Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team

Because there are no real 'ghost hunter training' courses, and people are easily influenced by the media, anyone can become a paranormal investigator and not know a single thing about proper investigative practices!

This is especially hazardous to those who are bothered emotionally by strange things happening around them, as these are the people who seek supposedly knowledgeable investigators for understanding and guidance. Once equipped with false information, a downward spiral of fear and need often follows! (Paranormal gurus are supposed to help relieve their clients of terror and misunderstanding, not elevate it.)

Good investigators are few and far between, but they are out there!

And so, I have composed a general guide of important questions to ask in order to help you find the good ones:

(If you are not 100% sure the team is right for you, keep looking!) 


#1) What are ghosts?

This is probably the most important question you could ask. Anyone who can define the term 'ghost' in less than 5 sentences, or is quick to generalize them as the spirits of the once-living, are NOT the people you want.

No one knows for sure what a ghost really is, nor can we lump them all into one category. While we can detect trends and similarities, every haunting is different.


#2) What equipment do you use?

Video and still cameras, quality audio recorders, and logic are all good answers. EMF detectors (or compasses) are okay, too.

Unacceptable answers include ghost boxes, dowsing rods, phone/tablet apps, Ouija boards, and other questionable methods. If unsure, Google it and use your intelligence.


#3) Could you explain your 'scientific method'?

There are a lot of groups out there who claim to be scientifically based, but aren't. Review their collected information (pretty much everyone has a website), and make sure it is thorough and not biased. The more info, the better. You're looking for solid evidence, theories, and in-depth explanations. If they cannot provide this, they are probably not reliable.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, do not bring in a group of religious or 'spiritual' founding. These people are hardly scientists, and tend to jump to conclusions. Supposed psychics, mediums, etc. are of a different category altogether, and if that's your thing, invite them separately, afterward.


#4) Do you charge for your services?

This is an iffy subject. Most reliable teams do not charge their clients, but do accept donations in order to fund their project. (However, there are always a few exceptions to the rule.)

You see, paranormal investigation is not considered an actual science, but rather, a pseudo-science. There is no 'sure thing'. It's a matter of theorizing and testing/debunking (hence, this is why 'scientific method' is important).

And because there is no 'sure thing', and often clients harbor a lot of emotions about what they're experiencing, it seems wrong to charge for services. A paranormal investigator attempts to help, not 'cure' of 'ailments' as a doctor would. And so, if successful, a client donation is much appreciated, but not necessary.

Also keep in mind that client situations are taken on for research and understanding. An investigation is often considered a learning experience, which is also payment (of knowledge and experience) to the investigator. A 'guru' who does not recognize this probably has an ulterior motive.

Pro Tip: Your Equipment Is Only As Scientific As You Are

Dear self-proclaimed 'ghost hunters',

I will do my best not to turn this post into a rant... 

Do you watch a lot of ghost hunting shows and use them as inspiration to investigate the paranormal yourself? Well, 99% of the time, you should use those shows as a lesson in what NOT to do. 

These shows are about ordinary, ill-educated people who call themselves 'investigators', with all this fancy equipment that supposedly tells them if there's a ghost in the area or not. (Way to set the bar low!) 

Are you aware there is no proof that most of this equipment can actually track a ghost? The most reliable equipment you can bring on an investigation is a video camera, a quality audio recorder, and some common sense. Even EMF detectors aren't a sure thing. 

Ghost boxes, dowsing rods, phone apps, etc. are a crock of shit, and shouldn't even be used in an investigation, ESPECIALLY when it is a case where people are emotionally involved! 

I recently saw a show in which a so-called 'reputable' team used a ghost box in a situation that involved a family that was very afraid of what was happening in their house, and came up with 'evidence' that didn't exist, and THEY HAD NO IDEA OF THE LIES AND EVEN MORE FEAR THEY WERE FEEDING THAT FAMILY! The team had no grasp of what was really happening in that house. That angers me beyond belief! How the hell can someone who is supposed to be a 'professional' do something so heinous and not even know it? 

This is a terrible thing, and I can't even begin to imagine how often this happens... No wonder people are so afraid all the time! 

EDUCATE YOURSELF! No amount of equipment can help you if you don't know what you're doing. You should use a scientific method in your way of thinking, and then, use equipment and evidence collected to back your theories. Never ever preach what you do not understand! 

I am both appalled and disgusted by what many so-called 'investigators' do, and not even knowing that they are hurting people rather than helping them. 

I encourage everyone seeking help to do their homework, and look for someone they can rely on to actually be both scientific and truthful. Unfortunately, good investigators are few and far between, but there are good ones out there! Ask questions and do not be afraid to turn a team down if you're not 100% sure. [Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Team] 

And to those I just described above, SHAME ON YOU! And don't quit your day job. 

Stop Fighting Each Other, And Start Fighting For Truth

There are a number of things that seriously annoy me (hence why I refuse to watch a lot of ghost hunting shows), and this would be endless acronyms (I've seen everything but D.I.C.K. and T.I.T.S. now), a lot of douchebags with nothing to offer (see Zac Bagans), so-called 'investigators' taunting the ghosts ("Come and hurt me!"), completely unreliable methods (dowsing rods, ghost boxes, etc), and anything else a low IQ can offer.

But the one thing that pisses me off the most is the the rivalry between so-called 'investigative teams'. They're always blaming one another for faking evidence, or they suck for whatever reason, etc. And in all reality, it's usually everyone involved in the drama that is guilty.

I'm not impressed. Not in the least.

I know a lot of people want to be recognized for their accomplishments and accepted by their peers, but this does not mean putting forth all that extra effort to slander another team to make you look better. It doesn't work that way.

If you want recognition, do the work. It's as simple as that.

And you'd be surprised how much you can learn by befriending other investigators... So stop fighting each other (or anyone that makes you feel threatened- those are your insecurities at play) and fight for truth- the things we don't understand right now.

As paranormal investigators, we have enough opposition from skeptics and religious groups- so why are you fighting each other? Grow up already!

[Guide To Choosing A Good Paranormal Investigative Team]