While on the topic of reality shows, what do you think of the Ghost Hunters?

[kattycat]

Another thread about these scripted "reality" shows got me to thinking about this show. For one, the show makes fraudulent claims, in that it presents the material in a manner that makes viewers think that it's "happening real time", that cameras are just following "normal" folks around capturing their real day to day interactions. I'm sure somewhere in the legal wording of the show the producers have slipped in the fine print that the show is fictitious, but many viewers think that it is a documentary. Then I think that the show gives people false claims about the "afterlife", the people on the show run around with high tech gadgets that they supposedly know how to use and they capture evidence of "spirits" etc. I also think that the "knocks" and "bumps in the night" are all staged by the production crew. The knocks are reminiscent of the "spirit taps" that early 20th century mediums used to perform as part of their scam.

How can this show be seen as anything other than a scam? Again, I'm sure if they were taken to court, they would have a hundred lawyers telling people that it is fictitious and that they have said so much. I'm sure if you read the production notes and credits there is probably some twisted legalese that says the show is faked but in a way that says that it's real too. How can they have a "reality" show that says there are spirits of dead people running around all over the place? The show reminds me of how Penn & Teller on their show debunked "spirit talkers" like John Edwards. Aren't the Ghost Hunters people pretty much the same as scam mediums who talk to the dead? Why haven't they been sued for perpetrating a fraud? Have we gotten so lax in society that anybody can just say flat out lies, make money off the lies and coast through with no consequence? The show is a scam and gives people false hope in an afterlife.

[eShirl]

1. Who are they scamming money out of, and how?

[msanthrope]

32. The undead, dammit!!! nt

[justiceischeap]

2. Wow, you really hate Ghost Hunters huh?

It's called entertainment. People find it entertaining. The biggest problem with reality shows is that they are called "reality" shows. They aren't, anyone with a brain knows that.

As far as Ghost Hunters goes, people are going to believe in the afterlife. It isn't a scam because TAPS doesn't take money from its investigations. They make money from their show but they don't take money from the people that are filmed or the places they otherwise visit. Ghost Hunters actually provides a service to small businesses as well. If they visit an Inn or some other place of business, and deem it haunted, people who like the paranormal will then go and visit those places, thus keeping the economy moving and people employed.

I think out of all the "paranormal" reality shows, Ghost Hunters is the best. I like the show (though I miss Grant). What I like is that they don't always find something like most of the other shows. You want to rail on a paranormal show, rail on that guy who gets people to hand over their collectibles. Now, that's a scam.

[kattycat]

4. Producers make money from advertsing revenue

Just because the audience isn't handing their dough directly over to scam artists doesn't mean it isn't a scam. It's just a scam with several protective layers insulating the various participants.

[alphafemale]

5. Worthless, skittish monkeys with night vision gogglez

Are still worthless, skittish monkeys.

Breezed by that a few times.

Clutchy clutchy crouch crawl.

Normal house sound.

SSCCREAMMMM. breathe SHHHHREEEIKKKK!!!!!!!

I don't think the spirits want us here!!!!

Ohfergawdsakes.

[kattycat]

6. "What was that???"

"Did you hear that???"

[rustydog]

70. "Did you smell that?!!!" Look, over there !

Captain, the tricorder is going off the charts!

[justiceischeap]

7. Have you ever had a paranormal experience? Cause I have.

I've had several. One time my ex and I were in the kitchen of house the previous owner died in. We had a silverware caddy sitting on the kitchen counter. Neither of us were near it, there were no breezes or windows open and it looked like someone took their finger across the bottom of the silverware and moved from right to left, making the silverware swing. There was no logical explanation for that happening.

The day after I got back from my sisters funeral my roommates and I were talking about her and I was saying I hope she didn't decide to haunt me. There was a knocking noise immediately after that. Not a normal house sound in our house. I've lived in this house for years, I know the normal house sounds. Could something have fallen and made the knocking noise just when we were talking about my dead sister haunting me? Sure, it's entirely plausible but it could have been her spirit communicating with me too. Does believing that it could have been my sister make me a worthless, skittish monkey? I'd say no more than believing in god makes others worthless, skittish monkeys.

