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Bigfoot A Hoax?

elzbal writes "The family of a Pacific Northwest prankster is coming clean. The Seattle Times is reporting that Bigfoot was just a creative figment of Ray L. Wallace's imagination. He orchestrated the prank that created Bigfoot in 1958. According to family members, he had asked a friend to carve a few pair of 16-inch-long feet. Then he and his brother Wilbur had slipped them on and created the footprints as a prank, family members said. He was also somehow involved in the famous walking Bigfoot film."

56 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. In other news.... by f64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "upwards of 500 scientists, all having invested years of their life to researching bigfoot, often giving up their carreers, have pronounced a fatwah against the family of Ray L. Wallace.

    said one spokesperson: "the reward of $50.000 we offered for a captured bigfoot, will now be rewarded to those who bring us the heads of Mr Wallaces' family".

    f64: making crack remarks since 1978 (the year crack was invented).

    1. Re:In other news.... by EschewObfuscation · · Score: 4, Insightful

      [From the article]
      > Remembrances may be donated to Children's
      > Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle.

      Seriously, it might be nice if any bigfoot reward money were instead donated to the medical center. It would be a nice legacy for the man, and a good ending to the story.

      Probably never happen, though - I bet that Bigfoot hunting goes on for the next hundred years.

      Anyone else care to bet that a lot of the same people who doubt the moon landing will continue to believe in Bigfoot?

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    2. Re:In other news.... by snake_dad · · Score: 2
      Anyone else care to bet that a lot of the same people who doubt the moon landing will continue to believe in Bigfoot?

      So someone needs to create www.badbiology.com, like www.badastronomy.com

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  2. "somehow involved"? by PhysicsGenius · · Score: 2, Interesting
    They are going to have to be a lot more convincing and specific than that to turn the tide of belief in Bigfoot. We need actual photographic proof that this guy is Bigfoot or maybe a diary or something where he wrote "June 13. Dressed up as large ape-like creature. Was spotted by hunters."

    As an example of this kind of thing, remember crop circles. No one seriously believes that those guys pulled this hoax because the geometric shapes are too perfect, plus the wheat stems show no signs of cracking. There is clearly more here than meets the eye.

    1. Re:"somehow involved"? by GuyMannDude · · Score: 5, Interesting

      They are going to have to be a lot more convincing and specific than that to turn the tide of belief in Bigfoot. We need actual photographic proof that this guy is Bigfoot or maybe a diary or something where he wrote "June 13. Dressed up as large ape-like creature. Was spotted by hunters."

      I doubt anything is going to convince the Bigfoot believers that it was a hoax. People seem to have the desperate need to believe in fantastical things. I'm not sure exactly why (although I could come up with some ideas). It's nice that these guys came clean about their involvement with the Bigfoot legend but, realistically, I don't see anything coming of this.

      As an example of this kind of thing, remember crop circles. No one seriously believes that those guys pulled this hoax because the geometric shapes are too perfect, plus the wheat stems show no signs of cracking. There is clearly more here than meets the eye.

      Hmmm. Now you've lost me. Actually, most people DO believe that crop circles are hoaxes. I'm not sure where you get this "no one believes..." stuff. And you can certainly place me in the category of non-believers. I don't want to get into a crop-circle argument with you, PhysicsGenius, but I'll only ask one question. Which do you think is more likely: that some guys went out with wooden planks and played a trick or that aliens from a far away planet spent valuable resources to visit our world and, when they got there, all they did was make a few crazy patterns in the local vegetation and left? If you say that latter, then you and I are so far apart that it wouldn't make sense for us to discuss this, Bigfoot, healing crystals, psychic phenomenon, LockNess, Yeti, and all the other pseudo-scientific stories out there.

      GMD

    2. Re:"somehow involved"? by babbage · · Score: 2
      Ha ha ha ha! Haaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha! Ha haa haaaaaa! *breathe* HAAA!

      *deep breath* Oh. Wait. You're not joking.

      Thats even funnier! Ha ha ha ha ha ha....

      As the great scientist Peter Venkman said, "you're right Ray, no human could stack books this way." Sure....

    3. Re:"somehow involved"? by CaptainCarrot · · Score: 2
      Actually, most people DO believe that crop circles are hoaxes.

