Is Provoking Ghosts Becoming the ‘Thing to Do’?
By Rick E. Hale (www.paranormalunderground.net)
When it comes to Paranormal TV, I am really not much of a fan, probably because I feel that these shows do not properly represent what a paranormal researcher does. However, every once and awhile I will catch myself (despite my better judgment) popping open a beer and sitting down to get myself lost in some para-reality television show that follows a brave group of intrepid ghost hunters as they wonder around some godforsaken building looking to find some elusive spirit that may or may not actually be there.
I watch as they whip out their trusty EMF detectors and digital tape recorders and begin the quest. Now it is true to say that every paranormal investigator is not made the same and we have our own methods to detect whether or not Casper and his pedophile uncles actually call the place home. After a few minutes of asking whether or not something is there and about a hundred “What the hell was thats,” the claws come out and sometimes nasty questions are being asked. At this point, what we are witnessing is provoking spirits, and this is not always a good idea.
Provoking a ghost has suddenly become the hot thing to do on these TV shows, and those who do it are actually pretty good at it. I used to do it until I was knocked on my ass by an inhuman entity; I can still feel the rug burn 17 years later. Provoking or demanding the spirit to perform like a circus chimp is really not the wisest thing to do only because, as per my experience, you really have no idea what you are getting nasty with, not to mention it kind of makes you look like a gigantic douchebag.
I have actually seen shows where investigators go into dilapidated Victorian Era homes and become demanding with a female entity that was said to haunt said building, and this is where being a supersized douche came into play. First off, women from the Victorian Era are not going to respond to course language and demands. If you know anything about ladies from that time period, they were just that, Ladies. Women from that time period were demure and had proper manners, and chances are that kind of behavior followed them into death. Be nice and be respectful and chances are you will get better results from such an entity.
On the other side of the coin, one other program showed how a group of macho dudes walked into the infamously haunted, Bobby Mackey’s Music World in Wilder, Kentucky, where the ghosts of former satan worshippers are said to haunt and may have at one time invited inhuman entities into the building. This is where provoking turns into a really bad idea. The investigators, after a long night of using course language, left with scratches, bruises, and probably a black stain on their souls. I don’t know about you, but I’m all about getting to the bottom of a mystery not obtaining painful reminders of the experience.
The founder of the group I investigate with said it the best: “There’s a man behind a curtain over there, why don’t we take a stick and poke him with it. He could be a man that is 5 foot 2 inches, weighing only 90 pounds, or he could be a gigantic behemoth of a son of a bitch that will appear and fuck your shit up.” I would have to agree with him. If provoking is a bad idea, there are other methods, such as drawing the ghost out, and this is where the difference between being a ghost hunter and being a paranormal researcher come into play.
A researcher will take the time to research a property and attempt to discover a name of the entity that may be haunting the place. With private reseidences, paying a visit to the local historical society is the way to go, and you can use this useful information to address the entity by name. Another useful method for example is trigger objects. Say you and the crew go into a house that is said to be haunted by children. Taking along balls or other toys is a great idea to draw them out. Or, you happen to be investigating a home that is said to be haunted by a veteran of WWI. Having a little bit of knowledge about the war and the places he may have served will definitely endear him to you.
When it boils down to it, don’t be an asshole to the alleged entity that is said to still be at a home. Just remember they once lived there and still may view the home as theirs. Our jobs as paranormal researchers is to get to the bottom of a mystery and perhaps even help someone, living or dead, out. Our job is not to go in like Dirty Harry, asking some ghost if they’re feeling lucky. My dear grandmother used to say, “You can catch more bees with honey than you can with dog shit.”
And yes, she did say this to a five year old. Lighten up!
The problem isn’t provocation. The problem is people who don’t have a clue of what they are doing.
Provoke has another meaning besides “incite to anger”. I also means “to provide the needed stimulus for.” You could provoke if you knew what to do but it seems the TV people can’t figure that out. I think it’s a shame but I still haven’t seen a TV show group that shows any real knowledge of Paranormal Investigation. They act like they do but they are just playing to the audience and that is the bottom line.
I like what he said about his Grandmother and her statement is truer than people think. The vast majority of ghost/spirits are Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Moms, Dads, Brothers, sisters, Aunts and Uncles, etc. Would you scream obscenities at them in life to get their attention or to try and get them to do something for you? Most likely not. So why do it to their spirit?
Oh well, what can you really expect from people when they are learning from Ghost Hunters Academy? Can you get a degree from that academy?
I agree, Rick. The way I look at it – ghosts are people too. And they respond just as living, breathing people would to the treatment of investigators.
I am so glad to see this issue addressed. I don’t think most of the TV program investigators know any other definition of ‘provoke’ than to mean insult and bully. It smacks of laziness, self indulgence and I find it offensive. They are playing to the lowest common denominator in regards to the audience.
The main thing that kept me watching GHI is that they usually treat the spirits they are trying to get to respond with respect. It only makes sense that any entity, living or passed, will respond better to this treatment rather than abuse. jmho.
I am not a fan of provoking but the fact is that on occasion it may work as you found out 17 years ago.
Theoretically if a spirit understands and reacts to a provocation then it would also understand an apology.
I also believe that once it has been established that perhaps there could be a lost soul there be it found through provocation or gentle chat, that person has a responsibility to assist on sending that spirit where it belongs.
Calling your buddies up to poke at this lost soul again is vile.
I would say that getting the attention of an entity is legitimate. Being a bit boisterous and insistent is not necessarily a bad thing. Many spirits can be quite torpid, and might even welcome some motivation. However, simply being abusive and idiotic is quite another matter. One tries to get the attention of a clerk in a store, but that does not mean hurling expletives and insults at them.
I agree on scaring provoking. If you provoke a ghost to hide in the corner. When, you scare them they don’t come back. To find if the place is haunted look at pictures, capture what ever evidence. Call them cowards or bastards. You have to scare them, that way they never come back. When, you provoke that is ok because when you scare them or list facts that will show themselves. Another, way of getting the ghosts what they want tell them that must come back to the clients house. Realistly, if the ghost is angry at a person, place, or thing get him what he wants. Otherwise, provoke then. You scare them, tell them that we are not going to leave unless you leave us alone. If it is for the show, yes, provoke. But always ask the client if it ok. Tell them “Show us your power”. Show us who you are. We want to know who you are, do you see these people. Or I say “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus”. Look, it is about historically and “cheesy” evidence. I am a middle schooler. You use tactics, showing them will get them to come to whatever place. If they attack you, use the bible. You use provoking and use the bible. First of all the first thing you want you want to use tactics. Always, get them what they want. For instance if a house was moved you going to do that with your own money. Always tell them that you are a coward, and list all the facts that you can think of. Why, did you do that, admit that you did it.
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