Sunday, May 15, 2011

Drinking the Paranormal Kool-Aid

    It's been quite some time since I've blogged about paranormal stuff, so I thought I'd give it another go, this time maybe stirring up a little debate from those that read this. I want to talk about three topics that are important to the paranormal field—stuff we hear/talk about every day. First, I want to cover some of the misconceptions that we've been forced into believing about EMF (electromagnetic fields/energy). Then I'll go into a topic that's been hotly debated in my paranormal community lately which is EVP evidence. Finally, I want to put my opinion out there on the topic of psychics and sensitives. And keep in mind, these are only my opinions and observations from what I've seen in the past—gosh, it's coming up on 4 years this December. In no way do I mean any disrespect to anyone or stir up harsh feelings or drama. (I don't need any more drama. I've had enough!) In other words, this is just my two cents on the subject, so don't sue me.

    We have all been told that electromagnetic fields can cause a variety of ill effects on a person such as skin irritations, paranoia, delusion, hallucinations, fatigue, and nausea and can even drive a person to suicide. We've heard our favorite para-TV personalities chanting this same mantra week in and week out. However, according to a 1996 World Health Organization scientific review [1], there is no link between EMF and the aforementioned symptoms. Those TV experts also go on to say that there are certain persons that are more sensitive to EMF. Again, the WHO review doesn't back that theory up either. The only effect they have found so far, with mixed results, is that long term exposure to EMF has some association with cancer in adults. [2] There have been other studies as recent as 2006 further confirming no correlation between EMF and the associated delusional effects as claimed on TV.

    There are many places out there on the Internet that cater to our fears of EMF. Many offer different shielding devices and solutions to protect us from it. I think that the concern for long term exposure is warranted due to the association with certain cancers. So these businesses are actually providing a legitimate service. And while there is legitimate cause for concern regarding health, there isn't anything backing up what we hear on TV about EMF causing hallucinations, etc.

    So what is it, if not EMF, that causes people to feel like they're being watched and see entities and ghosts around their homes and businesses? I truly feel that further research is needed in this area; research attempting to directly correlate the type EMF found in homes (poorly shielded wiring, etc) with hallucinations and other paranormal claims. I have heard through the Paranormal Activity Network that D.O.G.S. is a part of that there is research taking place in Cincinnati regarding this very topic. I eagerly await the results of these experiments.

    Another topic that is very hotly debated is the electronic voice phenomenon that all paranormal investigators know and love. A very good article I've found is the ATransC paper titled "Transcommunication White Paper with Emphasis on Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP)" [3] I've not had a chance to go over this paper in great depth, but it talks a LOT about what EVP is, how to go about doing it, and the different types. I highly recommend reading it if you are at all interested in EVP.

But around here, there are groups that are getting hundreds of EVPs in one investigation. They claim to be utilizing specific older models of Sony digital audio recorders (specifically ICD-P320, ICD-P520). I purchased the P520 model but have yet to use it on an investigation. I want to see for myself if this is repeatable or if something else is at play.

I also want to see if there is any possibility that these recorders are picking up radio broadcasts, TV signals, or any other stray interference. I'd like to build a Faraday cage (but I'm not savvy like that) to put the recorders in during an EVP session which would hopefully rule out any outside electrical interference, but might this also impede the ability of the spirit to imprint its voice? I just don't know. But I'm willing to experiment (if I could find someone to build a couple small Faraday cages for me) and find out if there is any truth to the notion that spirits somehow imprint their voices by manipulating the magnetic field around the recorders.

Finally, the thing that has really started getting to me (and not just me) lately is that it seems like everyone and their Aunt Martha is "sensitive." I know this is going to get me some flak fired my way, but I've got to come out and say this. And remember, it's just my opinion. Like "you-know-what," everyone has one and is entitled to their own. I am VERY skeptical when it comes to persons claiming they are psychics or sensitives. Sorry, that's just how I am. I need proof before I believe what you're telling me. That would be like me saying that I'm the greatest karaoke singer in Ohio. You'd need proof of that.

[And not to self-deprecate here, but I am nowhere near even a good karaoke singer. Believe me, I've heard way better.]

That's one of the reasons why I investigate the paranormal: to prove to myself (and hopefully others, too) that there really is something else out there that we don't understand. I would love to work with someone who is genuinely in tune with the other side and can communicate, but they've got to prove it to me personally before I will vouch for them and say that they're legitimate. And that's the hard part. Legitimate to me certainly isn't legit to you.

I'm not saying that all psychics and sensitives are charlatans, but believe me, there are more than a few out there that are. In the past, I have investigated with two ladies from the Hamilton and Northern Kentucky area who I truly feel are the genuine article. Investigating at the Patterson Homestead with them, they were pulling up stuff that even I, in my research, didn't know about and was later confirmed through the museum curator. And don't even get me started on all those that think that they're just like Melinda on "Ghost Whisperer" and can see spirits. Maybe you can, and maybe you can't, but until you prove it to me, I'm not drinking your Kool-Aid.

And sadly, that's what all of this boils down to, dear friends. All of this paranormal investigating and all the photos, video, EVPs, and personal experiences are all subjective events that occurred on a personal level. As of April 2011, we have moved away from labeling what we gather during our investigations as "evidence". Until we can get past the skepticism and disbelief, is there really any way that we can absolutely prove to everyone that there really is something to all of this paranormal stuff? I hope that one day the answer to that question is yes. I want to believe that somehow someone (hopefully me and my group or one of the groups that I'm friends with) will get that absolute proof that is totally undeniable and without question. I've had some personal experiences—really minor stuff—but I know that there has to be an explanation out there somewhere for this.

It seems that this absolute proof is elusive as a ghost, if you'll pardon the pun. Maybe someday we'll figure out a way to definitively communicate with the other side--all the time and every time. Or maybe, there's a reason why we haven't been able to? Maybe we shouldn't? But that's what keeps me doing this: the uncertainty and the desire for the answers.    


 

Bibliography

[1] World Health Organization: What are electromagnetic fields - http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html

[2] Possible Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Associated with Electric Power Systems: http://www.emfservices.com/article.htm

[3] Association TransCommunication: Transcommunication White Paper with Emphasis on Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) - http://atransc.org/theory/white_paper-evp.htm


 

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