Is the Bigfoot Forum losing interest?

[Huntster]

11 hours ago, socialBigfoot said:

.........Historically, the forum was known for its stringent registration process, requiring new members to post an introduction and limiting them to one post per day until reaching a certain threshold. This approach, while intended to deter trolls, was often described as convoluted and discouraging for newcomers.

Long-time participants observed that the forum tended to be dominated by a small group of regulars who were often skeptical of outsiders. This led to perceptions of the community being grumpy, combative, and resistant to differing viewpoints.........

 

Seems to me that this can describe the majority of online forum I've tried to participate in. Indeed, it accurately describes the aura of publicly attended forums as well. American interaction is just competitive, confrontational, and tends to be dominated by the narcissists in the room. 

[socialBigfoot]

3 hours ago, Huntster said:

 

Seems to me that this can describe the majority of online forum I've tried to participate in. Indeed, it accurately describes the aura of publicly attended forums as well. American interaction is just competitive, confrontational, and tends to be dominated by the narcissists in the room. 

 

I agree many online communities can be described this way. it's certainly true of open source software development communities. But if we look at bigfootforums.com as a 'brand' that people hold a certain impression toward, we can look at the site's direct competitors for members -- say, r/bigfoot -- and see if ChatGPT gives us the same or similar description of that online community (prompt and response pasted below). Of course, this is ChatGPT and its pulling mainly from reddit for its response; there's certainly bias here -- actually, it reads like an advertisement for r/bigfoot. 

 

I'm not saying one brand's impression is better than another. Brands (including online communities) should be positioned differently to stand out as unique and attract certain customers or members (e.g., Ford vs Toyota vs Tesla). Go to X if you want this kind of experience; go to Y if you want that kind of experience.  I guess my point is that bigfootforums can fix stuff internally (server crashes, search capabilities) but the  external image might also need to be considered. This would depend on what image BFF wants to have among its competitors... and what kinds of members it wants to attract and retain. "Come to BFF if you want some good ole American in-your-face confrontation and arrogance. Go to r/bigfoot if you want European civility and kindness... and then kindly **** off." That's just as an example of course. 

 

Back in my marketing research days there was a story about Coca-Cola many people would paraphrase. It went something like, "The CEO of Coke once said that you can take away all of the company's facilities, equipment, people, and other assets. Just leave me the brand name and I'll be just fine."  

 

 

------------------------ ChatGPT on r/bigfoot

 

Prompt: Can you give me a description on current attitudes and perceptions people hold toward the r/bigfoot subreddit as an online community?

 

Response: 

The r/bigfoot subreddit is a vibrant and inclusive online community dedicated to discussions about Bigfoot and related phenomena. Established in December 2009, the subreddit has grown to become one of the most active platforms for Bigfoot enthusiasts, researchers, and skeptics alike.

Community Atmosphere and User Experiences

Members of r/bigfoot appreciate the community's openness to a wide range of perspectives. The subreddit encourages civil discourse, allowing both believers and skeptics to share their views. A recent post highlights this inclusive environment, stating:

"Believers and skeptics alike are welcome here, and friendly discussion is highly encouraged." reddit.com

This approach fosters a respectful and engaging atmosphere where users can discuss various aspects of Bigfoot lore and research.

Moderation and Governance

The subreddit maintains a clear set of rules to ensure constructive discussions. The primary rule emphasizes civility:reddit.com

"Please keep all discussion civil. First infraction you will get a warning. Another incident will result in a ban." reddit.com

This policy helps maintain a welcoming environment for both new and long-standing members.

Content and Discussions

r/bigfoot hosts a diverse array of content, including personal encounter stories, analysis of audio and video evidence, discussions on folklore, and debates on the authenticity of various claims. For instance, users often engage in critical evaluations of purported Bigfoot sightings, discussing factors that may contribute to misidentification. One user questioned the tendency to label certain evidence as fake, prompting a thoughtful discussion on the criteria used to assess authenticity. lirias.kuleuven.be+1reddit.com+1reddit.com

Additionally, the subreddit features lighter content, such as Bigfoot-themed art and humor, contributing to a well-rounded community experience.