      Well I don't. I honestly believe that there are people who sneak out in the middle of the night and create geometric figures in fields of cereal crops. Those circles are real. Very real.

      --
      And the brethren went away edified.
    4. Re:"somehow involved"? by Dr.+Manhattan · · Score: 2

      If these aliens are so magically powerful, how come you never see forest circles?

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    5. Re:"somehow involved"? by sjames · · Score: 2

      What I'm waiting for is the theory that mirthful aliens sneak into fields and produce the circles using boards, ropes, and common surveying techniques.

    6. Re:"somehow involved"? by NoMoreNicksLeft · · Score: 2

      Not speaking for PhysicsGenius...

      But, you're arguing a bit unfairly. While one explanation is that guys with wooden planks played us for fools, there are possibilities other than graffiti-writing spaceships buzzing the UK.

      You see, I actually believe most are hoaxes. Do I believe the few remaining are UFO related? I don't believe anything, except that they are strange phenomena that I would like explained. Uncommon though it is, sometimes the simplest explanation is wrong. Strange things do happen.

    7. Re:"somehow involved"? by CaptainCarrot · · Score: 2

      That does seem to be next, doesn't it? We'll probably hear it the first time an element of the crop circle investigation industry finds some circle-making equipment left behind by the (for want of a better word) artists.

      --
      And the brethren went away edified.
  3. This is a SURPRISE? by MacAndrew · · Score: 4, Informative

    I was *so* relieved when the Lock Ness pranksters came clean. How cruel, exploiting the weak-minded, vulnerable and credulous ... journalists, conspiracy theorists, etc. Then there was that ship-eating squid thing a few years ago. :)

    There are so many real scientific puzzles and the press preoccupies itself instead with the mystery of Michael Jackson's deflating nose (which has be checking my nose all the time now to see if the cartilage is poking through like his....).

    Bigfoot, we never knew ye. What will the Weekly World News do? Their circulation has been battered enough already.

    1. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by stefanlasiewski · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Bigfoot, we never knew ye. What will the Weekly World News do? Their circulation has been battered enough already.

      Hey, no worries there. They've had several front pages speculating on the location of Osama bin Laden!

      --
      "Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
    2. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by Zordak · · Score: 2

      Speaking of scientific mysteries and Michael Jackson (sorry, it's too easy), maybe it was aliens who abducted him and did all that plastic surgery. It would do a lot for my faith in humans as a race to not have to believe that a person did all that to his face on purpose and that he actually paid for it.

      --

      Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
    3. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by Chelloveck · · Score: 2

      Isn't Osama the love-child of Bigfoot and Bat-Boy? Or was that Elvis?

      --
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    4. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by MacAndrew · · Score: 2

      I think he seriously hates himself. It's a classic case of black self-hatred in my uneducated armchair opinion. It's a shame, too, he used to be a perfectly normal-looking African-American. Here is a chronology -- even if he'd stopped back at age 26 or so... It's not just the nose -- the skin-bleaching and other surgeries, too. And orangatans?

      OK, he needs help for other reasons, but I think he does have the common social maladjustment, too. To the extent his fame has denied him the help he needs, I feel bad for him. He seems to be a nice guy; nice, anyway, these days.

      And yet -- what was the deal with the child dangling thing, anyway?

    5. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by cpeterso · · Score: 2

      If skepticism is your hobby, you should check out Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP) magazine. Carl Sagan used to be a contributor. CSICOP encourages the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminates factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific community and the public.

      but mostly it is some relentless ass-kickin' of pseudoscience and the paranormal. :-)

    6. Re:This is a SURPRISE? by Muad'Dave · · Score: 2
      I heard he wanted to look like Dianna Ross. He darn near suceeded. He at least looks just like his sister. He now wants to look like Elizabeth Taylor. This could be really interesting.

      --
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  4. I'm coming clean too by succotash · · Score: 5, Funny

    I built the face on mars.. have to go now, Mike Wallace is on the line.

    1. Re:I'm coming clean too by isorox · · Score: 2

      I thought I saw someone when I was digging the canals...

  5. So... by Dannon · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...it was all a hoax. Just like the government's secret UFOs were really weather balloons, swamp gas, and light reflecting from Venus.

    Or maybe they're "coming clean" because that's what They want us to believe!

