Skeptoid - Skeptoid #850: Ode to the Nightcrawler Aired: 2022-09-20 Duration: 08:20 === The Mystery of Night Crawlers (05:42) === [00:00:03] They say it crawls at night, a mysterious two-legged creature. [00:00:07] Mysterious because two-legged is all that it is. [00:00:11] No body, just legs. [00:00:13] Known from just a few grainy videos, this strange creature has made its way into the hearts of many, not just for being strange and creepy, but for being cute and definitely for being far outside the mainstream. [00:00:27] Today, we sing its praises. [00:00:30] An ode to the Fresno Nightcrawler is coming up right now on Skeptoid. [00:00:39] Hi, I'm Alex Goldman. [00:00:41] You may know me as the host of Reply All, but I'm done with that. [00:00:45] I'm doing something else now. [00:00:47] I've started a new podcast called Hyperfixed. [00:00:49] On every episode of Hyperfixed, listeners write in with their problems and I try to solve them. [00:00:54] Some massive and life-altering, and some so minuscule it'll boggle your mind. [00:00:58] No matter the problem, no matter the size, I'm here for you. [00:01:02] That's HyperFixed, the new podcast for Radiotopia. [00:01:05] Find it wherever you listen to podcasts or at hyperfixedpod.com. [00:01:14] You're listening to Skeptoid. [00:01:16] I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com. [00:01:19] Ode to the Night Crawler. [00:01:23] Episode number 826 was about an especially unusual cryptid known as the Fresno Night Crawler. [00:01:30] It was a surprisingly popular episode, mainly because there are a number of online and real-world communities who have adopted the Nightcrawler as a sort of mascot. [00:01:40] Today is episode number 850. [00:01:43] And as longtime Skeptoid listeners have come to know, every 50th episode is usually a musical special. [00:01:51] And what better way to celebrate a favorite icon than with a musical tribute? [00:01:56] Well, I wasn't sure if that was a direction I wanted to go this time. [00:02:00] But it turned out that the Night Crawler held special meaning for me as well. [00:02:05] Because I once had a personal encounter of my own. [00:02:10] The Night Crawler, as you may recall, is known from just a scant handful of security camera videos, the most famous of which came from Fresno, California. [00:02:19] The creature has only been spotted in pairs, a larger one followed by a smaller one. [00:02:25] They look just like a pair of legs with no other body parts or features and flat as if cut from paper. [00:02:32] They are also, as it turns out, extremely cute. [00:02:36] But that doesn't stop them from being beastly creatures of the darkness who strike fear into the hearts of some and win over the hearts of others. [00:02:46] It's now time for me to come clean and confess my own experience encountering the Night Crawler. [00:02:52] This is what happened. [00:02:55] I was out for a stroll one warm summer night. [00:02:59] The moon over Fresno shined clear and bright. [00:03:03] When suddenly something caught my glance. [00:03:06] A pair of legs not wearing pants. [00:03:10] No body, just legs. [00:03:14] Only two white pegs must have drained that bottle right to the dregs. [00:03:20] To see those Night Crawler legs, the legs were white like an ironed sheet. [00:03:27] Just ambling along right down the street. [00:03:30] I figured I must have lost my mind when a second one followed close behind. [00:03:38] No body, just legs. [00:03:41] Only two white pegs must have drained that bottle right to the dregs. [00:03:48] To see those Night Crawler legs. [00:04:04] I reached for my pocket to grab my phone. [00:04:07] This chance for a photo must not be blown. [00:04:11] But off they sped into the night until they vanished out of sight. [00:04:19] Nobody just legs. [00:04:22] Only two white pegs must have drained that bottle right to the dregs. [00:04:29] To see those night crawler legs. [00:04:32] Many times since I've sought my friends, for I know not how this story ends. [00:04:39] I'd never have guessed in my wildest dreams that Night Crawler lives, not just in memes. [00:04:46] Nobody just legs. [00:04:50] Only two white pegs must have drained that bottle right to the dregs. [00:05:26] To this day, whenever I'm out at night, I find myself searching the shadows, hoping to see my unusual friends just one more time. [00:05:34] But whether I do or not, the Night Crawlers have found a permanent home in my heart, as they have in so many others. [00:05:43] And that's my story. === Embracing Skepticism and Support (02:34) === [00:05:45] Is it true? [00:05:46] Well, it hardly matters. [00:05:48] What does matter is that we not let skepticism turn to cynicism and forget how to enjoy a fun story for its own sake. [00:05:56] So if you ask me, I'm sticking to my guns. [00:05:59] The Night Crawler lives. [00:06:06] A great big Skeptoid shout out to Premium supporters Robert Rapaki, Elizabeth Morris, Statistical Sam, and of course, Tad. [00:06:15] Thank you all so much for being Skeptoid supporters with your monthly micropayments and making it possible to bring Skeptoid to the world for free. [00:06:23] Come to the online transcript for episode number 850 at skeptoid.com to download just this song without the surrounding narration to add to your favorite playlist. [00:06:35] And be sure to watch our feature documentary film, Science Friction, a shocking look at how TV networks edit scientists out of context to misrepresent them. [00:06:44] Science Friction available on your favorite streaming services or check sciencefriction.tv slash watch for all the viewing options. [00:06:54] And always remember not to let your skepticism turn to cynicism. [00:07:02] You're listening to Skeptoid, a listener-supported program. [00:07:05] I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com. [00:07:13] Hello, everyone. [00:07:14] This is Adrian Hill from Skookum Studios in Calgary, Canada, the land of maple syrup and moose. [00:07:22] And I'm here to ask you to consider becoming a premium member of Skeptoid for as little as $5 per month. [00:07:31] And that's only the cost of a couple of Tim Horton's double doubles. [00:07:35] And that's Canadian for coffee with double cream and sugar. [00:07:40] Why support Skeptoid? [00:07:42] If you are like me and don't like ads, but like extended versions of each episode, Premium is for you. [00:07:48] If you want to support a worthwhile nonprofit that combats pseudoscience, promotes critical thinking, and provides free access to teachers to use the podcast in the classroom via the Teacher's Toolkit, then sign up today. [00:08:02] Remember that skepticism is the best medicine. [00:08:06] Next to giggling, of course. [00:08:08] Until next time, this is Adrienne Hill. [00:08:19] From PRX.