Category: Unit 2

Gregory Marc

Prof. Stone

ENG 1101 

7 November 2022 

 

Why you so obsessed with me? Boy I wanna know (-Locc Ness Monster): 

 

    The birth of my curiosity for the Locc Ness monster began once I read a book about it when I was in elementary school. I don’t remember the title of this book, all I remember is that the central idea of it was to address and potentially give updates on mysterious events that have occurred throughout the history of our planet Earth. There were plenty of mysteries that initially caught my attention, such as “Bigfoot” and “The Amelia Earhart Story.” But they didn’t catch my attention as much as the Locc Ness Monster case because those other stories have answers and closure to them. With Bigfoot, people assume he’s real and hiding because there are multiple “credible” pictures of him around the Internet and Amelia Earhart’s dead and missing body was reportedly found in 2018 by scientists. There isn’t much mystery to those stories anymore, however, the Locc Ness monster case has never been solved. For all we know, it can be lurking in the ocean right now, looting for a potential victim. It seems like scientists and the rest of the population have given up on discovering the thing they were once so eager to find. With that being said, I wanna understand what made these people so eager to discover the Locc Ness monster in the first place. What made it so threatening to mankind to the extent where we wanted to find it? While researching this curiosity, I’d like to find out how threatening this creature truly is to our existence, so in order to do that, I’d have to find out it’s living habits. I wanna know how it eats, sleeps, and most importantly, where does it live? Although this type of research would be hard to do, because it’s never been thoroughly researched, due to the fact that it’s a “mythological creature” I think enough research will give me a clear gauge on its threat level to society, and that’s one of my ultimate goals with this research. Because that would make it easier to understand why scientists and researchers were interested in discovering the Locc Ness monster in the first place. On the contrary, I’m aware that my research can end up leading me down a path of deceit. Meaning that I could run into definitive evidence that the Locc Ness monster is nothing more than a myth “crazy people” have convinced the world of being real, however, I welcome that type of conclusion, because it’ll still give me closure on a situation I’ve been tryna understand since I was a child. I feel like it wouldn’t satisfy me leaving this situation to shy away like everyone else has. That reason alone, is more than enough of a reason to go into thorough research on this monster and find out what it’s all about, once and for all. 

 

Source Entry 1  

 

Prothero, Donald R. “Abominable Science!: Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids.” Columbia University Press, 2015. 

 

   In “Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and other famous cryptids,” two extremely dedicated investigators by the name of Daniel Roxton and Donald R. Prothero decided to find information on these “seemingly” mythological creatures rumored to have been discovered throughout the world. The purpose of their information was to provide and or grant some sort of closure or update on their status of existence. For the purpose of challenging the pseudoscience that perpetuates their myths, Daniel and Donald would present both sides of the spectrum when it came to a creature’s believability. This pattern continues throughout the entire book, creating a definitive, educational, and entertaining experience for the reader. Towards the end of the article, Roxton and Prothero conclude the article by making some final analyses of the psychology behind the persistent belief in paranormal phenomenons, identifying well-known people in the cryptozoology field, conversating about the character of its sub-culture, and reflecting on the difficulty of being able to think clearly and critically on these matters in a world that’s getting increasingly more complex to live in by the day.

 

   In “Abdominal Science” by Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero, they address the most popular rumors on mythological creatures spread throughout the globe. The cause of the creation of this article was this authors’ frustration with the fact that researchers and scientists that have the opportunity to dig deeper into this matter have decided to discontinue their pursuit of creatures such as the “Locc Ness” monster because of the lack of evidence surrounding all of those creatures. Feeling frustrated knowing there’s a multitude of research out there to prove their existence, Daniel and Donald decided to create a book laying out every perspective on it, all the evidence to prove their potential existence, and a potential reason as to why humans are so interested in researching these type of things in the first place. Due to the seriousness of this nonfiction genre, this book wasn’t created to reach out to the demographic of kids. This article was mainly created to reach out to the many adults and scientists around the world in the field of cryptozoology basically ignoring their importance. 

 

   This book was made in 2013 at Columbia University of New York. The main appeals that they use to persuade and convey the opinions of other readers are logos and ethos, mainly due to the fact that very few readers can argue an appeal such as pathos (emotion) towards empirical evidence. The evidence they use throughout the novel is extremely credible along with the type of research they use, such as quotations from extremely credible sources in the cryptozoology genre plus more empirical evidence to support their positions on the realness of these monsters. Furthermore, the authors use an agitated tone throughout the text because, similar to other people like them, they’re all tired of being deemed crazy for expressing their beliefs in these myths and legends. Which is the sole purpose of them creating this novel, to be a voice for the people saying these type of creatures are real.   