[kattycat]

8. and those episodes have convinced you that there is an afterlife?

If that's the case then what's the point in living out this life? Pack it in and just wait out your remaining days in this realm. If there is an afterlife what's the point in doing anything in this life?

[justiceischeap]

12. Those "episodes" as you refer to them

make me see that not everything is black and white. That there just may be things we can't explain or understand and that there may very well be spiritual energy hanging about.

As I stated prior it's no more ridiculous to believe in spiritual energy than it is to believe in a god.

[snooper2]

49. "it's no more ridiculous to believe in spiritual energy than it is to believe in a god"

You are correct LOL, they are equal---

Question-
if a spirit can move a spoon, by the laws of physics it must be due to energy-
Can a spirit convert matter to energy?

[rustydog]

69. Unexplained phenomenon does not automatically prove the existence of ghosts

It proves an UNEXPLAINED phenomenon exists.

[edhopper]

10. "There was no logical explanation for that happening. "

Of course there were.
You just chose and explanation without evidence that you preferred.

Several logical fallacies in your statement.

[alphafemale]

11. There was no logical explanation.....

Which leaves ghost/demons/spirits/hitchhiking dead alien brides as the only remaining "logical" explanation.

lmao

Not that fucking with people who believe in ghosts isn't fun.

Been doing it since I was about 8.

"What was THAT!! Did you hear THAT?"

"I think the temperature just dropped ten degrees."

[arely staircase]

58. perfect

only, you forget the magnetic field thingies that pick up ghosts near breaker boxes and exposed wiring.

[forestpath]

23. This is pretty much how I feel.

[Apophis]

61. They make money from SyFy.

In turn they get business because their business is on tv. They're also making money from merchandise.

The show is fake. There is nothing real about it.

[Peter cotton]

3. I think the words "ghost" and "reality" don't, as a rule, belong in the same sentence.

[Frank Cannon]

9. There's a reason it's called Ghost Hunters and not Ghost Finders.

That being said, ALL "reality" shows are bullshit. I really hope it's a trend that eventually goes the way of the Western, which was about all there was on TV for years.

[Buns_of_Fire]

14. I'm thinking the time is ripe for a good Zombie sitcom.

(Or maybe a little over-ripe, as the case may be.)

[msanthrope]

33. That's a rotten pun. nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

63. Okay, that one stunk a little, but you gotta work fast around zombies!

Also, they won't follow a script worth a damn.

[msanthrope]

67. You have to give zombies an extra hand, but they respond well to direction. nt

[csziggy]

31. I like Rocket City Rednecks, Mythbusters, Doing DaVinci

And other "reality shows" that actually deal with reality. The first two explain scientific principles and show application of those principles. "Doing DaVinci" has been cancelled but the show was fantastic - they built DaVinic inventions from his plans; some of the inventions may have never been constructed before.

Some of the reality shows that deal with wildlife are good, such as "Wild America" but others, such as "Gator Boys" get tedious with their weekly interpersonal problems.

In a tepid defense of ghost shows, the British ghost hunting show, "Most Haunted", was once recognized by an archeological publication because they showed floor plans and "tours" of historic locations for which those were seldom publicly available. Few other programs tour old houses and buildings or show a clear floor plan to them. The article recommended watching the show for that reason, not for the ghost hunting. I had saved the article but it's been years and I no longer have it on my hard drive so I don't remember which publication it was in.

ETA - I left out "Antiques Roadshow" as a reality show. Both the American version on PBS or the British version (which has been running on Ovation Channel) are great for learning about the history of antique/old objects.

[customerserviceguy]

57. Yeah, those are my kind of reality shows

Not cutthroat competition singing or dancing, but programs that actually teach something.

