Guy Edwards posted on September 7, 2012, this, “Look Out Meldrum, There’s Another Bigfoot Anthropologist in Town.”

Edwards’ posting was about anthropologist Zach Throckmorton (shown below, with a friend).

I posted, in two comments, some ponderings (framed, with my apologies, in my dislike for the use of the word “pseudoscience,” I’m sure). I did this in the comments section, after reading Edwards’ quick essay:

“Why would anyone who is not a scoftic or debunker, even if they are excluding Sasquatch studies from the labeled area, use the term ‘pseudoscience,’ unless they accept the political-emotional parameters that are part of using that word?”

and

“He probably uses ‘pseudoscience’ and the conceptual emotional barrage of that word because his advisor is John Hawks who *seems* to have a harsh pseudoscientific view of Bigfoot.”

I was just poking into the darkness, looking for non-scholarly answers, with no disrespect to him or John Hawks, whose anthropology blog I very much appreciate.

Zach wrote back.

Here’s his reply:

Loren
I’ve followed your work for years and am sympathetic that your work is often dismissed unreasonably by close-minded academics.
* * *
I’d be happy to discuss how my research on variability in the modern human foot arch relates to work on Bigfoot.  I’m also working on a paper about hallucal abduction that’s relevant to the discussion.  I’d also be happy to discuss scientific and pseudoscientific approaches to work on Bigfoot.  You questioned why I would use the term “pseudoscience” to describe cryptozoology in general (and Bigfoot in particular), if I am not a debunker, and insinuated I use that term because my adviser uses that term.  I think there is usually a clear delineation between good science and laughable pseudoscience.  Cryptozoology is burdened with pseudoscientific baggage, which is why it is generally dismissed by mainstream science.  I think this is unfortunate, because there is also a lot of excellent, rigorous scientific work on cryptids that deserves attention.  As an anthropologist, I give weight to stories and oral traditions of creatures like the orang pendek and the legion of stories about men of the wilds from all over the world.  I think it is important to be skeptical and to keep an open mind on (some) cryptids, such as Bigfoot.

Zach Throckmorton