“It's quite funny to think they've found a 29 mm lizard but we can't manage to
see a load of big cats that are supposed to be on the loose!!

I have little faith in the 'experts' they bring in on anything, in my experience
the media will use anyone who backs up the story they want to tell, regardless
of whether it is the truth.”

“http://tinyurl.com/7yxpog3”

“I hear a low droning noise ......”

“"(taken from the Herald, Scottish broadsheet news paper; Saturday 4th Feb 2012)

Here's to those determined big cat trackers in Gloucestershire with their night vision goggles, telephoto lenses and recording equipment.

They have quite rightly dismissed recent DNA tests on a deer carcass that claim a fox was responsible. Why would a fox attack something that wasn't in a bin liner?

The incidents began a few weeks back when various weekend residents of pretty Cotswold villages found their City bonuses mauled and strewn across the lawn. Anxious parents brought forward the dates of their children's BCG jab – the so-called Big Cat Guard booster – and everyone began logging onto Big Cat Monitors.co.uk which, incidentally, is a genuine website and not the superstore in which your average puma around town buys his flat-screen TV.

The sightings are by no means restricted to the south, of course. Scotland has enjoyed more than its fair share, since many big cats have relocated to the north, attracted by its wide open spaces, discarded pizza boxes and opportunity to take part in referendums.

In 2004 there were stories about the Coulport Cougar, seen near Loch Long. In 2007, the Ban***hire Journal carried a breathless report about a "big, black, panther-like animal" that was seen near the Banff Links, although sadly no mention was made of its handicap. In 2009, another panther-sized big cat was seen walking along the railway line in Helensburgh. Shaun Stevens, a researcher for Big Cats in Britain – another genuine body, in case you're wondering, and not a list of the nation's millionaires – commented: "Knowing the width of the rail tracks in the video is four feet, eight-and-a-half inches, the animal photographed is clearly in excess of four feet." This statement sent members of Panthers, Railways and Train Timetables into paroxysms of joy. Or would have done if such a group existed.

The video footage of these and other sightings is oddly compelling. Often you hear nothing but the sound of the wind, or the breathing of the person holding the mobile or camera. Then the creature appears, walking along the top of a dry stone dyke, or skulking at the edge of a field. We want these stories to be true, want something untamed to be out there, free. Big cats, Big Foot, the Yeti, all of them. Instead, we just have the Not Yeti, so familiar to parents. "Have you done your homework?" You know the response - end quote

The article says it all. Frank Tubridge must have found something in all that snow, surely? So much for being a "expert bigcat tracker" If going by his BBC Radio 4 interview then sadly the man needs to change career even if he is a car-boot helper. The journalist mocks Frank by asking how many bigcats has he caught in his traps? None he said, then replied he is 100% certain that such cats are out there! Those like Tunbridge, Minter, Stevens, Bamping and even Dave_Kemp et al, these are not "experts", they are enthusiasts who enjoy their hobby, but also enjoy throwing their ego about too. I do admit that particularly in newspapers or on television quite a number of times whether it is zoological or otherwise (of a more general political or newsworthy nature) that these so-called "experts" seem to pop up out of the woodwork. They have a nasty habit of being almost religious in their beliefs, relishing in the attention given to them. Alas they tend to be somewhat unreliable and unscientific, both in outlook and comment”

“There Are Seven Day's in A Week. And Seven Letters In Forgive . If We Don't Forgive. Sometimes We Think On The Last Seven Day's And Sometimes It's To Late. Tomorrow Is A New Day. The First Letter Is {F } = Friday Yeah; Or { F} Forgive Day , Which One Is It Going To Be For { You } Dave_Kemp, Andrew_Powell, Argyllbigcats, Alchemies? It is very easy to throw your weighty ego about, just like toys you swing and yelp out when others have their say. It is harder to say sorry, harder to swallow that pride and ride yourself of that chip on your shoulder. People have opinions, some moreso than others however, that does not give you the right to pass judgement, say who is wrong or worse, to cause discord through behaviours that even children know is better. So which are you? Is the letter {F} for Friday or {F} for Forgiveness, for you, or shall we keep on hearing more and more of your posts that are sadly lacking that hearty touch. Forgiveness comes from the heart, not the mind or that of the mouth or typing insults and showing poor demeanour. So which are you?
TiG, is it not time to drop and end the stories of the bigcat and Frank? Now that the DNA has been dispatched to everyone and we now know that it was not from a bigcat, the deer was knocked down and natural predation has taken place. Is it not time to find other worthy stories? What say you TiG and to those mentioned herein?"”