 

   With all of this being said, I truthfully feel like this section of the book (p. 296-336) specifically, works as a perfect fit for the research question I’m discussing in this bibliography. Although I don’t appreciate Nessie being spoken about for 1 chapter out of the other several chapters in the book, for the time Nessie was presented, I believe the authors did fairly good in explaining the beliefs and alleged “facts” around the creature. However, there’s one piece of information missing from the chapter, which surprised me,  considering the fact this conspiracy is one of the most popular ones surrounding Nessie. What made them decide to leave out the story of the one time it allegedly bit someone? That story was one of the main reasons researchers dove into the Locc Ness Monster, because ever since the news of that alleged bite went around, everyone started to think that Nessie was too dangerous to even be in the vicinity of. In order to gain a better understanding as to why that piece of information was left out, I would research the story of that particular incident, maybe that story didn’t fit the criteria of their novel. Besides that, what makes this novel so helpful to me, is that it gives me an insight that none of my other sources give me quite as well. Which is an understanding as to why people believe in cryptids, in that regard, this novel informs my research extremely well. 

 

“The Baylor Religion Survey found in 2005 that one in five Americans have read a book, consulted a Web site, or otherwise researched “mysterious animals,” such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Too many of those people are interested because they are persuaded that cryptids exist, but around 13 percent of those who do not believe in cryptids have made the effort to seek out information about these hypothetical creatures.” (p. 296-336)

 

“Across human societies, variations on mythical creature stories like that of Bigfoot have persisted for thousands of years, and accounts of seeing or hearing them still abound. There may be some basic culture-based need for these fantastical tales, said Todd Disotell, professor of anthropology at New York University. Monsters represent dark aspects of our subconscious worlds and can be metaphors for the challenges of life, said Karen Sharf, a psychotherapist in New York. “Some monsters are scary. Some monsters are friendly. Sometimes in movies or myths, we befriend the monster, and it’s just like in our inner world: There are monsters; there are dark aspects that we have to face,” she said. Humans also have a fascination with the divide between their species and animals, and Bigfoot bridges that gap, said John Hawks, anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Believing in these creatures and following their trails in the forest is somewhat akin to an amusement park ride: They are safe ways of experiencing fear, said Jacqueline Woolley, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin.” (p. 296-336)

 

Source Entry 2  

 

Bauer. (2020). Loch Ness Monsters as cryptid (presently unknown) sea turtles. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 34(1), 93–104. https://doi.org/10.31275/20201713 

 

   The most well-known attribution of the Locc Ness monster is the potential relationship it may have with the extinct plesiosaurs, however, this is difficult to comprehend due to the rarity of surface sightings let alone occasional sightings on land. On the contrary, Locc Ness Monsters are known amongst many living species as thought-to-be extinct turtles: air-breathing but spending surprising amounts of time submerged in deep water; traveling onto dry land; possessing great agility underwater; being able to stay mobile in cold water; and relatively elongated necks. Many people believe that the Locc Ness Monster, also known as Nessie, is the epitome of a yet-to-be properly described and discovered variety of large sea turtles that are still classified as extinct in specific areas of the ocean. 

 

   In “Locc Ness Monsters as cryptid (presently unknown) sea turtles” by Bauer Henry, Henry uses more logos than anything to convey the undeniable evidence surrounding the believability of the Locc Ness Monster. This article specifically, helps my research by getting me to understand the relatability the Locc Ness Monster has in relation to tortoises. More than enough information was presented about the already-discovered species in close relation to Nessie. What concerns me though, is the amount of depth this author went into while researching this topic. My question to the author is why did they feel the need to answer a question so insignificant to the research. The question they wanted to answer was “is there enough food for a minimum viable population?” My issue with this question being answered is that it doesn’t necessarily contribute a good amount of information to the bigger question, which is “Is the Locc Ness Monster real and what type of threat is it to society?” Although I wanted this type of information to be part of my research, it becomes an issue when it’s nearly the only thing being talked about throughout the article. I don’t understand the full reasoning behind that decision.

 

   On the other hand, this article was written to be a very informative one, which would make his writing style more informative than anything. My initial reaction was a feeling of overwhelmingness due to the amount of information he was giving during each section of the article. Each piece of evidence that he uses to back up his claims are properly cited, that automatically gives him my respect for the credibility of these works he’s siting to grant us information on Nessie. Based on the informative nature of this text, I doubt this type of article was made for kids, it aims at a more mature audience (adults, scientists, researchers, etc.) that wants to know anything they possibly could on Nessie as a living organism. That type of writing effects the credibility of the document in a great way because it commands validation and respect, I wouldn’t think twice about validating his research. 

 

“Unfortunately, even this new technique cannot, at least in its present form, yield indisputably conclusive information. The gathered DNA is identified by means of the standard PCR technique, which necessitates choosing specific primers that are thought to be present, in this case primers suited to the genetic characteristics of the particular species being looked for.”  

 

“If Loch Ness was colonized not long after the last Ice Age, something like a mere 10,000–12,000 years ago, then relatives of Nessies have surely also survived to the present time in the oceans, and perhaps in other lakes as well that were formerly & ords open to the seas.”

