As I prepare for our team’s upcoming expedition to Gettysburg, I find myself reflecting on the ghost hunting community. I want to be very specific when I say “ghost hunting” because I don’t want it to be confused with paranormal research. While the trend of ghost hunting is fading a bit thanks to the dwindling of paranormal reality shows, there are some situations where ghost hunting still has an air novelty. A sense of, “Oh let’s find some ghosts so we can get scared!” Some groups make the practice of ghost hunting and paranormal investigating very kitschy.
There are some pages and groups I’ve worked with where the deceased is presented as a circus freak show. Sure, we hear the stories, but it is up to us to find the truth hidden in the scary story that was meant to raise our tensions. Even the word “hunting” bothers me because I get an image of Elmer Fudd searching for “wabbits” through the woods. Yes, we are searching for ghosts, but we’re not hunting them for the purpose of trapping them. We’re entering THEIR territory and hope that they like us enough to want to talk to us. I sometimes joke that if you don’t get any results at a location, it is either not haunted, or the ghosts thought you were a jerk and didn’t want to talk to you. But all joking aside, we need to approach investigating in such a way where we’re being respectful. Treating the paranormal field as a novelty brand, something that is meant to amuse and entertain the public just furthers the idea that we can’t be taken seriously as paranormal investigators. It’s making the paranormal into this “Come look at the freaks” genre that is making the rest of us look like a cheap and tacky novelty we see on paranormal reality shows. There are times to let your hair down and be silly, but when the very basis of your practice is to be a gimmick, it’s a slap in the face to every paranormal investigator who really is trying to make progress in the field.
Paranormal reality shows are meant to entertain. To embellish that tawdry trend into your own group only makes you look…well, I’ll be nice and just say inexperienced. I guess you can say I’m spending my time complaining about how other teams conduct business. I care about the paranormal community, and I love the people I’ve gotten to meet and work with. I see the countless hours you put into data review and presentation. I see you writing down your ideas and trying them out in the field. I just don’t want to see your hard work trivialized by a novelty concept that is waning into obscurity as time progresses. 
Gettysburg is one of those locations that is near and dear to my heart. I can’t help but get emotional when I go there. So many perished, and those emotional scars still permeate. If ghosts are real, I want to engage in a conversation with these soldiers and talk to them like they’re humans, not some animals behind cages. Sure, the data collections and presentations are fine and interesting. But that’s only a part of the puzzle. Could it be possible to get the same reaction from a conversation about family as you would from trying to provoke the person? Maybe.
If we take away the cheap novelty from the practice of ghost hunting and add in some empathy, who knows what progress we could make. With how large and vast the community has grown, nothing is original these days unless you’ve trained dogs to hunt for ghosts. But that’s a whole other topic for another day.
I am looking forward to my joinery to a place I have heard so much about. It’s hard not to feel the emotions when you read about such a historical/tragic place. It’s easy to understand why so many venture back. I look forward to my first with open heart and mind.
Good article.
I also love investigating, the history and I also the meeting of the minds trying to figure out how to communicate with people on the other side.
I completely agree! If we can get some creditable proof we are happy. We like to go back to locations over and over again and see if we can get the spirits to tell us stories, tell us what it was like when they were alive. We like to hear stories of how their life’s were. Sometimes we try to get them to tell us what exactly happened to them so we can get in touch with a family member in this time or get in touch with someone who will listen to them and can have their story heard. It saddens me though that some had to die so tragic.
May you be met with enthusiasm from the spirits/energies on your visit to Gettysburg. If I may be bold to suggest, There should be a parking lot on S Confederate Ave at co-ordinates 39°47’19.7″N 77°14’25.2″W (apx). I have not been graced with confirmation through technology (yet), however if you follow the path ahead of the parking area, you will find a clearing of large rock formation. The intense feeling there is beyond description. This area is more a “hike trail” than a popular tourist spot such as Devils Den or the Wheat Field. Also, another area that may be of interest 39°47’26.8″N 77°14’35.9″W. This is another area of rock formation just beyond Devils Den. There is a small “cave” in this area that has a tremendous electrical feeling for my body. May you be rewarded worthy of an energy wanting to communicate. ~Chris P.I.R.A.T.E Paranormal
Glad you made the difference between “Ghost Hunting” and Paranormal Research. I hope the trend continues and ghost hunting dies completely. I am a paranormal researcher, working in the field for over 30 years now. Ghost hunting is one of the worst things to happen in the field in long time. It’s due to “Ghost Hunters” that we researchers can no longer go to some places to gather evidence for study and it is due to “Ghost Hunters” that we all get lumped into a category that is looked down upon because of, some who look for a good time and call themselves ghost hunters and do bad things, hurting the field for all. Not to be snarky but there are new and original ideas out there for the field. Just because you haven’t heard of or read about them doesn’t me they are not there.
Definitely agree with the last sentence. I’ve discovered some great ideas in the past decade, but haven’t come across anything “new” per se for a few years now.
I mostly agree with you. Ghost Adventures drives me crazy! Over acting when they hear something, (if they get so afraid, why do they do it?) Everything to them is evil, satanic! Most of the time someone gets possessed (I know it can happen, but with them it’s almost every show!)
With ghost hunters, I find them more credible. If there’s no back up, they toss it out. They go in trying to debunk claims.
I disagree about training the dog! You don’t have to train them because it comes naturally to animals! Their senses are far more heightened! My dogs knew and now I know my cat does when we pass by some houses, he won’t even walk on the lawn! I grew up on a farm and those animals could tell as well!
Yes there are some especially the ones that call them in with “spirit boards”etc.
Respect is first and foremost!