The seriousness of fake paranormal shows
I’ve written in the past about the harms that reality TV does to the advancement in paranormal research in the article entitled “The Media and the Paranormal”.
It’s become more apparent in the months since I wrote that article that this is a very serious matter.
With major shows being caught faking their evidence like Sci-fi channel’s “Ghost Hunters” and A&E’s “Paranormal State” in order to boost their show’s ratings, it becomes apparent the path that paranormal/parapsychology research is heading to.
Most people you talk to will simply dismiss ghosts and just say it’s nonsense (if you’re lucky), the rest of them will laugh at you and ask something like: “You really believe in that stuff? grow up!”
We really cannot blame them when the only exposure to the paranormal comes from these shows. Shows that grow so big and have an audience watching and waiting like ‘Pavlov’s dog’ for that “evidence” to show up on the screen. Forcing the show’s producers to have the show fake evidence in order to keep the dogs salivating.
Credibility is lost, possible funds for research is diminished and ridicule is unavoidable. Only if these paranormal-dismissing philistines would realize that research is needed to prove or disprove ghosts and/or to find explanations for the unexplained evidence, then would we have more funds available for proper scientific evaluation.
What do the majority of today’s television audience want? Shows that fake evidence and introduce ridiculous theories; like “Most Haunted live” and their haunted Egypt episode:
watch only up to the :31 second mark, as the rest is unbearable
Not only have I lost what respect I had for the Travel Channel because they allowed to air something like this, but I find this extremely insulting. First, I have family that is from Egypt, and having the “Most Haunted” guys go in to the pyramids and temples to run about and spook each other and pretend to “read” the past events of a temple, is just a slap to the face to all of Egypt and it’s culture. Second, as a student of History, I’ve traveled to Egypt and have seen the land and it’s people first hand. I know what was portrayed in the episode is disheartening to most Egyptians. Not only that, as someone who studies History, I find it extremely disrespectful to embellish past events and to go to a sacred place like this and pretend to talk to it’s ancient rulers. The host of the show did just that…
It’s apparent that there is some demand for this type of shows. In Mexico, a popular paranormal research group called “Agentes de negro” (men in black) have gone to extreme lengths to fake their evidence and get air-time. These guys have formed a group called CENTRO NACIONAL DE PARACIENCIAS (national center of parasciences). A legit sounding name. They even have made a legit looking logo. It is meaningless much like their purpose:
Watch the video of supposed “Ectoplasmic evidence” of a ghost strolling through a neighborhood in Mexico. This actually made national coverage in the Mexican news. As you can see, around the 1:30 mark, you notice that the “ghost” accelerates in a yanking motion as if being guided down a cable. When it almost exits the frame, it casts a heavy shadow on the ground.
Such a blatant disregard to their audience’s intellect.
So as the shows step up their trickery, we must remain even more skeptical of all evidence that comes out of these shows.
Why do most people think that the paranormal is a joke? or something to be taken lightly?
UPDATE:
Hahaha…..
This was too funny not to post here. Check out the link from our friend Atrueoriginall over at AlienCasebook:
Written by Javier Ortega - javier@ghosttheory.com
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Ghost Theory » Blog Archive » The seriousness of fake paranormal ……
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I entirely agree with you, except lately it should be termed unreality TV. It’s most definitely a media circus and the end result can definitely harm the paranormal community in so many ways.
Fortunately, there is the large handful that know better but then again they’re avid and know the drill where as John Q Public doesn’t, so when they see what you’ve mentioned, they mold new beliefs and change existing ones.
It’s a matter of educating everyone about media antics and that’s a tuffy.
Most Haunted has always turned my stomach, it’s so phony. Then again, I think Ghost Adventure topped that this year.
I find it difficult to post that muck but unfortunately they like it. I think from now on when I post it, I’ll link this addy and the previous one mentioned to the post. Maybe then I won’t feel so guilty posting those vids then.
Here’s a mood changer for you that should relieve some of your discouragement. I know you’ve probably seen it already but it’ll still make you laugh again.
he, he
Oh darn! I posted the wrong one….
Here’s the right one.
Here’s the right one
Atrueoriginall,
It’s true, most people who watch these types of shows on a regular basis like it. They are genuinely scared and like the cheap thrills.
I guess it’s up to us to keep exposing these so called “Paranormal Researchers”
PS: LOL…. I’m still laughing at that clip…
I can’t get enough of that vid. I laugh just as hard every time I see it. Well deserved.
Early on I mentioned to that Travel Channel guy that probably bugs you too that Zak was a stoned fox. Boy have I changed my attitude there. What a clown. I cannot stand to watch that show due to his over exaggeration and phony excitement. At least the Ghost Hunters are kicked back kinda guys.
I really liked the guy in New Zealand. Maybe a little too much kicked back but genuine researchers and no tricks.
Brad Scott & NZ Paranormal
All this brouhaha about Egypt… Are you sure you’re not being oversensitive? I know Most Haunted can get ridiculous, but really, attacking them based on exaggerations and cultural insensitivity?
