Anyone do their own tests?

Rassilon · 10th October 2006, 06:43 PM

I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing".

Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said.

After that, we decided to check out the "orbs". Dust and bugs seemed logical, so we setup the digital camera in night vision mode and went to bed. Given that the house had no unusual activity in the two years I had lived there, we could say that there probably wasn't any paranormal activity.

Then next morning, I reviewed the tape. It wasn't even 5 minutes after I had gone to bed that an "orb" entered the frame. The path it traveled implied it was dust (no sudden quick movements). More of the tape showed more of the same. As I recall, only one thing appeared to be a bug.

The end result was some good evidence that I needed to dust & vacuum the living room. (Oh, did I need to clean...of course, that's another story...a very boring story.) Oh yeah, it also indicated that I don't need paranormal activity to have orbs show up on camera.

Anyone else on the forums do this stuff?

Richard · 10th October 2006, 08:24 PM

All the time

blutoski · 11th October 2006, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Rassilon

I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing".

Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said.

After that, we decided to check out the "orbs". Dust and bugs seemed logical, so we setup the digital camera in night vision mode and went to bed. Given that the house had no unusual activity in the two years I had lived there, we could say that there probably wasn't any paranormal activity.

Then next morning, I reviewed the tape. It wasn't even 5 minutes after I had gone to bed that an "orb" entered the frame. The path it traveled implied it was dust (no sudden quick movements). More of the tape showed more of the same. As I recall, only one thing appeared to be a bug.

The end result was some good evidence that I needed to dust & vacuum the living room. (Oh, did I need to clean...of course, that's another story...a very boring story.) Oh yeah, it also indicated that I don't need paranormal activity to have orbs show up on camera.

Anyone else on the forums do this stuff?

You'll like what RemieV does: She runs SAPS, which does exactly this. Or at least where TAPS is concerned.

blutoski · 11th October 2006, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Rassilon

Anyone else on the forums do this stuff?

Also: I work with BCGHRS, which is a ghost research team. However, this isn't the same thing as 'testing. However, there is a national organization called PSICAN which does some testing. Orbs and evp, for example.

These groups are what I call "in-between," in that they have a mix of believers and non-believers, but make an effort to keep things from getting too credulous.

RemieV · 11th October 2006, 12:09 PM

Yeah, pretty constantly... http://www.skepticalanalysis.com

Rassilon · 11th October 2006, 02:45 PM

Ah, you run SAPS. That's a great site. I'd buy some of your gear if I wasn't a traditional poor college student.

I actually encountered SAPS a while ago when I was trying to figure out if the guys who do TAPS believe their results. Actually, I wondered the same thing about Most Haunted too, but I think a link in one of the Swifts resolved that one.

Anyway, nice work RemieV. Oh, blutoski, you probably do a good job too.

Marc L · 11th October 2006, 03:00 PM

I tried the whole ESP with the cards thing. Never did better than 50%, though.

Marc

jimlintott · 11th October 2006, 04:00 PM

My kids and I know a couple of cheap parlour tricks that involve 'mind reading'. We do them to test other people. What my kids couldn't believe the first time they encountered it, is how credulous people can be even after they are told it's a trick and sometimes even after the trick is explained.

If anyone wants to know these tricks, just ask.

Rat · 11th October 2006, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by jimlintott

My kids and I know a couple of cheap parlour tricks that involve 'mind reading'. We do them to test other people. What my kids couldn't believe the first time they encountered it, is how credulous people can be even after they are told it's a trick and sometimes even after the trick is explained.

If anyone wants to know these tricks, just ask.

They certainly don't need to be complicated. Just look at how utterly confounded people can get with that one that does the rounds by email all the time; the one where you're shown five cards and asked to silently choose one - you click to the next screen and hey presto! your card has been removed. I've known some very clever people be utterly baffled by that - as was I, for a short while.

Cheers,
Rat.

Mercutio · 12th October 2006, 06:01 AM

My doctoral work involved running hundreds of subjects through a PK test. I was not interested in their performance, but in their judgments of how they did, but of course I had to keep track of their actual performance.

In some of my classes now, we regularly [attempt to] replicate Sheldrake's "sense of being stared at" experiment, albeit informally.

I have done "ghost tours" of campus, taking groups to places where people are know to have died, places rumoured to be haunted, and control locations, to see whether there is any agreement among individuals, or any success as a function of personality or experience variables.

I would love for any of these to pan out--I would immediately re-test, then help them apply for the million (for a finder's fee, of course!). So far, nothing.

