I just started reading Nick Redfern's book Three Men Seeking Monsters which chronicles Nick's monster hunting adventure with Jon Downes and Richard Freeman of the Centre for Fortean Zoology. So far I'm only a few chapters into the book, but can't help feeling a longing to do the same thing they are doing, traveling across country investigating strange phenomenon. Unfortunately I've never really done any investigation besides what can be done through books or the internet. Part of it is due to not having much time, but more of it is the fact I've never really tried, nor do I know where to start.
One of the biggest setbacks for me is that I don't really know anyone who is into the esoteric other then through the internet. The result is sort of like trying to form a band when no one you know personally have any instruments, it just doesn't work. I could seek out a local ghost hunting group or something similar, but those seem to come and go in my area like cars through gas stations. I also thought about maybe seeing if a group around here is doing a Bigfoot search, but that is a bit harder to find because they don't advertise the same as ghost groups do. There is also Oregon's MUFON branch, but for some reason I can't bring myself to fully trust MUFON.
There is always the private route I suppose; investigating bizarre occurrences, creatures, and locations on my own. However I think there are too many disadvantages to tackling stuff like this by yourself. For instance it could be dangerous, you'd have no one to back you up, and only one brain to do the brainstorming. Plus there is just something fun in the thought of having someone besides yourself along for the ride.
In the meantime I'm just going to sit back, keep reading through the varied tomes and searching weird wide web. Who knows, maybe I'll find my way out into the field as well.
5 comments:
You might try Gummer at Gummerfan's Monster Hunter. He certainly has had to deal with finding his "people." I know what it's like. I found ways to meet ghost hunters, obviously, but it can be hard to find horror writers and people who are interested in Bigfoot hunting. These people can be found in metaphysical bookstores, ghost hunting groups, and Bigfoot hunting groups. It's very hard for me finding my people here (except in Sedona) because Phoenix is so freakin boring and conservative. Oregon should be an ideal place to find these people. That's one of the things I adore about that state is the highly educated and yet open-minded (as my hubby calls them sandalwearing tree-hugging ecoweenies). I admit, if there was an X-files group that allowed me to go investigate, I'd give it my all! You can always set up a website that's like "Oregon Paranormal" or something like that and see if you can get people writing in with issues and perhaps even people interested in it. When I started ghost hunting, I found a local group, wrote to them with some things I found and had a meet-up. We've been dear friends and investigators since 2003. So, you can start by writing to the bigfoot hunters and UFO hunters and ghost hunters groups around you and tell them about your blog and your interests and see if they wouldn't mind if you blogged about them. It's a great well to promote them and learn about them and then ask if you can join them on a task. As far as MUFON goes, our local group is a hoot. They usually get into debates about who's had more encounters and what the aliens and government are up to--not a lot gets done.
I know what you mean. I'd love to travel around and research historical places and strange phenomena, but I don't know of anyone that would be interested in doing it with me and I don't really want to go by myself.
That is one of my very favorite esoteric books! I totally love it!
It's a good book, I enjoyed it! As I do all of Redfern's...
I know what you mean about investigating BF and cryptos on your own. A few times I've had people contact me, wanting me to come out to their isolated, rural place to tromp around and look for something... but, I didn't know the people at all, and did not feel comfortable (especially in one case) going out by myself to some stranger's location.
I've been involved locally with both ghost hunters and MUFON in a round about way. My experience (and it's only my experience) is that people stick to what it is they're interested in; the ghost hunters didn't much care about UFOs or BF, UFO people I've known, as in a organization, have a specific agenda that doesn't allow for BF, and if and when it does, it's forced to fit inside their perspective.
Autumnforest has some good ideas...
Time is another issue;working at the day job and taking care of family doesn't leave much time for going out on treks. It would be nice to have another couple of people to do this stuff with.
I agree with Regan -- people tend to be exclusive to particular area of research and study. Surprisingly, there aren't a lot of Oregon UFO resources out there, which is what lead me to attending the local MUFON meetings (though, I've slacked off a bit because of work).
I have grown wary of MUFON as well, but not necessarily of the directors of the local chapter. I think Tom and Keith are decent guys, but the organization as a whole -- well, its gotten a lot of bad publicity so far this year, so maybe things will look different when the smoke clears.
My main reason for starting my site was because I couldn't find anyone locally who was interested in UFOs or was interested in a jaunt out to the desert to watch the night sky (not just for UFOs but because the galaxy is pretty!). What I discovered is that there *are* a favor number of Oregon bloggers out there, such as yourself and Regan, but no real group type stuff. No local forums or whatever -- though, I'm not exactly sure what it was I had expected to find. And actually, you're the closest person to me that I know interest in any of this.
But when i think about it now, as much as it seemed a novel idea at first, I've never worked well in that kind of group environment. I'm way opinionated, for one, so I tend to be in conflict with people when the focus of my interest relies on their compliance :p
Anyway, back to what Regan was saying, I think there is a lack of cohesion here because of individual interest and focus and the fact many of us are spread across the state. I live in Portland proper and when people aren't worried about being hipsters, they're trying to decide whether to shop at New Seasons or Whole Foods.
I'd offer to be your sidekick, but I'm one of those exclusively UFO peeps, lol (not that I don't necessarily believe in the other stuff -- UFOs are just most of my interest).
But if you ever feel like checking some place out or gaze at the stars and wanted company, I'd certainly be up for it.
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