I think that it is important to comment on the countless number of organizations who do similar work. Our group basically follows the standard procedures and protocols followed by such groups as the IGHS and SJGR. We feel that these methods are the most scientific and produce the most credible results.
There are a number of groups who really give our business a bad name. People who are still convinced that ghosts only come out when it rains or present a camera strap in front of the lens as evidence of the paranormal should really stay at home. Also, those who are convinced that there is a demon face in their orbs might be better served to curl up with the latest King novel and a cup of hot chocolate. The thunder and lightning may be a sign that you are not supposed to be playing with that Oiuji board!
Another issue that should be addressed are psychics. While I strongly believe that people do possess psychic capabilities, it is my personal belief that psychic abilities should not be relied on for paranormal investigations. A psychic who feels a presence in a room and takes an orb photo has an orb photo, and that's it. But the investigator who records a temperature change or EMF reading and takes a positive photo has much better evidence than the psychic that uses feelings. "Proving" the existence or presence of ghosts by "feeling" it would be much like "proving" gravity by holding an apple at arm's length and saying "I feel like it will hit the ground if I drop it," and then setting it down on the table. It holds little value. Psychic abilities, for the few that can harness them effectively, should be used more as a compass than a tell-all sign. They can often point us in the right direction, but we won't get where we need to go unless we dig deeper.
I see shows on TV that rely only on psychics to prove the paranormal (MTV Fear and that crazy Haunted Places show on FOX come to mind). This is competely rediculous. Are these places actually haunted? Probably. Does two or three psychics' feelings really prove that it is haunted? Absolutely not. Those programs that actually show physical evidence, such as photos, EVP, or abnormal readings are few and far between. Keeping an open mind and a positive attitude are a must on any investigation, but not at the expense of gaining credible phsyical evidence. Our field is a science, and no scientific law can be proven by relying only on another psuedo-science.
Another group that gives us a bad name are the groups that insist that every ghost is a poltergeist or demon sent to do the work of Satan. Do these types of entities exist? I haven't personally experienced one, but I can say that it's a safe bet they do exist. However, groups that claim to be able to detect these beings and exorcise these demons are, for the most part, living in a fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons. A proper exorcism should be performed by a priest, not a ghosthunter who decides to be Jimmy the Demon Slayer because he read a prayer that destroys Satan on the Internet. Instead of pissing off a demon you have no business messing with (and risking your own safety, as well as those involved), perhaps you should take the night off and look for Buffy memorabilia on E-Bay.
Most of the time, these "demons" are actually just mischeivous ghosts whose pranks are taken much too seriously. A ghost that knocks over a coffee cup is not neccessarily a messenger of the Devil, no matter how frightening the experience is. Now the entity that throws the whole table at you, holds you down with it, and digs it's nails into your spine as you cower in fear ... well, that's a whole different ballgame. But thankfully, these types of entities are few and far between. In the unlikely event that you do find one, find a professional to deal with it. Joining hands and singing "We are the world" and saying a few generic prayers you saw on www.webustghosts.com will cause you much more harm than good. Use your head.
For those groups who do rely on scientific methods and common sense (PIRA, SGJR, IGHS and PGHA, to name a few), it is the WPOPR's pleasure to join you in the quest to find what is really out there. All others should really put away the rain slicks, umbrellas and pictures of their reflection in the TV and join the rest of us in trying to get credible evidence that can hold up to some level of skepticism, rather than showing pictures of water or dust and endangering the credibility of our collective work, or possibly comprimising the safety of other innocent people. 'Nuff said.
