I was a believer in the 1970s thanks to the film of the guy in a gorilla suit and the whole coelacanth argument. I also personally saw very large human looking footprints in the snow around some hot springs on a cross country ski trip. Turned out they were my own from the day before. The snow just melted around the original print. So, yeah, I was a true believer…when I was 13.
I’m of the opinion that Bigfoot sightings are actually bears seen from a distance. There are definitely some people playing practical jokes or making money off of rubes. But the legends go back too far for it to just be pranksters.
Notes on the bear theory
I want to believe. I want some strange hidden bipedal to be living their happy life, out there.
I don’t know why, I live a bit too close to the area of “The Legend of Boggy Creek” fame.
There was a comment in another thread about this that pointed out that we are finding new species all the time.
I think, though, that most (if not all) species that are being found are either minor variations on known species or very small.
Which raised the question for me - when was the last time an animal was discovered that even remotely reached the size of Bigfoot?
Maybe the Mountain Gorilla?
No scat, are they using little natural poop bags like a good bigfoot owner? No bones, none of them ever die of old age, child-birth, fallin of a cliff, the bodies must just disappear without a trace. There would be remains, even if they tried to collect them all, they wouldn"t get them all.
Every foot print is too perfect. Clear separation between the toes, no indication of walking at all, just a couple clear impressions of a foot print. That is not how real life works. Smeared prints, mud between the toes, running marks, etc. A nice print that you could not make even using your own foot. Try it.
Same reason we haven’t been contacted by space aliens. Because there aren’t any. Occam’s Razor.
I saw a video of Neil deGrasse Tyson discussing aliens and alien abductions with a couple of people to believe in it. He had the same sort of response to them. People who claim to have seen them are just that. It’s not evidence and until somebody can produce one, it’s just anecdotal.
Son-of-a-wrek says, and I quote…“you don’t know nothing, don’t you know Aliens are where they come from? Very intelligent aliens. The ones who seek out similiar intelligence in the human race.”
Uh huh 
Any kid who watched The Six Million Dollar Man knows that.
People keep them as pets?
I wonder if Tribbles are Bigfoot eggs?
IF one is found dead, I think they should be treated as a person.
Actually, you can’t practice vivisection on a carcass
The only remaining sasqueech are vampires. So - no corpses, and they don’t show up on film.
This for a whole ‘nother thread, but slight pushback: There might be space aliens… but absolutely none have visited earth.
Yep, and he eats like a horse with a tape worm. 
As a kid, I figured Bigfoot must have one normal foot and one humongous foot—because if both were huge, they’d call him Bigfeet.
I don’t know about you but I am getting hockey teams and insulated sippy cups confused all the time…
Wait, there’s a difference!?
Or Harry and the Hendersons.