TV Ghost programs

[balefire]

Hey all i have been watching some ghost programs lately and i don't know how you all feel but really, the only good show i feel is ghost hunters, GHI just seems to be Cast offs of ghost hunters and aside from the Irish fellow seem really annoying lol and please don't get me started on Paranormal state i just get infuriated at the silliness sometimes especially the preponderance of Christianity spread as thick as peanut butter

[lostsoul]

Okay, first off, these are MY opinions, not those of CAIPRS....

I don't think that any of the shows truly depict what an actual investigation is...I think that all of them have some realistic aspects to them, but the majority of what I see is for entertainment purposes only. You do not see all the tedious work that goes into preparing for the investigation, the hours of reviewing video and audio tapes (most of which are devoid of any conclusive evidence) or the fact that most cases cannot be neatly wrapped up with a full explanation and no further activity present once the team is done.

I wish there was a show out there that portrayed what we do more accurately so that the general public had a better idea of how much work goes into this field, but honestly, it wouldn't sell to any network due to how uneventful most residential investigations are...this is not to say that nothing ever happens while on an actual case but paranormal activity does not occur on demand.

[davidfritzcaiprs]

I watch them and the new one out UFO hunters LOL. I do not like them and I think they are doing more harm than good not only to anyone that studies the paranormal, but to the general public viewing such shows. Same with the U- tube stuff and the radio talk shows. I listened to a radio talk show the other night and it was like my god they played the whole scene of the Exorcism part of the Exorcist on radio it was tasteless. I am working on an article for the news letter that will bring this out and it is called" Paranormal Overload"

[erino]

Is your news letter public or internal?

I will admit that I do watch paranormal state and ghost hunters everyweek, and love it. But I think as soon as you get into the field you realize that that's not really how it works, and you see the overwelming .. whats the word I'm looking for.. it might be hatred lol from REAL paranormal investigators regarding these shows. It's sad for the general public yes, But I think anyone coming into the field as soon as you read your first book about investigating is made aware of the real out and out, the people who run around headless with equipment and stuff just chose to disregard the real work it takes.

I might currently be one of those people, but I'm working on it.

I also want to say, all of the I'm a real invesigator your not talk that I see go on it fourms (other then here) or pretention (not displayed in this thread at all) is kind of discouraging to someone like me who wants to do this, do it right, and be really good. It makes me feel like anyone just starting is shunned and I can't ask people questions. To me it dosn't seem like anyone is enthusiastic about sharing information and methods, just bashing each other.

[davidfritzcaiprs]

Good point Erino and well taken. Myself I do go off in blogs on other sites, I admit it! Its not to put people down or to keep people away from investigating. Its out of concern, and I mean that when I say it. Most wont even post in blogs for reasons they do not like confrontation, or anyone asking them questions. I do post and sometimes it may look like its bashing or trying to move people away from investigations but it is not. Actually it is to make them more aware. When I post a blog anyone can email me, comment in the blog or post a counter blog. I have no problems with people wanting to ask questions, I wish they would, then I wish they would go to others and ask the same questions and get different view points. Any information you want to know or methods used in investigations just ask I will be happy to help in anything you want to learn if I am able to help you. And if you want to know something I cant answer, I will point you to people who may be able to answer your questions

[deadgrl333]

Hi, I am not an investigator but have seen the shows on tv and laugh at them. How do I know that the camera crew is not banging the walls behind the cameras or putting images on film for drama effect.
I just hate it when it is all about the fear factor and not about actual evidence.
I myself am more interested in psychic impressions in time or what you would call residuals.
Also psychology of the clients are also a factor, are they impressionable?
Also is hunting more of a business than actually helping clients.......no offense but this crossed my mind at one lecture when their where promo cards of SAW II . I know you guys have to find means of raising funds but that really was a deterrant.
Lisa

[lostsoul]

This is in response to erino's post:

I truly hope that you never feel from anyone in our group that you cannot ask questions or that we look down on anyone who is just starting out in this field! We have all been newbies at one point and should always respect that those who are just starting out may feel intimidated or unsure about whose lead they should follow.

I personally believe that no matter how long anyone in this field has been investigating, there is always something that they can learn or improve upon and there is no excuse for anyone being condescending. If any of us feel that another individual or team is not doing things properly, we should try to assist them or educate them in the ways that are working for us. I would expect for them to do the same if they thought that we were deficient in some area.

Sharing our knowledge and our skills is the best way I can think of for this field to progress and it is the only way that we will ever truly become a unified force in our quest for comprehensive knowledge of the unknown.

[erino]

Thanks a lot, not aimed towards CAIPRS at all.

“Sharing our knowledge and our skills is the best way I can think of for this field to progress and it is the only way that we will ever truly become a unified force in our quest for comprehensive knowledge of the unknown.”

Unified force, that’s the kind of talk I like to hear! I think I kind of went off in a tangent at the end of that. I feel very comfortable asking questions, it’s just some of the responses, or lack there of that occur that set me off. And this is not based on personal experience, just a witness to the craziness that goes on in some places online. I am one of those people David mentioned that does not like to post on those sites, simply because I don’t like confrontation. I post here because you all seem very welcoming/non judging/open to anything, and your topics go way beyond “ghost hunting” I do agree that personal research is key, but you said it best up there.

[lostsoul]

Thanks! I am very glad that you are comfortable here!

I agree that personal research is very important but I think it is vital for us to be willing to share it for the overall growth of humanity. What good are we doing if we confine our knowledge to a select few...in a sense it would be ensuring that we remained in a sort of paranormal/spiritual dark ages.

I have little or no respect for those individuals or groups out there that hold what they find so tightly to their breast, in order to gain a following or maintain their standing in the paranormal community, that they lose sight of what is really important...as paranormal investigators we should be here to shine a light in the darkness, so to speak...we should be doing this to find the truths that are out there, not for personal gain or recognition.

Okay, I am now going to step down from my soap-box...sorry!

[lildebcaiprs]

As far as the TV programs go, I have watched some of them, and am glad that my basic cable subscription isn't able to pick them up. They all end up looking the same, like soap operas. There might be a half way decent episode here or there, but for the most part, for me, I don't find them entertaining at all.

[cassandra79]

Has anybody seen "Ghost Searchers" on the children's HBO channel?? I almost died!!! It's just like TAPS but with kids that range from 9 - 16. You know something has reached it's high when you can watch children in the act..ha. Please check it out if you haven't.
You know what "they" haven't done yet. A reality show based on a paranormal group and a family...they could milk that and drag it out forever....through some love drama in there and drinking..you've got a hit show:)

[lostsoul]

It's funny you suggested that...Derek and I got an e-mail a few years back looking for ghost hunting families that would be interested in being part of a program similar to Wife Swap...but since we weren't married yet we didn't pursue it any further. (I bet they would have swapped us with some extremely religious family that would consider anything paranormal as being evil and they would have tried to save our souls....so I guess it's a good thing we weren't eligible...they would have had to sensor most of Derek's reactions to that sort of thinking, LOL!)

[cassandra79]

That is sooo funny!!!!!!!!!! ;D

[lildebcaiprs]

Now that would be an episode of a reality show that I would love to watch!

[tomydactnfigure]

knowing Derek, he'd bring in some possessed rosary or something that the family would be like:
"We all started getting sick and my son got hives and I got the shingles....He's a Devil!!! Get Out Devil!"

And the comedy ensues....