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Stepping Away From The Herd

What is wrong with the paranormal community?

I absolutely believe that we need to change the Guru/territorial mentality now prevalent in our industry. Quite frankly, it is coming to an end (or needs to come to an end for the sake of advancing the field into the reputable realm of science/academic discussion). As the field has grown exponentially in the last five years, the guru mentality has limited growth and is only conducive to more competition and segmentation.

What is the Guru / Territorial mentality?

The Guru / Territorial mentality is what has overridden the common sense approach to thorough investigation techniques and analysis. While I cannot point to a specific ‘dogma’ held by these individuals or groups, I can give a set of characteristics that clearly define the Guru/Territorial mentality as it applies to paranormal research groups.

Those who struggle from the Guru/Territorial mentality suffer from the following:

• Strong feelings conveyed that their methods or approach is the correct approach above all others. At this same time, this is accompanied by paranoia of other groups, methods, etc.
• That they individually control and are the resident experts to paranormal activity in the field
• Group-think is often over-ridden by a dominate personality
• Research is over taken by a need for strong perception of expertise
• Need for ‘Proof’ replaces the scientific method and well defined research
• Notoriety of the group or individual over shadows the help they provide to their clients
• Experience and being well educated is replaced with a domineering spirit or need for notoriety

As interest grows in researching the paranormal, ultimately we will come to the precipice where groups will compete for research and squatting rights of potential paranormal locations. Groups will quarrel with each other and cause major rifts over beliefs, concepts and methods far worse that has been seen in modern religious circles. I have seen many examples of this when investigating many of the more popular large investigation locations. Specific locations such as prisons and old hospitals are dominated by a paranormal group which often prevent other groups to do thorough investigations without payment. While these groups often get free access to the paranormal site. Thus these groups impede the ability for justification and duplication of results.

Side note: The “meetup” online networking the paranormal community provides an example of this. There are little meet-up groups (meetup.com) popping up everywhere, some good and others less so. Many start out as genuine attempts to network, facilitate public discussions, etc but end up being dominated by politics, drama, and those who gravitate towards the guru mentality. A great deal of energy in the community is spent manageing personalities rather than dealing with important research issues. It such dynamics inflitrate online social networking experiences, one can only imagine what is actually happening on the ground.

Often when groups share a specific geographic location, territorial posturing ensues. This creates a culture of paranoia that permeates into a group’s internal dynamics. It is a model of organization and a harmful self-referential tool regarding the larger community. Instead of sharing ideas openly along with testing methods of investigative analysis, groups segment volunteers from other groups. Naturally this will prevent sharing ideas and thus demote the areas ability to find answers of paranormal truth in the area.

The dangers of such a progression is simple. Truth and accountability will be left out. If you haven’t guessed it yet, the paranormal field is about finding the truth. People will compete not on the value of their research but on results. Results or the belief in the results will outweigh the truth in investigative scientific process. Ultimately groups will grandstand their success at being the best at capturing the proof of the paranormal over their long painstakingly taken steps to ensure their research and findings are legit.

Extreme profit will be made as suppliers for gear and gadgets will supposedly level the playing field with equipment that the everyday enthusiast can get their hands on. Quack equipment and overly hyped equipment will replace true measured calibrated equipment. Enthusiasts will turn to whatever equipment will beep, buzz, and blip unquantifiable results to the end user. Thus untrained enthusiasts with the newest gadgets will quickly replace the trained and knowledgeable researcher who truly knows the reasons for using the equipment and what the measurements really mean. Worse yet, groups are already defined by their equipment, but not their protocol, member reputation, and critical critique of evidence. Equipment can be a good thing but it is only as good as the investigator using it.

Why do you think it will end?

Unless there is a major breakthrough in technology or research methods which can produce highly duplicatable results, the community will collapse upon itself. This collapse will come from unregulated competition, thrill-seekers outpacing true researchers, and the truth being replaced by evidence. That is why I call for a change for paranormal research groups who suffer from and the territorial mentality so prevalent these days. I believe an open community that anyone can belong should replace the group mentality of today. Free exchange of ideas, research methods and standardization can succeed in a open community that both supports, nurtures and educates one another.

So are you looking to be your own TAPS?

No.

I am excited to see the rise of interest in the paranormal field. I cannot think of a better example than The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) in standardizing and building community in this field. Well before the hit television series, this group took the paranormal field to a whole new level by institutionalizing a different way of thinking. For centuries, the paranormal world was portrayed by psychics, mediums, crystal balls and spirit photography. TAPS has taken the time to create a culture as well as their own language to help define a whole new world of paranormal research.

Personally, had I the the opportunity, I would appreciate being a member of the TAPS family. Unfortunately in the midwest, it is really hard for me to find anyone in my area. Not that I was looking to be the next TAPS, I see the advantages that a well established group can have if it is working healthily.

