Ockham's Razor

and

Ghost Hunting

Ockham's Razor very much applies to the art of Ghost Hunting today.

For those unfamiliar with Ockham's Razor, its a term more often associated with Astro-Physics, but it can pretty much apply to anything.

Ockham's Razor is comparing two or more "theories" and choosing the best one that applies to the subject.

As an example, say for instance some years ago, someone comes up with a "Theory A". Since the subject is relatively new, that's what the populace goes with because they know no better...they have no other reference to compare it to.

A few years later, someone else comes up with a "Theory B", that improves upon A, but is ridiculed for being "subjective"...yet a small part of the populace says, "Hmmmm, that makes sense."

A few years later, another person comes up with a "Theory C", that completely shoots A out of the water, and improves even more on B, coming closer to the truth of the matter than A ever did, and citing the flaws in B that makes C infallible.

C is tested, scrutinized, critiqued, debated, and shunned by followers of A and B because since A was the first, then it is the way to go.  C is a hard sell because the followers of A and B are mostly afraid of new ideas, are crushed by the idea of being called wrong, or cannot understand the concept of C.

(confused yet?)

C has evidence proving A and B to be wrong, yet C is still standing alone due to mass acceptance of the two former, now obsolete theories. A small percentage of the masses looks closely at C, and says, "Ooooohh, ok...I get it now!!"

Its this small percentage that has just progressed forward to the new era of discovery, while the others are still basically in the dark.

(understand now?)

"It doesn't matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn't matter how smart you are. If it doesn't agree with experiment, it's wrong." ~ Dr. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winning Physicist.

Ok, so what have we learned?

~ "Orbs" in photos are just airborne particles reflecting the flash...Proven by re-creation.

~ "Ectoplasm" never existed in the first place, and has quite a few explanations such as breath, smoke, moisture, temperature etc. close to the camera, illuminated by the flash.

     Proven by re-creation.

~ "Vortices" are not "white tornadoes", can be easily be identified as camera straps, freak light accidents,  threads, or some other cord-like object that accidentally fell in front of the lens illuminated by the flash...Proven by re-creation.

~ Digital Cameras can and DO produce false images that are misinterpreted as "ghostly manifestations" simply by lack of understanding how they work...Proven by re-creation

What's the rule?...Say it with me, "If you can re-create a certain phenomena, then it isn't one."

What's all this telling us gang?

ALL off the most common types of "ghostly manifestations" (orbs, ecto, vortices, and digital camera glitches) on the net are nothing more than misunderstood photographic accidents.

THEY ARE NOT PARANORMAL!!...GET OVER IT!!

I know, we're all waiting for the ever elusive "full-body apparition" shot. There a few out there, but they look nothing like these glitches. They look like people, and what are ghosts supposed to be?...People...not spots, not smoke, and certainly not rope.

Its ok to be an amateur/hobbyist/part-time ghost hunter, there's nothing wrong with that, but even people that collect stamps for a hobby knows what a rare one looks like, and can tell a real one from a counterfeit.

Avoid the assumption traps of "Theories A and B" and move forward to "C".

That my friends is Progress...and progress is the only way to solving riddles, curing diseases, going to the moon, feeding the hungry, and finding the answers we seek in dealing with the paranormal.

A person can theorize all day long, but if it cannot be utilized, then it's just a hair-brained idea. However, if it can be proven, then it's called Practical Application.

~~~copyright 2005 Dr. Ken

None of this material may be used without
the written consent of Dr. Ken