And this "ghost" stuff is pure bullshit. But, the people will buy it, look how many times a majority of them voted Repuke.

[csziggy]

59. I have to admit, I do watch some of the woo woo shows

But I have studied popular folklore since discovering Charles Forte when I was a kid. It's been interesting watching the changes in alien tales, ghost stories, and yeti/sasquatch lore over my lifetime. There have been distinct changes in the mythology even in the last fifty years. Folklore was one of the courses I enjoyed when getting my anthropology degree.

And sometimes it's just fun to laugh at the idiots - my version of the freakshows.

But I prefer watching the sound science oriented shows any day.

[eShirl]

13. I know a guy who owns a house that was featured on another network's ghost reality show.

I don't believe in ghosts, and I don't know for certain whether he does or not. But many people believe they've seen ghosts at this big old house he owns. He allows people who are so inclined to spend the night at the house, so long as they make a required monetary donation to the town's food bank. People come from near and far to stay there, too, whether to satisfy their own curiosity or to film/record/whatever. Fascinating guy really; he does renovations for a living (how I met him).

[Marrah_G]

15. LOL

It's entertainment. Whether you believe or don't believe, either way, it's entertainment.

On the list of things in the world to be pissed off about, Ghosthunters are WAY at the bottom of my list.

[kattycat]

16. I guess Pat Robertson is just entertainment too?

[Marrah_G]

43. You have quite passed into the realm of absurdity on this

But just remember that these shows are entertainment to you also. You are getting a rush out of your hatred for them and that is a form of entertaining yourself.

There are plenty of shows out there I don't much care for. The 700 club would be one of those. So, I just don't watch them.

[kattycat]

45. I do not agree

The Ghost Hunters are working on the same level as the religious hucksters trying to sell people hope of eternal life. I do agree that they are entertainment but isn't that a part of the con? Otherwise nobody would be interested if they didn't put on a good show. I think the alien/UFO shows operate under the same principle. Aliens and UFOs being a proxy for angels in the manner that "our planet is screwed and these light beings, aliens, UFOs are going to descend from the heavens and save us. It's a new religion. Anybody who uses false hope to turn a buck is a huckster and the Ghost Hunters fit the description just the same as Pat Robertson.

[The Straight Story]

17. I did ghost hunting myself well before this show hit the airwaves

Well, cable, we don't use the airwaves much anymore God I'm old.

Their experiences mirror that of many others in the ghost hunting community. EVP's are not that hard to find (though it can take many hours of recordings, or in one case with me only 15 minutes).

I don't like the show myself for many reasons and I don't think they take a very scientific approach in their analysis and 'hunting'. There are certainly much better methods out there but then this is made for TV.

[Brainstormy]

18. No more a "flat out lie"

IMO, than walking on water, virgin births, resurrection from the dead . . . I could go on. And oh, lots of folks are eager to be "scammed" by these supernatural occurences. What makes my blood boil is all the alien invasion crap on the History channel, for Pete's sake.

[sibelian]

19. "Ghost Botherers"...

Bwah hah!

It's Scooby Doo FUR REALZ!

"Hey mister, can I have my brain back, please?"

I am unimpressed.

[MineralMan]

20. I much prefer "Ghost Busters"

Who you gonna call?

The movie was way more "realistic" than this unreality show.

[Logical]

21. ESP, Ghosts, Aliens, Dowsing, Feng-shui, etc. All 100% bullshit. n-t

[forestpath]

22. I've watched every show since it started. I think stuff on the show is faked and staged -

but not all of it. When there are so many other egregious scams and injustices in the world, Ghost Hunters barely moves my bullshit meter. And they certainly aren't in the same league as, say, Sylvia Browne.

And I consider Penn & Teller, being libertarian free marketers, a much bigger scam than anything Ghost Hunters has ever done.

[kattycat]

24. That's true

I saw the first season recently and it was alright and then I saw one they did that dealt with second hand smoke. It literally could have been written by a tobacco industry lobbyist and probably was. The real over the top part was when they had experts from the Cato Institute weigh in.

