{"id":3737,"date":"2010-06-01T01:10:08","date_gmt":"2010-06-01T06:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=3796"},"modified":"2010-05-26T11:49:23","modified_gmt":"2010-05-26T16:49:23","slug":"across-the-great-divide-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2010\/06\/01\/across-the-great-divide-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Across the Great Divide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"divide\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Debunking Paranormal TV Shows<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Flip on your TV on any given day or time and there\u2019s bound to be a paranormal reality show on.\u00a0 They\u2019re more common these days than the \u201cevidence\u201d they present.\u00a0 The list of current shows include SyFy\u2019s Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Ghost Hunters Academy, and Destination Truth; ABC Family\u2019s Scariest Places on Earth (seriously? ABC FAMILY<\/em>?\u00a0 *ahem\u2026); Travel Channel\u2019s Ghost Adventures; A&E\u2019s Paranormal State; Discovery Channel\u2019s Most Haunted, A Haunting, and Ghost Lab just to name a few!\u00a0 So, really, how authentic are they?\u00a0 TV is TV.\u00a0 If it doesn\u2019t get ratings it goes in the bin. <\/span><\/p>\n

Television has a long history of playing in the shadows.\u00a0 Remember In Search of\u2026<\/em>?\u00a0 This was a series that explored the strange, weird, and unexplainable.\u00a0 It not only did episodes on parapsychology, but UFOlogy, fringe science, and cryptozoology- which studies things such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.\u00a0 It was a well-done show that at times seemed to be an odd mix of PBS\u2019 Nova<\/em> and the National Enquirer<\/em>.\u00a0 The show was hosted by Leonard Nimoy, but I suppose Spock had to do something<\/em> during the 70\u2019s.\u00a0 In the mid 90\u2019s we had Unsolved Mysteries<\/em> hosted by the incomparable Robert Stack and Sightings<\/em> hosted by Tim White.\u00a0 Sightings<\/em> was by far one of the best shows in television history which dealt with the paranormal.\u00a0 Like In Search of\u2026 <\/em> they did stories on parapsychology, cryptozoology, and the like lasting several seasons, in large part due to the hosting talents of Tim White and the producers who designed the show to be more like a news magazine in the vein of 20\/20.\u00a0 They took great lengths to line up authenticated experts in the subjects they covered with appearances by the likes of Loyd Auerbach and Raymond Moody. <\/span><\/p>\n

I’m a paranormal investigator.\u00a0 I can not and DO NOT claim to be a parapsychologist or hold any kind of clinical degree in parapsychology.\u00a0 Dr. Phil pretends to be a doctor.\u00a0 I don\u2019t.\u00a0 I have years of experience and training but my actual degree is in mainstream psychology.\u00a0 Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of TAPS may be seasoned investigators who have decades of field experience but they are not formally educated in the theories and statistical analysis of the data they collect.\u00a0 They simply go in, turn on their toys, and interpret the data according to their previous experiences.\u00a0 I DO give kudos to them for periodically sending data to relevant experts such as film and special effects experts, forensic institutions, and so on.<\/span><\/p>\n

I use my knowledge of the field and the sciences of psychology and parapsychology and my experience as an investigator to look at all of these subjects objectively.\u00a0 Just because I come in and say a place is or is not haunted does not set it in stone.\u00a0 Let other groups come in and replicate my findings.\u00a0 I may even hold off for a few weeks or months and try again myself. <\/span><\/p>\n

With that said, just because the folks at TAPS say it is so, doesn\u2019t mean it is.\u00a0 They spend several hours on location, gather their evidence, analyze it, and leave.\u00a0 They make no attempt to repeat their \u201cexperiments\u201d.\u00a0 There is no methodology to their data collection or statistical analysis.\u00a0 There is no empirical replication of phenomenon.\u00a0 No control groups.\u00a0 If they can’t duplicate an event over and over again it isn’t debunked. <\/span><\/p>\n

When Ghost Hunters<\/em> first came around I loved it.\u00a0 There were many episodes where nothing happened (which is by far the truth of how it really goes), rarely would they say to a client that their home or business was truly haunted. They would suggest further study is needed to backup the \u201cparanormal activity\u201d they encountered.\u00a0 Now every place they visit is haunted and there is no stutter in their voice when they make the claim.\u00a0 I find most of the show now to be unrealistic and playing to the TV audience only.\u00a0 The thing that\u2019s really chapping my ass lately with the folks over at TAPS is the \u201cflashlight test\u201d.\u00a0 This is where you take a flashlight with push-button activation and unscrew it just enough to keep the electrical contacts alive but allowing for it to go on or off with the slightest touch.\u00a0 The thinking behind this is if the light can go on and off by command or respond in a logical pattern then it is evidence of paranormal activity.