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Invited on a Ghost Hunt - Tips?

Opus

New Blood
Opus
Joined
Feb 15, 2005
Messages
18
I happened to mention that show "Ghost Hunters" as an occasional guilty pleasure while I was at work today, and a coworker then offered up that she and her friends do "ghost hunting" on their own. This apparently consists of going to spooky house X and walking around with a tape recorder and a video camera. (Based on the show's methodology, I suppose. At least they don't take a dowser.) My coworker then invited me to come along on a ghost hunt that may or may not be taking place this weekend. Naturally I'm pretty skeptical of this stuff (hence my membership on this board), but I'll probably go if it actually comes to pass. To be blunt, I haven't believed in ghost since I was 12, but it seems like it would be a waste to pass up an opportunity to see how go about their "research". I was just wondering if anybody here has any tips for, I dunno, not coming across as a total mark without being completely off-putting to my friend, or on anything else that's practical. Should I just keep my mouth shut and go along for the ride, or should I pipe up if I have a methodological concern or earthly explanation?

The supposedly rich crop of "evidence" she says that she's recorded (but not shared with the world) makes me concerned that there's not a whole lot of thought being given to earthly explanations.

In any event, any suggestions would be very welcome.

On a side note, if the ghost hunters or, by some twist of fate, I come up with anything I can't explain on my own, I'll try and post it so the rest of the board can have a go at it. I don't suspect that it will come to that, but we'll see.
 
Whatever you do, don't cross the streams - that would be bad.
 
Duly noted. I've also made a note to say 'yes' if anyone asks if I'm a god.
 
Believe it or not, the explanation for orbs is one of the few things that "Ghost Hunters" gets right, so I assume she'll be familiar with that since it seems to be her main source of methodology.
The stuff for which they offer rational explanations on that show versus the stuff that they accept at face value as proof of ghosts is bizarre and smacks of contrivance (obviously). Not that I expect much from the Sci-Fi Channel, but their "findings" on that show seem to follow little internal logic even in the name of suspension of disbelief.
 
Opus said:
Should I just keep my mouth shut and go along for the ride, or should I pipe up if I have a methodological concern or earthly explanation?
The supposedly rich crop of "evidence" she says that she's recorded (but not shared with the world) makes me concerned that there's not a whole lot of thought being given to earthly explanations.
Click to expand...

I've been ghost hunting for years now. I think that if they have bad methodology then you saying something isn't likely to change that. If they are serious about this and not just going for a good night out and maybe a laugh, then they will be probably be immovable.
I say this because of you comment about the amount of 'evidence'. No ghost hunters that I know, that attempt to follow any kind of scientific medods have a 'rich crop' of it. I have one thing, in all my years. ONE THING. And that's got holes in it you can stick your head through.
 
I think you should pipe up if you have a mundane explanation, if only to keep them grounded. In the excitement of a find, or growing hysteria at 'unexplained' weirdness, they are apt to let their imaginations run riot.

After seeing Acora's crew... carry some bags and tweezers and don't let people wear gloves (but don't say why and don't let them know) and if anything get's thrown, bag it and dust it.

(Thanks to CSI. :D )
 
Also, don't be surprised if you get "caught in the moment." Fear, excitement, hysteria are all contageous human behaviors, and you (presmably) are a normal human being. If they get nervous, chances are you will, too.
 
I think you should just get scared and enjoy it. I don't beleive in ghosts either but it looks like fun. You're not going to make friends by spoiling the whole thing. They wouldn't thank you for blandly explaining Newtons Laws of Motion at the top of a rollercoaster, or tutting & sneering all the way through The Shining.

If you feel the need to debunk, quietly collect data and mention it a few days later. If you want to be smart, set up a mysterious happening (something moving perhaps) and see how accurate their recollection of it is. See if they get carried away and start to make stuff up.
 
My opinion:

Carry a pen and notepad. Make notes about anything unusual. Don't have to be comprehensive, but at least enough so you can recall the event, and definately make sure to write down the specific details of any event that is supposedly paranormal, so they don't get changed in the telling later. Heck, take your own camera if you have the inclination, or tape recorder.

I wouldn't voice any objections during the hunt. You don't have to agree with everytone else's assessments (Them: "Hey, look, a ghost!", You: "Hmm, well, it is a bit unusual" as opposed to "No, it's a sheet!").

If anyone asks, tell them you want to think about it a bit first. Listen tot heir explanations, and note those too. The next day, consider the events. Use your notes to refresh your memory. Look up info on things you can't explain (if anything). Then present your opinions.

Just my two cents. I think we skeptics (many of us, at least) can easily fall into a habit of rattling off common mistakes to explain things away, and fall into a "curmudgen" mode. If you're wrong in that first, tenative explanation, no matter how well you explain that it isn't your firm and final conclusion, etc, many believers will not remember any of your later corrections (and will point to you being initially wrong, and changing your answer later). By taking a bit of time to research first, you minimize this type of confusion.