    --
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    1. Re:So... by uncoveror · · Score: 2

      That article was a somewhat clever example of disinformation, and it could only explain away a few California bigfoot sightings. Fear not The Uncoveror will investigate this. Watch for a more on our website coming soon.

      --
      The Uncoveror: It's the real news.
  6. This is beautiful! by manyoso · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I love it!

    Actual proof is not required for the popular belief in the fantastical Bigfoot, but 'convincing and specific' proof with 'photo graphic evidence' and maybe 'a diary or something' is needed to refute the existence of a hypothetical fairy tale creature.

    That is freakin awesome! :)

    1. Re:This is beautiful! by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
      Actual proof is not required for the popular belief in the fantastical Bigfoot, but 'convincing and specific' proof with 'photo graphic evidence' and maybe 'a diary or something' is needed to refute the existence of a hypothetical fairy tale creature.
      I don't normally do this, but here goes; mod parent up! If I had mod points I'd do it myself, but sadly they expired a week ago.

      This is exactly what I was thinking (and chuckling about) as I read the article.

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    2. Re:This is beautiful! by Kibo · · Score: 2

      Who do you think you are to argue with a "Physics Genius"? His finely honned powers of critical thinking, obviously see the problem more accurately than you.

      If for some reason he doesn't require any sort of proof to believe that a hairy man ape is plotting against us while perfecting monster dunks so mass rad Darryl Dawkins' nuts will retract themselves and become ovaries, but does require physical proof that something isn't real, THAT'S why he's a genius!

      We should just trust him. It's the internet, why would he lie?

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  7. The Uncoverer... by ShavenYak · · Score: 2

    ...also has this article that might interest the Slashdot crowd.

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  8. Check out who the author is. by QuietRiot · · Score: 2

    Bob Young wrote this article.

    1. Re:Check out who the author is. by QuietRiot · · Score: 2

      Bob Young. Red Hat. Wasn't meant to be a joke.

  9. I believe by L.+VeGas · · Score: 2

    He couldn't have lied about it. He had a cross on his head .

  10. 1st in a series by Strange+Ranger · · Score: 2

    Hey that thief stole MY PRANK! I'M the Bigfoot prankster!

    "No way! I'M the Bigfoot prankster!"

    "No, no you imposters, I'M the Bigfoot prankster!""No no no...I'M.."
    --

    Operator, give me the number for 911!
  11. Re:It's not a question of likelihood by manyoso · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And this is a perfect example of the faulty reasoning used by people who mistake crop circles as proof of alien contact.

    Simply because one can not adequately explain how the crop circles were made does not inevitably lead to the conclusion that 'aliens did it' or that it does not have a completely mundane and ordinary solution. I can not adequately explain many of the magical tricks performed by talented magicians, but I do not suppose that the *tricks* are truly magical in nature.

    Now, you have every right to believe what you will, but do not mistake that *belief* with proof or evidence of the existence of aliens. After all, it is possible that aliens did make the crop circles (highly improbable IMHO ;), but until we have proof we are just left with our respective opinions.

    I am delighted that people require such strong 'proof or evidence' to disprove a fantastical notion, but require no proof and flimsy evidence to believe in a fantastical creature such as Bigfoot :)

  12. Just now? by Pierre · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I thought they came clean years ago?

    I remember watching a 60 minutes on it years ago...

  13. D000d, M@gl( l$ r341!!!! by Randolpho · · Score: 3, Funny

    I saw David Blane take the head off a chicken one time, man, and it was off!!!!!!!1111!!!!! Totally gone! No camera tricks! Just headless chickens! There is no logical explaination for how that chicken lost its head and then got it back again, man! It can only be aliens! Er, Magic!

    And don't get me started on Jonathan Edwards! He so does not deserve Biggest Douche in the Universe, man! He's like in touch with God!

    --
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    -Marilyn Manson
  14. Re:Who said it was aliens? by manyoso · · Score: 3

    I don't have a scientific explanation and that is the whole point!

    I am prepared and happy to admit that I do not _know_ who or what made those crop circles nor do I _know_ how they were made. Please read that last statement again.

    Ask me if it is possible that aliens made those crop circles and I will say yes.

    Ask me if it is possible that hoaxers made those crop circles and I will say yes.

    If you press me I will admit that in my personal opinion it was a couple of hoaxers using an ingenious if unknown method, but I will not admit to having any *proof* for that and I will not state that my opinion is fact.

