Skip to main content

My Thoughts On The Term, " Ghost Hunting"

Many people may not know, but I rarely use the term, 'Ghost Hunting.' Usually I prefer to use 'Paranormal Investigating,' 'Paranormal Research,' or simply 'Investigating.' There's actually a specific reason for this. I feel that the term is inaccurate to describe how I perceive the field.

The word, 'Hunting' is defined in the as "The pursuit and killing or capture of game and wild animals, regarded as sport." 'Hunting' is obviously an aggressive word, and I do not associate it with what my group and I do. 'Ghost Hunting' may accurately describe the 'investigating' style of the Ghost Adventures crew. If you have seen this program, you know what I am talking about. The team, especially Zak Bagans, are what ghost bullies would be. They aggressively confront and hunt down whatever entity may be on location. This, unfortunately, seems to be the style nowadays with many groups. This makes it that much harder for actual investigators to gain any respect or credibility outside the field.

'Paranormal Investigation' or 'research' implies the careful examination of the location in question. It involves use of the scientific method and a healthy dose of skepticism to narrow down the possibilities of the source of the occurrences. These kinds of people do not hunt down whatever could be attached to the property. Investigators aim largely to help the people experiencing activity. For example, my group was able to pinpoint the source of one family's problems a few months back. We were able to determine that it was not a haunting, but faulty electrical causing flickering lights and a very high electromagnetic field (EMF). If you did not know, high EMF is thought to cause headaches, uneasiness, and even hallucinations. We were able to put a family at ease with our findings, and that is what mattered most.

In my group, we have a double blind investigative style to reinforce the scientific method. This means that we send in two different groups at separate times. The members in the groups have no prior knowledge of the location or the activity experienced on the property. This assures that whatever the group experiences is authentic. If both the groups' findings match up, then there is definitely some significance. Everything that can be debunked, is. We do not know any definite information on the property until after evidence review. At that time, we contact the clients with our results and opinions. In my opinion, this method is the most credible and efficient. It further verifies that we are more precisely a team of investigators and not ghost hunters.

"A search of inquiry for ascertaining facts; detailed or careful examination." 'Investigation' is synonymous with 'exploration.' That is what we do, and that is how I will always think of the field. It isn't haphazard or forceful. That is why I do not to believe 'Ghost Hunting' will never be tantamount to 'Paranormal Investigating.'


On a similar note, I want everyone to witness the horrible monstrosity that is this song. And no, I do not mean it in a good way. This one was written by Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures. I admit, I do love to rip on this guy any chance I can get. I just can't resist.




Comments

  1. This is quite insightful.
    I never thought to differentiate the two-- and now I will.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not many people really do...I guess I'm just particular.

      Delete
  2. I never really thought of it that way, but what you're saying makes sense! What group do you investigate with?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You! I investigate with Historic Ghost Watch and Investigation(HGWI). If you go over to my post, "Ghost Hunting: My Story," It links to the group's website, and tells about how I got involved with it all. :)

      Delete
  3. I watched the video...

    *facepalm* That was painful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It certainly was. You will never get those five minutes back either. ;)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Devil's Turnaround

Noonday Missionary Baptist Church's Cemetery is also known as "Devil's Turnaround." It is located along a little back road in Kennesaw, Georgia, and most of the graves are scattered in the woods. It is easy to miss, but some of the gravestones are visible from the road. The cemetery has graves from the 1860's. I wouldn't doubt that some of its occupants were slaves at one time. Many say the land is haunted by malevolent spirits who hurl objects and make physical contact--shoving, scratching, and even biting visitors. I could understand why any lingering spirits might be upset: These grounds have been terribly neglected. Much of the graves are broken and toppled over. Some are barely visible through the overgrowth of ivy and weeds. People also say the root of the haunting may be related to rumored cult rituals performed on the property. Located right by the cemetery are huge power lines (high voltage transmission lines). I could hear them b...

My Spiritual Journal: One Year Later

After the dawn of the year 2013, I made a resolution to create a spiritual journal. A suggestion from a friend a few months previous had put the idea in my head, but I kept thinking how it was a good idea. Although I had never before been able to keep up with journaling, I made the commitment this time. This past New Year's day was the one year mark for my journal, and I don't plan on stopping.  I recently finished a writing pedagogy class, where I discovered why journaling works. You see, writing isn't just a means for documenting thought; it's also a way of learning (epistemic writing). When we write, our thoughts spin out in a web, which allows us to make certain discoveries. Through journaling, which is personal and less-hindered, we are able to make self-discoveries. I had a professor who once said, "reality is a function of language," which to me means that through a shift of view or expression, the world can appear in many different ways. When journa...