Look, I'm sorry I rubbed you the wrong way, but I decided that you seem like an intelligent enough guy that I shouldn't just dismiss you out of hand, ignore you and hope you go away, or make fun of you. However, when I decide to give someone that level of respect, that goes along with the idea that I'm not going to pull punches in having an intelligent debate.
This site has an unusual mix of professional scientists, educated lay-people, and complete novices, but I've been continually impressed at how we're able to have intelligent and reasonable discussions that address all these levels. I am immensely pleased that we have world-class experts who are willing to participate, and I think it's important to take them seriously.
The collected wisdom on TONMO about the biology of cephalopods, giant and otherwise, is something I'm proud to be part of. I am not a professional squid expert, and I may shoot from the hip occasionally, but I have found no shortage of professionals willing to correct me when I'm wrong. The fact that the people who have spoken up don't see a way to reconcile the report of your experience with your theory that it was a giant squid is telling, but more telling is that none of the experts who have remained silent have jumped in to defend your theory.
I haven't seen anyone dispute your description, and I think that's entirely reasonable since, as a single eyewitness, there is no way to get any more information than what you report. You assert "From what little I know about marine life, this was my conclusion i.e the 'nearest fit'." Perhaps, then, you should take the attitude of a student, and learn more about the characteristics of giant squids, and consider objectively whether, as you learn more, the explanation of "giant squid" as what you saw becomes more or less plausible. It seems that there is a strong correlation that the more expertise anyone has about squids, the more they react with skepticism that your description matches a squid. It also seems that you have less interest in discussing why that is the prevailing view, and more interest in repeating that you're sure that you're right.
If you are interested in learning more about squids in order to evaluate what you've seen, or because you're genuinely interested in general, many people in our community would be happy to help you. And I, and I'm sure I speak for others, would appreciate your input in discussing the implications of hydrodynamics on squid propulsion.
To be entirely blunt, though, you give me the impression that you only want this community to accept your assertion that you must be right, not to learn anything. I actually feel bad about having this impression, and I would love to be proven wrong, because I like to see the best in people, and I am genuinely curious about what you saw from the sailboat. If you want to discuss it, though, I think you need to face up to the fact that no one here on TONMO has said they even think it's possible, let alone likely, that a squid of any sort exists that fits the details of your description.
If nothing else, I suggest that you re-read your apology/explanation, and observe that at no point do you acknowledge the possibility that what you saw could be anything other than a squid, except by putting the onus on us to say "but what was it?" Why should you expect us to have any meaningful opinion on what it may have been unless it was a cephalopod?
I want to clarify that I have no interest in censorship, dismissal, or bullying of Tim or anyone else. I have not removed any posts, I have not banned any users, and I have tried to encourage open discussion, and organized the discussion of Tim's encounter into its own thread, not the dustbin. If anyone has suggestions on a more reasonable way to give Tim's theory about his encounter due consideration, I'm quite open to them. I have to say that I'm feeling more
than
at present, though.