Overall Perception

Overall, r/bigfoot is perceived as a supportive and engaging community that balances open-mindedness with critical analysis. Its inclusive nature and emphasis on respectful dialogue make it a valuable space for anyone interested in exploring the mysteries surrounding Bigfoot.

 

[norseman]

Here is what Grok said about us.

[BlackRockBigfoot]

I was a pretty prolific member for a while.  I still check in semi-regularly, but don’t feel the desire to post much anymore.  For me, it’s the overwhelming negativity on a topic that is supposed to be enjoyable.  
 

 

The overall Bigfoot community is growing larger every day, but it’s also becoming more fragmented every day as well.  
 

Even this thread, which is about why is the forum dying, is filled with complaints about pretty much everything under the Sasquatch sun.  TV shows, YouTube, rehashed topics, etc.  Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, but there is a constant complaining that permeates the Bigfoot community that often turns into outright hostility when what are relatively minor differences arise.  
 

People who believe or have an interest in Bigfoot should have a great deal in common, but instead those minor differences of opinion cause a lot of discord.  

 

Don’t like Mountain Monsters or Expedition Bigfoot?  Don’t watch it.  However, shows like that plant a seed of interest in a new generation, insuring that there is a fresh crop of enthusiasts who will hopefully carry on the search.  TV executives don’t really make shows geared towards real life Bigfoot researchers.  Maybe just be glad that the subject has enough mainstream acceptance to make its way onto television in any form?

 

Tired of a topic that (for you) has been beaten to death?  Scroll past it.  
 

Are you a flesh and blood proponent irritated by the Woo?  Are you a Woo supporter who hates the Apers?  Well, at the end of the day you both have more on common with one another than you would have with a skeptic.  Not to mention that we are dealing with almost zero proven facts about the phenomenon, so you both have a good chance at being somewhat correct.  
 

A lot of the members here want a more active forum, with more active participants.  You can’t have that with multiple filters put into place.  

 

Anyway, I would like to see the forum become more active again.  But, to do that you need new members who stick around.  They need to enjoy the place to do that.  Maybe start there?
 

 

[Patterson-Gimlin]

Outstanding words of wisdom. 

Thank you very much for sharing 

[wiiawiwb]

I'll echo BRB's thoughts and add a few myself. It use to be those who developed an interest in bigfooting either got out in the woods on their own or hitched a ride with someone else who did. Local BF groups took root.

 

Those who were already experienced in the outdoors, such as hunters or hikers, took to it with ease. They had the equipment and the knowledge to spend a weekend in the woods. The one thing that was missing was the familiarity with, or knowledge of, matters related to sasquatch. You learned that by coming here and sharing information. You asked questions you weren't certain about and answered questions you had experience with. 

 

In my opinion, it has always been about, and still is, the search to get the one glimpse of a sasquatch. If that never comes, it's ok because every moment in the woods has been cherished and was the winning hand already.

 

I visit BFF everyday and find that newcomers want to reap a harvest immediately without having sown the seeds first. I was probably like that too but ,in the end, you get out exactly what you put in. Learn, ask questions, experiment, share, and even try new approaches. Hostile remarks are the hallmark of people who expect others to do their dirty work. Sorry, you'll get no where with an approach like that. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.

 

Put in the time, contribute your knowledge and experience, and enjoy the ride. You'll be glad you did.

 

 

[bipedalist]

On 5/31/2025 at 11:21 PM, NorCalWitness said:

reddit is run by fascist dictator moderators who ban anyone they don't agree with politically. given that most conservatives are banned, and given that most hunters are conservative, they have priced themself right out of most of the encounters. 

 

Sounds familiar in a national sense and that is as far as I can go with that on this side of the forum, lol. 

