I can remember a time when I read every new sighting report with excitement and amazement…a time when I felt certain that I would be the one to discover the key that unlocks the mystery of sasquatch. I remember a time when the evidence seemed so rich that I was almost fully convinced.

All the above filled me with passion and vigor for the search for sasquatch. I immersed myself into every book on the subject I could get my hands on. I became a member of countless sasquatch-related message boards on the Internet. I went to my first bigfoot conference and heard all the big names speak. I joined SRI. I interviewed the great John Green. I started going on research expeditions. I wrote my first research paper. Moreover, I did all this in the last year and one-half.

A year and one-half seems like such a short time. Some researchers have spent decades in the search. However, in this short time, I have witnessed the rise and fall of countless researchers. I have discovered the hidden agendas of many. I have witnessed grown adults speak to one another like testosterone-filled adolescents. I have seen politics rage into its nastiest forms. I have seen too many bogus photos, films and stories to count. In short, the rose-colored glasses are no more.

When I first started posting on message boards, I was blown away at how rude some people were. It was even more amazing to me that most of the rude people were the ones that had been involved in this subject the longest. It did not make any sense to me then, but it makes perfect sense now. These people, some of whom are now my friends, are sick of the crap that permeates this field. They have repeatedly witnessed all of the negative things I have listed.

The logical question to ask at this point is why they are still around if this field so traumatizes them. Why endure the suffering and why continue wading through the swirling, steaming river of crap? You may be surprised to learn that many have asked themselves these very questions. I know that I have. If you have been around very long at all, I am sure you have as well.

Last month, SRI associate, David Osborne, wrote an article titled, “Is Bigfoot Dead.” He discussed recent debunking and hoaxes. He documented the growing doubt that is permeating this field. Perhaps David’s pulse on the Bigfoot Community is accurate. Perhaps we are about to witness a mass exodus from our little community.

As I see it, the exodus is nothing new. People have been getting sick of the crap and leaving all along. The thing is, just as quickly as they leave, a newcomer takes their place and the field continues as normal. So what about those who stay? What motivates the “Old Timers” who have been at this for years?

I propose that there are three main categories of old-timers. Some may not fit into any of these categories, or they may fit into all three. These categories certainly do not encompass all the motivations of long time researchers, but I believe it to be a truthful representation of the majority. I realize you cannot really stereotype people, but indulge me while I do just that for the purpose of focusing your attention on some of the problems I see in this community.

My first category of old-timer is one with a hidden agenda. The list of hidden agendas is too numerous, so I will name only a few. The most obvious to spot is one who is out for fame and fortune, a self-promoter constantly looking for a new angle to cash in on the passion of others. With very little in the way of evidence to back up the enterprise, this one will often latch onto every story, picture, or film, whether hoax or not, and try to place his or her self in the limelight. I see no shame in trying to make money and enjoy your passion at the same time. The problem arises when others are deceived in the process.

Another hidden agenda is environmentalism. This old-timer’s primary concern appears to be animal rights or stopping deforestation. It appears to me that he or she hopes there will be more ammunition for the environmentalist’ cause if sasquatch is discovered. The problem with this hidden agenda is this is a person overanxious to prove the existence of sasquatch.

We can’t forget the Darwinian. This is a person whose sole purpose in life appears to be to convince others that there is no God. This old timer spends much time pontificating and theorizing about where sasquatch might fit in a transition from ape-man to modern man. The problem with this hidden agenda is that the conversations become overly complicated and conjecture can become misinterpreted as fact.

The second category of old-timer is one who is isolated or lonely. The reason for his or her isolation or loneliness is not always clear, whether self-induced or from unfortunate circumstances. Whatever the case, this old timer finds a home in an Internet community and bathes in the glory of dozens of Internet friends. This old timer is usually recognizable by his or her fragile ego, often taking things far more seriously than he or she should. Further characterized by participation in juvenile banter and debate, he or she puffs up like a bullfrog at the first sign of dissention. This old timer threatens to leave when times get tough, but rarely does, or simply comes back a few days later. However, this type of old-timer does have good qualities. They are incredibly loyal. If you ever befriend one of these old timers, they will defend you faithfully. The problem is that you may be in the wrong, and they may know it, but they will put their personal loyalties ahead of the truth.

The last category of old-timer is one who holds and maintains a genuine passion for the subject. Like anything in life, this passion ebbs and flows, but sustains his or her interest. Included within this category are those who have had genuine sightings of something they did not recognize as a known animal. Some simply love a good mystery. Others, like me, are simply amazed at the possibility that such an animal might exist. It is enough to keep me going, at least for now. For those like John Green, it has been a lifetime of passion.

You may be asking yourself, so what? How do the hidden agendas, environmentalists, Darwinians or isolated and lonely people harm the field?

I believe those with hidden agendas distract us from important research. In my opinion, their self-interests hijack a perfectly good mystery and turn it into an emotional, complicated or political atmosphere — a three-ring circus if you will — oftentimes causing others to lose focus on the real evidence before us. They want to talk about what to do after we discover sasquatch, which is putting the cart before the horse.

It is probably clearer to see how those with hidden agendas might hurt the community than to understand how the isolated or lonely could possibly hurt research efforts. In my experience, the isolated and lonely are usually those suffering from mental or physical health issues. Neither one is a laughing matter, nor anything to be ashamed of — don’t get me wrong, I am not condemning. I see these individuals, however, as involving themselves in the bigfoot community primarily for the friendships made, rather than out of any real interest in the subject. What I observe are unhealthy people coming together into relationships with other unhealthy people, thereby creating drama that has nothing whatsoever to do with researching sasquatch. Again, these dramatic episodes cause others to lose focus on the real task before us, or worse, hurt the people involved.

What does all this say about the future of sasquatch research? With all the hidden agendas, politics and varied unhealthy members of society taking part in this quest, is there any possibility of success? I don’t know. Certainly, the recent number of independent research organizations and alliances popping up is encouraging. They are working hard to put politics aside. Some, like SRI, are self-governed equally among their members so that fame and fortune seekers have no chance of using them for self-promotion. I hope that the passionate are filing towards these new research entities. Information pooling and cooperation is starting to materialize. Will it last? Only time will tell.

So what about the groups and organizations out there whose leaders have hidden agendas? In truth, they are fading quickly. Their once booming memberships are fading as the passionate members they once held have left, having grown tired of the politics and deceit. The old organizations are left primarily with members with their own hidden agendas or too loyal to leave.

I hope that you do not view this editorial as a shot at anybody, but rather as a catalyst to discussion about the human factor that complicates, derails and distracts from our primary focus of solving the sasquatch phenomenon. I think unless we do, we are doomed to repeat a history that has gotten us nowhere.

I still feel a passion for this research despite all the obstacles in our way. I believe anything worth having is worth a struggle to obtain. There are small glimmers of hope starting to arise. For now, I am satisfied with the small part I play in the unraveling of this mystery, but I no longer have the innocent enjoyment I used to - before I learned the truth.