Skepticism

Scrutinizing the Relationship between Subjective Anomalous Experiences and Psychotic Symptoms

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Another great paper that is quite interesting. Abstract: This research was exploratory, and its main objective was to analyze whether anomalous experiences related to parapsychology had statistical behavior similar to psychoticlike experiences (e.g., hallucinations). If psi phenomena have a different ontology from psychotic-like experiences, then they should have a different statistical representation and measurement. In this … Read moreScrutinizing the Relationship between Subjective Anomalous Experiences and Psychotic Symptoms

Seeking the supernatural: the Interactive Religious Experience Model

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Although this paper applies to religious experiences, it can also be applied in a context to paranormal experiences. There is some very interesting stuff in here. The following is from the Abstract of the paper. We develop a new model of how human agency-detection capacities and other socio-cognitive biases are involved in forming religious beliefs. … Read moreSeeking the supernatural: the Interactive Religious Experience Model

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

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The Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association (SGHA) was created by five people. Two were very skeptical; two were hardcore believers and somewhere in between was me. The idea of this group was to utilize these different viewpoints, skeptic and believer, to investigate haunted places from a perspective that could lead to an unbiased conclusion. The believers … Read moreHow do you investigate a haunting? (Slides from Presentation)

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

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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 that he was there, the 1920 census show him to be in Albuquerque, way after the date of his supposed demise in Cimarron. The first three articles are … Read moreWhy T.J. Wright (the ghost of room 18) cannot be haunting the St. James hotel.

The 10 Biggest mistakes made by ghost hunters

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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 Association website. Unfortunately, it is needed just as much today, if not even more. So here is the list of “no-no’s” if you are wanting to approach this  … Read moreThe 10 Biggest mistakes made by ghost hunters

Debunking the “jumping” ghost at the La Fonda Hotel

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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 and staff alike have reported the sight of a ghostly figure that walks to the center of the room and then seemingly jumps into the floor and disappears. … Read moreDebunking the “jumping” ghost at the La Fonda Hotel

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

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The murder of Judge Slough is recorded in several newspaper stories. However, this event occurred in 1867 in the Exchange Hotel. The approximate area where the killing took place in the current building is where the lobby newsstand is now.  Many of the ghost stories have incorrectly identified the location of his murder and by proxy, … Read moreLa Fonda Hotel, Santa Fe, NM (My opinion on the hauntings)

The Paranormal Claims at Los Luceros (with skeptical commentary)

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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 America”. After it aired, the show was eventually put on DVD and was released in 2007. The main house is in really bad shape and it shows in the … Read moreThe Paranormal Claims at Los Luceros (with skeptical commentary)

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

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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 really focused on if the criteria for a haunting were met. The ghost hunters believe it is. I do not. Over the years I have noticed something that may be affecting … Read moreNew Mexico State Penitentiary, Santa Fe, NM (My Opinion)

The “haunting” at the Wool Warehouse Theater

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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 is known to happily watch the productions from the side of the stage. However, the stairs behind the stage that leads to the basement are thought to hold a more … Read moreThe “haunting” at the Wool Warehouse Theater

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

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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 membership is simply a pain in the ass. People now join the group with certain expectations and closed minded belief systems. Sometimes it feels like I am constantly trying … Read moreFrustrations with the Southwest Ghost Hunter’s Association on skepticism (yet again)

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

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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 another sound that resembles a voice? One simple way to see how SNR affects audio is to play around with it in the software you are using for analysis and … Read moreTest Your Might, Analysis of voices v.s. Signal to noise ratio

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

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Hobbies are practiced for interest and enjoyment, rather than financial reward. Engaging in a hobby can lead to acquiring substantial skill, knowledge, and experience. However, personal fulfillment is the aim. Almost no one can make a living at stamp collecting, but many people find it enjoyable; so it is commonly regarded as a hobby. While … Read moreThe truth about ghost hunting. Sorting the posers from the investigators!

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

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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 away in Room 3, but she still turns down the beds and lights the candles for the guests. Her ghost has been seen in the room, wearing a … Read moreThe Haunted Palace Hotel, Cripple Creek, CO. (Investigation of paranormal claims)