Ghost hunters proves there are no ghosts.

[Cainkane1]

I was watching reruns of the program Ghost Hunters when I saw an episode where the hunters were hunting for ghosts in an abandoned Transylvanian Monastery. In or at the monastery was a well that had been dug by Turkish prisoners who were told that when they found water they would be set free. Ok water was found but for whatever reason the Monks decided to abandon the monastery and murdered I think ten prisoners and threw the bodys in the well. Ok The ghost hunters lower a person into the well and sure enough human bones were found. However they found no ghosts.

My point is this. If ever a place was actually haunted it would be this place. However no ghosts were found.

[Wowbagger]

Well, sometimes they do that, so they look "more legit". From their point of view, ghosts exist, just not everywhere. And that "proves" its a science!

Plus, knowing this adds suspense to the show.
The Mythbusters would get boring and predictable, real fast, if every single myth they test is labeled "Busted". Right?

[dustbunny]

I saw this episode myself and to be honest I get confused sometimes with Ghosthunters. They say they're job is to debunk haunted places but sometimes I wonder if the debunking part is to make them sound different to the rest. I've also noticed that one set of EVP recordings makes them believe a place is haunted and yet another set of EVP's doesn't. You've got a point about the bones being in the well but as usual we can only speculate.

[Minarvia]

Their "debunking" is usually, imo, pretty half-hearted. They want to look legit, but they have no idea of the scientific method they profess to use. They wave gadgets around in the dark, act spooked, get paid for it, and once in a while declare a place haunted.

I know what you mean about EVP's. Sometimes they act so impressed by it, others times, not.
Make up your freakin' minds, guys. Do you give credence to your EVP's or not?

And how about the shows where the "evidence" involved some piece of equipment TAPS themselves set up and handled??? I would automatically throw that stuff out as tainted. But they don't. They show it off to the client as some sort of holy grail of evidence. :rolleyes:

[moon1969]

How much money do the "ghost hunters" make? Its all about the money.

[Minarvia]

By Sci-Fi Channel? I don't know. But it must be enough for them to keep up their crap investigating and spawn new shows. And entertain their doe-eyed groupies. :rolleyes:

[Minarvia]

I just feel compelled to add here that imo there have been, going back about 100 years, better and smarter people who have tried to prove the existance of ghosts. If they failed, why would these tv sell-outs without a clue have a chance to prove them now? Yes, better camerasa and recording equipment are available, but none of it provides any more proof than the old stuff used early last century. Hmmmmm....I wonder why that could be???

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

I watch Ghost Hunters a lot. I watch it for what it is…entertainment. I do like Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. They appear to be good guys and for the most part seem honest even if their idea of evidence is wrong. The other members of taps constantly disappoint me. They for sure in no way are trying to debunk anything. Most of them just run around scaring themselves in the dark, scream when they see spiders, and claim bumps in the night are proof of an after life. At times they bring members that claim to be psychic, are demonologists or use divining/dowsing rods to find ghost. Because those people already believe in their unproven “powers” it is obvious to me that they are hardcore believers of ghost. So in turn they are not trying to debunk at all, but instead reinforce their current belief in non-sense. Now in all fairness to Jason Hawes, he said that he doesn’t really believe in the powers of divining/dowsing rods. But in all fairness to common sense, why then would he let a person who walks around using them be a part of a group he has complete power over?

-Kyle

[Minarvia]

Oh gawd...the demonologists and dowsers. (GROAN) Those are the WORST. I also rather like Jason and Grant, but don't know why they let them on the show. To their credit (or due to ridicule) they don't have the pagan dowsers on anymore. At least I don't think so. I've tivo'd this season but haven't seen them yet. I hope they haven't brought them back.

Yeah, they have a bunch of people acting. Each season I think they will have the now-obligatory "I faw down and go boom oh my gawd a ghost did it!" moment. And that is supposed to be proof positive.