SquishyDave · 12th October 2006, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by Rassilon

I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing".

Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said.

...

Anyone else on the forums do this stuff?

I do have a story actually.
After my two brothers, my sister-in-law and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other 3 would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. We always heard something, but the 3 listening never agreed on what it was.

Does that sound familiar? Maybe we share a psychic link, seeing as our experiences are almost identical!!!!! Or we just used the same scientific principle to blind our tests. You know, whatever.

Fence Sitting Fool · 13th October 2006, 05:05 PM

Yep, all the time. I'm even working on bringing in more testing events at a local museum for UFO's, Bigfoot, paranormal etc. It's a great way to teach kids the scientific method and adults how easy it is to do experiments.

We had a party for local ghost hunters on creating an "orb zoo", photographing different substances in the air (water, volcanic ash, corn starch, talcum powder, glitter, etc.) with and without flash. I let them draw the conclusion that the corn starch photos sure looked a lot like most "orb" photos.

Rassilon · 13th October 2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by SquishyDave

Does that sound familiar? Maybe we share a psychic link, seeing as our experiences are almost identical!!!!! Or we just used the same scientific principle to blind our tests. You know, whatever.

Right, we had better test this possible psychic link. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 3.

10th October 2006, 06:43 PM	#1
Rassilon Student Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ames, IA, USA Posts: 43	Anyone do their own tests? I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing". Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said. After that, we decided to check out the "orbs". Dust and bugs seemed logical, so we setup the digital camera in night vision mode and went to bed. Given that the house had no unusual activity in the two years I had lived there, we could say that there probably wasn't any paranormal activity. Then next morning, I reviewed the tape. It wasn't even 5 minutes after I had gone to bed that an "orb" entered the frame. The path it traveled implied it was dust (no sudden quick movements). More of the tape showed more of the same. As I recall, only one thing appeared to be a bug. The end result was some good evidence that I needed to dust & vacuum the living room. (Oh, did I need to clean...of course, that's another story...a very boring story.) Oh yeah, it also indicated that I don't need paranormal activity to have orbs show up on camera. Anyone else on the forums do this stuff?

10th October 2006, 08:24 PM	#2
Richard Muse Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sydney Posts: 969	All the time
	__________________ Richard Saunders Producer of 'The Skeptic Zone Podcast' http://www.skepticzone.tv and Mystery Investigators http://www.mysteryinvestigators.com

11th October 2006, 11:35 AM	#3
blutoski Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 5,991	Originally Posted by Rassilon I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing". Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said. After that, we decided to check out the "orbs". Dust and bugs seemed logical, so we setup the digital camera in night vision mode and went to bed. Given that the house had no unusual activity in the two years I had lived there, we could say that there probably wasn't any paranormal activity. Then next morning, I reviewed the tape. It wasn't even 5 minutes after I had gone to bed that an "orb" entered the frame. The path it traveled implied it was dust (no sudden quick movements). More of the tape showed more of the same. As I recall, only one thing appeared to be a bug. The end result was some good evidence that I needed to dust & vacuum the living room. (Oh, did I need to clean...of course, that's another story...a very boring story.) Oh yeah, it also indicated that I don't need paranormal activity to have orbs show up on camera. Anyone else on the forums do this stuff? You'll like what RemieV does: She runs SAPS, which does exactly this. Or at least where TAPS is concerned.
	__________________ "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett

11th October 2006, 11:38 AM	#4
blutoski Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 5,991	Originally Posted by Rassilon Anyone else on the forums do this stuff? Also: I work with BCGHRS, which is a ghost research team. However, this isn't the same thing as 'testing. However, there is a national organization called PSICAN which does some testing. Orbs and evp, for example. These groups are what I call "in-between," in that they have a mix of believers and non-believers, but make an effort to keep things from getting too credulous.
	__________________ "Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness." - Terry Pratchett

11th October 2006, 12:09 PM	#5
RemieV Lostie, Pirate, Snape Lover Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,284	Yeah, pretty constantly... http://www.skepticalanalysis.com
	__________________ Visit me at Unbridled Chaos. For funsies. There's Watson pix involved. Aime la vérité, mais pardonne à l'erreur.

11th October 2006, 02:45 PM	#6
Rassilon Student Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ames, IA, USA Posts: 43	Ah, you run SAPS. That's a great site. I'd buy some of your gear if I wasn't a traditional poor college student. I actually encountered SAPS a while ago when I was trying to figure out if the guys who do TAPS believe their results. Actually, I wondered the same thing about Most Haunted too, but I think a link in one of the Swifts resolved that one. Anyway, nice work RemieV. Oh, blutoski, you probably do a good job too.

