On this we can agree, perhaps for different reasons.
The important stuff is their impact on human beings.
or just as likely the distractions false reporting creates.
When I was young I read "Chariots of the gods", Roswell, and similar books that touted alien visitations. I also read Amityville Horror. All dis-proven now. As a youth, it was vogue to be 'open minded' about what has since been debunked. As an adult, we should be more discerning of such stuff that is there to basically enrich some author at the expense of gullible readers. Art Bell was 'entertainment' nothing more.
How long has Bigfoot been hiding now?
It is difficult to figure out when humans are just telling tall tales or accurately reflecting real experiences.
However, it is an intellectual error to dismiss all anecdotes as false.
That is one of the flaws of science. Science uses averages to reach conclusions, which means it has to dismiss outlying data.
That outlying data is tough to assimilate—but some small part of it will be the basis of future revolutions in human intellectual progress.
I am convinced that Terence McKenna, Rupert Sheldrake, Carl Jung, Jacque Vallee and John Mack are true intellectual giants—but are way ahead of their time.
They will be understood and appreciated by future generations.