| Revision as of 14:29, 15 June 2006 editIra-welkin (talk | contribs)592 edits Removed General Paranormal External Link - No Mention of Ghost Hunters- This is NOT a debate on the possibility of Paranormal. Belongs on the 'paranormal' or 'ghost' articles both listed as 'related'← Previous edit | Revision as of 17:31, 15 June 2006 edit undoC. Darrow (talk | contribs)28 edits →Criticism: removed in compliance with Wiki's "no original reserach" policyNext edit → | ||
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| ==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
| Holding some of the highest ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel network, TAPS has certainly found an eager audience for ''Ghost Hunters'', however many seasoned paranormal investigators have taken issue with the show. Some have suggested that the program does not concentrate enough on historical research of locations, favoring instead to showcase the melodrama between various TAPS members (especially in Season One) and that some members of the team seem to lack a basic understanding of how their equipment worked early in the series. This was one of the reasons that the original UK presenter Ian Cashmore did not want to be a part of the US venture after he filmed the US promos. He had very much prided himself with producing shows with a sound historical/investigational background. He wanted to steer clear of the sensational angle taken by other shows in the field, like '']''. | Holding some of the highest ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel network, TAPS has certainly found an eager audience for ''Ghost Hunters'', however many seasoned paranormal investigators have taken issue with the show. Some have suggested that the program does not concentrate enough on historical research of locations, favoring instead to showcase the melodrama between various TAPS members (especially in Season One) and that some members of the team seem to lack a basic understanding of how their equipment worked early in the series. This was one of the reasons that the original UK presenter Ian Cashmore did not want to be a part of the US venture after he filmed the US promos. He had very much prided himself with producing shows with a sound historical/investigational background. He wanted to steer clear of the sensational angle taken by other shows in the field, like '']''. On airing, ] rapidly distanced himself from the US version as he believed it was too "over-sensationalised". Ian continues to present for other paranormal tv and radio shows, but only those he says "which have a sound rational investigational standpoint." | ||
| Possibly as a response to this criticism, later in the second season of the show, at least one or more TAPS members take a trip to a local library near the investigation site to conduct historical research. There they look up death certificates and newspaper articles on the names of any of the deceased mentioned during the pre-investigation tours, property records to find the names of previous owners, as well as studying the geography of the area to provide more scientific reasons such as geological, geographical, and atmospheric reasons instead of paranormal ones. | Possibly as a response to this criticism, later in the second season of the show, at least one or more TAPS members take a trip to a local library near the investigation site to conduct historical research. There they look up death certificates and newspaper articles on the names of any of the deceased mentioned during the pre-investigation tours, property records to find the names of previous owners, as well as studying the geography of the area to provide more scientific reasons such as geological, geographical, and atmospheric reasons instead of paranormal ones. Others have called into question the more sensational results the team has recorded during their investigations going so far as to question if they have not been hoaxed by members of the film crew, or even TAPS themselves. Still others are at odds over the conduct that some on the TAPS team have displayed on their investigations and are concerned that TAPS may not be the best role model for the next generation of paranormal researchers. | ||
| On airing, ] rapidly distanced himself from the US version as he believed it was too "over-sensationalised". Ian continues to present for other paranormal tv and radio shows, but only those he says "which have a sound rational investigational standpoint." | |||
| Some critics point out TAPS apparent misuse of, or unfamiliarity with, their instrumentation. The infared thermometers TAPS carries are designed to measure the surface temperature of solid objects. Yet, in virtually all episodes TAPS investigators are seen claiming to use them to measure air temperatures. Thus, a "cold spot" in the middle of a room might actually be the surface temperature of a cold water pipe located several feet away. At no time does TAPS give any indication they are aware of this basic error. | |||
| A number of fans expressed displeasure at the participation of personnel who do not fit within the traditional framework of the scientific approach, such as demonologists and psychics, during some of the investigations shown in early seasons of the show. These personnel disappeared from subsequent shows, although articles authored by them such as "Demonology 101" and "Introduction to Fairies" are featured on TAPS official website. | |||
| Others have called into question the more sensational results the team has recorded during their investigations -- video footage of moving objects and full-body apparitions -- going so far as to question if they have not been hoaxed by members of the film crew, or even TAPS themselves. | |||
| Some criticize what appears to be a rather selective method of "debunking". For example, in the St. Augustine Lighthouse episode, the caretaker's claim of mysterious noise from a stationary bucket was postulated as likely caused by a window being slammed shut by stray breezes. However, the dramatic noises, shadows, and apparitions experienced by the TAPS team while on site were not submitted for debunking or questioned in any way. | |||
| Still others are at odds over the conduct that some on the TAPS team have displayed on their investigations and are concerned that TAPS may not be the best role model for the next generation of paranormal researchers. | |||
| ==Supporters & Controversy== | ==Supporters & Controversy== | ||
Revision as of 17:31, 15 June 2006
This article is about the reality tv series. For the 1986 video game, see Ghost Hunters (video game).Ghost Hunters is a reality television series produced by Pilgrim Films featuring Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, who are Roto-Rooter plumbers by day and who hunt ghosts at night as part of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS). The show debuted in October 2004 on the American Sci-fi Channel.
