Skepticism

A Skeptical Ghost Hunter?

   Why do I love ghost stories? Because like horror movies they provide a temporary sort of terror, yet you know that you are safe. People go to horror films because they want to be frightened or they wouldn't do it twice. You choose your entertainment because you want it to affect you.  I can watch a horror film like "Nightmare on Elm Street" and enjoy the movie; even though I know that Freddy Kruger isn't real. The same is true with ghost stories. I really do appreciate them, especially if there is some historical element that is attached to the story. However, like horror movies, if the conversation changes to a discussion about if the stories are actually true, that is another matter. 

   One of the characteristics that distinguish paranormal narratives is that they emphasize mystery and the indeterminate, which  invites interpretation of various kinds. From my perspective, the answer to the question "Do you believe" belongs to the people that are telling or listening to a story of a paranormal experience. They decide to want to believe or even if they're going to engage with it concerning any type of belief at all. What I do is take the paranormal narratives seriously. I pay attention to them and treat them analytically. It is that love of ghost stories that gives me additional insight. I become fascinated by the elements of the stories themselves. How were they created? Why do some last while others are forgotten? How do they morph over time as they pass from one storyteller to another? However, in the end, I am still skeptical. The fun is in discovery and solving the mystery.

Modern paranormal investigation, ghost hunting and Spiritualism

Although ghost stories have existed throughout time and across many cultures, the beginning of the serious study of ghosts started in 1840 with the …

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Human brain activity with plexus lines.. External cerebral conne

Scrutinizing the Relationship between Subjective Anomalous Experiences and Psychotic Symptoms

Another great paper that is quite interesting. Abstract: This research was exploratory, and its main objective was to analyze whether anomalous …

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Seeking the supernatural: the Interactive Religious Experience Model

Although this paper applies to religious experiences, it can also be applied in a context to paranormal experiences. There is some very interesting …

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Myths of the Birdcage Theater

The original painting of Fatima who was an Oriental Belly Dancer, she played the Bird Cage in 1881. According to the theater, this was a gift from …

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Investigating Paranormal Claims using Urban myth models

Logic proves that ghosts are exceedingly unlikely to be the cause of a phenomenon. The thousands of supposed ghost cases have turned out to have …

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How do you investigate a haunting? (Slides from Presentation)

The Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association (SGHA) was created by five people. Two were very skeptical; two were hardcore believers and somewhere in …

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Why T.J. Wright (the ghost of room 18) cannot be haunting the St. James hotel.

First of all, and most importantly, T.J. Wright did not die at the St. James Hotel as the legends have suggested. While the 1880 census does show …

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The 10 Biggest mistakes made by ghost hunters

I will admit that this is actually a rather old piece. I wrote the original back in 2005 where it was posted on the Southwest Ghost Hunter's …

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Debunking the "jumping" ghost at the La Fonda Hotel

A ghost that is claimed to have been seen in the hotel is that of a man wearing 1800's clothing running across the Plazuela Restaurant. Both guests …

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La Fonda Hotel, Santa Fe, NM (My opinion on the hauntings)

The murder of Judge Slough is recorded in several newspaper stories. However, this event occurred in 1867 in the Exchange Hotel. The approximate …

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The Paranormal Claims at Los Luceros (with skeptical commentary)

The ghost stories about Los Luceros appeared on a television show that was aired on the Learning Channel in 1998. The show was called "Hauntings in …

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The ghosts of Old Tucson Studios

In this video, we give our opinions of the ghost of Old Tucson studios after a site visit with Donovan's Ghost Patrol.

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New Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (My Opinion)

So here we have a great example of when the conclusions of the Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association and myself differ. The central argument is …

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How can you be a ghost hunter if you do not believe?

Here is the answer to the question "How can you be a ghost hunter if you do not believe?"  

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The "haunting" at the Wool Warehouse Theater

During performances a man in a cream-colored double-breasted suit has been known to have appeared on the stage. The spirit seems to be pleasant and …

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The haunting at Los Luceros (investigation)

There are numerous reports of paranormal activity associated with this 400 year old building. There are numerous reports of ghosts haunting the …

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Biggest Ghost Hunter FAIL! Repeating the mistakes of the past, Part 2

We are back with part two discussing this very important issue!

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Biggest Ghost Hunter FAIL! Repeating the mistakes of the past

The biggest mistake ghost hunters make is repeating the same mistakes made by those who came before them. If you cannot learn from your mistakes, …

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Ghost Hunting myths

In this video I talk about many of the myths that are associated with ghost hunting.

