comments on some enigmatic aspects of this very thread
To all:
The presence of coincidence always at least seems to suggest the existence of some significance beyond the immediately visible. The concurrent occurrence of two topically intertwined, but - in terms of “traditional science” - causally unrelated phenomena or situations may be a happenstance, but it can also signify the influence of something not bound by “traditional science”, and, therefore, in the realm of Forteanism. For this reason, coincidence is a natural consideration for those interested in Forteanism. When the subjects involved are, themselves, Fortean topics, it can be considered “gravy”, or a sign that something truly enigmatic is involved.
The Fortean site contributor, Mr. R.I.N.G., began this thread, with reference to an evident regular phenomenon called "alligator men" or "lizard men". Then, in the "Monsters from the Id!" thread, in the "Notes & Queries" section, Mr. R.I.N.G. also refers back to this very thread, in speaking about, for example, a child dreaming of a kind of lizard monster, and, if others are thinking the same, the combined effect actually bringing the creature into existence.
It's questionable why the story of the lizard men should bring about this conceptualization to Mr. R.I.N.G. If you wished to bring up the idea of someone bringing a creature into existence by dreaming about it, why not introduce it in threads about The Abominable Snowman, The Loch Ness Monster, or Owlman? Why should this particular subject bring about the idea of creatures being "thought" into existence? What is it about the lizard man story that would incite Mr. R.I.N.G. to invoke the apparently totally separate subject of something being “wished” into existence? No statements were made, supposedly, to the effect of people thinking about such a creature, when it was seen, and there seems no mention of it, essentially, vanishing into thin air, when people stopped thinking of.
When I first read about the lizard man experience in Weird NJ, number 8, I was reminded of an episode I once saw of the old television series, "One Step Beyond", hosted by John Newland. "One Step Beyond" was a program that air dramatizations of stories of the unusual and supernatural. It was hosted by director John Newland. It covered second sight, apparitions and occurrences not explainable by what can be called "everyday" interpretations. In one episode, even - before they became a feature of the epidemic of drug abuse - Mr. Newland appeared in an episode, smoking "sacred mushrooms", to see if they increased someone's ability to use sixth sense.
One episode told of a creature that seemed to come from nowhere to be a special friend of a young boy. The descriptions of the creature seem to agree with those ascribed to the lizard men. It was tall, strong, reptilian, and, based on a pair of footprints supposedly belonging to the creature, had three toes on each foot! Not once was the being actually seen, throughout the episode. Its actions were only suggested by their results. In some ways, it was different from the usual descriptions of lizard men, though. It was, for example, taller than the 7 feet usually indicated, it seems. It was described as being able to reach up to the boy's room, on the second floor of his house. It seemed strong enough to actually life him out, through his window, and carry him away. The footprints, too, seemed about 18 inches to 2 feet long, and about 6 inches deep! Too, though, the story took place in a farming community, similar to the wooded areas where the lizard men are usually said to be seen. Throughout the episode, too, a distinctive scent is said to be associated with the creature. I don't know if any of those who saw lizard men or alligator men reported a strange scent. In the story, the boy's family, and their neighbors, trail and, presumably, corner the creature in a woods. They know it's there because of the scent. They set fire to the woods, supposedly destroying it, but there is no sound heard, as if it was trying to get out. It may have simply “gone out of existence”. I have not found any very reliable list of episode descriptions for the series, but I believe it may have been the episode, "Who Are You?"
One might be tempted to suggest that the boy might have summoned a "special friend" because he was unhappy in his family life, but, in the story, I don't believe he was abused or mistreated or unhappy. This may, however, be in deference to the family. In reality, there may have been family troubles that the boy sought to escape, and which led to his "special friend" coming into existence. Tellingly, though, the idea of creatures being summoned to defend a troubled child is mentioned in other stories in the series! Another episode, for example, tells of a girl being raised by her step-mother. Her step-mother is, apparently, constantly cruel to the girl, and, in the end, the girl is able to summon up a tiger that attacks the woman!
In its own way, this set of dual references can be considered enigmatic, certainly in the sense that the two topics do not seem to have any overt relationship, yet, if you look into it, there seems a hidden connection!. Those familiar with other posts I have placed on this board will be aware of my invoking the idea of acting to have God work through you. Without Mr. R.I.N.G. even realizing it, his associated threads seem to have opened up this concept, of children's suffering enabling them to bring something into existence to defend them. This raises the question of whether anyone has experienced any kind of unusual phenomenon which evidently pointed the way to the discovery of previously unknown mistreatment of children, or others. It may be useful to point out any cases where unusual circumstances seem to have attended a child - or, for that matter, anyone else - being unfairly used or mistreated!
Julian Penrod
