Paranormal science has been a topic of debate for a long time. There are many who believe in paranormal occurrences, and there are many who do not. I fall into the category of those who do not.
While we have yet to find solid proof that paranormal apparitions like ghosts are real, there is certainly a lot of perceived “science” that goes into ghost investigation.
I want to start off by saying I don’t believe in ghosts, Bigfoot or any other supernatural creatures or urban legends. I believe what logic and science has proven, and as of yet, there has never been any hard evidence to suggest the existence of these legends.
One of the biggest sources of “evidence” for ghosts is measuring changes in electromagnetic fields or EMFs. Most ghost hunting shows and hobbyists use an EMF detector to inspect for the presence of ghosts.
The problem is that even high-end EMF detectors can be set off by almost anything that creates a magnetic charge. Things like batteries, cell phones, even outlets and other common electrical items can cause fluctuations in EMF patterns.
My biggest issue with paranormal science is that most of it is conjecture or speculation, even if there might be real methodology behind it.
I think that for me and other skeptics to believe the science behind ghost hunting is legitimate, there must be solid proof behind the investigations and eventual conclusions.
Investigations need to have solid scientific tests to record paranormal activity, other than just recording high frequency audio or measuring cold spots.
Furthermore, I believe what makes skeptics feel even more doubtful is the way that many popular ghost hunting television shows are edited and dramatized in a way that takes away from the actual science taking place.
On the show “Ghost Hunters,” the hosts and investigators are not scientists, but instead plumbers who met on a website to share their experiences with paranormal activity.
For a television show, their blue-collar background brings a reliability that makes sense for audience members looking for a connection, but it does not lend any credence to the legitimacy of their findings.
It is even worse when these shows bring in psychics or people who claim to be paranormal mediums. Nothing helps you win over a crowd that wants to be convinced like bringing in people whose entire reason for being on the show is making you believe in something you can’t see or prove with evidence.
Overall, while paranormal beings might exist, the science behind finding them is unclear at best. Until there is a more solid basis for science in this field, it will continue to be looked down upon by people who are mostly exposed to it through dramatized television shows.