\u00a0 Ok, good theory on paper, but seriously lacking in empirical data or methodology.\u00a0 I’ve personally fallen prey to this \u201cevidence\u201d while investigating and even posted a short video clip.\u00a0 Fortunately I did state that it\u2019s not proof, just an anomalous clip.\u00a0 My issues with this test are simple.\u00a0 First of all there are way too many x-factors that raise questions.\u00a0 No control group and no clearly defined style or size of flashlight.\u00a0 Mini maglites are the most often used but pulling from personal experience even the mini ones have weight imperfections due to their metal casing.\u00a0 What about the flooring?\u00a0 These investigations are in old buildings and homes.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s off camera and I don\u2019t see it, but I never recall any member of TAPS pulling out a level and making sure the surface is perfectly flat and free from drafts or environmental factors.\u00a0 \u00a0Furthermore, when it first occurred on GH <\/em> Jason Hawes was quoted as saying he\u2019d been attempting this for nearly 20 years and it finally happened.\u00a0 Public comment was in a frenzy over the event and now this \u201creality\u201d show has a bona fide flashlight communication every week.\u00a0 Seems to me that the producers are having fun in the cutting room.\u00a0 Jay and Grant have said numerous times in the past that they have no control over how the producers cut the final edit of each episode, thus washing their hands of any deception.\u00a0 Fine, I can respect that- except for the fact that Jason Hawes is now listed as one of the executive producers of GH<\/em>.\u00a0 You can\u2019t tell me that position does carry some weight in the decision process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the infamous Moss Beach Distillery episode.\u00a0 The TAPS teams heads out to find evidence of the Blue Lady only to discover trick mirrors, recorded voices and other parlor tricks.\u00a0 I agree that the owners and the chef who was to be the on-camera spokesman should have disclosed the special effects but I disagree that he is solely to blame.\u00a0 Of COURSE Grant found speakers in the walls- it\u2019s a restaurant folks!\u00a0 They use the speakers as a PA and to play music in the dining room and other areas.\u00a0 This location has been investigated several times by different teams and experts for decades since the 1930\u2019s.\u00a0 Loyd Auerbach himself has been investigating the distillery since the early 1990\u2019s and many reports have been made since then that mention quite specifically the \u2018effects\u2019 in question.\u00a0 The week before TAPS investigated, Auerbach was called by a producer of GH <\/em>asking for witnesses\u2019 names for the Presidio Officer’s Club in\u00a0San Francisco as this was the show\u2019s main focus this trip.\u00a0\u00a0This producer, over the course of conversation, admitted that other points of interest were being considered including the Distillery.\u00a0\u00a0Auerbach offered to provide case histories and witness accounts of the experiences there but was cut off; the producer indicated they \u201chad what they needed\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Auerbach asked if they were aware of the special effects and he point blank said THEY WERE.\u00a0 TV at its finest- deceives its stars, deceives its audience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghost Hunters International<\/em> seems to approach things not so much on debunking things but instead concentrates on gathering evidence. The tech of the show is impressive.\u00a0 Brain Harnois once disclosed that when SyFy approached them about the spin off they were promised anything they wanted.\u00a0 They got it in spades with the full-spectrum cameras which have produced some very discussion-worthy results.\u00a0 Their investigation style is much the same as their big papa TAPS, thus falling victim to the things I’ve already mentioned.\u00a0 They do however seem to keep a level head when investigating some of the world\u2019s most legendary places and I gained much respect for them when they walked away from the castles of Vlad Dracul and Frankenstein saying \u201cEh, great place. Not so much evidence.\u201d\u00a0 On a side note, I’ve got to wonder just how many damn languages Barry speaks.\u00a0 Every country they visit he can hold an EVP session in the native tongue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paranormal State<\/em>.\u00a0 As objective as I try to be, I just can\u2019t be on this one.\u00a0 What can I possibly say other than this has got to be some of the worst \u2018reality\u2019 programming out there let alone a slap in the face of serious investigators and scholars of parapsychology.\u00a0 However, I could be wrong.\u00a0 This is at best Blair Witch<\/em> without the hype and not nearly as entertaining to watch- if only just to cut the crew down at every turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve only been able to sit still for three full episodes of the show, and who knows, it may have gotten better but I swear I saw fishing line moving an object in one case.\u00a0 I’ve seen clips here and there, laughing out loud to YouTube, much to the utter confusion of fellow Panera Bread patrons.\u00a0 Its crew is all about \u201cfeelings\u201d and subjective experiences that can\u2019t be seen on camera let alone quantified with scientific instruments.\u00a0\u00a0 The team is so wishy-washy that I wouldn\u2019t count on them to battle a turtle let alone an Elemental.\u00a0 Their \u2018acting\u2019 is monotone and boring.\u00a0 A critic for the Boston Herald <\/em>once wrote, \u201cThere hasn’t been a more suggestible crowd gathered since the last ‘Crossing Over’ taping with alleged psychic John Edward.\u201d (Don\u2019t even get me started on him)<\/span><\/p>\n

