A rather interesting article has sprung up at Cryptomundo.  First…take a gander at the article.  Then, let's take a critical look at the story itself.

http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/hoaxvid-jail/

Hmmm…is it just me or is something a bit off about this whole thing?

Let's start with the title "Hoax A Crypto Video: Go To Jail." and the opening sentence to the story: "Tired of all those cryptozoology hoax videos on Youtube, Google, Yahoo, and other sites? "

I think most people when they hear about a "cryptozoology hoax video" one starts thinking of someone throwing on a costume and running around some woods shot with an old camera or a terrible camera phone.  But this story isn't really about that is it?  And technically, the man was not charged with "hoaxing a crypto video" since that law doesn't exist.  Let's see what he is actually charged with…

According to the Cryptomundo site "Trenton Barry, 27, of Newark/Arcadia, New York has been charged with third-degree falsely reporting a cryptid cat incident by New York Department of Environmental Conservation officers."

Hmmm, interesting.  In the four sources listed at the bottom of the article, I couldn't find the term "cryptid cat" in any of them.  This source, which mirrors the others, states it as so:

"Trenton Barry, 27, of 5271 Bailey Road, was charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident by state Department of Environmental Conservation officers after they discovered the video — of a 14-inch feline — was actually taken in 2007 by a Wolcott resident."

So…no "cryptid cat" and the video wasn't manufactured by the guy, he just swiped it from the net and said it was his.  Is this the same "Hoax A Crypto Video: Go To Jail" story?  Why exactly is a cougar a "cryptid cat?"  Any of us can go to a zoo and see a cougar.  I live in Colorado.  Go west past the mountains and you'd better keep your eyes open for them.  They aren't exactly a "hidden animal."  What…they aren't supposed to be in New York?  Correct…and this "hoax" kind of confirms that, doesn't it?  Am I now supposed to be tricked into saying that there are no wild cougars in New York?  I can't prove that, no one can…you can't prove a negative. 

Now, those that frequent this site, we've seen our fair share of "hoaxed video" and "hoax attempts."  Where would this rate from 1 being the worst and 100 being the best?  Maybe…a 2?  Really, you could put anything on the net and claim anything about it.  But…filing a report with the DEC?  Are you crazy?  That was a mistake and wrong.  I can maybe see the thousand dollar fine, but a year in jail?  Come on now…unless the guy has a long record of "real" crime…he's not going to jail.

Yet, to support this masterpiece of a hoax (  ) for Cryptomundo…thus the theme for the article, we have this quote:

"This is the most extravagant hoax related to cougars that I have ever seen,” said Lt. David Baker, law enforcement supervisor for the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation, regarding the Trenton Barry video."

Yes…quite extravagant.  A guy made up a story about a cougar, found some video on the net, claimed it was his, the story grew and when confronted by officials, he lied until he got caught.  *in my best Scottish accent* "Brilliant!  Brilliant, my good fellow!"  Yes, it was a brilliant scheme.  He should be hired as a writer for one of the C.S.I. shows…

But I will give Lt. David Baker his due for this quote: "People don’t realize just how big a mountain lion is. It is big enough to pull down a deer. This one was capable of pulling down a squirrel."  Ok, that was pretty funny.  That would earn him a beer if I ever met him.  Then again, if I ever met anyone from the DEC at a bar, I'd probably buy them a beer anyway.  I like some of the work they do.

Anyway…just thought that some of you would like to see how a real story gets cryptozoologized. (And no, that really isn't a real word, but if they can make up monsters, I can make up words.  Fair is fair.) 

alicat said:

In this instance, Trenton Barry, per Lt. Baker "sent it around town via cell phone, saying the cougar was a threat".  Lt. Baker, to his credit, also said ""It certainly seemed to get far beyond the scope that he originally intended it to". 

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Yes, it just seemed like a bad prank that got out of hand.  Nothing on the level of "Hoax A Crypto Video: Go To Jail" seemed to imply.  From the title and the opening, one would think serious charges of fraud and 18 other crimes were associated with it.  Really, it's just an idiot, his cell phone and a 14 inch cat.

I love the responses in the comments section…believing that jail time is a just sentence for alledged crypto hoaxes.  Yes, let's crack down on those hoaxers and neuter Free Speech and the First Amendment so you don't have to agonize over some shoddy 22 second long Bigfoot clip on Youtube.  Brilliant…

And they wonder why people don't consider cryptozoology to be a part of the scientific world…

Oubliette said:

I too have never seen a cougar but if I did it would certainly not strike me as an unknown animal.  That was really stretching it.

Why was the story written in this manner?  Sensationalism?  The word "cryptid" certainly catches the eye.  Seems like it was a dry day for news so this sorry little hoax was stretched to the limit, and beyond.

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Yes…the term "a mountain out of a mole hill" comes to mind.  Then again, isn't that "sort of" a prevailing theme in cryptozoology?  A couple of sightings here, a footprint of something there and suddenly it's a unknown monster that is written about for years.

And think about this for a moment too, if that guy had never filed a report with the DEC and finally admitted to making this whole thing up, wouldn't have this case been used to strengthen the argument for "the cryptid cats" in New York by cryptozoologists?  This is exactly why eye-witness testimony and video evidence of "unknown animals" isn't enough.  Yes, it's cool to imagine whatever monster or beast is roaming about.  But if you want me to take it as fact…we need a body.  Don't show me a plaster cast as proof.  I need the physical body.  Want me to believe in Loch Ness, Bigfoot, Champ, etc…cool, I'll be right there after the autopsy and full chemical work-up is complete.  And…is that too much to ask for?  Tough.  Science isn't easy.  If cryptozoology wants to play with the big boys, then they better step up to the plate with more then story-time and ambiguous evidence.

Hmmm…am I the same guy who wrote an article at this website saying that I liked cryptozoology?  Hard to tell, isn't it?  Yet liking something doesn't exclude it from skepticism and critical review.  I guess I'm just getting a bit tired of going to crypto sites and coming away empty-handed.  I keep reading all the whining about it not being taken as a legitimate science.  Yeah?  Take that "legitimate science" into the real world and guess what?  All of you would be fired for not producing results.  The real world, and science, are like that…always demanding ridiculous things like results and verifiable evidence.  I know…it's crazy…