I'm afraid I've reached that time of life when I can remember an imaginary 'golden age' when things worked properly.
As a long time ghost researcher I looked at how things have changed over the last decade or so (back to my 'golden age').
Golden age (GA): A vigil started with a cup of tea
Now: A vigil starts with 'protective blessing'
GA: Scientific research meant testing theories like magnetic hallucinations
Now: Scientific means taking an EMF meter with you
GA: EVP was an experimental technique involving microphone-less recording
Now: EVP is apparently the way ghosts talk to you!
GA: Psychics did not go on vigils but were tested elsewhere
Now: Psychics talk to ghosts and tell investigars where to look for 'activity'
GA: Vigils were only conducted if several credible witnesses had reported similar phenomena in the same place
Now: Vigils are conducted in places that have been on TV
GA: Orbs didn't exist
Now: They still don't (well except as photographic artefacts)
GA: People didn't know what ghosts were
Now: Almost everyone thinks ghosts are spirits
I could go on (and on) but it is too depressing! The whole paranormal research world has gone nuts! Or maybe it's me!
Is there any cure for 'golden age' syndrome?
Apologies for the post above. I wrote it while the balance of my mind was disturbed following a visit some ghost hunting forums. Lots of people on these forums have all sorts of bizarre, conflicting ideas about ghosts based, apparently, on their experiences of stumbling around dark buildings and cemetaries spooking themselves. Oddly, they never mention the possibility of misperception.
It's getting scarily like a religion out there! I wonder what they'll call it - Ghostinanity, perhaps!
PS: Still looking for a cure for the Golden Age ...
An Open MindTMOriginally Posted by Mulder
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In my experience, these modern 'ghost hunters' don't seem open minded to the idea that much of what they interpret as paranormal activity is just misperception, mostly caused by their own methods of 'investigation'. If you took one to a house where nothing weird had ever happened and told them it was haunted, they'd soon produce 'evidence' to back up the idea!
I think Im still stuck in the Golden Age of paranormal Investigation then. I couldnt agree more with your points.
Was there ever a point in time when "paranormal research" wasn't just a bit, erm, how shall I phrase this... a bit "out there"?I could go on (and on) but it is too depressing! The whole paranormal research world has gone nuts! Or maybe it's me!
Mulder, don't tell BobDezon orbs don't exist - he's seen 'em! (See adjoining thread)
Who hasnt seen orbs? Almost every ghost themed website you go to has loads of them. Are they paranormal? are they shite
I haven't seen them, that's who! I took it you were referring to ball lightning, which I assume does exist. Or does it? That was what I wanted to know when I posted the original question on the other thread.
Orbs as a paranormal phenomena do not exist, ball lightning however does. Ball lightning however is not paranormal either, just rare apparantly. Thats why I was suprised when people were doubting if it existed at all, it was to me, like doubting the existance of the milkman. Sure few people have seen him (being early rounds etc), but theres ya milk.
I am fairly new to organised scepticism. I was one of those sceptics who thought for years that I was the only one! Getting into this with some enthusiasm I looked for some local paranormal investigation groups, naively thinking there would be people out there applying good scientific principles and putting rational arguments to the paranormal woo. The more experienced of you will know what's coming ... all I could find were groups that "used the latest paranormal recording equipment" (whatever that is is) and "established psychics" I assume an "established" psychic is in reality someone who has been peddling the woo for years and not as it was intended - as some sort of qualification.
A short story from a number of years ago. A friend of the family told me that they had just moved into a new (rather old) house and they were hearing "breathing noises" at night. They were genuinely scared and were actually thinking about moving out. I went round to their house at night and sure enough in the front bedroom you could hear what I would describe as laboured breathing (... I know what you're thinking, heavy breathing in the bedroom! but seriously this was a death bed sort of sound). It was quite spooky but with a few minutes investigation I found that a branch of a tree was rubbing on a drain-pipe and from the inside of the house, the sound it made was just like breathing. It could only really be heard at night when it was quiet. Next day a saw solved the problem.
These friends of the family were perfectly normal people but they were talking about an exorcism and god know what else. It would have been fun to see one of the paranormal investigation groups come round with their "established" psychic to see what they would have made of it.
Paranormal research has always had a spectrum of views from outright skeptical to belief bordering on religion. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable and large shift in numbers towards the 'belief' end.
Whereas, once, most groups would never have taken a medium on an investigation, it is now standard. Even questioning the idea that spirits are behind hauntings is enough to get you chucked out of a modern group.
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