I remember reading years ago about this subject regarding Richard Felix, former historian on Most Haunted. He is the owner of Derby Gaol and holds "ghost hunts" there several times a year. Most Haunted did investigations there. While conducting a tour through a very historic location (pardon me if I can't remember the name of the castle) a door leading to a concealed walkway was broken by one of his staff who was hiding in wait to scare the unsuspecting tourists. Big stink since craftsmanship from the past to the present is vastly different. It did nothing to uplift his credibility.

I know this is tying two topics together but I hope my point comes across. Paranormal Media and serious Paranormal Investigation are as vastly different as the aforementioned craftsmanship. IMO.

I don't think you've stepped on any toes. I think it started with Gene and myself. It was directed to all. We'll get back on topic now.

I hope not. I do tend to speak my mind but try to stay within the rules. I appreciate the the reminder and the rules were one of the big draws for me to join the site. I will try and steer any other responses back on topic if I can.

I assume you mean because I got off topic? If so you are absolutely right. I am sorry. Sometimes people ask questions relating to another post and the answers slowly get off topic as they go along. It started back several responses. I apologize and you may delete my post if you like as I don't see a delete button to do it myself.

Oh, or do you mean I stepped on someones toes here by what I said? I only spoke the truth...

I don't think you've stepped on any toes. I think it started with Gene and myself. It was directed to all. We'll get back on topic now.

Careful now. You are all posting on the site of a paranormal media group.... /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

I assume you mean because I got off topic? If so you are absolutely right. I am sorry. Sometimes people ask questions relating to another post and the answers slowly get off topic as they go along. It started back several responses. I apologize and you may delete my post if you like as I don't see a delete button to do it myself.

Oh, or do you mean I stepped on someones toes here by what I said? I only spoke the truth...

So when you do your own investigations, how do you rule out that no one is "hiding" in the places you go? Do you scout out the area before you start to determine there is no one there? Just curious, as I always wondered about that. I've never did a real investigation, the group here in my area is sorta a joke, as I requested to join, but never got an answer. I think they are not that organized....

Don't worry about never doing a real investigation. Most people haven't regardless of what they say. Most are ghost hunters.

Ghost Hunters do exactly what the term implies. They hunt locations looking for clues that might indicate the presence of paranormal activity.

A Paranormal Investigator uses an accumulation of those clues to determine whether or not a formal investigation is warranted or investigates a location with documented incidents of possible paranormal activity.

So, to answer your question. A true investigation is not a few hours, in the dark, taking photos and video hoping to catch the money shot. That's ghost hunting and can be a lot of fun and sometimes rewarding.

An investigation is long and involved with lots of paperwork, interviews, etc. Besides photos, video and audio. They begin always during the day to become familiar with the surroundings but will eventually focus in a time frame relating to the witnessed incidents. Simply put, if the incidents have been witnessed in the afternoon then you wouldn't focus your investigation at night with the lights out. That's for TV. Also, an actual Paranormal Investigator can be involved in all aspects relating to the paranormal unlike a ghost hunter.

Oh, and don't be disappointed in not hearing back from one group. There could be many reasons. They may be new at it and not sure about taking on others. Just look for another group that fits what you want to do. If you are new, learn to ghost hunt and then move on from there.

Well, that's my 2 cents anyway.

Residential houses are always easier since they are smaller. Yeah we do do a search of the house when we do the initial EMF sweep. As for stuff like when we were at the Myrtles, we had to really debunk or analyze the stuff we found.

Places that advertise having ghost hunts I'd take any evidence with a grain of salt. If you can't control the environment then you can't control the evidence collection.

Thanks Ryan. At Fort Delaware, you defintely can not control the environment. There are so many hiding places, its not funny. Somethign else that bothers me is misinformed people. When I did the candle light tour, I had my trusty kodak digital with me, snapping off shots here and there, and the guide was so misguided and enthusied over shots that showed orbs when it was obvious it was dust. My camera does a pre-flash before the actual picture, and you could see the dust flying in this pre-flash with the naked eye. He had some on the tour so convinced they were "ghost" orbs....

Places that advertise having ghost hunts I'd take any evidence with a grain of salt. If you can't control the environment then you can't control the evidence collection.

But stuff like that is not for the serious investigators, That's for folks who want an exciting or scary evening and then go home to their homes where they feel safe. For us that live and breathe this stuff, it takes away from the experience and we think it's cheesy. At no time do I think any evidence collected during these tours to be credible or uncontaminated.

So when you do your own investigations, how do you rule out that no one is "hiding" in the places you go? Do you scout out the area before you start to determine there is no one there? Just curious, as I always wondered about that. I've never did a real investigation, the group here in my area is sorta a joke, as I requested to join, but never got an answer. I think they are not that organized....

I agree. However, I always got a sneaky suspicion that personnel at the Fort manipulated some of the "results" from these investigations. When we did our tour, one of the staff had hid himself on the island the whole time, and fired one of those cannons at a precise time to match one of the story tellings....as soon as that happened, I wondered when the team that will not be mentioned, did their first investigation, and heard cannon fire, I have a gut feeling that was done on purpose, but the instance was used as paranormal fodder for said team....

So, is that wrong to do? Who knows....however, i do want to go back to the Fort during the day to see their live reinactments of Fort life back in the day. Paranormal can take a backseat while history can be focused on....

This is not an isolated incident. There is an equally famous location that housed children in the past. It's been on TV and a video made etc. (I won't mention any names) I know of a person who personally did a little investigating on her own by breaking away from her group unnoticed. She found staff in various places hiding in order to make noises, etc. while people were recording and doing their investigation. I am sure it happens in many other places that charge.

I would have to agree with the post on historical places charging. It is a good way to try and keep in the black and good places for people to practice in safety.

And with parks and historical sites I don't see a problem. They need funding with the current economy and all. It would be a real shame if parks and places like this had to close down due to lack of funding. This is our history that we would be losing.

I agree. However, I always got a sneaky suspicion that personnel at the Fort manipulated some of the "results" from these investigations. When we did our tour, one of the staff had hid himself on the island the whole time, and fired one of those cannons at a precise time to match one of the story tellings....as soon as that happened, I wondered when the team that will not be mentioned, did their first investigation, and heard cannon fire, I have a gut feeling that was done on purpose, but the instance was used as paranormal fodder for said team....

So, is that wrong to do? Who knows....however, i do want to go back to the Fort during the day to see their live reinactments of Fort life back in the day. Paranormal can take a backseat while history can be focused on....