Sheesh. I don't know if I wish Houdini could see this or not.

As for people having bumps in the night, why do they always assume it is a dead person or a demon walking around? And if a demon, why is the most powerful thing they can do is to throw a dish, scratch someone on the back, or levitate someone in a chair during an "exorcism?" I would think any demon worth his salt could do much better than that. Flapdoodle stunts indeed.

[AbleSugar]

Wish they would present the story or "evidence" without the music and jerky camera shots. I cant convince my in-laws of how dumb some of those Ghost shows would seem without the effects.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

or levitate someone in a chair during an "exorcism?"

I would be impressed by a demon if I seen this ever happened. Well besides in a movie that is.

Wish they would present the story or "evidence" without the music and jerky camera shots. I cant convince my in-laws of how dumb some of those Ghost shows would seem without the effects.

I agree with that. Setting the mood with music and bad camera shots is straight out of crappie 80’s horror flicks. If they took all that bs out it would be a lot like walking threw a spook house with no dark corners, no strobe lights, no fog machines, and no Halloween music. Yes lame. And once again I stress my question of why do they have to shut off all the lights and do their investigation at dark? I have seen tons of claims that “ghost” are being experienced during the day and at night with the lights on. No sure why they do it in the dark besides for the effect of being in the dark.

-Kyle

[Minarvia]

I would be impressed by a demon if I seen this ever happened. Well besides in a movie that is.



I agree with that. Setting the mood with music and bad camera shots is straight out of crappie 80’s horror flicks. If they took all that bs out it would be a lot like walking threw a spook house with no dark corners, no strobe lights, no fog machines, and no Halloween music. Yes lame. And once again I stress my question of why do they have to shut off all the lights and do their investigation at dark? I have seen tons of claims that “ghost” are being experienced during the day and at night with the lights on. No sure why they do it in the dark besides for the effect of being in the dark.

-Kyle

True, I would be impressed by a real levitation, but it wouldn't make me think demons are all powerful and able to set the world ablaze or anything.

As for the dark, I think the ghost hunters say that the manifestations happen at night due to less interference from tv's and whatnot. Or something like that. Also, they are less likely to get light glares on film and what would turn up would likely be bona-fide paranormal manifestations instead of normal daytime occurrences.

But filming in the Green and seeing nostrils is soooo cool!!! :D

[Lanzy]

Sorry ghost hunters seemed to cheesy and really bad to hold my attention for more than a few minutes. gave up after 1/2 episode.

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Sorry ghost hunters seemed to cheesy and really bad to hold my attention for more than a few minutes. gave up after 1/2 episode.

I can not totally disagree with that. I watch the show because I have always been a sucker for shows like that. The reason I am a skeptic is because when I was a kid I watched tons of paranormal shows and even wanted to be a paranormal investigator. Those kinds of shows made me so interested in the subject that I am who I am now because of them. Even though I don’t believe in ghost and a after life there are still a few paranormal shows I like. For example Ghost Hunters and A Haunting. There are a few shows I can’t stand mainly because I hate the people in them and methods they use. But when it comes down to it I am still watching the ones I like for the simple reason of being entertained. Very much like when I was a kid.

-Kyle

[Cainkane1]

I can not totally disagree with that. I watch the show because I have always been a sucker for shows like that. The reason I am a skeptic is because when I was a kid I watched tons of paranormal shows and even wanted to be a paranormal investigator. Those kinds of shows made me so interested in the subject that I am who I am now because of them. Even though I don’t believe in ghost and a after life there are still a few paranormal shows I like. For example Ghost Hunters and A Haunting. There are a few shows I can’t stand mainly because I hate the people in them and methods they use. But when it comes down to it I am still watching the ones I like for the simple reason of being entertained. Very much like when I was a kid.

-Kyle
I'm the same way. When I was a kid I loved a good scary story and when someone me a scary ghost story I was totally entertained. Ok now I know its woo but old habits die hard. Ghost stories are as old as spoken language and they have a place in our oral and written history like no other genre.