The show has faced intense criticism both from the media and viewers who question whether the \u201cactivity\u201d is real or faked.\u00a0 The line nauseatingly staggers the line between documentary and dialogue so ridiculous it must be scripted entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Way over at the other end of the spectrum is Ghost Lab<\/em>.\u00a0 The level of scientific scrutiny is both respectful and refreshing.\u00a0 This show has some of the most impressive technical equipment and knowledge of its application I have ever seen in paranormal reality television.\u00a0 The team rolls on to location with a mobile analysis RV that would put any military recon mission to shame.\u00a0 It\u2019s akin to comparing Grant Wilson\u2019s K-II meter to the Deflector Dish on the Enterprise. <\/span><\/p>\n

What I find refreshing is that week after week you sit there excited to find absolutely zilch at the end of the episode most of the time.\u00a0 A big criticism is that the show tries to be TAPS by going to all the places Jay and crew went before.\u00a0 Again, that\u2019s why I like it.\u00a0 A fresh set of eyes with different equipment to duplicate, confirm, or debunk those who have come before.\u00a0 A new perspective. <\/span><\/p>\n

I wish these various paranormal teams would collaborate on a central show or other forum where all their evidence can be cross examined and cross referenced.\u00a0 Perhaps then we might shed some light on the truth.\u00a0 Honestly, if ALL groups (televised or not) would combine and share their data for the sake of science instead of their ego and fame it might serve the greater good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our television shows and the casts that populate them are like extended family.\u00a0 Viewers have a strong kinship to people on a screen that they\u2019ve never met, if ever.\u00a0 We\u2019re fans of one show or another because the people and places that we see each week are comfortable and engaging.\u00a0 Whichever show you like, in the end it\u2019s all entertainment.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it comes back season after season; if it stops being fun to watch it goes the way of Heroes.\u00a0 If it inspires and motivates you to find the answers on your own, then great.\u00a0 Don\u2019t just take the word of the investigative team.\u00a0 Look past the Hollywood hype and see the truth laying somewhere between the cracks. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Debunking Paranormal TV Shows Flip on your TV on any given day or time and there\u2019s bound to be a paranormal reality show on.\u00a0 They\u2019re more common these days than the \u201cevidence\u201d they present.\u00a0 The list of current shows include SyFy\u2019s Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Ghost Hunters Academy, and Destination Truth; ABC Family\u2019s Scariest Places on Earth (seriously? ABC FAMILY?\u00a0 *ahem\u2026); Travel Channel\u2019s Ghost Adventures; A&E\u2019s Paranormal State; Discovery Channel\u2019s Most Haunted, A Haunting, and Ghost Lab just to name a few!\u00a0 So, really, how authentic are they?\u00a0 TV is TV.\u00a0 If it doesn\u2019t get ratings it goes in the bin. Television has a long history of playing in the shadows.\u00a0 Remember In Search of\u2026?\u00a0 This was a series that explored the strange, weird, and unexplainable.\u00a0 It not only did episodes on parapsychology, but UFOlogy, fringe science, and cryptozoology- which studies things such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.\u00a0 It was a well-done show that at times seemed to be an odd mix of PBS\u2019 Nova and the National Enquirer.\u00a0 The show was hosted by Leonard Nimoy, but I suppose Spock had to do something during the 70\u2019s.\u00a0 In the mid 90\u2019s we had Unsolved Mysteries hosted by the incomparable Robert Stack and Sightings hosted by Tim White.\u00a0 Sightings was by far one of the best shows in television history which dealt with the paranormal.\u00a0 Like In Search of\u2026 they did stories on parapsychology, cryptozoology, and the like lasting several seasons, in large part due to the hosting talents of Tim White and the producers who designed the show to be more like a news magazine in the vein of 20\/20.\u00a0 They took great lengths to line up authenticated experts in the subjects they covered with appearances by the likes of Loyd Auerbach and Raymond Moody. I’m a paranormal investigator.\u00a0 I can not and DO NOT claim to be a parapsychologist or hold any kind of clinical degree in parapsychology.\u00a0 Dr. Phil pretends to be a doctor.\u00a0 I don\u2019t.