GB: you could say you knew him when after he becomes the next paranormal celebrity!! /tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':unsure:' />

Thanks, but I think I will pass. Not sure I want to be considered in the same category as him. LOL

Taking pictures and recordings for a few hours IS NOT investigating by scientific means.

I would conservatively say that I have seen dozens of new inexperienced groups make certain claims in the attempt to be taken seriously or attain a false credibility.

Here is a quite common statement made by the inexperienced:

We conduct scientific investigations with state of the art equipment.

That is a dead giveaway of inexperience in my opinion.

I wish new groups or people to this field would just do a little homework on what they are going to say before they embarrass themselves. If you are going to make these type claims then one day down the line someone is going to call you on it. When they do you will need to explain your methods and if you can't, then all your hard work will be for naught.

There is nothing wrong with being new to the field and trying to fit in but if you make certain claims then you may never be taken seriously regardless of how hard you try.

Here is the definition of conducting something by scientific means…

To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. Also a scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

That is the set standard and anything less is not by scientific means. I guess that is why most are against standardization of the field. If the field isn't standardized then people can claim anything. However, that is why most are not taken seriously.

I am not pointing fingers but I wish people would just tell the truth and tell it like it is instead of trying to look important. It makes us all look bad to the general public.

Sorry if this sounds harsh or like a rant but if just one person understands where I am coming from then it will be worth it. My point being that people might be better off trying harder to attain their goals than to impress.

There really aren’t any conclusions to jump to. The persons in question have it all printed in black & white and I am not talking about ALL just the select few. Yes, I agree that most probably just parrot what they have heard or read. I would have to disagree on what it implies about others though. In this day and age of Paranormal popularity anything of a derogatory nature can hurt a lot more than the initiating person.

If some don’t think it matters or that people other than the Paranormal Community don’t scrutinize what others say then that may be a tad naïve. Those who seek help scrutinize much more than the Paranormal community scrutinizes their own.

I don’t mean to imply that these people do it on purpose but when someone is looking for a reputable group, all they have is usually what they read. In choosing one of these groups and finding out they were less than accurate (not necessarily less than honest) they tend to group everyone into this category and what a client says… spreads. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch. There are many, many, places that have allowed or asked for investigations, only to now ban people from doing so.

I personally don’t care what others do but I do care how it effects others. I just think that the people should care about how their statements or actions effects others, especially if they want to be grouped in with the Paranormal Community. Also, just being a Ghost Hunter, saying they are a Paranormal Investigator or having been in their local paper, or having an internet radio show doesn’t necessarily make them part of the Paranormal Community either.

"Who bloody cares!".. really…

Just my two cents.

Exactly! No one cares and is why everyone seems to follow the TV shows in what they say & do with little regard for others. Most talk a good story but are more concerned with self recognition than doing what they say they do.

Good informative responses so far. People are being quite helpful in an important decision I am contemplating. Can't wait for some more.

However, the bottom line still is: Being well done is better than being well said.

I have asked in several places what people consider ‘scientific’ when it comes to the paranormal (I think I even asked here), and for the most part, it is pretty much the same: a simple series of hear/see something, go find out if you can find a source or recreate it, and declare it either explainable or unexplainable. I have yet to see or hear anything much more scientific beyond that – whether it is from very experienced people, or those on their first case. It’s all the same.

You are correct and that is the problem. People’s incorrect interpretation of the terms they use. Scientific method is a set criteria and not up for interpretation by those who just don’t want to follow them. What I guess I am getting at is, why do people who profess to be whatever they claim, are not willing to do what is necessary to be taken seriously? It looks almost like people are afraid or against doing what is necessary and come up with all kinds of excuses. I am not pointing fingers necessarily but asking questions…

Maybe I just have a skewed opinion on the whole topic, but I just find it counter-productive for a community as a whole, who claims it wants to be taken seriously, to impress upon that desire with bickering over unproven ideas and putting too much consideration into what others do or say, that’s all. It defeats the purpose, in my opinion. Or better put by Regan: I'm damned tired of people/teams policing what others do. If anyone of them spent half the time doing what they're preaching, we can move a step forward.

I understand people just doing what and how they want because then there are no checks and balances that con go against what they say. Very safe approach. However, what you call the bickering and consideration of what others are putting out there as fact doesn’t defeat the purpose, it is the back bone of discovery. Every mainstream scientific study has those who butt heads on the issues, call others findings into question, etc. I don’t see it as policing others but debating the issues being presented. If everyone just stays in their own little world then we can never move forward no matter what is discovered. Besides if the paranormal community doesn't police their own then the public will and that could easily be the end of any serious hard work being done.

I also remember a time when Reagan was very tough on those types of whom I speak but times change I guess. LOL

Thanks for sharing. I am very interested in how people feel about this.