The Truth Behind Unity

The propaganda of Para-unity commonly used throughout the paranormal field.  It has become the vehicle of choice by frauds, and bogus teams that only want to swindle, or promote their questionable evidence in the attempt to gain notoriety or fame. Originally, it was to share ideas, methods, and promote mutual respect throughout the paranormal community in the quest for the truth.  The truth ended up with people using other team's ideas, and even their evidence to promote them self. Unfortunately, I have seen groups use the excuse of Para-unity to spy on other teams, or to spread disinformation about a specific group, or a specific person. Over the past seven years of running a very successful team, I have learned that the people around you are not necessarily your friends, and I have tried to keep out of all the Para-drama in this field as much as I can.  The idea that any type of Para-union would work is flawed from the very beginning.  There are vast differences between teams. Why would anyone think that groups with apposing ideas, methods, and training would ever work? Especially after seeing, what some of these groups consider evidence? Experience well trained teams tend to dominate over others. I agreed to assist a team on one of their investigation. I have been corresponding with the co-founder for a couple years little did I know that it was their second investigation. Talk about oil, and water. They panicked, and ask us to take over the investigation. We came to do the job, and provide our best to the client. Sadly, the other team only came to go 'Ghost Hunting.' We came up with incredible evidence within three weeks the promise we make to all our clients. The newbie team felt rushed after three weeks, so they only came up with echoes, even after we had heard, and dismissed the evidence as an echo. I managed to talk the client into another investigation.  The newbie team felt embarrass so they insisted that we did not return for the second investigation. Collaboration between two or more teams can work successfully, but there has to be a lot of common ground for it to work seamlessly. If you look at all the opposing belief systems, just a simplest change in ideology has turned brother against brother. Personal ideology or beliefs systems are self-serving, and counterproductive. Methods of research preservation of the evidence, work ethics, and my co-founder Steve Watson pointed out that I run the team like a business. He is right! In a business model, everyone is on common ground.  It keeps everyone focused on the project, and the problem at hand. It may help to get along with everyone, but it is not necessary, as long as you can work together. There is no drama in the workplace because there is zero tolerance, and the troublemakers immediately removed! One person's issues cannot be allowed to disrupt the team, and like all malcontent they immediately run to another team to spread their lies. Para-drama, it is to laugh!  It is only from the very few, and the ones that deny it the most that are the biggest contributors.

There are many paranormal groups on social media pushing explainable phenomena. The most common mistakes are of camera anomalies. The blame lies with people not taking the time to learn, and understand their equipment from camera settings to the effects from the cameras flash, and other light sources. Does the manufactures recommend using the camera in low light? If you're standing in a totally darken room there is still indirect light you may not be aware of because it takes 30 minutes for the human eye to adapt to its low light surroundings called Scotopic Vision. It takes very little indirect light to briefly illuminate that "energy orb" dust particle, or bug that appeared then vanished! Then post those horribly blurred and smeared pictures claiming it is paranormal. If you had taken the time to learn how to use your camera you would have known that the shutter speed was set for low light that would explain those translucent spirits, and when using a flash that mist was in reality someone's breath.

The shadow that was not there when you took the picture is your finger to close to the flash as in the example above. This field has some of the most novus attempts at photography I have ever seen. I have heard that there are no experts in the paranormal field. Okay so should we ignore all the other experts that can be used and rely upon in their respective fields for an opinion? Social Media is the forum of choice for the sharing of ideas, but when someone’s ideas are so wrong that it hinges on delusional. When asked for comments and all you tried to do was to educate by providing a possible explanation. Taking great care to point out that they made an explainable mistake in the most nonjudgmental, and respectful way. Regardless of how delicately it was handled the first response is usually defensive; you was not there, how can you know? It is very rare to find someone that can except criticism, or agree with the explanation. Then when you intend to provide further explanation, it usually results in your comments being deleted, and even blocked from their ‘facebook’ page! Most paranormal enthusiasts prefer to believe that everything is haunted, and proof is everywhere. That is just not the case! Besides all the new or uneducated groups that rush to judgment with everything, they have caught turning the paranormal field into a joke. You have those other groups that purposely fake evidence for fame, and notoriety hoping to end up another Para-celebrity, or get on one of those Para-TV shows. Then if you weed out all the fakes, frauds, hoaxes, and the uninformed you just might find real evidence although it is very rare. None of which is definitive proof that ghosts exist!

Some paranormal teams come away with mountains of evidence every time they have investigated. The only way to explain this is if they based their evidence on unproven methods, and unrealistic equipment. Teams with psychics, mediums, and sensitive's tend to ignore explainable phenomena justifying camera anomalies, and the use of dowsing rods as credible evidence. It is easy for some teams to produce evidence that base their results entirely on fantasy. When a team investigates your claim, they should take every precaution to preserve the integrity of the evidence collected. That includes not having eight or more investigators in close proximity to each other preventing cross contamination. These teams encourage fantasy over critical thinking. Groups that cater to people that only wants to go ghost hunting. They charge monthly membership fees, investigation fees, equipment rental fees, and you get just that. Ghost hunting with no commitments. Just you and the other twenty-five plus members in the room with you "ghost hunting!" Groups like this are good at creating drama, and exaggerating airborne dust as spirit activity. Real paranormal groups expect commitment, and the only cost to you is your participation. That is if you are lucky enough to be able to join a professional group. Most professional groups have strict limits on the number of members they have. There focused on the experience, critical data, and the research gained. In professional groups, they expect the best from you. In return you learn new techniques, distinguish real evidence from fantasy. There are real answers to real phenomena, we ask how and why during our investigations because everything else is just sitting in the dark.

