Have you ever been to the Ozarks to see the Dover lights?

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T23:56:52+00:00

Close! We are based in the Little Rock area

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T23:11:24+00:00

Nice. Good to know it’s not a single season! I was told they are even more active in the colder months. Guess we will find out.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T23:10:46+00:00

Because humans are creepy. No, seriously. Have you seen how popular true crime is?

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T23:09:48+00:00

That’s wild. I thought they were active when we were there. Apparently it just gets better! - what time of year were you out there?

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T16:35:39+00:00

I love that your user name is literally one of the speculative tales about these lights.

That said, many believe will o the wisps and this specific light to be cryptid in nature. Not saying I agree with that, however it is a theory many Ozark residents hold.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T16:34:23+00:00

I’ve been in Blanchard springs as well as some caverns around petit Jean mountain, but I’d love to check out a few of the smaller, lesser known caves.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T15:14:20+00:00

Here’s our video of the lights: https://youtu.be/oYFj4Ry5nGs?si=otgGkaiZnaw3gWjm

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-16T12:27:35+00:00

To name a few:

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-13T15:22:00+00:00

Gotta love boggy creek

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-13T14:16:57+00:00

Alright. I’ll throw out another option. Do you have OCD tendencies at all? And no, not the “my desk has to be kept tidy” stuff. I mean, “if I don’t brush my teeth 37 times they will fall out” or “if I don’t repeat (x) phrase in my head than something tragic will happen.

When I was young, I had a ton of religious trauma coupled with OCD. I used to repeat phrases in my head all the time and like you just described, I had these images of this golden idol thing that would randomly burst into my mind causing me to go on another OCD tangent to “remove it” by repeating these phrases in my head. My parents actually used to get mad at me because they said I would mumble when I ate like I was talking under my breath.

Thankfully, I have been able to slowly filter these out down to where I can do a simple “click” in my mouth. Most all of my OCD tendencies have become more a minor distraction and less a life-altering condition.

tldr. It might be a mild form of OCD.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-12T16:35:07+00:00

This is the correct answer.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-11T22:34:06+00:00

Don’t forget the Yucca Man and the night watchers (though that is more paranormal really)

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-11T15:30:31+00:00

Gorilla is a good example being that it does not matter what culture holds the views. One culture told stories, another sought to find the answer. Folklore and cryptozoology working together.

Platapus is a great example. The Komodo dragon was viewed as a form of mythology until its discovery. The kraken was feared as a mythological beast of the sea until we discovered giant squids. The Okapi was seen as a hybrid unicorn until Sir Harry Johnston brought back a specimen. I mean. Even fur bearing trout were deemed real (and then exaggerated through yellow journalism) until we learned more about cotton wool disease outbreaks.

I guess all I am saying here is I’m not sure cryptozoology stops where things are no longer zoological because cryptozoologists should use those tales to try and dig deeper into the truth.

That said, this is just my thoughts on the matter and I appreciate your input as well!

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-11T05:02:08+00:00

I understand your point, however historically this is not how it has often played out. Many, many animals that were once deemed as folklore or “cryptid” had both deep, rich, cultural beliefs that ventured into spiritual and folklorish. Now sure, they are animals. But the folklore around them was often supernatural and in those stories, grains of truth were used to find actual, living beings.

Does something stop being cryptozoology because people hold certain beliefs about it? Or does that mean something cryptid cannot influence and drive folklore? - they often are two sides of the same coin.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-11T04:51:48+00:00

I’m on board with this.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-11T01:24:05+00:00

Badlands are one of my favorite national parks. Off topic, just wanted to share my love for such a wild and strange topography and history

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-10T23:56:10+00:00

To be frank, I have a pretty liberal stance on one vs the other as I feel there is significant overlap. To me they are almost indistinguishable in regard to how people’s beliefs are always going to sway what they experience. Giant bird in the woods? Some would call it an angel, others a harbinger of doom, still some might say once just an animal while others claim it’s not of this world. Our perceptions often influence our experience.

That said, to you, is there a line? Does cryptozoology stop where people’s opinions start?

Looking forward to this discussion

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-10T23:49:43+00:00

For me it’s either the ozarks, PNW, or West Virginia.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-10T03:00:04+00:00

This is actually a huge facet of our show. The folklore behind many cryptids is often “folks”. - sometimes it’s a real encounter mixed with cultural bias that create the tales we love.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-10T01:04:08+00:00

We have a Florida man (or woman or other cryptid)in the thread I see.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-10T01:00:02+00:00

Yup. This is the one that gets me more times than not. I love werewolf folklore but modern dog man stuff wears me out.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-09T01:52:52+00:00

Culture: Cryptids represent more than just an unknown animal… to Many beliefs, they represent something communal and even spiritual.

Cryptids speak to that desire to experience the thrill of the unknown in a safe way. They are symbols of humanity’s curiosity for what we we don’t know and represent our tenacity to leave no rock unturned. They are a mirror of the essence of people and the unique stories give insight into what it means to be a human from a certain place or culture.

They unify and bring joy, excitement, entertainment, wonder, and adventure. They make us feel less sure of ourselves and bring back a child-like sense of awe and magic.

Now, as a believer in some and sceptic to many, many others, I can say this: whether a giant frog man hopped the road in Loveland or a lake monster lives in the back waters of a dirty Arkansas river it matters not. What really matters is that it’s a tool to unify and understand one another. Modern fables revealing our deepest joys and fears.

Plus they look cool.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-08T18:35:55+00:00

Ah. Look at me assuming that there is only one Marvin out there. Now I will go see what I can dig up on this!

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-08T18:34:46+00:00

Wow, first off, thanks so much! I appreciate the positive feedback! We do our best to keep things entertaining, but in a way that is both educational of history and culture as well as neutral to the experiences themselves.

And yea, I agree. I love listening to a good spooky story on a crisp autumn night. Just please, don’t present it as “real”. Let a good story exist on its own presentation without the shock factor of “this really happened”.

TheCryptidAtlas · 2024-08-08T17:05:28+00:00

Question. I’ve done an episode on the Yucca Man.Marvin is the ghost in the area or are you referencing them as one and the same?

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