Most in the paranormal community share this reality; since I didn’t have the mentoring of a well established network of professionals, I was left to my own assets to build my research. This took a lot of time reading, research, money for equipment and trial and error. I would have loved to have the shortcuts that a good mentor may provide. We have found this to be normal for people who are seriously interested in the field. Most groups will never be TAPS members but have a real desire and ability to contribute to the field. TAPS membership or affiliation with a TV show is not necessary to conduct credible research or contribute to the field. The most important element is adhering to a code of ethnics and actively networking in the field with other like-minded researchers. Actively networking is the operative phrase! Sadly most groups do not put the effort into such activities.

The Paranormal Investigator Codex

• I will conduct paranormal investigations with honesty and integrity
• I will adhere to all local and national laws
• I will not fabricate evidence
• I will keep the clients intentions and wishes above my own or my group
• I will know how to use and calibrate the equipment I use on investigations so that I can interpret the results
• I will document all of my findings
• I will seek to find alternative answers to the data collected while on investigation
• I will take ownership and review all of the evidence collected on investigation

Be it my luck in life or just my opportunity to grow, I didn’t have those wonderful opportunities. Not that I am bitter, It is just the way it is. I simply want to know more about the paranormal world and I did whatever I could to learn as much as I possibly could and help get others around me interested.

That said, I believe that we need a change in direction. I have personally witnessed and have been disappointed with the way I see new groups being built. Having seen people’s work being almost hijacked from them for the opportunity to make money and a name for themselves. The Frank’s box is an excellent example of a man’s ingenuity and care being overtaken by individuals who seek profit and notoriety for themselves. I have interviewed Frank and found him a man of integrity and great desire to know more about the paranormal world. His equipment and research may well prove to have greater implications to paranormal research in the near future. As of this writing, people are beginning to make similar devices and selling them to the public for astronomical costs. Hobbyists are turning to alternative concepts with a much lower barrier to entry and making some headway in driving down the costs and increasing consumer demand. While this is great innovation, I believe what has been done to trample a man’s research is inexcusable. However history normally sides with innovation and the consumer and will probably never really know or care.

In truth, people want to know more. They want to experience more. This is what is driving the new pop craze of paranormal investigators and groups sprouting up on every corner. The difference is that people are not disciplined nor have the resources necessary to achieve the results they really want. Thus people turn to evidence as their justification rather than the process of interest. Evidence can be interpreted, and devised. People with evidence somehow can justify themselves as investigators instead of researchers. There is a difference.

So my change of direction and the reason for this manifesto is to do the following:

The new paranormal community will…

• Help anyone, be it a group or be it an individual starting off with education and guidance that will always be free
• Create an open exchange for review, classification and education
• Provide anyone with tools to help promote their research efforts
• Provide an online directory for clients to find researchers that need our help

Helping anyone, be it a group or individual starting off

The most popular question I receive from my listeners to my podcast is… “How do I get started?” Honestly, that all depends on what you are interested in. In my podcast I line out a easy to follow and step by step approach to ghost hunting which I think needs to be updated. When I decided that I needed to change direction from the norm of the paranormal field, I realized that the most important and obvious need to fill is those who are looking to get started in ghost hunting. Truely, these new individuals are the ones who I have the most hope to change the future outlook in the field. Most groups today are weighed down with policies, procedures and stuck in antiquated ways of running their group or investigations. If I am going to make any dent on the field, I need to focus my attention on the new people who are really wanting to step into paranormal investigation.

Thus, the purpose of my site ‘Ghost Hunters Secrets’ is to actually reveal the truth behind ghost hunting. In my own tongue in cheek way, with the help of others will reveal openly to the public how to get started.

So, we as a collaborative group of like minded individuals will provide resources, advice, and coaching to anyone/group starting off. The individual/group does not have to have any particular background or education. The individual can have any set of beliefs and dogma. We will help as a collaborative group to educate, mentor and refine that individual to be a active member in the paranormal community. We will provide the user the ability to share their research and ideas in a open, peer driven community without the fear of rejection. The individual can submit their findings as a way to help in the mentoring process which can then be validated or rejected by those in the community who have the expertise or experience.

Create an open exchange for review, classification and education

Along with aiding and educating the new investigator, an open platform of discussion needs to be available. Simply put, we will provide tools that will allow for sharing of data, evidence and ideas with the greater community. First, an online forum will be made available to members. This gives them the opportunity to ask questions or be part of the peer review process. The benefits of an open forum is simple. The more you participate in the forum, the more knowledgeable you will become and the more education you will gain. Users will gain gain knowledge about techniques and practices that they can take directly to the field. Users will build friends and colleagues by working with interested people online. People will help others by openly sharing of ideas and best practices in order to aid the entire community.

A standard evidence classification system will be used to help support the member base. People can submit their evidence for review by the peer group. Members will then grade the evidence based upon the laid out classification sytem. A final classicification will be made by senior peer members that the individual who submitted the evidence can take back and publish with their findings. This gives users two things. One, it allows for their evidence to actually have true backing by using standardization. It also helps set the standard for what is allowed to be called ‘evidence’ versus subjective analysis. The standardization will then have weight and backing and should become what every investigator will want to have credentialing their evidence.

Just like baseball cards or antique road shows, our evidence will have value based upon the standardization assessment. Instead of dollar value, evidentiary value of existance of the paranormal will become its real appeal to value. My hope is that investigators will value these assessments as much as baseball players value their own stats. Those who follow clear and well thought out practices for investigations will ultimately provide better proof for the existance of the paranormal than that of the common thrill seekers.

