So You Think It's

That Easy, huh?

2/10/09

I've seen it a thousand times...just surf the net, and you'll find literally THOUSANDS of "Ghost Hunting" groups out there whose major influence was a TV show.

"Looks easy enough. All we have to do is walk around with a video camera.
We can do that!...Let's get some friends together and call ourselves
"Ghost Hunters!!" It'll be SOOOOOOOO COOL!!! We'll put up a website
and everything. yeah! What we don't know, we'll make up as we go...
no one will really know the difference."

Or...

You see them with touts of:

"We have over 25 years of combined experience."

What that really means is, all 5 of them have been watching the same show
for the past 5 seasons.

I hate to break it to you kids (again) but there's more to this than you realize,
and what they'll tell you on your favorite waste of air space.

If you want to succeed in this, or anything for that matter, you have to put everything into it...not just half-ass it and merely mimic what you see someone else do. "Well, thats what THEY do." ...Ok, but do you understand why? Probably not...

Riding the coattails of a "well known" group, or joining their "family" WILL NOT make your fledgling group look more legit. The mundane out there only see that as "Goofy by association".

More and more, people are finally starting to realize that those paranormal TV shows are a joke, and either stop watching them or only tune in for a good laugh. This is good, you're on the right track.

Like "rehab" says, "The first step is accepting you have a problem."

Now, on to the second step...Education.

I'm not talking about some phony scam artist taking advantage of the current "trend" of ghost hunting by claiming to "train", "certify", or "educate" you with a ton of bullshit for their own profit...I'm talking about REAL WORLD learning.

There are many many areas you need to have a working knowledge of.

~ Computers - "All I know how to do is read my email"...That's not good enough.

-You need to train yourself to know how to operate a few programs, like a photoshop and a sound editing program.

-You need to learn how to resize your photos so they're not the size of billboards when you send them to somebody.

-You need to know HOW to get your recordings into the computer so you can properly analyze them.

-You need to know how to trim and isolate that certain portion of a recording so you can clean it up and make it understandable.

-You need to know the difference between a .WAV and an MP3 format.

-You need to learn what "Save As" means.

I'm not saying you have to be a Bill Gates here, I'm just saying there are those out there that don't even know their computers can do such wonderful things. Just play around with it, you'll learn alot.

~ Photography - A strong background in Photography is very useful.

-You need to learn HOW your camera works.

-You need to know WHAT will cause a glitch that so many THINK and ASSUME is a "ghost".

-You need to understand properties of LIGHT and how it can really screw up a photo if you're not paying attention.

-You need to know what glitches look like, and be able recognize them at a glance.

...Lens Flare

...Flash Bounce

...Lens Obstructions

...Dirty Lens

...Over Exposure

...Under Exposure

...Dying Batteries

...Developing Errors

...Reflections

...Flaws in the lens itself

...What camera straps look like

...What dust looks like

...What rain, snow, and fog look like

...That "mysterious red mist" caused by the red-eye reducer light

...What a Red-Eye reducer is

...Smudges in windows or mirrors that will look a "face"

...Carpet patterns or plaster that might look a "face"

The list goes on and on and on....

If possible, sign up for a photography class at your local Community College or JVS or Adult Training Program. You'll learn first hand that the photography aspect isn't what its all that cracked up to be, and see first hand how so many "groups" out there make so many mistakes.

If you learn your lessons well, their "unexplainable" photos will be easily explained.

A good "ghost photo" is a one in a million shot. They're out there, but not as common as the internet has you believing.

~ History - You need to be a Historian...

-You need to know what life was like in various eras. From Indian cultures to Frontier Settlers to the Underground Railroad to plagues and epidemics to any tragedies, accidents or turmoil that happened in a certain timeframe that may be conducive to a hunt.

~ Culture - You need to be an Anthropologist...

-You need to know mannerisms, etiquette, and vernacular of various eras. During recording sessions, a person from the 1800's to the 1980's won't understand "Wuz up?". Address them accordingly with a formal greeting, "Hello", "Good evening", "Mr.",or "Mrs." Addressing a former Military Officer, call them "Sir"...etc.

Since America is relatively young compared to other countries, the most common lifestyle has been farming. Try to relate something to that in your line of questioning if it pertains to the situation.

Speaking of etiquette...Never never ever say, "Give me a sign!", or "Show youeself!" or better yet, "I command you to show yourself!"...again, from the stupid tv shows. (if I was there, I'd punch that dumbass right in the head)

Things like this are just plain being RUDE to the spirits. Show some respect, and treat them as you would have anyone else treat you. 

~ Psychology - You need to be a shrink...spirits are just people.

-You need to know how people think, and will react.

-You need to put yourself in the spirit's place, and try to understand how or what they must feel, what may have brought them to this state, and why haven't they moved on.

-You need to be able to talk to and listen to the residents you're dealing with, and reassure them they're not "going crazy".

-You need to learn terms like Pareidolia and Apophenia, and know what causes such a phenomena.

~ Technology - I've heard a million times, "I'm technologically challenged".

Well, who's fault is that? This is 2009 already. Better get used to it, technology is all around you.

You don't need to be a NASA Engineer, but at least have a working knowledge of basic equipment functions...that's what the instruction book is for.

-You need to learn how to set the time and date on your recorder and video camera for proper documentation.

-You need to learn how to download the data into your computer.

-You need to be at least minimally computer savvy

-You need to know how to make a quick field-repair in case something breaks.

-You need to know which end of the battery goes in the flashlight first.

~ Science - You need to be a basic Physicist, Biologist and Chemist.

-You need to learn about air currents, contraction and expansion, electricity, magnetism, properties of light, properties of solids, liquids, and gases.

-You need to learn the actions of opposite reactions.

-You need to learn how to re-create a phenomenon to determine a natural origin.

-You need to know what types of physical conditions and types of head injuries that will cause hallucinations, such as Autism and severe trauma to the Occipital region of the brain.

~ Leadership Skills - If you want to start your own "group", just barking orders and delegating responsibilities to others (like on tv) is the wrong way to go from the start.

-You have to learn to Lead By Example, and be able to answer the questions your newbies come to you with.

That's why YOU have to become the DO-ALL.

When you assign "titles" to people, it naturally goes straight to their heads. They automatically think that's their purpose in life and will always want to argue some point, no matter how wrong they may be. Your "Case Manager", or "Equipment Tech", or "Lead Investigator" won't always be there for you, as there will ALWAYS be differences of opinion and they'll come and go. I'll guarantee your "Assistant Director of Operations" will at some point try to usurp you as head honcho, because they feel you're not fulfilling your obligations to get them into places for their weekly thrill. The rumors, gossip, and backstabbing start, and before you know it, your "group" just fell apart.

That's why YOU have to take the bull by the horns, and plant your feet firmly. Its YOUR "group", run it as such. You can't keep everyone happy, so if someone feels they need to leave, let them. Its their loss, not yours.

We've gone through this a hundred times over the years here at OGHS, and we're still here...where are they now?

So...Do you think you're REALLY ready to be a "Ghost Hunter" now?

Acquiring this amount of knowledge takes YEARS.

Are you willing to put that much time and energy into it, or are you only in it for the trendy bandwagon ride for now?

Ask yourself... 

     ~copyright 2009 Dr. Ken~

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