What Would Real Scientists, Physicists, Etc. Say About The Ghosthunters Evidence For Ghosts?
Seems to me that a lot of the so called “evidence” for ghost on the Ghosthunters show is pretty suspect, and very very weak. I know that they have to produce something in order to make it succesful, but just wonder if real scientist would accept their evidence as showing there is a such thing as ghost?
SWT
28 Jan, 2010
Real scientists do not accept the evidence or methods used by modern ghost hunters. I have recently bought the first season of ghost Hunters and they actually reject much evidence that the ghost hunters in my area would accept, so from that view I am impressed. I am not a real scientist but this section of y/a does have many in the field of science and I read their comments and they say exactly what I believed a true scientist would say.
Mark
28 Jan, 2010
You are right the evidence is so weak most of it can be dismissed immediately. The ghost hunting instruments and readings have to be checked to account for natural events. Changes in temperature need to at least checked against air current patterns in the house. A simple smoke test with the lights on would be a good start. Other instruments like the EMF’s readings need to be checked for other explanations. The EMF readings first need to be shown that they have any real meaning at all. I haven’t seen what happens to them when going through houses that aren’t spooked. Sounds or voices on recorders can occur because of static or interference from dozens of sources. We tend to make patterns out static when we try hard and when one person hears the pattern everyone does.
Most of the things that I’ve seen the people involved are such believers that they can’t fail to provide evidence when they try. If evidence is to believed it needs to be gathered in a true scientific way. The evidence then needs checked critically. It needs to be repeatable.
Witchy Mel
28 Jan, 2010
I used to watch the show and every once in a while it seemed that they were on to something but most times it seemed that they were just grasping for straws and faking things. I was more convinced by some of what the homeowners had to say but I think that any ghosts or entities that were there were probably laughing at the ghost hunters and didn’t give them any proof.
So I agree with you, the show is pretty suspect. I don’t think that what happens on that show is close to being evidence…as a matter of fact, it probably hurts the validity of the paranormal because they make it look like a joke.
TR
28 Jan, 2010
I happen to be a real scientist
Not a physicist, though. Anyhow, as a regular watcher of the show I’ve never seen anything compelling. At worst they get something they can’t interpret in their FLIR or EMF and assume it’s evidence of a ghost. In general, though, getting your scientific evidence from a TV show that’s only there to get ratings is a highly dubious way of going about research. Any research. There are basically no controls placed on the data collection, and who knows who has tampered with what or whether we’re seeing the whole story.
The Paranormal
29 Jan, 2010
ill admit, im surprised gary answered as such
as for the TV shows like ghost hunters, being that it is a tv show, they will try to get good ratings to compete with other shows
good ratings = faking to make it look good
faking to make it look good = happy people oblivious that what they see could or could not be faked
honestly, i wish someone would ghost ‘hunt’ to find legible stuff, not faking it to be funny or seem cool
im not saying ghosts are real, but i am a skeptic, so its possible
Gary Y
29 Jan, 2010
No, not even enough “evidence” to form a hypothesis. Nothing beyond anecdotal, from a show designed for TV ratings. Using gadgets like EMF meters, cameras, thermometers etc, to “detect” ghosts is pathetically laughable.
Science is not interested in spooks.
Check out http://www.joenickell.com
Peter D
29 Jan, 2010
There has been no evidence gathered in Ghost Hunters. That is not to say no evidence exists or that it would be impossible to obtain it, but these guys are hacks. The instruments they use are just props. They’re a bunch of dudes wandering around in the dark.
Ange Doux
29 Jan, 2010
I personally think that these people are filled with s***.Whatever it takes to make money.I think in order to know for a fact that they really do exist you need to experience a sighting yourself
Nice Guy
29 Jan, 2010
The same thing Olympic wrestlers say about pro wrestling. It’s a show put on by talented fakes. With a predetermined outcome.
Rokrevth
29 Jan, 2010
Paranormal is a general term that describes unusual experiences that lack a scientific explanation, or phenomena alleged to be outside of science’s current ability to explain or measure.
Ghosts are part of the ‘paranormal world’ that is by it’s very definition an experience that is outside of science’s current abilities to determine.
As for Ghost Hunters:
1. They provide speculation as fact. No scientist will accept a hypothesis as theory without proof.
2. They show readings from high-tech gadgets that most people don’t have easy access to obtain, and flash the information on the screen as “proof” of their findings. The problem is that these very findings can be recreated in most cases with minimal effort, in any location. A reproduced result completed using nothing outside of the known world creates a pondering to the validity that the results weren’t doctored for the show.
3. They call to the paranormal and treat them as though they are some form of pet or joke. What proof do they have that should the paranormal they are investigating reside in a different layering of reality that their calling out and taunting nature will be understood by the spirit? They are providing showmanship at this point, and have no scientific grounding for their actions.
Still, numerous theories have been proposed by scientists to provide non-paranormal explanations for ghosts sightings. Although the evidence for ghosts is largely anecdotal, the belief in ghosts throughout history has remained widespread and persistent. It would appear that Ghost Hunters are simply latching onto this trend and attempting to find their niche market to profit from.
While they claim they don’t make any money, they house sales of “TAPS” merchandise, and have managed to provide new vehicles, new transportation, and other supplies that have cost involved. While some are possibly provided by their agreements with Sci-Fi or other media groups, the likelihood that TAPS makes no money, yet can manage to hold a receptionist, and teams to “conduct the visits” with their clients, a programmed website with community (both riddled with banner ads for their online store), there must be some source of income to provide for these expenses.
Additionally, I had an inside source from a couple years back in the form of my ex-wife who was best friends (and talked weekly with Grant’s wife via computer chats and videos), wherein I could speak directly with Grant, and his understanding of things was simply astounding as he seemed to be nearly clueless without a script to read off when I asked him about occurrences I expressed to him that I had experienced.
Therefore, I do not believe there would be any scientist that was worthy of the title that would endorse or accept the “evidence” the show holds up. This determination doesn’t touch on any of my understandings of astrophysics or my religious beliefs.