Defining Cryptozoology.

I think I can speak for a lot of fellow researchers and enthusiasts when I say that Cryptozoology over the years had become quite murky. Too many non-Cryptids have been pushed as legitimate Cryptids. Case(s) in point: SlenderMan. The Rake. Both of which were created through Creepypasta. No. The SCP Foundation also is NOT Cryptozoology. Those too are stories made specifically for the internet. I feel we need to define the differences between Fortean, Cryptozoology and internet folklore. First, let's take a look at the actual definition of the term Cryptid:

Cryptid=

an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Yeti.

^^ This would include Sasquatch. The Loch Ness Monster. The Devil Monkeys. And to some degree, (depending on which stories you follow and believe.) DogMan. Personally, I don't feel DogMan is necessarily a Cryptid. If it's Interdimensional, than there's a chance that they may not be animals, rather, Beings from a different dimension. If you believe in that theory. There's a much longer list of what would ACTUALLY be considered a Cryptid, and I hope some of my fellow researchers weigh in here to help strengthen the point..

While it's not a popular opinion, Things such as Slenderman, at least in my belief, Are simply made up. They are stories meant to frighten people. Meant to create hype for movies, video games and other Creepypastas. Even in my studies of folklore, I've had to learn to separate stories from possible reality. I've even had to learn to classify certain entities in other categories. For example, Wendigo and Yee Naaldlooshii are NOT Cryptids. Those belong much more in the class of Paranormal--as they are both heavily supernatural in concept and in origin. We as a community need to do better. We need to practice actual Cryptozoology and know when to differentiate these different things. Placing made up beings in Cryptozoology only clouds the field. If we're ever going to find acceptance by mainstream science, Cryptozoology needs to tighten it's belt. Let's do better, folks! Remember, there's absolutely nothing wrong with critical thinking. Nor is there anything wrong with allowing others to know that some things, as much as we might hate to admit it, are made up.