New show Ghost Adventures

[Ernie M]

The fluctuating EMF meter

[...]

Here's a start: In last night's episode at a creepy doll museum, a doll falls off a shelf and scares our hero. They then use their EMF meter to show that the background "milli-gals" are 0.1 or 0.2, but closer to the doll they jump all the way up to 0.5 and 0.6! Spirit energy confirmed! Other than the obvious performance art, can our hive mind here at the ISF provide insight on what might be a more mundane explanation?

Simple explanation how the EMF reading went up-and-down:

There was an EMF source out of camera view. The source, (for example, a two-way radio) is moved closer to, or further from, the EMF meter, or brought more inline with the meters' single axis.

The milligauss reading was played-up to look high–but could be considered low.

I would like to know what Ghost Adventures episode you referenced–I believe it may be "Hauntings Of Vicksburg: Demons And Dolls" from Season fifteen, episode four?

While EMF meters are a scientific instrument, there is no scientific proof they detect ghosts. Why? 1) Ghosts/spirits haven't been proven to exist and, 2) there is no proof that if ghosts/spirits exist, that they emit EMF.

EMF meters measure electromagnetic fields, they do not detect ghosts.

 

[Mackenberg]

Prisoner: Cell Block H

...though it may have had other names (was it just "Prisoner" in Oz?).

"Prisoner" was the series title in Australia and New Zealand. IIRC they added "Cell Block H" for European release so as not to confuse it with the classic Patrick McGoohan '60s spy-fi series "The Prisoner".

Back on topic, I've only ever seen short excerpts of these "reality" ghost-hunter shows - mostly via this forum, actually - but I wish someone would devote those production resources to a show that actively celebrates the skeptical approach.

 

[The Shrike]

There was an EMF source out of camera view. The source, (for example, a two-way radio) is moved closer to, or further from, the EMF meter, or brought more inline with the meters' single axis.

I was wondering if moving the camera closer would've done it, too.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Sabrina]

This show is my guilty pleasure.

I pretty much just watch it to laugh at it. I have yet to see any "evidence" produced by the guys on this show that can't be explained in an entirely mundane way, but it's so FUNNY to see how they react to the crap that supposedly happens. I've honestly been missing my fix while I've been in Kuwait; I'll be glad to get home and get caught up on the lunacy.

 

[Axxman300]

It's Three Stooges Ghost-Hunting.

Considering the show started 8 years ago they're not any better than they were in the first season. There is no commitment to objective data collection whatsoever. The show is something I would recommend for aspiring ghost hunters AND first year biology students to watch as an example of what not to do in the field while conducting research. Everything is done for the camera, not to "find evidence".

The show is a useful study in levels of self-induced hysteria. The guys psyche themselves up, and then psyche themselves out. They lead witnesses during interviews to fish out quotes they want, and then feed the witness's delusions.

 

[Sabrina]

Every time they hear a noise in an "abandoned" building and immediately assume its paranormal I'm like, have you people never heard of rodents? You know, those tiny, furry creatures that absolutely frickin' LOVE to live in old abandoned and even some not abandoned buildings? And will often make noises while going about their business that sound an awful lot like the noise you just heard?

Like I said, I pretty much watch it just to laugh at it.

 

[mgidm86]

Oh sure. What's next--No Santa!!!

You have to admit though, for sheer entertainment value shows like this can't be beat.

Dee

Not for me, I find it disturbing and extremely frustrating because I know some people will believe it. Guys at work talk about woo nonsense, websites they've read. I hope they don't apply their non-thinking skills to any important decisions that could cost people their jobs.

 

[Apology]

I cannot, for the life of me, understand why I am so addicted to these types of shows. I don't believe in an afterlife, nor am I religious, nor am I inordinately afraid of death, and I am still not entirely convinced of the existence of the thing commonly referred to as a "soul", and yet, I am always tuning in every week. Not only am I tuning in, but I'm actually rooting for our protagonists, hoping that this week, they will actually come up with something that convinces me that ghosts exist---and every week, I'm naturally disappointed again, but not enough to make me stop watching, or even stop hoping.

A few things do make me laugh, such as the orbs that positively-definitely have been "debunked" as not being dust or bugs, but have obvious fluttering wings. Another favorite is Bagans' pronunciation of the word "situation", which sounds something like "sedjuwation" the way he pronounces it.

More recently, I've been amused by Bagan's misuse of the word "pareidolia" in association with the "ghost box" device they use---apparently Bagans thinks "pareidolia"means "fakery created by stitching different words together from different radio frequencies" rather than "finding a pattern in random data due to the natural function of the human brain". He does not seem to understand that pareidolia is not an accusation of any wrongdoing. Nor does he seem to understand that the random frequency switching of the ghost box device makes pareidolia more likely, not less.

I tend to think that the show is more prone to over(re)acting and dramatization by the network than flat-out fakery. These fellas do seem to be sincere in their beliefs in the paranormal, and their "evidence" is so underwhelming that fakery isn't necessary. A little noise pollution, incompetence, and a basic misunderstanding of scientific principles seems to serve them just fine without the addition of hidden wires or sleight of hand, unlike some of the other shows.

I'm also hopelessly addicted to any show starring the Tenessee Wraith Chasers. Their Rube Goldberg ghost traps captured my heart from the very beginning.

 

[fuelair]

I searched the forums and didn't find a thread yet on the new show Ghost Adventures. I'm wondering what people think of it, especially their style of "taunting" the "ghosts."

There's also a much-talked about scene where a brick goes flying, and another where they see a face around a corner which disappears. These guys are the luckiest ghost hunters I've ever seen.

In one episode, they visit a bar called Bud Mackey's (I think) in Wilder, KY. There's a scene where an employee is unlocking the basement to let them in, and it immediately cuts to an interior shot, showing them walk through the door. If they had just unlocked the basement, how is it possible for a camera to already be inside?

So far, that is the only egregious error that I've seen.

That kind of show is a total waste of time and electrons!!!!!!!

 

[tinribmancer]

That kind of show is a total waste of time and electrons!!!!!!!

But good for these people's wallets!!!!!!

Also, the link in the OP's post are dead (ghostlinks!!1!!1)