\u00a0 I have years of experience and training but my actual degree is in mainstream psychology.\u00a0 Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of TAPS may be seasoned investigators who have decades of field experience but they are not formally educated in the theories and statistical analysis of the data they collect.\u00a0 They simply go in, turn on their toys, and interpret the data according to their previous experiences.\u00a0 I DO give kudos to them for periodically sending data to relevant experts such as film and special effects experts, forensic institutions, and so on. I use my knowledge of the field and the sciences of psychology and parapsychology and my experience as an investigator to look at all of these subjects objectively.\u00a0 Just because I come in and say a place is or is not haunted does not set it in stone.\u00a0 Let other groups come in and replicate my findings.\u00a0 I may even hold off for a few weeks or months and try again myself. With that said, just because the folks at TAPS say it is so, doesn\u2019t mean it is.\u00a0 They spend several hours on location, gather their evidence, analyze it, and leave.\u00a0 They make no attempt to repeat their \u201cexperiments\u201d.\u00a0 There is no methodology to their data collection or statistical analysis.\u00a0 There is no empirical replication of phenomenon.\u00a0 No control groups.\u00a0 If they can’t duplicate an event over and over again it isn’t debunked. When Ghost Hunters first came around I loved it.\u00a0 There were many episodes where nothing happened (which is by far the truth of how it really goes), rarely would they say to a client that their home or business was truly haunted. They would suggest further study is needed to backup the \u201cparanormal activity\u201d they encountered.\u00a0 Now every place they visit is haunted and there is no stutter in their voice when they make the claim.\u00a0 I find most of the show now to be unrealistic and playing to the TV audience only.\u00a0 The thing that\u2019s really chapping my ass lately with the folks over at TAPS is the \u201cflashlight test\u201d.\u00a0 This is where you take a flashlight with push-button activation and unscrew it just enough to keep the electrical contacts alive but allowing for it to go on or off with the slightest touch.\u00a0 The thinking behind this is if the light can go on and off by command or respond in a logical pattern then it is evidence of paranormal activity.\u00a0 Ok, good theory on paper, but seriously lacking in empirical data or methodology.\u00a0 I’ve personally fallen prey to this \u201cevidence\u201d while investigating and even posted a short video clip.\u00a0 Fortunately I did state that it\u2019s not proof, just an anomalous clip.\u00a0 My issues with this test are simple.\u00a0 First of all there are way too many x-factors that raise questions.\u00a0 No control group and no clearly defined style or size of flashlight.\u00a0 Mini maglites are the most often used but pulling from personal experience even the mini ones have weight imperfections due to their metal casing.\u00a0 What about the flooring?\u00a0 These investigations are in old buildings and homes.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s off camera and I don\u2019t see it, but I never recall any member of TAPS pulling out a level and making sure the surface is perfectly flat and free from drafts or environmental factors.\u00a0 \u00a0Furthermore, when it first occurred on GH Jason Hawes was quoted as saying he\u2019d been attempting this for nearly 20 years and it finally happened.\u00a0 Public comment was in a frenzy over the event and now this \u201creality\u201d show has a bona fide flashlight communication every week.\u00a0 Seems to me that the producers are having fun in the cutting room.\u00a0 Jay and Grant have said numerous times in the past that they have no control over how the producers cut the final edit of each episode, thus washing their hands of any deception.\u00a0 Fine, I can respect that- except for the fact that Jason Hawes is now listed as one of the executive producers of GH.\u00a0 You can\u2019t tell me that position does carry some weight in the decision process. Then there\u2019s the infamous Moss Beach Distillery episode.\u00a0 The TAPS teams heads out to find evidence of the Blue Lady only to discover trick mirrors, recorded voices and other parlor tricks.\u00a0 I agree that the owners and the chef who was to be the on-camera spokesman should have disclosed the special effects but I disagree that he is solely to blame.\u00a0 Of COURSE Grant found speakers in the walls- it\u2019s a restaurant folks!\u00a0 They use the speakers as a PA and to play music in the dining room and other areas.\u00a0 This location has been investigated several times by different teams and experts for decades since the 1930\u2019s.\u00a0 Loyd Auerbach himself has been investigating the distillery since the early 1990\u2019s and many reports have been made since then that mention quite specifically the \u2018effects\u2019 in question.\u00a0 The week before TAPS investigated, Auerbach was called by a producer of GH asking for witnesses\u2019 names for the Presidio Officer’s Club in\u00a0San Francisco as this was the show\u2019s main focus this trip.