Provide anyone with tools to help promote their research efforts

A part of our efforts will be dedicated to review and suggest good practices and equipment. Users will be able to download videos, tipsheets, and guides for using common ghost hunting gear or methods. The goal is to help the individual by suggesting the best gear or method for the job with a very careful review process. Along with these guides, users will be able to provide their own tips and best practices in order for the larger community to get the best knowledge available.

On the grander scale, with the growing popularity of the site, our hopes is that equipment manufacturers and suppliers will seek us out and allow us to review and test their equipment for purchase by the community abroad. We want to uphold our integrity so we will ensure that we provide honest and forth right reviews of all equipment so that the user community can make up their own mind as to have in their own ghost hunting tool box. It is our hope that our reviews and recommendations strongly impact the marketability of products for our user community. This is an outright challenge to equipment manufacturers to make the best products avaialable, at reasonable prices, that actually do what they claim.

Provide an online directory for clients to find researchers that need our help

Like many other Internet efforts, we will combine the ease of use of the Internet with the ability to connect people together. We will help members get together for the possibility of building healthy teams. We will also provide a finding service that matches clients with investigators even if it is virtually. We will provide clients seeking help with that of knowledgeable and well qualified individuals who can truly help and follow our Paranormal Investigator Codex.

We can assist individuals doing their own investigations by getting others to help them virtually by assisting in historical research, reviewing of evidence and investigation planning. No longer should the individual feel alone without any help. The greater community will step in and help the user or group so that community benefits from the research. All help is free and voluntary. This gives everyone the opportunity to contribute as they see fit.

This virtual peer group also acts as a coaching tool for the individuals involved. It allows each of them to serve a part of a greater team all working together for a common purpose. This removes territorial lines, guru thinking, and other ‘group squabbles’ over nonsensical things. It becomes an avenue for free and healthy exchange of ideas without the fear of group dynamics or non-existant boundaries.

So, What’s Next?

Honestly, it is up to you. The purpose of this manifesto is to mobilize you. For all of you who are interested in being a part of the bigger picture when it comes to paranormal research and investigations, I challenge you to open your mind and your hearts to one another. Get involved in some form or fashion and join Ghost Hunters Secrets as a member to help grow awareness and spread common sense to the world.

If you notice that your group is struggling in areas described in this paper, this doesn’t mean that you should quit the group. I believe the more sensible approach is to slowly and carefully use the best practices provided in our members section to point the way to better methods and practices for your group. The truth will prove itself in the end. Use common sense and tact and you will be able to help point the group to a healthier and active group.

So, you are in it for the money right?

NO.

However, understand that a venture of this magnitude and effort is taxing on both my own personal resources and time of the individuals who are helping get this venture off the ground. In order for me to provide you the excellent service and support you deserve, I need to be able to cover the expenses necessary to deliver the service you would want and expect.

While yes we have subscriptions prices for individuals and groups, we also offer free membership options as well. Matter of fact, the pricing is both economical and easy to stomach by anyone who is interested in getting help. At every level, we provide a good amount of support and involvement. So no matter if you are trying us out to see if we are legitimate or if you are really wanting us to provide you the tools you need to succeed (individual or group) we are here to help. It is our goal to promote the best practices and methods to the entire paranormal community.

• Free Membership to the site - provide access to the community blog and public documents
• Individual Basic Membership - $18 / month - access to blog, access to public and member documents, access to forum, access to community supporters to email and share evidence
• Group Basic Membership - $29/ month allowing up to 3 users access to the site resources provided under the Individual Membership Option
• Individual Gold Membership - $38 / month - 3 video conferencing sessions, free teleconferencing sessions, personal one on one coaching for investigations and group building, discount on seminars and boot camps + Individual Basic Membership
• Group Gold Membership - $68 / month - 3 video conferencing sessions, free teleconferencing sessions, personal one on one coaching for investigations and group building, discount on seminars and boot camps + Individual Basic Membership

Again, we absolutely provide tons of free information in the blog and public documents. It is in no way a bad program if you cannot afford the higher memberships. However, the benefit of the memberships will dramatically improve your own ghost hunting experience along with helping you build the ghost hunting group of your dreams.

So, what do you have to lose?

My 100% EVEN IF I DIE - I WON’T HAUNT YOU MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

If you don’t believe that i can help you or your group with better research, and a common sense approach to paranormal investigations I will give your money back EVEN IF I DIE in the process. I have worked out a special agreement with my future widow that even if I die out of the shock of you rejecting my help, she will pay you your money back (she controls all my finances anyway).

We also know that the economy is bad. You can’t waste your money TRYING programs. So we guarantee that we can give you the very best in personalized help and instruction or we pay you!

And of course if for any reason at all you are unsatisfied, you can always ask me for a refund — no matter what — and I’ll promptly and quietly return every penny you paid in full.

So, what should you be doing now?

1. You need to visit Ghost Hunters Secrets by going to http://www.ghosthunterssecrets.com
2. Choose a membership option
3. Get involved in the discussion.