeleteThanks. I went through the entire site. I already knew much of the information, but I didn't know about chimps saving rocks at various locations and using the shortest distance to the tree with the nuts. :) Very smart.
I wonder if at some time orangutans were more social. They seem to be highly intelligent, so I'm wondering if the main reason they are less social is because of lack of food.
As for altruism, it can be found in many lifeforms besides apes. I can't think of any studies off-hand (it's getting late), but a quick Google would do it. I'd like more info myself.
If sasquatch exists--and the "IF" is growing larger and larger in my mind--it absolutely has to be more intelligent than the great apes. It has to have enough intelligence to have evaded the curiosity of Homo sapiens this whole time.
I admit I'm disappointed about the sinking feeling of "darn, this isn't real." But if by some miracle the existence of sasquatch is proven, come down to where I live and we can try to find the "Sierra Sounds" squatches. ;)
Rather than a photo, video or body, what we need is a Diane Fossey or Jane Goodall. Any takers?
ReplyDeleteThis is why Erickson has held back his video since 2005, he knew without the DNA to back it up he would not prove anything. Though i do believe HD video within 25 ft of camera will help it will not stop the critics until we have a body part to go along with it. It's a tough world out there Hollywood has made us distrust flm evidence Sorry Charley !
ReplyDeleteThe thing that strikes me as strange is, the critics somehow find this site and other ones to be critical about and attack the authenticity and the character of Larry and his film. I saw the video and I think it's real and I liked the film. But, more films are necessary to prove anything and there is not enough data to know the physical characteristics of this creature to know if they....like us....can look different in different areas of the world based on age, etc.
ReplyDelete@AIF all I can say at this point, is that my personal experience over the three years quite convinced me! Hard to ignore what is in your face!
ReplyDelete... and perhaps it is a compelling story (and supporting evidence) for others not out there...but, it is not proof.
I referred to them a Homo indomitus (untameable man).
And yes, I was waiting in background all that time for the "paper!" LOL..but my academic contacts, my professional colleagues...aren't waiting anymore...so, you know, count me as a casualty!
And yes, it is my intention to share fully. It might take a while...I spent 5 hrs yesterday learning how to "pan and zoom" on the video software...ended with 5 seconds of decent edited video..LOL...
So hang in there..it might not be the DNA study that does it for you...perhaps with deeper investigation it will be the sheer weight of the evidence?
@anon above - I agree, in fact I followed the story to a few forums...we were nice guys here! I also was immediately taken by it (guilty of sending link to Shawn..I didn't realize it would go so viral - sorry Larry!) and have great confidence in it..
ReplyDeleteam I wrong? Well, if so, I can adjust and so can Larry My bet? He already is running the set-up with closer focus point!
@mambear - yes, me.
ReplyDeleteFunding is an issue...but I don't need much and have established a relationship of sorts of trust..and have a need to put 100 acres of historic homestead wedged in the Ariona Wildernss, up for sale, into a preserve ( a Gombe station!) for my friends.
The cheap route? Fund me for a few months and then see if we can get more. T
he expensive route? Buy the ranch...in the low millions.
Seriously, to the Universe...this is what I want:
to preserve this unique riparian and fragile habitat, even buy the ranch, and create a place where we can learn together (BF's and us)and cross that divide of fear and the unknown...and keep it a safe and beautiful place...for a diversity of animal and plant life. It is a special migratory bird corridor too..so much worth saving and sharing.
any takers?
I like Larry- but it's still just a man walking ---maybe your a sleep walker Larry?
ReplyDeleteYes i think there is a Bigfoot...this is just not it.
Larry, you seem nice enough. I wish I could believe you filmed a Sasquatch. But if you really dont care what people think, why do you feel the need to defend yourself? If you really didn't care, you wouldn't bother.just saying.
ReplyDeleteWhen did bigfoot cease to be big and hairy?
ReplyDeleteThe illustration/picture of the yowie/bigfoot at the end of the video that maps sighting locations near Dean Harrison's attack in Australia reminds me of the video Larry got.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you guys think? It's the video under Dean Harrison's recounting his encounter/attack by the Yowie/Bigfoot. It's the map identifying locations and reported colors of Yowie's. He has made an illustration of the yowie he saw and I really think it looks like Larry's video. Pardon my redundancy trying to identify where you can see the picture.
Thanks
Matt or one of the Tims- you might as well sign your name to that post above this one.
ReplyDeletedefinetly a sasquatch because its face is a sasquatch face.. end of story
ReplyDelete