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Frustrations with the Southwest Ghost Hunter's Association on skepticism (yet again)

Technically, I could name this blog "How the ghost hunters on TV messed up the hobby" because since they first aired in 2004, maintaining a decent …

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Why your EVP “Evidence” is bogus and not the voice of a ghost (responses)

I recently wrote an article in my blog called "Why your EVP “Evidence” is bogus and not the voice of a ghost". Due to the amount of comments and …

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Test Your Might, Analysis of voices v.s. Signal to noise ratio

Signal to noise ratio is a major consideration when analyzing audio. Are you really hearing a voice or is it actually the lower frequencies of …

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The truth about ghost hunting. Sorting the posers from the investigators!

Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, …

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The Haunted Palace Hotel, Cripple Creek, CO. (Investigation of paranormal claims)

This Old West hotel and casino has been featured on the History Channel. It is said that Miss Kitty, the wife of hotel owner Dr. Chambers, passed …

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Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM (Ghost Photo Explained)

With the majority of the witness's claims addressed, the final thing was to analyze the ghost photographs that are kept at the hotel. Deanna, a …

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Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM (Ghost Stories with skeptical commentary)

The Clovis News Journal publishes the first written account of the Plaza Hotel having a ghost on March 9th, 1983.    " A ghost who haunts the …

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Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NM (Analysis of the ghost story and paranormal claims)

One of the most important considerations that have to be determined is the longevity of the haunting. However, the actual history conflicts with …

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How to analyze ghost videos using critical thinking in 5 easy steps

The ever-present video camera is creating a new form of “paranormal” news. Anytime anything even slightly strange occurs on a video surveillance …

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The Enemy Within: How ghost hunters fail due to their own psyche

Investigating ghostly phenomena is actually a daunting challenge. The rational investigator must weed through bias, myth building, and historical …

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Why it is easy to FAIL with Full Spectrum cameras.

As Inigo Montoya (of The Princess Bride, for you non-movie-geeks) might say, "Full Spectrum? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what …

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Battery Drainage Phenomena.....BULLSHIT!!!!

The concept of Battery Drain phenomena comes from  a belief that is based solely in anecdotal statements by investigators in  the paranormal …

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The Lodge

The Lodge at Cloudcroft, my opinions

The legend of Rebecca is built upon a foundation that is no more solid than the apparition that supposedly haunts the hotel. The biggest problem is …

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Kelly Ghost Town, Analysis of Paranormal Claims

I, along with SGHA, conducted several investigation in the ghost town of Kelly. The major excursions were in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2011. 2001/2003. …

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Wool Warehouse, Albuquerque, NM (Skeptical conclusion of the haunting)

The first paranormal claim we decided to address was the apparition of a man in a cream-colored double-breasted suit. We had a hypothesis that this …

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Changes to Rebecca's ghost story. (The Lodge at Cloudcroft)

Sometimes realistic events can also shape and change legends. A good example of this is the story of Rebecca. As one researches the various ghost …

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Event replications, alternative explanations: St. James Hotel

A large part of the investigation process is to determine if the witnesses actually encountered something unusual but has a rational explanation. To…

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the Lodge at Cloudcroft

The Lodge at Cloudcroft, looking for answers

In the beginning, the ghost stories of Rebecca were not told outside of the Lodge because previous owners believed that having a ghost would be bad …

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Scientific Method, Belief Systems and World View

The scientific method is the best way yet discovered for separating the truth from lies and delusion. The simple version looks something like this: …

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KiMO Stage

Another clue about the "haunting" of the KiMo Theater

In 2006, the Travel Channel aired episode 20 of "Weird Travels." The show has the employees of the KiMo Theater and  Albuquerque's Mayor, Martin …

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KiMO Theater

New insights to the KiMO Theater

Today the ghost of Bobby Darnall is said to haunt the KiMo theater. It is believed that Bobby is prone to playing tricks and pranks on the crew if …

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Our Lady Of Guadalupe Chapel, Old Town Albuquerque (My Opinions of the Hauntings)

The few other reported “sightings” are typical of psychosomatic response episodes that are common in poorly lit areas. Additionally, all of evidence…

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404 Charlevoix, Old Town Albuquerque (Alternative Explanations)

On occasion the sounds of the voices are preceded by the uneasy feeling that you are being watched. Sudden "breezes" of cold air have also been …

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The truth about ghost hunting. Sorting the hobbyists from the amateur researchers

Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, …

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Casa de Fiesta Restaurant, Old Town Albuquerque (Paranormal Claims and Investigation)

Employees of the restaurant believe that they may have a ghost. Their typical otherworldly encounters fall include; Disembodied voices are often …

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Dawson Cemetery (My opinions of the hauntings)

I was not able to locate any witnesses to the reported phenomenon. The sources of the information we used to conduct our investigation was a 3rd …

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