It should not be confused with the original 1996 Inca Productions show Ghosthunters produced for the Discovery Channel. The format was sold to the US to become Ghost Hunters. The only remaining link between the two shows is presenter Ian Cashmore who anchored the UK/Europe show, and piloted the US show.
Investigations
Hawes and Wilson are armed with the latest electronic equipment to record paranormal activity. They use digital thermometers, EMF (electromagnetic field) scanners, infrared and night vision cameras, high-definition handheld video cameras, digital audio recorders, and laptop computers to record their data.
Their first step when investigating a location is to take a tour of the site where owners or housekeepers describe their encounters. Next the team sets up their devices in whatever paranormal "hot spots" were indicated on the tour. They then spend several hours roaming the location, taking EMF and temperature readings, recording audio for EVP, and filming whatever they can. Afterward, they spend several hours analyzing all the audio and video they have gathered.
A few days later, Hawes and Wilson go over their findings with the location site owners and discuss what they have uncovered. They also offer suggestions to help deal with the activity and answer any other questions the owner may have.
Since the show aired, TAPS has recorded thousands of hours of audio and video footage. Most investigations turn up cold with very little activity, if at all, but occasionally they find something strange that to the investigators, makes the whole trip worthwhile. They claim to have several good recordings of strange mists, odd lights, moving objects, and shadowy figures that manifest before the camera and disappear quickly which are all highlighted at the end of the show.
TAPS claims to not believe every piece of evidence gathered is proof of the paranormal. To help lend some credibility to their investigations, the team tries to debunk what they find and look for a reasonable explanation for such things as; "cold spots" (that may be identified as drafty windows), "moving objects" (something was accidentally bumped or tugged), "phantom lights" (as reflections of light form a passing vehicle), to "strange noises" that could have a more logical explanation, like a thumping branch or vermin in the walls.
Relationship to Roto-Rooter
The following is an extract from the 'Interview with Grant Wilson' cited in the 'External Links' section at the bottom of the page:
Interviewer: 'With a little ad placement, Roto Rooter gets plenty of advertisement from the show. Does that make it easier for them to give you time off to go on cases?'
GW: 'Yes, that is our way of thanking them for making it all possible.'
Earlier episodes in which Hawes and Wilson couldn't get time off of work for investigations feature an apparently much sleepier duo.
On 'Proof' of the Paranormal
In the recent audio 'interview with the TAPS crew' cited at the bottom of this page, Investigator with TAPS and Full-Time Consultant for the show Ghost Hunters Brian Harnois has this to say:
"There currently is no proof of the paranormal. That's why we're doing this. Everything we have so far can be debunked. We are looking for something where we can say "Debunk this.""
This interview took place after the St. Augustine episode. TAPS official opinon is that they have compelling evidence but nothing that can as of yet prove to a skeptic that something paranormal has occured. A main goal of the group is to continue searching until they have found 'perfect evidence,' evidence which can not be debunked yet none the less displays clear anomalous properties.
