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”/