    Your post as well as the parent stated as fact that _hoaxers could not be responsible_ as if you have proof or as if this were a fact. Once again, I submit you have no basis for saying hoaxers could not or did not create those crop circles. I submit you have no basis for stating anything as fact regarding the origin and method of creation of those crop circles. All is opinion and conjecture until we have proof. As far as the aliens, well I assume that is what the parent was alluding to...

    Now, the reason I find all of this so funny? Because, the parent post calls for *proof* that a fantastical creature with no basis in reality *does not exist*! That is hilarious ... IMHO of course ;)

  15. This man didn't invent Bigfoot! by RevAaron · · Score: 4, Insightful

    He may have hoaxed it a few places, but Bigfeet, Yeti, Sasquatches have been around in our mythologies for thousands of years. It's not like it was just invented one day in '58! Not that having a mythology about it makes it a reality, but take everything, even this guy's claims, with ag rain of salt.

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    1. Re:This man didn't invent Bigfoot! by RevAaron · · Score: 2

      Has this guy been traveling around the world planting fake evidence? There has been stuff found in places other than the pacific northwest...

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  16. Dang. by Unknown+Poltroon · · Score: 4, Funny

    THis completely blows my theory that it was Sasquatch who killed kennedy.

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    1. Re:Dang. by penguin_punk · · Score: 2

      " THis completely blows my theory that it was Sasquatch who killed kennedy."

      That's why the CIA put the Wallace family up to this. Too many people were getting close to the truth.

      --
      HURD - Hurd's Under Research & Development
  17. Hey, about the Easter Bunny by NickFusion · · Score: 3, Funny

    What can I say, some tiny hippity-hop strap on bunny feet, some eggs and a bottle of Jack Daniel. Seemed like a funny idea at the time. My bad...

    --
    What were you expecting?
  18. Re:Meta hoax? by Zordak · · Score: 2

    That scenario would be much more likely if the guy had just showed up out of the blue and made this claim, but he's been connected to the Bigfoot stuff from the beginning, and it was already suspected that he originated the hoax. Also, he's apparently been marginalized by Bigfoot enthusiasts for a long time, probably in fear of this very revalation.

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  19. Re:Who said it was aliens? by Blkdeath · · Score: 4, Insightful
    From what I read, all that has been claimed is that it wasn't the so-called "hoaxers" that made these circles. Nobody has claimed it was aliens.
    Perhaps you should extend your reading list some.
    Nobody has been able to film them being made.
    Discovery channel has aired film of the hoaxsters creating circles. It's been on television dozens of times.
    The geometry has been proven to be beyond the ability of a normal IQ person.
    Most people with a compass and protractor and an hour or two can make circle patterns on paper. Anybody who's taken a high school survey class can map those circles into a field.
    The stems are bent but not crushed.
    Wheat isn't that delicate.
    There are traces of radioactivity at some sites.
    There are traces of radioactivity in my kitchen.
    No human footprints are found.
    Tram lines. Boards.
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  20. I'm not really going to respond... by malakai · · Score: 2

    ... for i think my Sig speaks volumes...

    -malakai

  21. Re:It's not a question of likelihood by cpeterso · · Score: 3, Informative

    The stems are bent without damange to the plant and the area of the circles displays odd flux vortices.

    These issues and more are addressed in CSICOP's "Circular Reasoning: The 'Mystery' of Crop Circles and Their 'Orbs' of Light":

    Hoaxers, most croppies insisted, could not be responsible because the plants were only bent and not broken, and there were no footprints or other traces of human activity. Skeptics replied that from mid-May to early August the English wheat was green and pliable, and could only be broken with difficulty.

  22. Re:It's not a question of likelihood by snake_dad · · Score: 3, Informative

    Hehe.. another entry for the future www.badbiology.com :)

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  23. They are mutual copycats by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 2

    Or perhaps they are the same person. All the better to avoid being modded into oblivion.

    See also SexyKellyOsbourne.

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  24. Re:Meta hoax? by mu_wtfo · · Score: 2

    "...marginalized by Bigfoot enthusiasts..."

