SCEPTIC TEL
Seeking Confirmation Of The Paranormal....
Paranormal Investigations - What's The Point?
It's a question I had been asking myself and been discussing with Rose recently but when the Medium at a Ghost Hunt that I attended said that he got a similar question from Spirit it got me thinking more on the subject.
The obvious answer as to the point of paranormal investigations is that we are seeking confirmation of the paranormal, which raises a further question; why are we seeking confirmation of the paranormal? But thats another article...So seeking confirmation of the paranormal seems a valid reason to be conducting Ghost Hunts but at what point will you say "ok that's enough evidence, I believe that paranormal phenomena does exist."? I have personally attended seven paranormal investigations to date, each time walking away with something that takes me that little step closer to believing. Ultimately I'd like to see a ghost, but would that be my conclusive proof? Would I accept that I had seen a ghost and hence my mission has been a success? Probably not, I'd want to see another, clearer apparition and perhaps hold a conversation with it and take it out for lunch just to make sure.
This is my reason for attending ghost hunts, I'm seeking confirmation because I am sceptical that these paranormal phenomena do actually take place although the more places I attend the less sceptical I am, but there always remains areas of scepticism so I could be searching forever. So I continue to attend ghost hunts collecting experiences that I can add to my "I'm a believer" list but where will it end and why should Spirit continue to perform for me just to prove that an afterlife exists? I'll find out for myself one day anyway, perhaps I should be focusing on the living rather than the dead....
I could easily speculate that there is no cut off point as psychics and clairvoyants consistently attend and arrange these hunts. Obviously their reasons for doing so are their own but it does make me wonder if they are still that little bit sceptical themselves. When you have seen and done it all what other reason is there to continue? One sad truth is that there are many psychics out their exploiting the current paranormal trend to line their pockets from an ever gullible public. However there are plenty of genuine psychics so what reasons could they possibly have? To hone their skills perhaps, or maybe to help others to experience what they have experienced or possibly to gather evidence to convince those non believers that this stuff really does exist.
The gathering of evidence has also raised questions for me. It seems to be sods law that when the dictaphone has been turned off we hear a sound or when the camcorder has been switched off we see an orb, etc. This coincidence is often met with dismay and disappointment, that vital piece of evidence missed. Yet for me I'm happy to have had the experience at all. It makes me wonder whether the investigation is for the attendees or for a greater audience that is not present. However when I ponder on it I can understand that the collation of evidence is to allow for examination of it's authenticity, as these phenomena often happen when you least expect it and can leave doubt and question in your mind. Also evidence provides a memento of the investigation, just as I like to write a report to remind myself of the nights events the evidence is a visual/ audio recreation of the events that took place, something to take home with you.
There is another valid reason I can think of for paranormal investigations and that is that it is as a hobby. After all why does anyone enjoy or commit so much time to the hobby that they participate in? Whether they are hitting a ball over a net to each other, chasing a football around a pitch with twenty one other people or walking around a spooky old building in the dead of night looking for ghosts, they're all personal pastimes, if thats what floats your boat then who is to question why? The fact that the paranormal is questionable and has deeper inclinations is beside the point isn't it? Who am I to question why anybody does anything? It is their life and they may choose to live it however they like reaping the rewards or suffering the consequences of their actions as they go.
So for the time being at least I will continue with the paranormal investigations until the day comes when I have seen and heard it all, if that day ever does come that is. But as I mentioned earlier perhaps we should be spending more time focusing upon the living providing evidence of our lives, or better still living our life as though it may end at any moment, not collecting mementos or leaving proof of our existence (we'll have plenty of opportunity for that after we have died) but simply living.
The obvious answer as to the point of paranormal investigations is that we are seeking confirmation of the paranormal, which raises a further question; why are we seeking confirmation of the paranormal? But thats another article...So seeking confirmation of the paranormal seems a valid reason to be conducting Ghost Hunts but at what point will you say "ok that's enough evidence, I believe that paranormal phenomena does exist."? I have personally attended seven paranormal investigations to date, each time walking away with something that takes me that little step closer to believing. Ultimately I'd like to see a ghost, but would that be my conclusive proof? Would I accept that I had seen a ghost and hence my mission has been a success? Probably not, I'd want to see another, clearer apparition and perhaps hold a conversation with it and take it out for lunch just to make sure. This is my reason for attending ghost hunts, I'm seeking confirmation because I am sceptical that these paranormal phenomena do actually take place although the more places I attend the less sceptical I am, but there always remains areas of scepticism so I could be searching forever. So I continue to attend ghost hunts collecting experiences that I can add to my "I'm a believer" list but where will it end and why should Spirit continue to perform for me just to prove that an afterlife exists? I'll find out for myself one day anyway, perhaps I should be focusing on the living rather than the dead....
I could easily speculate that there is no cut off point as psychics and clairvoyants consistently attend and arrange these hunts. Obviously their reasons for doing so are their own but it does make me wonder if they are still that little bit sceptical themselves. When you have seen and done it all what other reason is there to continue? One sad truth is that there are many psychics out their exploiting the current paranormal trend to line their pockets from an ever gullible public. However there are plenty of genuine psychics so what reasons could they possibly have? To hone their skills perhaps, or maybe to help others to experience what they have experienced or possibly to gather evidence to convince those non believers that this stuff really does exist. The gathering of evidence has also raised questions for me. It seems to be sods law that when the dictaphone has been turned off we hear a sound or when the camcorder has been switched off we see an orb, etc. This coincidence is often met with dismay and disappointment, that vital piece of evidence missed. Yet for me I'm happy to have had the experience at all. It makes me wonder whether the investigation is for the attendees or for a greater audience that is not present. However when I ponder on it I can understand that the collation of evidence is to allow for examination of it's authenticity, as these phenomena often happen when you least expect it and can leave doubt and question in your mind. Also evidence provides a memento of the investigation, just as I like to write a report to remind myself of the nights events the evidence is a visual/ audio recreation of the events that took place, something to take home with you.
There is another valid reason I can think of for paranormal investigations and that is that it is as a hobby. After all why does anyone enjoy or commit so much time to the hobby that they participate in? Whether they are hitting a ball over a net to each other, chasing a football around a pitch with twenty one other people or walking around a spooky old building in the dead of night looking for ghosts, they're all personal pastimes, if thats what floats your boat then who is to question why? The fact that the paranormal is questionable and has deeper inclinations is beside the point isn't it? Who am I to question why anybody does anything? It is their life and they may choose to live it however they like reaping the rewards or suffering the consequences of their actions as they go.
So for the time being at least I will continue with the paranormal investigations until the day comes when I have seen and heard it all, if that day ever does come that is. But as I mentioned earlier perhaps we should be spending more time focusing upon the living providing evidence of our lives, or better still living our life as though it may end at any moment, not collecting mementos or leaving proof of our existence (we'll have plenty of opportunity for that after we have died) but simply living.