"Everyone who's interested in the paranormal thinks they're a ghost hunter." This is a statement made by a friend of mine who is, admittedly, a bonefied non-believer of ghost hunters. Notice I didn't say "ghosts." The argument is an old one, and one voiced on every ghost hunting forum I've ran across. True, there is an 'elitist' attitude among those who think they're 'the real thing,' and that attitude, though they don't seem to know this, discredits them to nearly everyone they meet.
In a sense it's almost funny how a few have taken the fine art of 'looking for something' and tried to make it a science. Truth is, death, dying, the afterlife, the existence of a possible other realm, it's more spiritual (no pun intended) than scientific. To me, it's like trying to make a science out of looking for a lost penny. There simply isn't "one way" to look for anything, including ghosts. My opinion, mind you, but I believe this completely.
Now making a science out of "proving" there are ghosts makes a lot more sense than trying to make a science out of looking for them. Still, it's not going to happen, not in my opinion anyway. And look at it this way: There have been reports of people seeing, hearing, and talking to spirits, and none of them have $1000-$3000 plus invested in fancy equipment in order to do this. The dead need no representation.
So you want to hunt ghosts?
No problem. You'll need a camera (video and still) with the ability to take photos in dark settings, film, and a tape recorder. That's it. Sorry, all you fancy-pants ghost hunters out there. Again, the dead need no representation. Now as for what you need to know, here's a list. The rest, friend, is between you & the deceased.
Research. You need to know where documented (or elleged) activity has/is taken place. You could cold-call, pick a dwelling or area despite no record of hauntings, but you may be spinning your wheels.
Etiquette, dear, etiquette. Don't just walk up to someone's house and announce you're there on their doorstep because you heard they were haunted. If you hear about a haunted house or other dwelling or area, please try to use the source from where your information originated as the contact point. If it's a friend, ask your friend to set something up with the individual(s) they told you about. Don't show up at their door. It's not only rude to show up unannounced, but you'll look like a complete hack.
Arrive prepared. Get your equipment ready ahead of time, make a checklist and USE it. There's nothing more ameteurish than showing up somewhere only to have to ask for supplies (pen, pencil, paper, etc.).
Determine a time limite AHEAD of time. Know in advance how long you will need to be there, and how long they will allow you to be there. Granted, if you're walking out into a 'haunted field' or across a 'haunted bridge' you wont have to worry about this. But if you're dealing with the living then go by their rules and be polite and professional.
Keep what you do to a minimum, don't bring more equipment than you need (no one takes Inspector Gadget seriously), clean up after yourself, and ONLY go into the areas of the house, yard, etc. that was determined in advance. Don't put people on the spot by asking them if you can enter a room or area of their property that wasn't arranged in advance. If you forgot to ask to see the basement, dining room or whatever, let it go.
If your there, it's too late to ask unless they extend an invitation on their own.
In a sense it's almost funny how a few have taken the fine art of 'looking for something' and tried to make it a science. Truth is, death, dying, the afterlife, the existence of a possible other realm, it's more spiritual (no pun intended) than scientific. To me, it's like trying to make a science out of looking for a lost penny. There simply isn't "one way" to look for anything, including ghosts. My opinion, mind you, but I believe this completely.
Now making a science out of "proving" there are ghosts makes a lot more sense than trying to make a science out of looking for them. Still, it's not going to happen, not in my opinion anyway. And look at it this way: There have been reports of people seeing, hearing, and talking to spirits, and none of them have $1000-$3000 plus invested in fancy equipment in order to do this. The dead need no representation.
So you want to hunt ghosts?
No problem. You'll need a camera (video and still) with the ability to take photos in dark settings, film, and a tape recorder. That's it. Sorry, all you fancy-pants ghost hunters out there. Again, the dead need no representation. Now as for what you need to know, here's a list. The rest, friend, is between you & the deceased.
Keep what you do to a minimum, don't bring more equipment than you need (no one takes Inspector Gadget seriously), clean up after yourself, and ONLY go into the areas of the house, yard, etc. that was determined in advance. Don't put people on the spot by asking them if you can enter a room or area of their property that wasn't arranged in advance. If you forgot to ask to see the basement, dining room or whatever, let it go.
If your there, it's too late to ask unless they extend an invitation on their own.
Choose wisely and be asked back. Let's face it, the dead have more to do than indulge our curiosities about them, so you may very well be in an actively haunted house or area, but it doesn't mean you'll get what you want the first time you go.
If you can't handle yourself well and with decorum then you may not be welcomed back. Be smart about what you do and how you do it so you can ensure yourself a return visit if necessary.
Cold-Calling unihabited areas
There's nothing at all wrong with journeying out on your own as long as you abide by the law. Cold-caling doesn't mean you wont find anything, but it sure doesn't guarantee that you will either, and if you choose your investigations carefully you can have a blast even if there isn't a ghost to be found.
Cold-calling ideas:
Visit known 'haunted' sites, especially if they're public and don't require anyone's permission.
Use the local library to research past news stories about haunted places and urban legends.
Online research can help you find some of the best 'urban legend' and ghost reports. Few are documented or proven, but that's have the fun, isn't it, thinking that perhaps you could be the one to uncover the mystery, to find that ghost?
Word of mouth. Ask those who've lived in the area a long time, maybe even generations. Chances are they may have heard stories or experienced themselves something worth investigating.
Everyone's a critic: Even me Critical Review on ghost hunters
If you can't handle yourself well and with decorum then you may not be welcomed back. Be smart about what you do and how you do it so you can ensure yourself a return visit if necessary.
Cold-Calling unihabited areas
There's nothing at all wrong with journeying out on your own as long as you abide by the law. Cold-caling doesn't mean you wont find anything, but it sure doesn't guarantee that you will either, and if you choose your investigations carefully you can have a blast even if there isn't a ghost to be found.
Cold-calling ideas:
Everyone's a critic: Even me Critical Review on ghost hunters
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