 

Source Entry 3  

 

Wiese, & Rousso, L. (2017). Born to explore with Richard Wiese. Episode 115, Scotland : land of Loch Ness. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).  

 

   Travel with Richard Wiese to Scotland as he competes within the Good country Recreations, a celebration of Scottish traditions that goes back more than 1,000 years. Richard meets up with one of the best breeders and trainers of Scottish Sheepdogs. With the acknowledgment of the Locc Ness Monster, he learns the privileged insights of Nessie from the man who went through more than 40 years looking for this amazing creature. Additionally, Richard receives additional insight on the Locc Ness Monster from the company that joins him in his quest throughout Scotland as well. Which ultimately gifts him a new perspective on such a mysterious country.  

 

   While traveling throughout Scotland, Richard approaches his curiosities towards the Locc Ness Monster with an open mind. A lot of ethos is used in his studies, because he speaks to a Scotland native by the name of Adrian Shine, which grants him deeper insight to the potential origins of the Locc Ness Monster. When going into this video, I was aware that it wasn’t completely based on the Locc Ness Monster. Regardless of that, I’m still left disappointed on the amount of time that they used to cover the Locc Ness Monster. I feel like Richard Wiese and Adrian Shine spoke about the Locc Ness Monster and the rumors surrounding it too briefly. When it comes to the Locc Ness, there are a multitude of well-known things you can bring up about it. To make matters more aggravating, Richard was in the homeland of the Locc Ness! If any natives could tell you about the stories of the Locc Ness Mosnter, it would be the civilians of Scotland. If I was a part of that video in any way, I would ask Richard, “why didn’t you not only allot more time into Nessie, but speak to more people besides Adrian Sine about the Locc Ness Monster to give us a more in-depth perspective about it?” That question was looming over my head the entire time I watched the video and I was honestly, truly frustrated to not see Nessie get as much light as they should’ve gotten. 

 

   This video informs my research in about two ways. One, being that it gives me additional insight to the reason people persistently chase after the Locc Ness Monster. And two, as brief as the section is, they still get into the supposed origin story of Nessie and I can deem the story credible because of where it’s coming from, Adrian Shine is a Scotland native that has been actively pursuing Nessie since he was youthful. This video was definitely made for the people interested in traveling to Scotland, which is why he’s seen traveling throughout it, enjoying the features of it, more than researching the Locc Ness Monster. I can’t be too upset at the fact that the Locc Ness Monster was barely spoken on, due to the fact that it wasn’t the main focus of the video. Either way, the video was informative towards my cause, despite the contribution size, it still contributes somewhat, which is all that matters to me.
 

 

“If I think of the greatest myths or unsolved questions, I would say the… the Locc Ness monster would probably be number one” (-Richard Wiese)

 

“The myth of the Locc Ness Monster persists because we are masters at believing what we want to believe.” 

 

“It is simply the power of illusion that the Loch has. I think a lot has got to do with that” (-Adrian Shine)

 

   To sum up, my research didn’t give me any definitive evidence on the Locc Ness Monster’s living habits or anything of that nature. I recieved a lot more information on a species believed to be closely related to the Locc Ness Monster known as turtles and the Plesiosaurus species. It completely caught me off guard, considering the fact that the Locc Ness monster is considered to be a mythological creature and it was found to possibly be related to other sea creatures that have already been discovered. Another surprising fact about my research, is that it wasn’t just Scotland that was invested into researching this creature. Although the Locc Ness Monster was only spotted in Scotland, researchers around the globe caught attention of this case and started researching it in their own countries and even went as far as devising plans to capture it. Which ultimately, led to me learning a lot about the origins of this species, which is always more useful than no origin story speculations at all. I learned about the living conditions and habits of creatures closely related to the Locc Ness Monster. What makes this type of research important, is the fact that it can help us recognize the patterns of the Locc Ness Monster. Which is extremely important in the process of discovering it. In conclusion to all of this research, I came up empty handed in figuring out whether the Locc Ness Monster is real or not. However, my more important research question was answered, the question of trying to figure out people’s interest in the potential discovery of this creature. The amount of research I devoted into this project definitely gave me a clear answer to that and the answer is simply the imaginative nature of human beings. The people that lack much imagination with this topic however, also known as the naysayers of the believability of the Locc Ness Monster, should be the ones getting more informed on this subject because the type of information found in my sources would definitely shed light on a myth that’s worth acknowledging at the very least. Out of all the cryptid legends in the realm of undiscovered organisms, the story of the Locc Ness Monster should be the last organism you decide to disacknowledge. Due to the mysterious nature of the information and theories behind it, I’m glad I went into researching it, mainly due to the fact that I’m now, one step closer, to having closure on a mystery I’ve been having trouble solving ever since I was a kid. s bac