There was a post like this made on another forum, but since I can't re-post the content, I'm posting a new version. The examples shown here can apply to any cryptid, not just Bigfoot.
Top 5 Skeptical Fallacies
1) Appeal to Ignorance
"After thousands of years of being on the continent, we would have had proof of Bigfoot by now if Bigfoot was real."
This is a fallacy where something is considered to be false either because it hasn't been proven to be true or because it's just hard to believe that it could be true. It's not possible to know about something you haven't discovered yet, so it doesn't make sense to conclude that something isn't real, simply because it hasn't been discovered.
2) Argumentum Ad Populum
"The current consensus is that Bigfoot isn't a real animal, therefore it isn't real and isn't worthy of scientific investigation."
A fallacious argument where it's concluded that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it.
3) Burden of Proof and False Default Position
"Bigfoot doesn't exist and it's up to proponents to prove otherwise."
The denialist assumes a negative default position and shifts the burden of proof to others.
It's not possible to prove a negative in the case of Bigfoot, so the burden of proof in this case can't ever be fulfilled. It's important to at least be theoretically able to back up the claims you make.
4) Special Pleading
"No other film like the PGF has surfaced since 1967, therefore, the PGF isn't evidence for the existence of Bigfoot." or "The film doesn't qualify as evidence."
Moving the goalpost after the claim of there not being any evidence has been shown to be false.
5) Genetic
"The PGF was made by a person with a questionable history, therefore, the film itself should be dismissed."
This fallacy avoids the argument by shifting focus onto something or someone's origins. It's similar to an ad hominem fallacy in that the skeptic leverages existing negative perceptions to make the PGF look bad, without actually presenting a case for why the film itself lacks merit.
Top 5 Skeptical Fallacies
1) Appeal to Ignorance
"After thousands of years of being on the continent, we would have had proof of Bigfoot by now if Bigfoot was real."
This is a fallacy where something is considered to be false either because it hasn't been proven to be true or because it's just hard to believe that it could be true. It's not possible to know about something you haven't discovered yet, so it doesn't make sense to conclude that something isn't real, simply because it hasn't been discovered.
2) Argumentum Ad Populum
"The current consensus is that Bigfoot isn't a real animal, therefore it isn't real and isn't worthy of scientific investigation."
A fallacious argument where it's concluded that a proposition is true because many or most people believe it.
3) Burden of Proof and False Default Position
"Bigfoot doesn't exist and it's up to proponents to prove otherwise."
The denialist assumes a negative default position and shifts the burden of proof to others.
It's not possible to prove a negative in the case of Bigfoot, so the burden of proof in this case can't ever be fulfilled. It's important to at least be theoretically able to back up the claims you make.
4) Special Pleading
"No other film like the PGF has surfaced since 1967, therefore, the PGF isn't evidence for the existence of Bigfoot." or "The film doesn't qualify as evidence."
Moving the goalpost after the claim of there not being any evidence has been shown to be false.
5) Genetic
"The PGF was made by a person with a questionable history, therefore, the film itself should be dismissed."
This fallacy avoids the argument by shifting focus onto something or someone's origins. It's similar to an ad hominem fallacy in that the skeptic leverages existing negative perceptions to make the PGF look bad, without actually presenting a case for why the film itself lacks merit.
via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1eTyws6
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