[bipedalist]

19 hours ago, BlackRockBigfoot said:

I was a pretty prolific member for a while.  I still check in semi-regularly, but don’t feel the desire to post much anymore.  For me, it’s the overwhelming negativity on a topic that is supposed to be enjoyable.  
 

 

The overall Bigfoot community is growing larger every day, but it’s also becoming more fragmented every day as well.  
 

Even this thread, which is about why is the forum dying, is filled with complaints about pretty much everything under the Sasquatch sun.  TV shows, YouTube, rehashed topics, etc.  Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, but there is a constant complaining that permeates the Bigfoot community that often turns into outright hostility when what are relatively minor differences arise.  
 

People who believe or have an interest in Bigfoot should have a great deal in common, but instead those minor differences of opinion cause a lot of discord.  

 

Don’t like Mountain Monsters or Expedition Bigfoot?  Don’t watch it.  However, shows like that plant a seed of interest in a new generation, insuring that there is a fresh crop of enthusiasts who will hopefully carry on the search.  TV executives don’t really make shows geared towards real life Bigfoot researchers.  Maybe just be glad that the subject has enough mainstream acceptance to make its way onto television in any form?

 

Tired of a topic that (for you) has been beaten to death?  Scroll past it.  
 

Are you a flesh and blood proponent irritated by the Woo?  Are you a Woo supporter who hates the Apers?  Well, at the end of the day you both have more on common with one another than you would have with a skeptic.  Not to mention that we are dealing with almost zero proven facts about the phenomenon, so you both have a good chance at being somewhat correct.  
 

A lot of the members here want a more active forum, with more active participants.  You can’t have that with multiple filters put into place.  

 

Anyway, I would like to see the forum become more active again.  But, to do that you need new members who stick around.  They need to enjoy the place to do that.  Maybe start there?
 

 

 

 

Certainly many grains of sophistry in this response, case in point, I remember when a certain thermal 'cow' sighting near the Capitol Forest in Washington State ran off an A level researcher.  Trial by fire or trial by a jury of peers will never reach a level of functionality that everyone desires but from the beginning days of BFF1.0 even, you ran the gauntlet or ran away for the most part.  Not that this explains all elements of this medium, but many A level researchers ran that gauntlet and many just didn't have the time to stick around (not speaking about myself to make this clear). 

 

I will say, and I am a little biased about this, that BFF 2.0 implemented changes that were a shot of adrenaline to the life support system and longevity of this platform so plaudits to management for carrying this baby thusfar!

 

Also, spending more time in the archival sections of the forum always cures the blues and I mean reading old sighting reports, new sighting reports, etc etc

 

I definitely see where the monetization factor is attractive to those that are prodigious in their productions and artistry to some extent they put alot of time into building their followings.  It is getting harder and harder to find free entertainment in the Bigfoot world unless you have your own hotspot of squatchy woods.  

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by bipedalist

[norseman]

Another important factor for interest here is contribution from our members.

 

I know it’s unpopular with some but we have attempted to squelch trolls here simply because bona fide researchers would post something of interest only to have the “never Squatch” crowd descend like a pack of wolves and destroy it. There is a difference between a good faith critique (I think your audio is a canid) vs. just trolling because anyone who believes in Bigfoot is an idiot.

 

I try to drag videos I watch of interest here as well as post up pictures of my outings. Including a interesting hand print half buried in the snow.

 

How do we incentivize more people sharing their audio, video and photos?

[Doodler]

For the record, Reddit is a dump, designed to elicit one word replies and ruled by leftist statist trolls who would as soon set you on fire as entertain your opinion if you don't strictly follow the populist zeitgeist.

 

R/Bigfoot is thus a cesspool of short attention span theater with constant repeating deluge of AI garbage, repeated photo posts and people who can't be bothered to Google something.

 

It's fine that it exists, it keeps that kind of idiot off here.

[Huntster]

1 hour ago, Doodler said:

.........It's fine that it exists, it keeps that kind of idiot off here.

 

This is a thought worth considering...........