First what is Pareidolia? The strict definition from Wikipedia states:
Pareidolia (pron.: /pærɨˈdoʊliə/ parr-i-DOH-lee-ə) is a psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon or the Moon rabbit, and hearing hidden messages on records when played in reverse.
Simply it is your mind making faces or other familiar objects from an optical illusion. In the Bigfoot world the critics claim that a combination of shadows, leaves, sticks, and camera angle form faces and/or partial bodies that are claimed to be Bigfoot. 
It is a major problem for Bigfoot researchers because the Bigfoot does not parade out in the open asking for its picture to be taken. They hide and peek from dense foliage or from behind trees only exposing their head and small parts of their torso. Most the time only peeking with one eye. When you add to that the fact that their skin is gray or black and that they are covered in black/brown hair they are very difficult to see. Unfortunately this always gives the critics their "excuse" or "plausible explanation" 
The critics use the public's ignorance of what Paredolia really is and how the phenomenon occurs. In my videos when I claim there is a Bigfoot in the footage I make sure of several factors so I can rule out Paredolia.
1. Does the subject maintain its integrity as I move?
2. Does the subject itself move?
3. Does the subject have eyes that reflect light and/or blink?
4. Perform follow-up and return to the location looking for the object or groups of objects that could have formed the subject.
The final nail in the coffin for the Paredolia explanation is eye shine and the eyes in general. An optical illusion of a face formed by light, shadow, and camera angle cannot have eyes that reflect sun light, react to sunlight, or move. When I have footage of a Bigfoot hiding in dense foliage I always concentrate on the eyes. If you can see the detail of the eye, see it blink, and reflect sunlight then the subject is real. It is impossible for the Paredolia phenomenon to create eyes that move, blink, react to sunlight, and reflect sunlight.
So next time you read comments where the critics are throwing around the phrase "Paredolia" take a closer look at the footage. Put the footage to the test. You might be surprised what you find and realize how ignorant the critics are when it comes to Paredolia.
i have studied at least 15 of your videos where the bigfoot is present, and i find it VERY hard to say that it was only sticks and shadows. ESPECIALLY the urination watcher video. there is maybe one or two of your videos that i can't, or rather won't, say with 100% accuracy that it is in fact a bigfoot. i was going trough some old photographs on my iphone, and came across one photo where i had taken a picture of an icicle outside my window. and in the bushes right across from the road, i saw something strange. and i changed the lighting and such on the picture, cropped and zoomed it. and i could have sworn that there was a face staring back at me, and that i could see an eye and part of a face. and it looked like a big furry thing sitting there, just staring at me. but, i have had no strange noises, sounds or the feeling of being watched. this was of course way before i started believing in bigfoot. well, last year to be precise. so i sent it to one of the recommended sites that you have on your blog, and i am still waiting for any answer. but, the more i stared at it, zoomed in and out and tilted my head while squinting, it started to look like just twigs and shadows, and i could also see several faces much like in some of your videos. i am still a bit in doubt whether or not i actually captured a norwegian bigfoot in the image. is it possible that you can take a look at it? just to get a second or a third opinion.
ReplyDeleteScott, good work. The eye detail is just too good to ignore. What I have found is that people who do not believe usually can not be convinced that it is true. It is like there is some psychological block to believing. Even very intelligent people have these blocks. Excuses come up like, "where is the body?". There are a million reasons why a body is just not available, like burying their dead, relatively few numbers, decomposition, and government cover-ups. My personal opinion is government cover-up for any bodies that the Bigfoot did not find to bury and which people have found then soon after government taking the body away. All the explaining in the world can be done, but the block remains. Bigfoot could not bury all the bodies. Susanfarms Arizona man said he was looking into tranquilizing one. I know you might feel that this is wrong, but just hear me out. I know people talk about tranquilizing a lot. However, if Susanfarms did this, he could quickly release it after getting some footage and a serious amounts of hair, foot molds, hand molds, and mouth pictures. Not sure what I am getting at, but good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lessons you give us. I have a difficult time seeing what you are seeing and when you rock them back and forth etc. and tell us what to look for it has helped me tremendously. I can now see some of the things you are talking about. I was watching a video on line recently (don't remember who put it up now but that really doesn't matter)that had a "tree trunk" that blinked! I was kind of shocked at all of the people who criticized and said it was paredolia. All you had to do was pay attention and watch it closely. Thanks to you I am able to do that some now...had to laugh that a tree trunk can blink. Guess I probably shouldn't have made a comment to that effect just couldn't help myself. You must shake your head a lot! Your finds still amaze me!
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ReplyDeleteScott, I can't believe the Finding Bigfoot team said that photo was not clear enough to see detail. You are doing an amazing job with all of your well thought out research and results. Finding Bigfoot (BFRO) seems to think that running around in the woods at night with walkie talkies, lights on and making calls is the answer. So far, they have provided no results and I don't think they ever will. They think Bigfoot is some kind of animal, which it is not. It is a being of with a very well developed brain that has done very well keeping away from people for a very long time. You have proved without question along with your DNA samples that they are out there. Thank you for all of your time and effort and research.
ReplyDeleteScott ...as usual , your footage and explanations are full of sound reasoning . So many out there have such unrealistic expectations blinding them , it's like "they can't see the forest for the trees". Sadly any one , that thinks and searches differently , is automatically targeted with criticism and name calling. The type of intelligent and respectful people that visit and comment on your site says a lot about the sensible and sound information you are putting out there ! It takes a courageous person to go into the forest and do what you do ....and it takes the same courage to constantly be the target of uninformed critics . Keep up the good work Scott !
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