http://www.skepticalviewer.com/
www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com
Recently I stumbled upon a Web site for critics of the Sci Fi show, Ghost Hunters. It’s an interesting site. Instead of the usual “I don’t like Jason and Grant so I’m going to bash their being” verbage, this site investigates a number of their experiences and hauntings that aired for the show.
Now let me say this, before I get too into this post, I am a fan of the show, I respect the work that TAPS performs, and I’ve always believed in the paranormal. But I am of the mindset that I have to see it to believe it.
Some critics of the show think that the whole thing is a scam, a complete fraud. I disagree. I think it would have to be quite an elaborate hoax to pull off. Not that they aren’t motivated by ratings and their reputation. But a group like TAPS also relies on credibility. Their approach to ghost hunting is something I’ve always respected (especially after seeing the outtakes of this one Penn & Teller: Bullshit episode in which a “ghost hunter” recreated a haunting using a sex doll… egads, it’s hilarious). TAPS investigates by trying to debunk the hauntings and experiences. “Debunk” can sometimes mean disprove, but they tend to use it as a way to offer another option for what could have happened. This debunking never actually discredits the experience of the “victim” (for lack of a better word) but because the experience can be explained by normal reasons, TAPS has to throw out the “evidence.”
Now critics of the show say that they can fake an EVP, or make the objects move on their own, etc. Some say that the deletion of the time stamp on their equipment contributes to the critics’ distrust of their evidence.
That’s fine. If you want to believe that the show is a scam, by all means, go for it. You can even watch it and then make fun of it. I don’t care. You have opinions and so do I. Besides sometimes it’s more fun to make fun of something you’ve actually seen – insert any joke about a Yankees baseball game here.
But here’s the thing. I want to believe that these are actually happening. I’m typically a skeptic myself, and I’m a pessimist – I believe that there are plenty of people out there willing to scam just about anybody. But I want to believe that TAPS’ evidence is REAL, because it’s evidence that there are ghosts, and that I wasn’t crazy when I had my paranormal experience – a ghost tapped my head. It was weird.
But I also know that Ghost Hunters is a TV show and for that reason is ENTERTAINMENT. So take it or leave it. Are you entertained by watching the show? If not, why are you watching it?
I watch it because I like to be entertained and I like the work that they (TAPS) is doing. Others like it because they enjoy disecting every piece of evidence. Hey, at least you’re being entertained, right?
I’d rather believe it’s real, or at least part of it is, so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted so many hours watching footage, reading books and talking about it!
So what do you think? Entertaining or not?
