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Science Center conducts ghost hunts

JoeTheJuggler

Penultimate Amazing
JoeTheJuggler
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Jun 7, 2006
Messages
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I only just learned that the St. Louis Science Center conducts ghost hunts.

http://www.slsctravel.com/ScienceAroundTown.html#haunted

You can download the slideshow (pdf) and background info to get an idea of what this is. It is not a skeptical or scientific approach.

You can also click to listen to the "EVP" recording from their last ghost hunt.

Our local skeptical and rationalist groups are probably going to do something about this. At least a letter writing campaign.

ETA: I'd be inclined to write a letter, and if they don't respond (by canceling this program) in a reasonable time, go to the press, but the next one is scheduled for Oct. 22-23, so there isn't much time at all.
 
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Wow..... or shoud I say, Woooo?

That is the worst excuse for "scientific" paranormal research I have seen in a while.

The team that is behind this is the "Paranormal Task Force" they have been featured on many different paranormal believer type tv shows and productions.

They are also the home of Tom Halstead, who is one of the most famous ghost photograph fraudsters around.

Check out the .pdf file on the site and look at the "scientific" way that they conduct their investigations.

Or for more fun, check out the Paranormal Task Force web site.

This is not an unusual claim (scientific) for the ghost hunter crowd, but most of them would not understand a scientific study if they saw one.
 
Thanks, Bryan.

I didn't know the Paranormal Task Force was the group connected with this thing. (The web site says that the hunt is conducted by Science Center staff and members of local paranormal investigation groups.)

So where did you see that they are the ones behind this?
 
JoeTheJuggler said:
Thanks, Bryan.

I didn't know the Paranormal Task Force was the group connected with this thing. (The web site says that the hunt is conducted by Science Center staff and members of local paranormal investigation groups.)

So where did you see that they are the ones behind this?
Click to expand...

On the pdf file, among the Program Staff is "Ron Turner, Paranormal Task Force, St. Louis."
 
There is a lot of scientific evidence that suggests that ghosts exist.
Rationalist and skeptic groups know this--why would they discourage ghost hunts?
Over 1,000 ghosts were recorded and documented just last year.
Life is so much more fascinating than many of you care to admit.
Let me assure you, ghosts are real--I've seen several.
 
I'll go beyond asking for that evidence, I'd challenge Stereolab to even state a falsifiable hypothesis on the existence of ghosts.

Is there any measurement you can get from these devices (thermometer, EMF detector, digital audio recorder) that would disprove the existence of ghosts? If you can't state such a thing, there is no way it is possible that any measurement taken by these devices constitutes evidence in support of the ghost hypothesis.

Ghost hunting is not science. It's strictly pseudoscience.
 
Oh, look, Paranormal Task Force is involved with a DVD about the exorcism behind The Exorcist. They mention investigating the home and the "asylum" where the exorcism took place. Isn't the "asylum" a wing of Alexian Bros. Hospital that was torn down years ago? It looks like a super-scientific investigation, though:

The film culminates in a visit to the actual, real-life childhood home of the possessed boy – the place where it all began – and the “pay-off” is a big one! With the help of professionals such as Greg Myers and Sandra Oates of Missouri’s Paranormal Task Force, and medium Vicki Main, R.N. drawing on the help of St. Michael the Archangel, the Booths confront the demonic entities still lurking at the location. Several graphic scenes – including a demonic attack on expert Greg Myers – prove that the Booth Brothers have no fear of “pushing the envelope” when it comes to confronting true evil face-to-face.
Click to expand...

I mean, come on, if St. Michael the Archangel was involved with the investigation, it has to be legit, right? They also got input from two Jesuits who, they say, witnessed the exorcism. I know that one of them was not a witness. He sometimes sat with the boy, but was not present at the exorcism sessions. If I recall, he is not sure whether the possession was real.
 
Stereolab said:
There is a lot of scientific evidence that suggests that ghosts exist.
Click to expand...

Evidence please.

Stereolab said:
Rationalist and skeptic groups know this--why would they discourage ghost hunts?
Click to expand...

Poisoning the well. We don't know this - otherwise we wouldn't be asking for real evidence. (Notice the emphasis on real)

Stereolab said:
Over 1,000 ghosts were recorded and documented just last year.
Click to expand...

Care to source that?

Stereolab said:
Life is so much more fascinating than many of you care to admit.
Click to expand...

Yes it is, I should know: I study biology. The difference is I don't have to make up fantasies and pretend they are real to make my world interesting.
 
Paranormal Task Force. C'mon. If you're gonna make stuff up, go big. Paranormal Strike Force. Try that with the chicks.
 
steve s said:
You mean that endless hours of video of people walking around in the dark saying "Did you hear that" isn't enough evidence to convince you?

Steve S
Click to expand...

It convinces me!

...not of the existence of ghosts, of course, but of certain other things it is truely persuasive.
 
Some people who so called hunt ghosts hunt them for the fun of going into a big house or building. After a farm house was reported to be haunted I went with the owner and we searched high and low in evry nok and cranny searching for whatever made people think they were seeing and hearing and smelling ghosts and of course we found nothing.
 
Stereolab said:
There is a lot of scientific evidence that suggests that ghosts exist.
Click to expand...
Oh? Really? Please supply some.
Stereolab said:
Rationalist and skeptic groups know this--why would they discourage ghost hunts?
Click to expand...
Because they waste time, effort and resources.
Stereolab said:
Over 1,000 ghosts were recorded and documented just last year.
Click to expand...

Stereolab said:
Life is so much more fascinating than many of you care to admit.
Click to expand...
Life and the universe are indeed fascinating. I'm fascinated by why people have to invent non-existent additions to the universe (gods, ghosts, psychics et cetera) rather than revel in what really exists.
Stereolab said:
Let me assure you, ghosts are real--I've seen several.
Click to expand...
Oh really?
 
Stereolab said:
There is a lot of scientific evidence that suggests that ghosts exist.
Rationalist and skeptic groups know this--why would they discourage ghost hunts?
Over 1,000 ghosts were recorded and documented just last year.
Life is so much more fascinating than many of you care to admit.
Let me assure you, ghosts are real--I've seen several.
Click to expand...
There are no ghosts. What you've experienced is actually misinterpreted phenomena mixed with wishful thinking. I used to believe in woo woo crap myself and I know how you feel. Take a second look at your so called evidence and see if it isn't something other than a spook.
 
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