Steve Gonsalves states: 'I wouldn't believe in anything psychic without having hard evidence to make me see what was going on. And skeptics are just saying the same thing.'
Harnois later adds: 'Many skeptics won't believe unless they've had a personal experience. Frank, the Ghost Hunters sound guy was a strong skeptic until his experience. I love conversing with skeptics because it broadens my horizons and I think it broadens theirs.'
The Frank he was referring to was Frank DeAngelis, who footage shows being struck in the face by his own eqipment bag, which flies up of its own accord while both of his hands are clearly visble holding a boom microphone. Upon inspection of the injuries first hand and via thermal camera footage of DeAngelis' swollen facial tissues by a military medical officer his injuries were found to be real.
Criticism
Holding some of the highest ratings on the Sci-Fi Channel network, TAPS has certainly found an eager audience for Ghost Hunters, however many seasoned paranormal investigators have taken issue with the show. Some have suggested that the program does not concentrate enough on historical research of locations, favoring instead to showcase the melodrama between various TAPS members (especially in Season One) and that some members of the team seem to lack a basic understanding of how their equipment worked early in the series. This was one of the reasons that the original UK presenter Ian Cashmore did not want to be a part of the US venture after he filmed the US promos. He had very much prided himself with producing shows with a sound historical/investigational background. He wanted to steer clear of the sensational angle taken by other shows in the field, like Most Haunted. On airing, Ian Cashmore rapidly distanced himself from the US version as he believed it was too "over-sensationalised". Ian continues to present for other paranormal tv and radio shows, but only those he says "which have a sound rational investigational standpoint."
Possibly as a response to this criticism, later in the second season of the show, at least one or more TAPS members take a trip to a local library near the investigation site to conduct historical research. There they look up death certificates and newspaper articles on the names of any of the deceased mentioned during the pre-investigation tours, property records to find the names of previous owners, as well as studying the geography of the area to provide more scientific reasons such as geological, geographical, and atmospheric reasons instead of paranormal ones. Others have called into question the more sensational results the team has recorded during their investigations going so far as to question if they have not been hoaxed by members of the film crew, or even TAPS themselves. Still others are at odds over the conduct that some on the TAPS team have displayed on their investigations and are concerned that TAPS may not be the best role model for the next generation of paranormal researchers.
Supporters & Controversy
Addressing these concerns, fans of the show are quick to point out that network pressures to use editing to place prominence on organizational conflict within the group, i.e. the normal pressures associated with running a professional organization, in episodes of this show may constitute grounds for Ian Cashmore to question the format of the reality show about TAPS, but reveals nothing about the state of the scientific validity of the TAPS investigations themselves. The highlighting of internal conflict that is the main source of the 'sensationalizing' accusations has been a network decision and is highly typical of the current state of American Reality TV. It is a matter of record that as Jason and Grant attained 'Producer' roles on the show many of the 'sensational' aspects such as flashing images of frightening faces and spending lengthy scenes discussing recreant memebers dwindled. There are countless examples in virtually every episode of Ghost Hunters of the team throwing out strange evidence on grounds that it is inconclusive, as well as examples of them telling major tourist sites that make money by touting the paranormal aspects of their location that they beleive the places to be not haunted due to lack of evidence.
Addressing concerns of equipment unfamiliarity, many of the junior members seen in the show have little experience and are being 'trained on the job,' however TAPS members as senior as Steve Gonsalves have been seen making the mistake of thinking the IR Thermometer is reading the air and not the laser contact point, pointing to a broader misunderstanding of the device.
The group's policy on debunking evidence as it pertains to EVP's, experiences of apparitions, and other extreme phenomenon is that debunking such clear signs is impossible. Though they are submitting their evidence to the world, partially with hopes to convince skeptics, the group themselves definatly believe in the paranormal. So when, on occasion (Jason says that only 20% of investigations actually yield evidence) they do find something completely out of place like the sound of a woman being raped or attacked being picked up on a recording of a cabin they were all standing outside of or the clear figure of a person climbing lighthouse stairs yet nothing appears at the top save locked doors, their policy is to try to understand what it is.