[Minarvia]

Yeah, I enjoy the shows, too. "A Haunting" is so fake it's hilarious, but I enjoy it anyway. "Ghost Hunters" is the same. I enjoy it but don't take it seriously. I think "Most Haunted" rates the highest on my hilarity meter, tho. They take themselves so seriously it is just plain funny. And the fact that they always contact a spirit who will speak via a glass on a table and always make rapping noises and throw things just goes to show how pleased ghosts are with that crew. : )

[nateu2]

Ghost Hunters leaves me with mixed feelings. On one hand, they have done quite a bit to publicize the "paranormal investigation industry." On the other hand, their methods have become rather laxed. Their first season, I think they did a pretty good job at "debunking" and at least trying to appear scientific most of the time. Jason and Grant's "average Joe" image did a lot for the show, and it pulled in a large audience. Since then, Hollywood has appeared to take over to a certain extent. The episodes where they find nothing are few and far between. I guess non-haunted places just don't equal ratings!

So, they add music. They add sound effects. They likely edit the boring "debunking" stuff and other things that people like myself would appreciate - but the casual woo watcher wouldn't care about very much. Heck, there was even an episode where it was proven that the production company altered the footage (doctored it, actually) to show different things (this was the Manson Thermal Footage episode).

It's pseudo-science. They've tried using IR Thermometers to take ambient temperature readings (impossible), and they have failed - multiple times - to realize that their own images will reflect onto walls and other surfaces when using the thermal imaging camera! This, of course, causes them to classify their own images as ghosts. >.<

Anyway, I think it's the closest thing the paranormal investigation community has to a legit show. Have you watched Paranormal State or Most Haunted? Yikes! They are very bad, and likely scrpited. Also, they have been proven to be fake (that psychic dude on Most Haunted faked at least 2 "possessions," it was later proven). They're 100% Hollywood and 0% science. I still believe GH still has a small portion of scientific method in their approach, but it seems to be fading with every episode...and every dollar earned. Since it's the #1 show on the Sci Fi channel, it's no surprise that they are trying to keep it popular! Everything is haunted!

On a side note, the OP's topic was actually for Ghost Hunter's International. It's a different group of investigators NOT sponsored by the original TAPS group on Ghost Hunters, but hand-selected by Pilgrim, the production company. It looks exactly the same because you have some prior TAPS members on the team, and the same production company shooting it (intro, music, credits, cuts, shots, etc. all the same). From an entertainment aspect, the GHI team just annoys me - but they don't deem things "haunted" as frequently as GH does. If you watch closely, they let themselves off the hook for calling everything haunted by saying: "We don't have the evidence to deem this place 'HAUNTED,' but we definitely think there is 'PARANORMAL ACTIVITY' occuring here." Hahaha....what?

/shrugs/ I watch so I can crtique.


-Nate

[Minarvia]

Oh, Gosh, and I can't forget that dreadful Leap Castle episode where a cowering Brian opened a door and filmed a shadow he was sure was a demon, then cowering some more, closed the door. How professional was THAT??? And all the time I kept thinking, "you idiot, you're filming the shadow of your own dumb head!!!" And I was right. Later they realized he had done just that. I'm sorry to speak poorly of Brian, who seems nice enough, but I really saw this as an incredible show of stupidity and lack of professionalism on his part. And then later Dustin had an "I faw down and go boom and a big bad GHOST did it, wah wah wah!!!!!" episode. (rolls eyes)

[AbleSugar]

Good points!

[Clairvoyant_Kyle]

Oh, Gosh, and I can't forget that dreadful Leap Castle episode where a cowering Brian opened a door and filmed a shadow he was sure was a demon, then cowering some more, closed the door. How professional was THAT???

