Mixing mysteries

[MRT]

I have noticed an alarming tendency towards mixing (and compounding) mysteries in recent years. When I have done ghost investigations it was always using scientific methods. Nowadays, possibly thanks to Most Haunted, it seems anything goes, like using psychics, dowsing, ouija, seances, etc to 'investigate' hauntings.

Even if you think that psychics can receive information paranormally, it is just compounding one mystery with another. If you've no idea how a psychic gets their information (or where it comes from), how can anything so obtained possibly be helpful?

I've noticed this mixing of mysteries becoming more widespread. I was recently asked to look at photos of orbs in crop circles. The photographer assumed that the orbs must be paranormal because it was in a crop circle (which, as we all know, is also paranormal!!!!).

It now seems to be becoming the norm to 'investigate' mysteries by using paranormal methods.

[John Jackson]

See the wonderfully named fallacy of Ignotum per Ignotius: http://www.ukskeptics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683

Attempting to explain one mystery by using another.

I would say the classic example is using mediums on a paranormal investigation - MH style. ;D

I suppose the advantage of doing it is that more people can be involved and there's always interesting answers to be had. Then you claim that you're not 100% convinced by it and so call yourself a scientific/skeptical investigator! :cheesy:

It really is something that more serious investigative groups should be aware of though.

[Nicky]

*nods*

I've been running PSI induction nights recently and during Q&A we've had a lot of questions about why we don't use mediums, glass spinning, table tipping etc. as they say it works on investigations they see on TV ..

And I've had to explain time and time again that whilst those methods of supposed contact are interesting and do deserve research being done into them, it really isn't appropriate in the investigation setting as there are far too many other variables we need to try and control without bringing in something so completely random, unfounded and unknown .. It's introducing a whole new phenomena without shedding any credible light on what it is that we are actually meant to be investigating ..

It's crazy talk ... :cheesy: