The fields of UFO and Bigfoot research have one trait in common, whether you believe the phenomena share a connection or not. Both fields focus on old events—the "classic" cases which get more attention devoted to them than new sightings do.

In ufology, the classic case is Roswell. Did something crash there? If so, what? Did the military confiscate and possibly autopsy alien bodies?

In Bigfoot research the classic is the Patterson film. Did Roger Patterson really capture a Bigfoot on film? If so, is it male or female? Does she have a sagittal crest, or perhaps a hernia on her leg?

Both cases deserved scrutiny. Both received it ad nauseam. Roswell happened 60 years ago, and Roger Patterson filmed his famous footage 40 years ago. I see that, once again, this year's MUFON Symposium features a presentation about Roswell—plus a presentation on another oldie, the Betty and Barney Hill case. And, of course, every Bigfoot conference must have a discussion of the Patterson film. Every book about Bigfoot (except my Backyard Bigfoot and a scant few others) must feature at least one chapter devoted to the footage. How many times must we rehash these old cases? Can we find nothing new worth our time?

Seeing the debate over these cases, which continues to this day, you might conclude that nothing else of note has happened in the intervening decades. Of course, plenty has happened and continues to happen. Why do we want to give the opposite impression?

These oldies have grown very, very moldy. Take a chance. Branch out. Discuss a new sighting. Talk about recent evidence. Give people something to think about—something that happened less than four decades ago!

©2007 Lisa A. Shiel

Lisa A. Shiel is the author of Backyard Bigfoot: The True Story of Stick Signs, UFOs, & the Sasquatch, a ForeWord Magazine 2006 Book of the Year finalist. Critics have praised Backyard Bigfoot, saying “[it] is as informative as it is entertaining” (Midwest Book Review), “[it is] one of the best types of investigative reporting I've seen” (Reader Views), and “you may agree or not with her conclusions but you will be entertained by the discussions” (The Mining Journal, Marquette).

As a recognized Bigfoot expert, Lisa has been interviewed by big-city newspapers, drive-time talk radio hosts, local and national magazines, and TV reporters. In 2005, she founded the Michigan Upper Peninsula Bigfoot Organization (MUPBO) to explore all aspects of the Bigfoot phenomenon, from sightings to evolution to UFOs. Lisa has a master's degree in Library Science. She currently pens a blog, Bigfoot Quest, as a companion to the MUPBO site.

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