Television in general is an attack on the intellect of human kind. So is the internet. All these media venues feed us information and our brain must digest it all so quickly, we cannot possibly see the inherent fallacies and truths in one sitting. So what?
The purpose of television remains to entertain, and in this respect, it has not let us down (except those disillusioned, disappointed people).
Lastly I want to point something out: the people in these shows are completely enveloped in the ambiance of creepiness, paranoia, excitement, etc. They “see” and “feel” because of stimuli around them, other observers affirming it, and a variety of other factors. How truly different is that experience from yours as a writer on this website getting caught up in the “truth” through your context, stimuli, and outside affirmations? Its all perspective.
Reece,
I don’t feel that I am being oversensitive on this subject. If more and more people thought the way you did, then we would not have all these independent media channels coming up.
The problem with shows like these is the following:
Besides the fake scenarios created by the hosts and producers, the main purpose of the show is to get the viewers glued to the T.V long enough to go through 10-15 minutes of advertisements and commercials. Almost all television station shows run around commercials. The same with Radio/Talk radio. Most radio stations’ programs are just fillers. The owners make money from running ads on their media, not reporting on news.
So when we have shows like “Most Haunted” doing theatrical dialogues or scenarios on a supposed “real life haunting” then they (producers/station owners/hosts) are making a mockery of the science of the paranormal. (or what little science exists of it)
This episode of “Most Haunted” was the worse in my opinion.
These people show up to a sacred and ancient land and stage all these “visions” and “ghostly communications” with the land and people.
Not that I am being overly sensitive, but we cannot just turn our heads and expect to say “well, only ignorant people believe in this stuff” and continue to not write or have an opinion on the damages these types of shows present.
One of the main purposes of GhostTheory is to question popular methods that people use to communicate with ghosts and get people to really question what it is they are trying to study. Not just go out blindly and take EVP/pictures in a redundant fashion.
ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT DERECK ACCHORA’S SHOW IN EGYPT??? AND ANOTHER THING, JUST TO LET PEOPLE KNOW EURO INVESTIGATERS GO ABOUT HUNTING JUST FROM THE MORE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF INVESTIGATING,FOR EXAMPLE, THE OUIJA BOARD/TALKING BOARD “DID I SPELL THAT RIGHT” LOL ANOTHER IS TABLE TILTING,DOWSING RODS,MEDIUMS,SO IF YOU GREW UP ACROSS THE POND AND DIED THERE …THESES TYPES OF METHODS WOULD BE NORMAL TO A SPIRIT TO TILT THE TABLE/TALK THREW THE OUIJA…IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TRUSTING THESE PEOPLE WHOM EVER THEY ARE,,AND HOPE THE PEOPLES IN THESE SHOWS REALLY DO CARE ABOUT FINDING ANSWERS THE TRUTH ABOUT THESES
“HAPPINGS”/”EXPIEREANCES”/
I AGREE GET ALL THE FAKE GHOST HUNTERS OUT GRANT AND JASON ARE TO GUYS U SHOULD START WITH.
I read in the media that Ghosthunters had an audience of 2.5 million viewers with their last episode, they must be doing something right to get that amount of people to watch their show.
I couldn’t say. I stopped watching Ghost Hunters after the debacle of their last live showing. It put the shadow of a doubt in my mind about them.
Do you have a source to back up this statement?
“With major shows being caught faking their evidence like Sci-fi channel’s “Ghost Hunters” and A&E’s “Paranormal State” in order to boost their show’s ratings, it becomes apparent the path that paranormal/parapsychology research is heading to.”
JustCurious,
The source comes from careful observation and speculation.
If you sit through a “Paranormal State” episode, almost all cases end with no evidence being collected and no practical scientific investigation done on the case. Rather the shows usually deal with rumors and the testimony of the people who need help.
“Ghost Hunters” does the same. Remember the “Jacket pull” incident? We all saw Grant messing with his collar all through the episode before he was supposedly pulled by an unseen force from the collar.
Let me ask you something:
Watch Paranormal State’s “I am Six” episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_MBE0kBMGI
Now, watching Chip Coffey’s and Ryan’s charades and faux exorcism, can you honestly tell me that this girl was possessed by demonic entities? Even though it’s clear that this girl has a psychologist assigned to her even before the PRS team was involved. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to give her a psychological evaluation and offer treatment, rather than Chip screaming at her face, calling demons to leave her body?
Not all shows are faking evidence on purpose, but shady investigations (or lack of) exist:
http://www.ghosttheory.com/paranormal/paranormal-state-client-still-haunted/
-Javier
I have been a big fan of Ghosthunters, I imported all theyre dvds from the US and I accepted all their evidence as gospel truth, what cast doubt in my mind about theyre work recently was the episode where Taps went to Clovis Sanitarium,California for an investigation. One of their EVPS caught a man’s voice “I like the one with the hat”. To me the evp didnt sound normal or natural, it did sound very much like the voice was piped externally through a speaker system, it definently sounded suspect. They presented this evp as theyre main evidence that they revealed to Todd Wolfe, the client.