And as the owners of the lighthouse in question have gone so far as to have their security alarm company investigate why the locked door at the top would be unlocked and opened when left over night and the security alarm company said there was no sign of malfunction, the need for willful deception would now have to be passed as well to either the lighthouse owners or the security alarm company, if not both.
TAPS itself places value on the criticism of the evidence they collect by external, potentially skeptical parties. Grant Wilson said on this topic "We are always willing to hear what people think of our evidence. Many groups get offended when people challenge their evidence. Why would you be offended? They are keeping you from looking like an idiot, and they are educating you for the next time."
Supporters of the show point out that critics are often mislead by the editing employed in the show to believe that steps of the investigation that were not aired were not conducted. Many hours of unreleased footage are available on the Ghost Hunters DVD and on the Sci Fi website, often times featuring aspects of a much more technical and investigation-oriented nature than the segments aired on the television show. The investigations often run to 12 hours, and many times at larger sites they will investigate the next night again, leaving at least 24 hours of investigation footage per camera, meaning that a lot must inevitably get cut out to make it into a 44 minute episode. (The length of the show with the commercials left out.)
Many of the criticisms leveled at the show and the group have a highly assumptive nature, one that posits a serious critique when it merely shows lack of full understanding. The following is taken from the 'Independent Examination of St. Augustine' in the External Links:
"One example was when TAPS cameras caught a questionable figure moving behind a pool table at the Moon River Brewery in Savannah, GA. TAPS co-founder Jason stated, "There was no way for a person to get back there without our camera being able to see them do it". However when several fans visited the site, they were puzzled by the existence of doorway at the back of the room. The doorway is positioned so that anyone could enter through it and still be out of sight of the TAPS camera. This fact was omitted from the show. Had it been presented, it would have cast serious doubt on the "paranormal" findings.
The 'door' in question is a small, closet-like space.
Another from the 'St. Augustine' article displays the 'selective perception' that it accuses TAPS of:
' Do the images above depict one of TAPS or the Pilgrim crew scouting the upper tiers? I think it's quite possible.'
This entire article's skepticism fails to take into account the fact that the figure displayed in the image is clearly seen ascending two stories of spiral staircases within a four second time frame before leaning out over the rail in the picture in question. In addition, the lengthy discussion of framerates affecting the apparent speed of moving objects in the article does not take into account the fact that there has never been any clearly non-paranormal footage taken with the DVR camera that possessed an unnatural speed anywhere near that exhibited by these two anomalous movements in the two seperate St. Augustine video clips.
The subject of the paranormal is a highly divided and controversial issue, and when weighing these issues one must consider the full argument of both sides. The TAPS team repeatedly present the world with fantastical claims and evidence, and a number of facts can be taken into account when deciding to trust them or not. Suggestions that the group falsifies evidence have a very scant factual basis, though some vocal critics strenuously object that there is any possibilty that any 'paranormal' activity has ever been found by the group. The organization has existed for 15 years, charging its clients nothing and paying for expensive equipment and travel expenses out of pocket. (Though they do accept donations and have received equipment donations as well as financial.) The official website makes it plain that they retain their non-profit nature and do not get paid for starring in the show, though the founders of TAPS do make money from liscenscing deals for their own TAPS merchandise, and magazine.