11th October 2006, 03:00 PM	#7
Marc L Thread Killer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,743	I tried the whole ESP with the cards thing. Never did better than 50%, though. Marc
Marc L Thread Killer Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,743	__________________ Yes I am out of my mind, and it'll be so much more fun once you join me---Mrs. L

11th October 2006, 04:00 PM	#8
jimlintott Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 2,894	My kids and I know a couple of cheap parlour tricks that involve 'mind reading'. We do them to test other people. What my kids couldn't believe the first time they encountered it, is how credulous people can be even after they are told it's a trick and sometimes even after the trick is explained. If anyone wants to know these tricks, just ask.
	__________________ If you are going to throw caution to the wind, make sure you are standing upwind.

11th October 2006, 04:10 PM	#9
Rat Not bored. Never bored. Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Leicester, UK Posts: 7,085	Originally Posted by jimlintott My kids and I know a couple of cheap parlour tricks that involve 'mind reading'. We do them to test other people. What my kids couldn't believe the first time they encountered it, is how credulous people can be even after they are told it's a trick and sometimes even after the trick is explained. If anyone wants to know these tricks, just ask. They certainly don't need to be complicated. Just look at how utterly confounded people can get with that one that does the rounds by email all the time; the one where you're shown five cards and asked to silently choose one - you click to the next screen and hey presto! your card has been removed. I've known some very clever people be utterly baffled by that - as was I, for a short while. Cheers, Rat.
	__________________ "Man muß den Menschen vor allem nach seinen Lastern beurteilen. Tugenden können vorgetäuscht sein. Laster sind echt." - Klaus Kinski UKLS 1988- Sitting on the fence throwing stones at both sides.

12th October 2006, 06:01 AM	#10
Mercutio Shakespeare's Sock Puppet Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free Or Die Posts: 16,325	My doctoral work involved running hundreds of subjects through a PK test. I was not interested in their performance, but in their judgments of how they did, but of course I had to keep track of their actual performance. In some of my classes now, we regularly [attempt to] replicate Sheldrake's "sense of being stared at" experiment, albeit informally. I have done "ghost tours" of campus, taking groups to places where people are know to have died, places rumoured to be haunted, and control locations, to see whether there is any agreement among individuals, or any success as a function of personality or experience variables. I would love for any of these to pan out--I would immediately re-test, then help them apply for the million (for a finder's fee, of course!). So far, nothing.
	__________________ "But to see her was to love her Love but her, and love forever."

12th October 2006, 11:36 PM	#11
SquishyDave Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2003 Location: Canberra Posts: 1,644	Originally Posted by Rassilon I'm just curious if anyone here has done their own tests. I know that some people would argue that reason indicates paranormal is hogwash so why bother. Indeed, I occasionally do that, but there is something about saying: "yeah, I've tested that -- it's nothing". Personally, after my Uncle and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. Most of the time, we didn't hear anything, and when we thought we might, it was never what the "official" version said. ... Anyone else on the forums do this stuff? I do have a story actually. After my two brothers, my sister-in-law and I watched "White Noise", we went online and listened to some "EVP"'s one person would play them, the other 3 would say what was being said. Needless to say, it was a flop. We always heard something, but the 3 listening never agreed on what it was. Does that sound familiar? Maybe we share a psychic link, seeing as our experiences are almost identical!!!!! Or we just used the same scientific principle to blind our tests. You know, whatever.
	__________________ Squishy doesn't irritate the hell out of me. - Quester_X

13th October 2006, 05:05 PM	#12
Fence Sitting Fool New Blood Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5	Yep, all the time. I'm even working on bringing in more testing events at a local museum for UFO's, Bigfoot, paranormal etc. It's a great way to teach kids the scientific method and adults how easy it is to do experiments. We had a party for local ghost hunters on creating an "orb zoo", photographing different substances in the air (water, volcanic ash, corn starch, talcum powder, glitter, etc.) with and without flash. I let them draw the conclusion that the corn starch photos sure looked a lot like most "orb" photos.

13th October 2006, 05:26 PM	#13
Rassilon Student Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ames, IA, USA Posts: 43	Originally Posted by SquishyDave Does that sound familiar? Maybe we share a psychic link, seeing as our experiences are almost identical!!!!! Or we just used the same scientific principle to blind our tests. You know, whatever. Right, we had better test this possible psychic link. I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 3.