“by ds9074

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 10:55AM
.
"Maybe the foxes have learnt to disguise themselves as big cats, after all they are very cunning are foxes."


by Mummy_Hare

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 9:30AM
.
"Thank fox for that."


by 2ladybugs

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 10:08AM
.
"Well that has scuppered TiG for the moment. They will now have to find something to write articles on. Oh!oh! not house extensions again or hedges on fire or horses with hooves trapped in the gate or ?????????? Perhaps they might even try to change Feburary to February."



by James_Gl

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 9:21AM
.
"The great thing about such theories is it's almost impossible to conclusively disprove them. It really should be up to the 'big cat' believers to prove it's out there… but that's not how these things work. Therefore I'm sure the story will live on.

Personally my guess is there isn't a big cat killing deer in Gloucestershire. However I don't mind if people want to keep the myth alive. It's not doing any harm and anyone who is getting a bit bored of the stories can turn to other articles."
.

by randylearner

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 9:21AM
.
"There are many ways a deer can die, it doesn't have to bitten by anything feline, foxy or otherwise. Frank has had his 15 minutes of fame, time to move on."


by Barry_Pong

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 8:49AM
.
"Lets hope that Dr Allaby will invoice Frank the 'intrepid big cat tracker' (his words on Radio 4 this morning) for all of the time wasted in indulging his ever increasingly deluded obsession. That might make him think twice before crying wolf - or Puma, or Lynx, or Bengal Tiger or Bagpuss or whatever it is that Frank thinks is 'out there'..."


by Polly_Willets

Thursday, Feburary 2 2012, 7:43AM
.
"Hahahaha! What a daily hoo~ha over nowt!"

Need I saw anymore...seems that the thunder has been taken from Argyllbigcats, Andrew Powell, Alchemies and co! Very quiet and hey, looks like the ludidite's have been scuppered, no DNA to back up heir theory. Oh dear, seems the lack of big cat DNA has stolen the thunder from Argyllbigcats, Andrew Powell, Alchemies and co. Have to agree with James_Gl on this whole debacle. The story and myth will live on because those who believe will make sure the myth carries, then again can either side, those who believe against those who don't, prove otherwise? Simply put, it's almost impossible to approve or disprove. However, when those who shout with their own decorum, ego-headbutting everyone else into submission with their hormone fueled obsession bated opinions, which seems to drive others away, gets hackles up. I am sure soon those persons will be on saying whatever they will, and again show themselves. The lack of any bigcat, let alone exotic cat DNA, has shown that in this case and will show in nearly but all, that there are no bigcats wild free in the UK let alone having an attachment and love for Stroud and the area. Time that TiG got into other stories and left this alone, Frank and co have had their ten pence worth and so far Frank has not came up with the goodies. So if you go down to the woods today, you better go in disguise!....Just as Mummy_Hare said: "What will Frank do with himself now TiG's not calling him for quotes daily?
Oh. Just had a horrid thought. It rhymes. Ew!""”

“Some took his toy away and he's upset.”

“This seems to be a "textbook example of Jungian projection – a state of being wherein someone sees in another qualities which they themselves possess – usually negative, as in this case".

Nighty night, trolls ;-)”

“Even if I knew such a thing, I wouldn't bother; vendettas are for the disturbed.”

“For the benefit of those who don't know what Doctor_Doom is referring to, he has a blog on WordPress which he uses to post revelations about those users of this forum he thinks deserve to be 'outed'.

In other words, if something you post here attracts his dislike, he uses any means at his disposal to find private information and post it on this blog; names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses; anything else he can get hold of which he thinks will harm or distress. He doesn't know his targets in real life but only from this forum. He has support from certain other posters here who also believe that anyone who disagrees with them deserves to be harassed by any means available; that gives him some form of validation. He has a fan club, therefore he has no reason to stop; his actions win their approval and he likes that.

The same blog he mentions has been referred to by other users here, noamchomsky1 and foggy_horne (both accounts now banned) who posted direct links to it. It's my opinion that these are all accounts made by this one user because I can't imagine more than one person being interested or disturbed enough to carry out that sort of campaign. I could be wrong; make up your own minds.

Periodically, when he's spent time searching for personal information and thinks he's found something of note, he makes a veiled reference to it which is intended to elicit a panic or fear reaction. The 'fair pint..er, fair point' comment is an example of this type of communication. It shows that he's found more details about his target's life which will reach the public domain just as his other revelations have. Classic demonstration of online 'power', of course; the cat and mouse ploy. In the mind of the stalker, this sort of behaviour is perfectly justified because his target dared to disagree with him and deserves payback.

The Fair Pint campaign obliquely referred to by Dr_Doom (weblink here: null) was created by a group of pub tenants seeking better conditions from pub landlords. It's presumably a worthy cause if you want to donate; I'm sure Dr_Doom has, now that he's discovered the site.

To save Dr_Doom the effort of updating his blog with further 'outings', if anyone here now wishes to find out more details such as bank details, political affiliations, name and address of any employers, or see personal holiday photos, just post your request here.

After all, this is a news site and clearly, the private lives of posters are news.”