Credited cast
- Jason Hawes - Lead Investigator/TAPS Founder
- Grant Wilson - Lead Investigator/TAPS Co-founder
- Steve Gonsalves - Technical Manager/Evidence Analyst
- Brian Harnois - Investigator/Evidence Analyst
- Dustin Pari - Investigator/Evidence Analyst
- Keith Johnson - Demonologist
- Carl Johnson - Demonologist
- Donna LaCroix - Interviewer/Case Manager
- Heather Drolet - Investigator
- Krystin Allen - Field Researcher
- Lisa Dowaliby - Investigator
- Brian Bell - Investigator/Evidence Analyst
- Renee Laverdiere - Field Researcher
- Dave Tango - Investigator-in-training
- Craig Piligian - Executive Producer
- Tom Thayer - Executive Producer
List of Ghost Hunters episodes
Season One
| # | Original Airdate | Location |
| 101 | October 6 2004 | Altoona, PA - haunting in private home |
| 102 | October 13 2004 | Altoona, PA - Mishler Theatre and Railroad Museum |
| 103 | October 20 2004 | Connecticut, Lighthouse Inn - Massachusetts, John Stone Tavern |
| 104 | October 27 2004 | New London, CT - Race Rock Lighthouse |
| 105 | November 3 2004 | Philadelphia, PA - Eastern State Penitentiary |
| 106 | November 10 2004 | Upstate New York - converted church/private home |
| 107 | November 17 2004 | New Bedford, MA - haunted armory |
| 108 | December 1 2004 | Philadelphia, PA - Fortuna Apartment & Topton House Pub |
| 109 | December 8 2004 | Sandisfield, MA - New Boston Inn |
| 110 | December 15 2004 | Albany, NY - private home |
Season Two
| # | Original Airdate | Location |
| 201 | July 27 2005 | St. Francisville, LA - Myrtles Plantation |
| 202 | August 3 2005 | Cranston, RI - haunting in private home |
| 203 | September 28 2005 | Eastern State Penitentiary revisited, and Philadelphia private home |
| 204 | August 10 2005 | New Orleans, LA - jealous ghost in private home |
| 205 | August 17 2005 | Wilmington, NC USS North Carolina Museum |
| 206 | August 24 2005 | Putnam, CT - theatre and firehouse |
| 207 | August 31 2005 | Connecticut Lighthouse and New York City Merchants House Museum |
| 208 | September 7 2005 | Springfield, MA - haunting in private home |
| 209 | September 14 2005 | Rhode Island mansion and private home in New Jersey |
| 210 | September 21 2005 | Bethany, NY - haunted asylum |
| 211 | October 5 2005 | San José, CA, Winchester House and Long Beach, CA, RMS Queen Mary |
| 212 | October 12 2005 | Fall River, MA, Lizzie Borden's Home and Mansfield. OH, Mansfield Reformatory |
| 213 | October 19 2005 | Eureka Springs, AR - Crescent Hotel investigation |
| 214 | March 29 2006 | Louisville, KY - Waverly Hills Sanatorium |
| 215 | April 5 2006 | Holliston, MA - haunting in private home, and haunted theatre investigation |
| 216 | April 12 2006 | Canandaigua, NY - TAPS investigates two cases in Jason's home town |
| 217 | April 19 2006 | Evansville, IN - Willard Library and private home investigation |
| 218 | April 26 2006 | New Jersey private home, and Connecticut music school |
| 219 | May 3 2006 | St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Light investigation |
| 220 | May 10 2006 | New Jersey restaurant, and St. Augustine, FL - old jail |
| 221 | May 17 2006 | Guthrie, OK - Stone Lion Inn, and Massachusetts - private home |
| 222 | May 24 2006 | The Best of... (recap of the 20 best Season One and Two investigations) |
| 223 | May 31 2006 | Estes Park, CO - TAPS investigates The Stanley Hotel which inspired Stephen King's novel "The Shining" |
Season Three
Ghost Hunters has been renewed for a 3rd season which will consist of 13 episodes starting in October 2006. According to the TAPS official website, it will be the first season in which the TAPS team will be investigating abroad in addition to domestic locations.
Specials
2005 Halloween Special - TAPS goes to Savannah, GA to investigate a brewery, and a historic museum.
Notes
- The Stanley Hotel episode is notable for reaching #2 in ratings for its time slot that night. Ratings Note
See also
External links
- The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) Official Website
- Ghost Hunters official website at SciFi.com
- Ghost Hunters Episode Guide at TVRage.com
- Interview with the TAPS crew at The Horror Channel
- Interview with Grant Wilson of Ghost Hunters
- Independent examination of St. Augustine Lighthouse activity
- Independent examination of Crescent Hotel ghost image