Lou’s View: GHOST OF A CHANCE

By Lou Bernard

It’s no big secret that I’m a paranormal investigator. I’ve been with the Lock Haven Paranormal Seekers for eleven years now, researching haunted houses in the community. I’ve written and talked about it a lot, but it’s been almost six minutes since I brought it up, so it’s time to mention that again.

No, actually, I’m writing this for a reason. I want to help protect the community against all the frauds and fakes out there. There are groups out there who are really bad at this, and hurt people as they pretend to investigate. I recently had to deal with one of them plagiarizing some of my writing, so I’m taking this a bit personally.

It may sound kind of weird, talking about fraudulent ghost hunters. But there are a lot of teams out there who try to hunt ghosts, and they’re not all good at it. Some of them can do a significant amount of damage. So let me tell you about the signs of a good team, versus a bad one.

The bottom line is this: Prove it. Prove what you’re saying. Some teams love to make all sorts of outrageous claims. (“This place is haunted by nine servants, all of whom died in a house fire!”) When it comes down to it, can they prove those claims? When I investigate, I can. The first thing I do is research the history of a house. If I say someone died there, I can show you the documents and back up what I’m saying. Obituaries, wills, deeds. If I make a claim, I can back up that claim. Not every group can.

If someone is making a claim, such as “Fourteen children died in this house,” ask to see the documentation. If they can’t provide it, they’d fraudulent. It’s not fact unless it’s backed.

On another level, pay attention to how the team performs an investigation. When LHPS investigates, we’re looking for scientific, measurable evidence that we can demonstrate. We use cameras, audio recorders, laser thermometers, and EMF detectors. We measure and test, and at the end, we give the homeowner a copy of our results, which tend to be photos and audio recordings.

You’ll notice nowhere in there did I say we use our psychic powers to have a discussion with the dead, which is what a terrible investigation would be.

Again: Prove it. Some people will go in and claim to talk with the ghosts, have discussions, which of course nobody but they themselves can hear. They’ll tell you all about the ghosts they spoke to, and, again, they pretty much insist that you take their word for it. They’re the only ones who can communicate with these ghosts, using their awesome mental powers, and they’ll just kind of sum it up for you.

This is not proof. I can claim to be married to Drew Barrymore; my words don’t make it true. Make sure you demand actual evidence, not just someone’s word for it.

And, here’s a fine distinction, but an important one: Are they looking for ghosts, or are they looking for the truth? A good group wants to find an explanation, even if it isn’t paranormal. I’ve investigated “haunted” places where the scary sounds turned out to be a loose window rattling. With a good team, what they’re doing is trying to find the truth, not trying to find proof of the afterlife.

“What does it hurt? Why do you get so angry over this?” That’s a question I get asked a lot. First, and least important, awful groups make the good ones look bad. There are some excellent investigators out there, and terrible ones give the good ones a bad name.

They can also be a rip-off. Some groups charge for investigations, and that’s a big red flag right there. If they ask you for money, take a pass on it—A good group is looking for information, not cash. And if they take money for making stuff up, you may recognize that as being closer to a con job than a paranormal investigation.

And remember, the places we investigate are homes. People live there, they raise their children there. Some of the people who come to us are genuinely scared. We try to make them feel better if we can, and let them live their lives in peace. Falsified statements, especially dramatic ones like “There was a criminal who was hung in your attic, and he wants revenge” are not likely to be so comforting.

Good investigators will be scientific, prove their research, and attempt to assist you. Bad ones will make claims they can’t prove, create drama, and frighten you.

Lock Haven Paranormal Seekers. Accept no substitutes.