\u00a0\u00a0This producer, over the course of conversation, admitted that other points of interest were being considered including the Distillery.\u00a0\u00a0Auerbach offered to provide case histories and witness accounts of the experiences there but was cut off; the producer indicated they \u201chad what they needed\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0Auerbach asked if they were aware of the special effects and he point blank said THEY WERE.\u00a0 TV at its finest- deceives its stars, deceives its audience. Ghost Hunters International seems to approach things not so much on debunking things but instead concentrates on gathering evidence. The tech of the show is impressive.\u00a0 Brain Harnois once disclosed that when SyFy approached them about the spin off they were promised anything they wanted.\u00a0 They got it in spades with the full-spectrum cameras which have produced some very discussion-worthy results.\u00a0 Their investigation style is much the same as their big papa TAPS, thus falling victim to the things I’ve already mentioned.\u00a0 They do however seem to keep a level head when investigating some of the world\u2019s most legendary places and I gained much respect for them when they walked away from the castles of Vlad Dracul and Frankenstein saying \u201cEh, great place. Not so much evidence.\u201d\u00a0 On a side note, I’ve got to wonder just how many damn languages Barry speaks.\u00a0 Every country they visit he can hold an EVP session in the native tongue. Paranormal State.\u00a0 As objective as I try to be, I just can\u2019t be on this one.\u00a0 What can I possibly say other than this has got to be some of the worst \u2018reality\u2019 programming out there let alone a slap in the face of serious investigators and scholars of parapsychology.\u00a0 However, I could be wrong.\u00a0 This is at best Blair Witch without the hype and not nearly as entertaining to watch- if only just to cut the crew down at every turn. I’ve only been able to sit still for three full episodes of the show, and who knows, it may have gotten better but I swear I saw fishing line moving an object in one case.\u00a0 I’ve seen clips here and there, laughing out loud to YouTube, much to the utter confusion of fellow Panera Bread patrons.\u00a0 Its crew is all about \u201cfeelings\u201d and subjective experiences that can\u2019t be seen on camera let alone quantified with scientific instruments.\u00a0\u00a0 The team is so wishy-washy that I wouldn\u2019t count on them to battle a turtle let alone an Elemental.\u00a0 Their \u2018acting\u2019 is monotone and boring.\u00a0 A critic for the Boston Herald once wrote, \u201cThere hasn’t been a more suggestible crowd gathered since the last ‘Crossing Over’ taping with alleged psychic John Edward.\u201d (Don\u2019t even get me started on him) The show has faced intense criticism both from the media and viewers who question whether the \u201cactivity\u201d is real or faked.\u00a0 The line nauseatingly staggers the line between documentary and dialogue so ridiculous it must be scripted entertainment. Way over at the other end of the spectrum is Ghost Lab.\u00a0 The level of scientific scrutiny is both respectful and refreshing.\u00a0 This show has some of the most impressive technical equipment and knowledge of its application I have ever seen in paranormal reality television.\u00a0 The team rolls on to location with a mobile analysis RV that would put any military recon mission to shame.\u00a0 It\u2019s akin to comparing Grant Wilson\u2019s K-II meter to the Deflector Dish on the Enterprise. What I find refreshing is that week after week you sit there excited to find absolutely zilch at the end of the episode most of the time.\u00a0 A big criticism is that the show tries to be TAPS by going to all the places Jay and crew went before.\u00a0 Again, that\u2019s why I like it.\u00a0 A fresh set of eyes with different equipment to duplicate, confirm, or debunk those who have come before.\u00a0 A new perspective. I wish these various paranormal teams would collaborate on a central show or other forum where all their evidence can be cross examined and cross referenced.\u00a0 Perhaps then we might shed some light on the truth.\u00a0 Honestly, if ALL groups (televised or not) would combine and share their data for the sake of science instead of their ego and fame it might serve the greater good. Our television shows and the casts that populate them are like extended family.\u00a0 Viewers have a strong kinship to people on a screen that they\u2019ve never met, if ever.\u00a0 We\u2019re fans of one show or another because the people and places that we see each week are comfortable and engaging.\u00a0 Whichever show you like, in the end it\u2019s all entertainment.\u00a0 That\u2019s why it comes back season after season; if it stops being fun to watch it goes the way of Heroes.\u00a0 If it inspires and motivates you to find the answers on your own, then great.\u00a0 Don\u2019t just take the word of the investigative team.\u00a0 Look past the Hollywood hype and see the truth laying somewhere…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3737","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3737\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}