    Wow, it must *really* suck to be him. :)

    --
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  25. Re:Not to be overly skeptical by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
    But do you have any proof to back up your claims that humans made these circles? The burden of proof is on you, you know.
    So I (re)present a perfectly plausible, realistic, down to Earth (if you'll pardon the pun) explanation of how crop circles can be created, even with reference to a location that has displayed this proof you seek, and I'm supposed to - what, perform the act of vandalism myself with a Hi-Eight at my side? Meanwhile, your fantastic notion of alien geography nuts is accepted by default?

    Sorry if I sound incredulous, but that tends to happen to me in the face of rampant idiocy.

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  26. Re:It's not a question of likelihood by CaptainCarrot · · Score: 2
    "Odd flux vortices"??!! What the hell is a flux vortex? How do you measure it? What does it look like? Geez, what a crap pseudo-scientific buzzword. What are you, a writer for Star Trek or something?

    No one ever claimed it was "some drunks on a lark." They're very intelligent people who plan their projects carefully and deliberately. They also by now have many years' experience under their belts, and this is the main reason the circles have become more elaborate as time has gone by. Those who make them have gotten lots of practise; it would be surprising if the circles didn't get more elaborate. It's why American circles tend to be cruder than British ones; the Americans aren't as practised.

    --
    And the brethren went away edified.
  27. Re:Oh, I see by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
    All science needs is plausible answers now. They don't need any evidence.
    It's like you're only reading every second sentence or something. I've seen time-lapsed photography of a group of three (perhaps four) men creating a 'crop circle' pattern in a field that, for the moment, I have no reason to doubt. It is a completely plausible scenario (not like time-lapsed photography of a person, say, climbing Everest inside of an afternoon, for example).

    I do have to apologize, though, for one little detail; the show was aired on The Learning Channel, which is (as far as I know) a part of the "Discovery Network".

    Get back under the bridge, troll. I know what has been revealed to me and you can't take that away.
    You post as AC nothing more substantive than a denial of the sun hitting your face and I'M the troll?

    Whatever helps you sleep at night, sparky.

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  28. Re:Uh huh, sure by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
    Here are some reasons:

    1) Who made this film? Can they be trusted? I know for a fact that several media conglomerates have profited quite heavily from secret alien technology and would be happy to go to extreme lengths to discredit proof that They have arrived.

    2) Time-lapse, eh? What happened during the lapses? Did a qualified cerealogist examine the resulting circle to see if it was genuine? (i.e. made by The Visitors?)

    LOL.. Ok, I know when I've been had. Good one. Touche. :)

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  29. Astroturf mystery solved! by EnlightenmentFan · · Score: 2
    What a headline: Lovable trickster created a monster with Bigfoot hoax

    Lovable? This jackass and his family played a stupid practical joke, then swore up and down that they were telling the truth. Now they are having a very public laugh at the trusting people who believed them.

    But this does clear up a mystery about those Microsoft/astroturf guys who hang out on Slashdot. "Shameless-Bullshit-Enabler Discovered in Washington Water Supply."

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  30. Re:Meta hoax? by Zordak · · Score: 2

    Well, he's dead on top of that, so, yeah, I guess it does.

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  31. Harry? by silvaran · · Score: 2

    You mean... Harry and the Hendersons.... WASN'T a documentary?

  32. Re:Who said it was aliens? by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
    Crop circles seem to be a genuine real phenomina, most likely caused by an as-yet undetermined natural event. Sure, there are folks who go out and create crop circles at random--but they don't account for all of the crop circles.
    Just because we can't account for and itemize each and every occurance of an event doesn't mean it's mystical forces or some magical unexplained phenomina.

    It is more reasonable to believe that there are hundreds of groups of crop circle makers in the world out to get some attention and have a laugh at the public's expense than it is to believe that supernatural forces are involved.

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  33. Bigfoots by Per+Wigren · · Score: 2

    Those who think that Bigfoots doesn't exist have never played Sam'n'Max!

    What more proof do you need?

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  34. Re:Who said it was aliens? by Blkdeath · · Score: 2
    Electomagnetic funnyness, odd light displays, melted iron bits in a regular pattern... there's SOMETHING going on beyond just a couple of hoaxers.
    There's as much reason to believe this was performed by an other-worldly force as there is to believe there is a magical place "where socks go". Sorry, but I prefer to wait for proof that there is something awry than to jump to conclusions.
    Y'know, "christian" doesn't imply "moron."
    I never said it did. Don't tell me you've got a persecution complex?
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