Ghost Hunters debuted on the Sci-Fi channel in October of 2004. The reality show follows TAPS, The Atlantic Paranormal Society, as they visit various locations to investigate claimed paranormal activity. TAPS visits private homes, museums, prisons, asylums, lighthouses and even a retired battleship or two.
The process of each investigation is as follows:
- TAPS waits for someone to contact them with reports of paranormal activity.
- The claims are screened and prioritized based on the location, amount and severity of activity.
- A decision is made of which places to investigate.
- The group visits the location and sets up their gear.
- An investigation is performed.
- Evidence is analyzed and relayed to other members of TAPS.
- TAPS revisits the location and presents their findings to the client, and a final verdict of whether or not they think the activity is paranormal.
A Fresh Take on Ghost Hunting
There are some major points that separate Ghost Hunters from other paranormal themed shows. These same points are also the reasons why the show has become more popular than some of the other shows.
First, is the mentality of TAPS. When they visit a location, they go into the investigation trying to disprove the haunting and find ways to naturally explain the claimed happenings. They do this by trying to recreate situations and phenomenon, looking for possible physical influences, and ultimately just using common sense. Most of the time they can find a reason for something happening that is completely natural and not paranormal.
Second, is professional manner in which TAPS operates. They conduct themselves in a professional manner that is best for getting the job done. (Not that they aren't afraid to have fun.) The equipment they use includes digital thermometers, electromagnetic field detectors, night vision cameras, infrared cameras, audio recorders and handheld digital cameras. All of this equipment is used to capture evidence of any paranormal activity. They don't usually capture anything significant, but when they do, it's usually significant.
Ghost Hunters Stresses a Scientific Approach
Besides a strong fan base, Ghost Hunters has also attracted a lot of criticism, mainly from skeptic groups. They have been accused of staging what evidence they do collect, and have also been criticized for how they investigate a haunting. Of course, there is no easy way to know whether or not some of their evidence was staged. But in contrast, whenever they find something significant, they try even harder to look into it and see what exactly was going on. And usually they can do a pretty good job of figuring out how it could or couldn't have been faked.
As for criticism on how they investigate, some of it seems unprecedented. Of all 'ghost hunting' shows, TAPS is most skeptical, professional and realistic one. This far, nobody has presented any strong answers to what 'ghosts' are, not to mention how they operate and how they affect their environment. TAPS addresses these issues head on. They do so by trying to obtain scientific evidence, rather than 'feelings' about the situation. Nobody has the answers, but if anybody was close, it would be TAPS.
If you get the opportunity to catch an episode of Ghost Hunters, take the chance. It's a refreshing break from all the Psychic and Medium centered shows out there. And who knows, you might just end up changing your mind about the paranormal.
Alexander Rogowsky - Alex Rogowsky is awesome and from Canada.
