Sights Unseen Paranormal
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Ghost Hunting
Ghost hunting is not science, however competent groups follow specific methodologies in an attempt to standardize their approach and to increase the chances of catching something paranormal.
The main goal is to attempt to rule out phenomena based on rational explanations--known as debunking. For example, a house settling can create what sounds like footsteps, a slight breeze can blow a door open or closed, and dust and bugs can show up as balls of lights in photographs and video.
If a group is extremely diligent at ruling out causes for the phenomena, what's left may be unexplainable, and possibly paranormal.
Here are some very basic rules to follow:
Never trespass or break the law, and always ask permission
Behave as a professional. Don't ruin it for others by acting immature or breaking the law.
Consider the serious nature of the question you are asking--is there an afterlife?
Jokers and delinquents have already ruined many an opportunity
at possibly haunted locations for the rest of us, and set a bad example.
Never attempt ghost hunting alone
Never ghost hunt alone. Your personal safety is too much to risk.
There is much more to this reality then we are aware,
and you may be placing yourself at risk without knowing it.
Find someone who is experienced and go together.
Safety should be your number one priority, and always remember
Ghost hunting is not science, however competent groups follow specific methodologies in an attempt to standardize their approach and to increase the chances of catching something paranormal.
The main goal is to attempt to rule out phenomena based on rational explanations--known as debunking. For example, a house settling can create what sounds like footsteps, a slight breeze can blow a door open or closed, and dust and bugs can show up as balls of lights in photographs and video.
If a group is extremely diligent at ruling out causes for the phenomena, what's left may be unexplainable, and possibly paranormal.
Here are some very basic rules to follow:
Never trespass or break the law, and always ask permission
Behave as a professional. Don't ruin it for others by acting immature or breaking the law.
Consider the serious nature of the question you are asking--is there an afterlife?
Jokers and delinquents have already ruined many an opportunity
at possibly haunted locations for the rest of us, and set a bad example.
Never attempt ghost hunting alone
Never ghost hunt alone. Your personal safety is too much to risk.
There is much more to this reality then we are aware,
and you may be placing yourself at risk without knowing it.
Find someone who is experienced and go together.
Safety should be your number one priority, and always remember
the living are more dangerous then the dead.
Seek all rational explanations first
You are doing the field of paranormal research a disservice
if you label every "orb" you get in a photograph
as paranormal, or say every sound you hear is a ghost.
Most potential paranormal phenomena
is easily explained as something more logical.
Make every attempt to "debunk" first.
Pictures of mist, shadows, and other anomalies are only just that.
It's a very big jump of faith to call unexplained phenomena
a ghost, regardless of your personal beliefs.
Several members of our group have experience conducting
experimental research, and realize that ghost hunting
is a long way from a controlled scientific experiment.
Currently, there is no piece of equipment that will prove that ghosts exist.
There is also no scientific research that proves that there
is an afterlife, and there may never be.
If you are part of a group that calls every anomaly "a ghost," at least do
the rest of us a favor and let us know that you don't try to debunk.
At that point, you might as well just be making stuff up,
and in our minds you may be only one step away from being a hoaxer.
Equipment
The majority of equipment used during investigations were
not designed to detect ghosts. Equipment such as audio recorders,
video cameras, and even dowsing rods,
are primarily used for other reasons.
But, there are ways that you can use your equipment
that maximize the changes of catching "paranormal energy."
Know your equipment well. Research what settings you should use
that will decrease the chances of getting s "false positive."
Evidence
Short of a full-body apparition in period dress, telling you his/her name,
and giving you the specifics of when they died--and capturing it on tape--
there is no such thing as real "evidence" of ghosts,
and even this evidence would be considered "suspect"
and probably not real proof of anything.
There are some very interesting and compelling case histories, but no real "proof."
Most "evidence" of ghosts involve pictures or video of strange shadows
or mist, or recordings of strange voices that
mayeven seem respond to questions.
Ghost hunting is probably never going to have a "smoking gun,"
something so compelling that it becomes impossible to deny that ghosts exist.
Why we do it
There is no doubt that people that experience strange things.
Hairy ape-like creatures are seen with astonishing frequency.
Unidentified objects are reported by multiple very reliable observers.
