COLORADO GHOST HUNTERS - [ARTICLE] Mistakes Often Made By Ghost Hunters

COLORADO GHOST HUNTERS

MISTAKES OFTEN MADE BY GHOST HUNTERS by Tad, Colorado Ghost Hunters October 30, 2007 During my time I have seen plenty of people (including myself) at some point making some common mistakes during ghost hunting. At some point you begin to realize that Ghost Hunting sometimes is not as fun and exciting as you first though it was going to be. You have plenty of people watching you and waiting for you to make some kind of mistake so they can criticize you when the chance arises. I would like to share my small bit of information to both Ghost Hunters and people requiring the help of Ghost Hunters. If you are just starting out in the Ghost Hunting field hopefully this will give you a bit more insight to improve you chances of helping out your brethren community. Or, if you are wanting to invite Ghost Hunters into your home or business you can watch for telltale signs of what to look out for when choosing a group. Here a just a few examples of what to watch out for when either conducting a Ghost Hunt or sending out invitations for help to groups. This is not a complete list of what to look out for but it will weed out plenty of chaff from the wheat, so to say. POOR USE OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS The use of the Scientific Method is to structure certain techniques to investigate phenomena to acquire new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. Based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence which is then subjected to certain principles of reasoning. It consists of a collection of data through through observation and experimentation, and then to formulate and test certain hypotheses. Usually this consists of choosing a specific topic to examine and then identifying a problem. Once a problem is recognized it can be researched and the appropriate hypotheses can be developed. From this point experiments can be designed and the hypotheses can be tested. The results can be analyzed and conclusions can be formulated. From here a theory is developed or the hypotheses are reevaluated in order to continue the process over until a theory is developed. Some Ghost Hunters have a bias on the subject of ghosts and have already placed their beliefs upon the subject. You will see that some will come into a situation already recognizing that ghosts exist although they do not have any scientific data to back up their claims. On the other hand you will have some already coming to the conclusion that ghosts do not exist and are there to disprove any claims of a haunting. Yet, this group does not have any scientific data either but they depend solely upon "falsifiability"! Using scientific methods helps to limit the amount of bias that can be placed on problems that are trying to be identified. Simply put, you can watch these groups and see if they are following a specific rotation of events to see how they conduct themselves using science. Are they trying to observe something to identify the problem? Are they conducting research to develop hypotheses? Are they conducting experiments to test these hypotheses? Are they analyzing the results and coming to conclusions? Have they developed a theory about what happened? CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS When conducting investigations in a business or home sometimes you will see ghost hunting groups with at least one person that is considered a "Medium" or "Psychic". They usually are used to confirm that ghosts are present or to reaffirm something about the history of the area. Ghost Hunting groups use these people to give credibility to a location's haunting. Although this is a flaw in the logic of using the Scientific Method. First the group is trying to prove that ghosts exist, which is currently viewed as paranormal. On top of which they use Mediums or Psychics to increase the their premise. Again, they are using paranormal means to prove the paranormal. The argument is circular, meaning that you cannot use the same method that you are trying to prove! In my opinion, it is completely different if you are running a few different experiments such as using Mediums or Psychics to prove the hypothesis that Medium or Psychic abilities work or do not work. Although, not in conjunction to give credibility to your argument that ghosts exist. At least not until you have done a lot of research and experimentation for all the subjects of ghosts, Mediums, and Psychics! But, I digress, Mediums and Psychics are a completely different subject. LACK OF UNDERSTANDING EQUIPMENT CAPABILITIES Some Ghost Hunters will buy expensive equipment and use it on their investigations without truly understanding what it is doing. They read somewhere that using a specific piece of kit is recommended and so they go and buy it without doing in-depth research about it. This can have serious consequences on the results that are obtained, if they are even using scientific methods. One simple example is a slow shutter speed setting on a camera. This can result usually in a photograph or digital image being distorted enough to cause speculation. Sometimes the image looks just fine except for certain lighting, usually emanating from a light bulb, to cause a long string like effect. Or, the flash on a camera can produce the infamous "orb" effect. When in actuality dust particles are close to the lens and the flash sits right next to the lens and illuminates the particles at the time of the flash. Another example is the electromagnetic field detector (or E.M.F. detector ). Some Ghost Hunting groups do not understand exactly what they measuring. If they are presented with certain questions they will more than likely begin to stumble over their own words. Such questions are: What is a natural electromagnetic field? What is the difference between AC and DC magnetism? What is the difference between Hertz (Hz) and Milligauss (mG)? What is the electromagnetic spectrum? Where do humans fall into play within the electromagnetic spectrum? If the Ghost Hunting group cannot answer questions like these then they should realize their limitations and correct the problem. Otherwise they should not be using the equipment in the first place. REMOVING GHOSTS You will see plenty of people in the Ghost Hunting field offer the service of trying to remove ghosts from the area that is having problems with them. They will use a numerous array of methods of trying to remove ghosts; from using burning sage to calling a local religious figure from a church to bless the house. This goes against the very logic of why the Ghost Hunting group is out there in the first place. In order for the ghost(s) to be removed from the location you first have to prove that ghosts actually exist. Plenty of people are still waiting for a scientific, testable method of proving that ghosts truly do exist. Remember, just because something out of the ordinary has happened to someone, does not mean that ghosts truly exist. There could be other explanations of what has happened to someone. Once you discover a provable method of proving that ghosts exists and what they are you can then move on to the next step. Now that you have concluded that ghosts exists and what they are you then have to have a proven method of removing ghosts. Again you would have to have a scientific method of proving that your method of removing a ghost truly does work. You would have to work out the details of each experience that people have run into for trying to remove ghosts. This would mean testing to see if burning sage and saying a few words in a controlled environment would actually remove a ghost. Under the circumstances which exist in the Ghost Hunting field there is obviously no true way to determine if ghosts exist. Although, this does not mean that certain circumstances can not lead you to an inductive conclusion that could prove your premise. So, when you see ghost hunters flaunt the idea of removing ghosts be sure to come back to this argument. CONCLUSION Again, these are just a few of the areas that are permeating the Ghost Hunting community and causing some ripples in the water. By understanding your limitations of knowledge you can educate yourself and better the Ghost Hunting community. Or, if you invite a group to your home or business you will be challenging Ghost Hunters to improve their standards thus improving our community. Regardless we all win.		HOME MISSION STATEMENT PRIVACY POLICY ABOUT US GHOST HUNTING ARTICLES GHOST HUNTING EXPERIMENTS GHOST HUNTING INVESTIGATIONS GHOST HUNTING PRODUCT REVIEWS GHOST HUNTING PODCAST CONTACT US HELP WANTED LINKS
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