Yes Brain is such a tool. He is easily scared, can’t follow orders, and even has run from the very thing they are trying to find. That be like if I was on a show called “Deer Hunters” and walked threw the woods with all my high tec hunting gear looking for deer. Then I spot what could be one and yell, “Oh no it’s a buck!” and turn tail and run. That would not exactly be deer hunting now would it? If Jason and Grant want to be taken more serious they need to get rid of the yahoos they have in their crew. Very few people on that show seen like people qualified to even work at McDonalds. Yet not try to prove one on the most important issue man has ever thought about.

Another thing that bugs me is when they do a beginning of the show with Jason and Grant getting recorded working at there “normal” jobs (with a few different camera angles at that). Then that girl in their office will call (camera on her too) and tell them about the case. I know that is just set up to make Jason and Grant look like “regular guys.” But to me it looks bad on their creditability too. TONS of people see the show as non-scripted and that part is extremely scripted. Make me wonder what else they are willing to script to make the show look better.

-Kyle

[George152]

How is it that these 'ghost hunters' never look for 'ghosts' on old battle fields where hundreds and thousands died ?

[six7s]

Why is it that no 'ghost hunters' have yet to find the 'ghosts' of any old 'ghost hunters'?

[Minarvia]

Why is it that no 'ghost hunters' have yet to find the 'ghosts' of any old 'ghost hunters'?

Just to mess with these new dumb ghost hunters' heads??? :D

Oh, I know, or maybe they are having too much fun travelling to England to throw stones at the "Most Haunted" crew!

[normdoering]

Their "debunking" is usually, imo, pretty half-hearted. They want to look legit, but they have no idea of the scientific method they profess to use. They wave gadgets around in the dark, act spooked, get paid for it, and once in a while declare a place haunted.

That was my impression too. I've only seen a few episodes, and usually only parts of episodes because I am really waiting for another show to start and it's a time killer.

As far as seeing people getting spooked you'd be better off watching SciFi's "Scare Tactics." It's amazing how absurd some of the scenarios they use on that show actually work to scare people. I think there is an element of Pascal's Wager going on there:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Pascals-Scare-Tactic

[AbleSugar]

normdoering: I have not watched Scare Tactics but might tape a couple just to see. Thanks for the excellent (Pascal's Wager) link.

[Egg]

Short of a Scooby-Doo style unmasking, I'm not sure how you could say that you've debunked a haunting. Things that only happen some of the time are notoriously hard to pinpoint or get measurement from.

Is there any reason to assume that if ghosts exist (whether as a lost soul, some time echo thing, or surrounding environment recording something visual) that wells, Transylvania, monks or violent deaths would make that location more likely than another?

Would we know if there's a certain time rather than another when they might become active?

If none of the gadgets they use in these shows has ever officially and empirically recorded a haunting, how could anyone know that such devices would be capable of detecting ghosts?

[Teetop]

The Ghost Hunters probably put the bones in the well before they began filming

[skepticalbeliever]

They proved Ghosts are camera shy. I don't know why a ghost would want to be seen seriously. Let's say the ghost is a demon from hell. Does it make sense for the demon to prove that Satan exists by being seen on camera? I see not point in trying to scientifically prove or disprove the paranormal because doing so suggests that God needs publicity.

I have come to believe that God allows people to go back to places that were significant to them when they were alive to learn lessons or to see for a last time. That is what some Catholic theologian said so I will go by that.

My school is supposedly haunted, there are tons of ghost stories, and I’ve walked around in the loneliest places at night and never came across anything remotely paranormal. And my college building is very old.

[Minarvia]

[QUOTE=skepticalbeliever;3941235]They proved Ghosts are camera shy. QUOTE]

Heh heh! I recall those old ridiculous photos spiritist camermen took for Houdini and he remarked how remarkably well the spirits always dressed and how extremely well they posed for the camera.

I guess 21'st century spirits have changed their minds and try to avoid the camera at all costs!