Mountain lions are seen in the Northeast, yet their existence in this region
continues to be denied by the authorities.
And people see full-body apparitions in period dress
that can be identified as persons that were associated
with the specific locale in which they were seen.
No one can deny that paranormal events happen.
Regardless of their cause, be it dimensional or time "bleeds,"
the consciousness of a living human haunting a location after death,
or psychic experiences manifested by the human mind,
they are more common then most people think, and deserve to be examined.
The world is much stranger then most would believe.
The magic and wonder that many of us lost in our youth
is still there for all to experience.
Thats why we do what we do.
Some people hunt and fish.
Some people write music or paint pictures.
We hunt ghosts.
--Bobby Elgee
Seek all rational explanations first
You are doing the field of paranormal research a disservice
if you label every "orb" you get in a photograph
as paranormal, or say every sound you hear is a ghost.
Most potential paranormal phenomena
is easily explained as something more logical.
Make every attempt to "debunk" first.
Pictures of mist, shadows, and other anomalies are only just that.
It's a very big jump of faith to call unexplained phenomena
a ghost, regardless of your personal beliefs.
Several members of our group have experience conducting
experimental research, and realize that ghost hunting
is a long way from a controlled scientific experiment.
Currently, there is no piece of equipment that will prove that ghosts exist.
There is also no scientific research that proves that there
is an afterlife, and there may never be.
If you are part of a group that calls every anomaly "a ghost," at least do
the rest of us a favor and let us know that you don't try to debunk.
At that point, you might as well just be making stuff up,
and in our minds you may be only one step away from being a hoaxer.
Equipment
The majority of equipment used during investigations were
not designed to detect ghosts. Equipment such as audio recorders,
video cameras, and even dowsing rods,
are primarily used for other reasons.
But, there are ways that you can use your equipment
that maximize the changes of catching "paranormal energy."
Know your equipment well. Research what settings you should use
that will decrease the chances of getting s "false positive."
Evidence
Short of a full-body apparition in period dress, telling you his/her name,
and giving you the specifics of when they died--and capturing it on tape--
there is no such thing as real "evidence" of ghosts,
and even this evidence would be considered "suspect"
and probably not real proof of anything.
There are some very interesting and compelling case histories, but no real "proof."
Most "evidence" of ghosts involve pictures or video of strange shadows
or mist, or recordings of strange voices that
mayeven seem respond to questions.
Ghost hunting is probably never going to have a "smoking gun,"
something so compelling that it becomes impossible to deny that ghosts exist.
Why we do it
There is no doubt that people that experience strange things.
Hairy ape-like creatures are seen with astonishing frequency.
Unidentified objects are reported by multiple very reliable observers.
Mountain lions are seen in the Northeast, yet their existence in this region
continues to be denied by the authorities.
And people see full-body apparitions in period dress
that can be identified as persons that were associated
with the specific locale in which they were seen.
No one can deny that paranormal events happen.
Regardless of their cause, be it dimensional or time "bleeds,"
the consciousness of a living human haunting a location after death,
or psychic experiences manifested by the human mind,
they are more common then most people think, and deserve to be examined.
The world is much stranger then most would believe.
The magic and wonder that many of us lost in our youth
is still there for all to experience.
Thats why we do what we do.
Some people hunt and fish.
Some people write music or paint pictures.
We hunt ghosts.
--Bobby Elgee
Ghost Hunting Basics, Tips, and Tricks
This is one of our favorite sites.
Ghost Hunting 101....An excellent primer
sponsored by the Shadowlands
Visit Fionna Broome's site for some excellent
This is one of our favorite sites.
Be warned, there are some very
scary pictures of real ghosts at
Ghost Hunting 101....An excellent primer
sponsored by the Shadowlands
Visit Fionna Broome's site for some excellent advice on ghost photography--and even take a
free on-line ghost hunting course--at Hollow Hill
Search for Ghost Hunters
Find a Haunted Location Near You
Always secure permission before visiting.
Some of the locations listed on these sites have been investigated by experienced ghost hunters,
others are just "haunted" by reputation, or according to legend.
Haunted New Hampshire courtesy of the gang at Hollow Hill
More Haunted New Hampshire courtesy of NewHampshire.com
Ghost hunting equipment, books, and more!
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