Many of the new paranormal teams I have seen contact the local News agencies to rush their unbelievable evidence to the public. They stand there with the reporter pointing at picture of Orbs, or slow shutter speed images claiming they captured a ghost. If you ever seen something that is reported on the News and they flash back to the studio knowing that these people are educated professionals with 20 years in journalism. I look for one of two reactions, laughter which means you just made a fool out of yourself, or serious reflection, which means you said something that made them think, to a journalist that is everything. At any time you deal with the media, they will purposely try to steer you one way or the other. This is how you know if the reporter is looking for that quick laugh, or is serious about what you are saying. Unfortunately, not all, but most interviews I have seen regarding the paranormal, usually ends with a big laugh.

There are now self-proclaimed demonologists, and certified paranormal experts that are flooding the paranormal field. A certificate of completion means you completed a class there is no accredited institution in demonology, or paranormal investigations that can certify you in this hobby. The paranormal field has turned in to a cesspool of bullshit. It is difficult to make serious steps forward when you have teams that run around breaking the law, by breaking and entering, trespassing, stealing from locations they investigated, and then scaring people out of their homes because they have Orbs everywhere. I saw a video posted on YouTube where the team walked around with a cell phone ghost app that said the home had purple energy. When the client asked what purple energy is they did not know, but scary nonetheless. The biggest skeptic is you, and in research, you need to be that skeptic, except criticism because as hard as it is, criticism will make you stronger as a team, and will keep you honest.

The attitudes and immaturity in this so-called field are ridiculous. Teams threatening other teams for investigating in there town without their approval, or thinking that they can blacklist teams; it seems they think somehow they are so self-important that they have the power to do what? This is a hobby, god forbid the paid venues would not take my money? Most of these people are delusional I cannot believe what half of them say, as if they knew nothing at all about the world around them. The art of looking up information died with the art of debunking, or asking the simplest of questions.  That when fairies and demons are accepted as logical explanations you might want to check in with your therapist. Fantasies are great in fiction when you turn off the TV, or leave the movie theater. That is when you need to get back to reality, and reality demands proof. Now we have teams faking pictures of ghost and are the easiest to identify because these are cell phone camera ghosts. Some of these are incredibly famous, such as “the lady of bachelor's grove” and is on almost everybody’s cell phone. When called out for the obvious fake, the story changed from they caught it to someone sent it to them. I explained to a woman that claimed a ghost scratched her behind her ear. People unknowingly scratch themselves all the time. Why would you think that it is paranormal? She replied, “I know it’s not a human scratch because I have been a nurse for the past seven years.” How do you know that ghosts has fingernails when no one has proven that a ghost exists, and this is acceptable to you as an explanation other than someone had an itch and scratched it? The extent people go through to reinforce their beliefs is another social psychological trait by making their experiences more coherent, and orderly fantasy then becomes accepted over logic.

LAWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

It is illegal for anyone to be in a cemetery after dark. In addition, just because no one lives or works in a building, does not mean it is fair game for investigating. If you are caught trespassing, your respectability in the community is finished.

Cemetery LAWS

You should be aware of local ordinances to protect the public health, safety and general welfare. As well as regulations relating to the operation, control, and management of cemeteries.

The cemetery shall be open to the public during daylight hours as established and posted by The Township Board for the purposes of burials, graves visitation or historical research.

No person shall be permitted in the cemetery after dark except by written permission. This may include any permits from the county.

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of up to $500.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days in jail as may be determined by court of law. Each day that the violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Any criminal prosecutions here-under shall not prevent civil proceedings for abatement and termination of the activity complained.

Trespassing LAWS

A person is guilty of criminal trespass if, under circumstances not amounting to burglary as defined:

The person enters or remains unlawfully on property; intends to cause annoyance or injury to any person or damage to any property, including the use of graffiti; intends to commit any crime, other than theft or a felony; or is reckless as to whether his presence will cause fear for the safety of another.

Is a class B misdemeanor unless it was committed in a dwelling, in which event it is a class A misdemeanor fine of up to $5,000, or imprisonment up to 7 years, or both for each violation.

Please check local ordinances for fines, and imprisonment for your county.

Remember local law enforcement and the NSA pays close attention to social media like facebook. Unless you do not mine being questioned, arrested or find for violating the law. Then I would not post such criminal activity.

The hobbyist should avoid clients and private property you can face legal, moral, and safety issues. You can also be held libel for all vandalism, theft, and damages. If all you want to do is go ghost hunting then paid venues abound and most of them have been featured on popular Para-non-reality TV shows. Leave those demons at home in your closet where they belong, or take the team out for movie night where monsters can frighten the bravest of you. It is better than being sued when you frighten the homeowner out of their house with talk of evil spirits, and cleansing.

The legalities does not end there is you are the founder of the team the felonies starts with you. You are responsible for anyone acting with or without your permission. The law will say that the member or members of your organization was acting on your behalf weather you knew it or not unless you have signed rules, and releases from each member that clearly states that you must have written permission obtained from the people named, and limit those names to the people you trust.