I didnt really see the live version of the Fort Delaware episode, I saw the edited version of the jacket pulling incident
I saw that “I am Six” (ie, sick) episode.
I remembered hearing the father say something about “in her condition” or “her condition” referring to the “possessed” daughter, who looked unwell (physically unwell)
Someone claiming to be the mother from the episode posted a comment at the PRS website forums. Here is an interesting excerpt, I bolded what I find particularly interesting:
“Both she and her brother, and I suffer from a recently named connective tissue disease called Loeys Dietz Syndrome. Lara’s brother went through open heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurism the week that “I AM SIX”, first aired; Lara’s confirmed diagnosis came in November and also has an aortic aneurism that is being monitored carefully but it is more serious. Every attack that she encounters seriously risks her life, and yes, the attacks do continue in spite of all that we are doing to bring this to an end. We went through another deliverance and mass said in the house just several days ago. The demons remained silent and then attacked her later. Lara is not possessed now, and has not been since last summer. In truth, there were only four or five times that we were absolutely certain that “it” had taken over her body. There is no way she can be perfectly possessed, because she is not possessed. We are living with a very severe oppression. The demonic even goes to the extreme of interfering with our communications for help. Many messages sent out, via phone or email, get lost or scrambled.”
Now, I’m pretty certain they did not one but two episodes with this family.
With a psychic like Chip Coffey on board, how did AE/PRS not know about these very serious existing medical problems? I mean, I’m guessing they didn’t know because they never included it in the storyline. Seems like a serious existing medical condition might make for a traumatized and psychologically bruised family member or two, so that seems to be something any serious investigative team would have taken into consideration before concluding that the girl was possessed and then staging a melodramatic exorcism (or two) which all seemed to be very physical and scary and might put some serious strain on the heart.
I’m not psychic, but I keep seeing the word “lawsuit” for some reason.
Also, I love the demons intercepting the family’s outgoing communications part. Even with that going on, Ryan Buell was able to send an over the top heart-wrenchingly dramatic plea for prayers from their basement, and the production company was able to get two shows done.
Demons that travel up and down rivers (via raft like Tom Sawyer?) must not be very adept at telecommunication scrambling.
I agree Danny with the Clovis Sanitorium evidence being highly suspect, as was the Fort Delaware disembodied voice. It was too clear and distinct. It makes me wonder about some of their previous evidence too, especially some of the thermal hits they have gotten on full bodied apparitions. The heat signatures -very- closely resemble human heat signatures (you can judge this by when they catch themselves in a mirror or window). It really makes me wonder if their security on site is that bad and/or they really don’t sweep these places properly.
Another thing I find curious about the show is all the time they spend ’setting up’ and ‘breaking down’ the site, you never hear the crew state ‘When we were setting up/breaking down we heard this or that, or we saw this and that’.
I am willing to bet A&E probably doesn’t care about the clients medical conditions, as long as they get a story to air.I bet the paperwork they have the clients sign will cover their asses no matter what, and probably will make sueing A&E damn near next to impossible.
In my country on cable TV theyve started showing episodes from Ghosthunters International, season one and A Haunting. Last week I saw the episode “Dracula’s Castle” filmed in Transylvania but I found it a really lame episode some personal experiences and some evps in another language, I hope their other episodes are a bit better.
I like A Haunting better though it is more actors and hollywood special effects, Ive ordered season 1 and 2 through Amazon but I will view A Haunting more as entertainment rather than srutinise the evidence with a magnifying glass, I like a good ghost story.
There is no way she can be perfectly possessed, because she is not possessed. We are living with a very severe oppression. The demonic even goes to the extreme of interfering with our communications for help. Many messages sent out, via phone or email, get lost or scrambled.
these people need help alright, only it’s not from prs or chip coffey.
if it really was the mom who wrote this, imagine what kind of influence she had on her kids while they were growing up???
it’d be interesting to see how the “unpossessed possessed” girl – woman, really – would fare if taken out of that environment and placed away from her mom for a while. i’d hope they’d get the boy away too.
Not to sound ignorant, but is there any scientific proof of the existance of ghosts or other paranormal activity that isn’t faked? I hate these dumb shows because they are presented in a “reality” format while dealing with things that only exist in superstition. They even have shows now where people go on expeditions in search of mythical creatures, how is this educational?
My beef with ghosts is this: if they walk, they have to apply force to the ground, making it then impossible to move through solid objects. If they float along the ground, then they are not subject to gravity and would therefore be flung into outerspace because of the rotation of the earth. So ghosts, spitits, whatever can’t exist in any way shape or form in which they interact with the rest of us.
I miss the gold old days when the Learning Channel didnt only air shows about little people or the irresponsibly fertile and the History Channel actually aired shows about history.