Of course, this makes it into a much more time-consuming event, rather than a romp through a haunted house, but at least it's something to keep in mind ;)
 
Opus said:
Believe it or not, the explanation for orbs is one of the few things that "Ghost Hunters" gets right, so I assume she'll be familiar with that since it seems to be her main source of methodology.
The stuff for which they offer rational explanations on that show versus the stuff that they accept at face value as proof of ghosts is bizarre and smacks of contrivance (obviously). Not that I expect much from the Sci-Fi Channel, but their "findings" on that show seem to follow little internal logic even in the name of suspension of disbelief.
Click to expand...
The Ghost Hunters (read: plumbers) only copped to the 'light reflected off dust particles' explanation for 'orbs' after relentless hammering by skeptics(patting myself on the back) via e-mail and their message board. If you watch the shows from early in the first season, you'll see them explaining how 'orbs' are glowing balls of spirit energy.

To give credit where credit is due, they were pretty quick to drop the woo woo when they were called out.
 
If, by chance, they plan on taking along gadgetry to help keep in mind the following:

* Get baselines for the EM meters. If you get a spike in EM readings during the hunt, follow up. Find out if there is wiring/appliances/etc that would cause it

* If they are using a thermometer, make sure they don't put it in their pocket. I've seen too many times someone whip it out of the back pocket and exclaim in excitement as the reading drops dramatically.

* Take note of light sources outside the house: roads, highways, plane routes, cell tower lights, and, if you have time, see which of these are visable from where once inside the house

* Try to convince them to put a Faraday (sp?) cage around their device they want to use for EVP (will help prevent picking up radio signals, etc)

* Take note around the residence at dusk for animal activities: bats/swallows coming out of attic, owls nearby, squirrel nests, etc

* Perhaps most importantly, have fun, and let _them_ have fun; that way they will invite you to more of these excusions (assuming you enjoy it)
 
Arkan_Wolfshade said:
If, by chance, they plan on taking along gadgetry to help keep in mind the following:

* Get baselines for the EM meters. If you get a spike in EM readings during the hunt, follow up. Find out if there is wiring/appliances/etc that would cause it

* If they are using a thermometer, make sure they don't put it in their pocket. I've seen too many times someone whip it out of the back pocket and exclaim in excitement as the reading drops dramatically.

* Take note of light sources outside the house: roads, highways, plane routes, cell tower lights, and, if you have time, see which of these are visable from where once inside the house

* Try to convince them to put a Faraday (sp?) cage around their device they want to use for EVP (will help prevent picking up radio signals, etc)

* Take note around the residence at dusk for animal activities: bats/swallows coming out of attic, owls nearby, squirrel nests, etc

* Perhaps most importantly, have fun, and let _them_ have fun; that way they will invite you to more of these excusions (assuming you enjoy it)
Click to expand...

If they pull out one of those new fangled IR thermometers that are all the rage with the ghost hunters these days, be sure to point out to them that they aren't capable of taking air temperatures, and the reading they're getting is the temperature of the wall behind where the ghostly "cold spot" is supposedly hovering.

The "Ghost Hunters" are famous for this flub.
 
Yeah, I watch the episode this week where they went to the Mansfield Reformatory (in Ohio), since I grew up there. When they were talking about the unexplained light on film I was yelling at the TV "There are three major highways(1) around that place, and the MANCI maximum security prison < 500 yrds away, of course there are going to be lights see in there other than your flashlights!"

(1) US RT 30, ST RT 545 and ST RT 13
 
Uh, get permission from the owner? If you don't want to have the strange and unusual sounds in the bushes turn out to be Jonny Law and his mystical handcuffs.
 
Psiload said:
If they pull out one of those new fangled IR thermometers that are all the rage with the ghost hunters these days, be sure to point out to them that they aren't capable of taking air temperatures,
Click to expand...

CANNOT take air temperatures? Surely it takes an average of the temperatures between itself and the wall?
If not, how does that work? How can it remained unaffected by the air temperature?

BTW, I have one of these. Very pricey for a cats toy :D
 
Opus said:
I happened to mention that show "Ghost Hunters" as an occasional guilty pleasure while I was at work today, and a coworker then offered up that she and her friends do "ghost hunting" on their own. This apparently consists of going to spooky house X and walking around with a tape recorder and a video camera. (Based on the show's methodology, I suppose. At least they don't take a dowser.) My coworker then invited me to come along on a ghost hunt that may or may not be taking place this weekend. Naturally I'm pretty skeptical of this stuff (hence my membership on this board), but I'll probably go if it actually comes to pass. To be blunt, I haven't believed in ghost since I was 12, but it seems like it would be a waste to pass up an opportunity to see how go about their "research". I was just wondering if anybody here has any tips for, I dunno, not coming across as a total mark without being completely off-putting to my friend, or on anything else that's practical. Should I just keep my mouth shut and go along for the ride, or should I pipe up if I have a methodological concern or earthly explanation?

The supposedly rich crop of "evidence" she says that she's recorded (but not shared with the world) makes me concerned that there's not a whole lot of thought being given to earthly explanations.

In any event, any suggestions would be very welcome.

On a side note, if the ghost hunters or, by some twist of fate, I come up with anything I can't explain on my own, I'll try and post it so the rest of the board can have a go at it. I don't suspect that it will come to that, but we'll see.
Click to expand...
Go along for the ride, you never know what may or may not happen. It would be a new experience if nothing else. Keep in mind though, what you may perceive as "explainable" is just what some are looking for as Ghosts. Have fun, keep an open mind.
 
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