Thread: Dogmen / Werewolves

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On the 'Sightings' page of the site, they only list two sightings which allegedly took place before 1987 (in '38 and '67), and neither of them were actually reported by any of the witnesses until AFTER the song came out in 1987.
The 1938 story (which doesn't describe a dogman so much as a strange behaving but otherwise doggish dog; blue eyed dogs aren't all that rare) is claimed to have been told to them 'following the release' of the Legend of the Dogman song.
The 1967 incident wasn't told to them until 1987.
The other sightings took place in '87 or later.
Now I know these two guys didn't begin either the lycanthrope or wild man myths and legends, which have been around in many cultures for centuries. And I know a lot of folks have claimed encounters going way back, but so far I'm seeing that they didn't report their stories until the dogman song became a big deal. In fact, most that I've found on the Web have the usual added taglines of 'I didn't want to tell anyone until now because now it's being understood', etc., and the main rash of sightings definitely occur after the song hit the airwaves.
So if there is any evidence of a 'dogman' sighting in MI occurring before 1987, AND IT IS RELIABLY DOCUMENTED TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED BEFORE the song became a big local thing, I honestly want to see it. 'It happened in 1974 but I didn't tell anyone until 1990' won't cut it.
If not, I can only take the word of two guys who have claimed, with plenty of evidence to support their claim, to have made it up. That they have become swept up into the mythical mystical festival of 'then it became real' seems insincere and opportunistic to me.
Even if they are giving some proceeds to charities, allowing an admitted April Fool's prank to become a hoax that preys on the ignorant and superstitious in order to further CD and DVD sales is charlatanism.



Mike C.

Night-owl: Since it was literally down the street, I'm sure Dad heard about it from neighbors. He described it so well to me that I think he visited the cabin himself - probably knew the owners (he grew up in the area, wasn't just a summer-cabin-owner).

I probably should add that neither of us actually believe supernatural happened, but that doesn't mean it's still not way creepy when you're up there -- all that atmosphere, you know. There was a cabin up there that was vandalized, around the same time we were visiting, and it was investigated, and it made its way into a collection of other legends. Works for me.

Small towns like that (Luther doesn't have one stoplight - not even a flashing 4-way) love to be on the books for anything. This summer, during the 4th of July celebration, there was some kind of display set up, I think by the radio station. I didn't check it out, because I already have the "song" on CD.

It's a good story, but that's all it is, is a story. Being in the north woods, with no lights, no people, your imagination can go wild. It's the basis of what we do at Halloween...the atmosphere, the unknown, the imagination is what does the (true) scaring, as opposed to the shock/startle factor.
And Mike, if they didn't play up the story, who would buy the CD? Who would even hear of it? It's just pure advertising. And I don't feel it's charlatan-like in any way, it's business. People will believe what they want to believe, and I don't feel they're contributing to any misbeliefs. Those have been around since ancient times.

Originally Posted by michigal

And Mike, if they didn't play up the story, who would buy the CD? Who would even hear of it? .

That's what I've been writing, Michigal, I KNOW that's why they do it, but you can't NOT call that charlatanism, it's the definition of the term, knowingly playing up a fraud for money.
I'm not saying they're big evil guys or anything, but it's not just advertising either. If that was true, I could sell a diet pill and say the recipe might have been given to me by aliens from Rigel 7, and use that in my ads.
I'm not saying they're even being bad guys, but there are better means than fraud to help their charity, without adding yet another cryptid hoax into the population.

Mike C.

The thing is, they tell you it was a hoax. And while some people may not see the tongue-in-cheek "it became real," most people would. Those that believe in cryptids will believe, even if they're told it's a hoax. I wouldn't go so far as to call them charlatans. Just playing up the "legend," of which there are many in this world. And most of them in good fun for reasonable people. And if someone believes in them, no big deal. At least not to me, or to most reasonable people.

The analogy with the diet pill isn't quite the same. Remember, these guys say it started as a hoax. If you claimed it as real, well, that's no more than the hucksters that claim they've invented a pill that burns fat while you sleep. As always in this wonderful world, it's caveat emptor. Besides, the profits are at least going to charity, not to line some charlatan's pocket. One thing I always try to remember is, you can't regulate stupidity. That's why we still have spam.

To be honest I really don't think that 'most people' see through tongue in cheek references especially when it comes to mysterious things. That's not the fault of those being tongue in cheek, but it's still a problem that most people actually buy into nonsense pretty quickly and uncritically. You said it yourself, you can't regulate stupidity.
As for my diet pill example, I wasn't trying to make a direct analogy to the Dogman song/CD, but rather suggesting that there is only so far one can take the logic that it's 'not a big deal to most reasonable people' before it becomes absurdity.
Of course, the inference that 'most reasonable people' are okay with fakery, at least good natured fakery (see PT Barnum) is fair enough, though it does tend to imply that my opposing viewpoint makes me automatically unreasonable. I've certainly been called worse, haha!
But oh well, I'll have to agree to disagree.

At least we both agree that it's just a story.


Mike C.

Nah, not calling you unreasonable. By no means. Just stating a different point of view reagarding so called "advertising." What a dull world this would be if we all agreed, eh?
Did you see the mysterious Beast of Maine stuff? Now that was so clearly a dog, and it was so hyped up to the point it was strictly for the purpose of selling more newspapers. The Lewiston Sun Journal even paid to have DNA testing done on the poor dog. Now that's what I call charlatanism. And false advertising. And hucksterism. And worse. And again, it was just to sell more papers. If you didn't see the story let me know and I'll send you the links and pics.

P.S.
I so agree with you on the cluelessness of many people nowadays.

By all means, PLEASE send whatever links you wish, I'd be fascinated to read them. :-)
I've only read a handful of things about that. Thanks a bunch!


Mike C.

In order, from the paper:
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1444...terious_beast/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1456...ns_of_a_devil/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1473...z_to_continue/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1473...s_not_our_job/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1493...tory_has_legs/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1502...he_beast_here/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1500...aze_in_August/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1552...of_pure_greed/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1615..._day_Creature/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1750...ict_Its_a_dog/
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/1801...ed_by_readers/
http://www.sunjournal.com/index.php?...3&bloggerid=36

I just spent a good loooooong while poring over all those excellent links... and HOLY COW what a slew of zaniness! I entirely agree with your assessment over the greed, the hucksterism... just as blatant as can be.
And that poor dog. Sad looking thing.
And what is up with the Creature Burger?!?! Hahaha, unreal how people will play it up (as we've discussed!) :-)
Just amazing stuff, thanks a lot for posting it all, and in order too. Very cool of you-

Off to find a Virgin Mary in my three egg omelette!


Mike C.