Max wrote:Someone mentioned that for the last few years he's been "personally involved in paranormal research, I work hard, useing scientific methods and high tech equipment to capture evidence of hauntings and other paranormal occurances and prove to the world that it is a viable science and that there is so much more to the world than what 5 senses can reveal."
Should have asked me; I know these types extremely well. And he's full of shit - all you have to do is point out that nobody has any testable qualities that denote hauntings. People
say they can measure things like electromagnetic phenomena, temperature changes, and light phenomena, but there's no evidence that any of this is evidence of ghosts. It's simply a demonstration of absolutely bottom-rung, piss-poor determination of cause and effect.
Running down his response:
"Various tools include the Electromagnetic field detector, digital cameras, video cameras, voice recorders. video cameras can be used to record unusual movement of objects that shouldnt ordinarilly be able to move on their own. digital cameras have been known to capture images of apparitions that arent visible to the naked eye.
Wrong. He's captured electromagnetic or light phenomena. There is no evidence linking these phenomena to supernatural causes.
He's also absolutely full of shit on cameras; there is a plethora of research decimating the idea that certain cameras capture mystical energies on film. Digital cameras capture images entirely different than older cameras, and react differently to light, dust particles, and smoke.
Experimenting with a regular camera and a digital camera produces completely different objects appearing in 'ghost' photos. The famous "orbs" show up in almost every single photo taken in an old house with a digital camera, especially if you've been moving around to stir up dust (bird and mouse droppings as well are notorious 'ghost' producers on film). The other problem with digital cameras is that a digital photo taken can easily show a background shadow or blur which is reflected from an object in the photo, especially if the camera is moving even slightly.
All this means that ghost hunters 'prefer' digital cameras, thinking falsely that they incorporate some magical advancement that allows them to photograph energies that
no other system can detect. Frankly, that alone should be enough condemnation.
Voice recorders are used to capture EVP, Electronic Voice Phenomenon. Electromagnetic field detectors are used detect unusual magnetic fields in rooms or areas.
He's a walking bullshit minefield - EVP is the result of imagination and, occasionally, crossed signals. The problem of cause and effect is also present with people who hear voices in static - you can safely reply that if you see a cloud shaped like a cherry, the Great Sundae Goddess is trying to tell you to add more toppings.
Even though the investigator useing it can also wind up finding badly shielded wiring or other health hazards that may be causing adverse effects including but not limited to Hallucinations with long term exposure.
Uh-huh. Even though there are perfectly measurable natural phenomena in the area that might cause you to see things, you obviously aren't seeing things. This is the king monkey of his whole ramble.
Additionally Thermal cameras are used to both see in the darkness, but also to detect heat displacement in places where it should not happen.
At some point, you can just start replying, "Cause and effect?". Great, you measured a spot of cold air. And how does a spot of cold air come from a ghost and not any thousand determinable physical effects? Because you *believe* it's a ghost, that's how. He's so full of shit it's leaking out his ears.
Ghosts/souls are energy based and energy consuming entities, requiring energy from its surroundings to manifest, be it electric, thermal, or chemical energy to do so, which is often why these tools i mentioned will suddenly and quickly drop in power, but quickly regain its battery charge when the entity is gone.
Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, unsubstantiated claim, zero evidence, please go fuck yourself, the end.
I cannot stand people whose answer for the supernatural is "energy", as though that were some kind of wonderful catchall term. Makes me want to shove their face into the spine of an open physics textbook and slam the covers shut.
Note: I'm semi-retired from the board, so if you need something, please be patient.