[forestpath]

26. The sister of a friend of mine was on their Bullshit show several years ago. She was in a really bad

situation and I think they exploited her when they put her on their show - far worse than anything Ghost Hunters could ever be capable of.

[rustydog]

71. Is this the : "I have a friend who knows a friend whose friend kissed a ghost...NO Really!" premise?

[forestpath]

73. Are you calling me a liar?

[rustydog]

75. Since I do not know you or the situation you explained, I could not call you a liar!

But the best way to try to throw "truthiness" into a discussion is the time-tested:
"I know someone who's sister's cousin's best friend's mother...."

I was trying to bring levity...It is glaringly apparent I FAILED miserably! Sorry.

[edhopper]

25. How are Penn & Teller

a scam? You might not agree with Penn's politics, but they put on a good magic show. That's like saying Jimmy Stewart's movies are a scam, or Ezra Pounds poetry, or Wagner's music.
Ghost Hunters isn't a scam, it's just fictional TV.

[forestpath]

27. They advocate for libertarianism, therefore they are SCAM ARTISTS.

I said nothing about their magic shows so don't put words in my mouth.

[edhopper]

29. But we are talking about the shows

like Ghost Hunters. Not the people who star in the shows.
Seems like apples and oranges to me.
Again, it's like saying a Clint Eastwood movie is a scam because he spoke at the RNC.

Unless you are talking about their "Bullshit" show, and not their magic act, then I can't comment, I never saw it.

[forestpath]

38. I've said why I think they are scam artists.

Nothing was even said in the OP about their magic shows. But if you want to go on defending these creeps, be my guest. I don't agree with your premise, and I'm out.

[edhopper]

39. Okay,

we were talking across each other.
be good.

[kattycat]

28. Penn Teller is a scam when they shill for

the tobacco industry like they did in one episode.

[edhopper]

30. Link?

Not arguing, just interested in seeing that.

[kattycat]

34. Cato Institute fellows

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Penn_and_Teller

[edhopper]

37. Yeah, assholes

but I still like their magic act.

[hatrack]

35. "Reality Television" - do I really need to add anything?

[warrior1]

36. I use to afraid of bumps in the night

and after watching many of these "Ghost Hunter" shows I'm now convinced that it's just the house settling or some other natural thing.

It help me get over my fear.

[jsr]

40. It is a scam

It's live people that are dangerous

[OldDem2012]

41. Absolutely nothing redeemable about this topic. Trashing immediately. nt.

[Fawke Em]

42. I never realized there were so many uninspiring, boring,

close-minded fuddy-duddies on DU.

But, most are here in this thread.

It's a show, it's entertaining, some people believe in ghosts, some people like being scared, some people like hunting for the unknown and it's up to NO ONE on this thread to nanny anyone else about their likes.

[Logical]

48. People can do what they want. But we can still tell them the show is a joke. n-t

[rustydog]

76. How dare You! I may be a duddy but I am NOT a fuddy-duddy!

[Newest Reality]

44. I am a ghost

and I don't feel it is fair that we are being hunted for profit. I mean, rest in peace, and all that.

There should be a PETA for ghosts in this grave situation! PETG?

Well, back to my usual shrieks, moans and walking through walls. You living are more annoying to us than we are to you.

Oh, and ... BOO!

[ljm2002]

47. PETG, gotta love it! n/t

[doc03]

46. Never saw that show but after watching the Squatch hunters I am thinking those clowns are

laughing all the way to the bank. The closest thing to a squatch is BOBO.

[Marrah_G]

65. The squatch hunters are hysterical

I would totally hang out with Bobo.


Amish Mafia.... also great for entertainment especially when drinking!

[magellan]

50. Oh FFS

As an atheist, I reject your claim that GH gives people "false hope in an afterlife". (Maybe you'd like to tell us which religious text informs us that our personalities will linger after death to haunt others?) It merely explores experiences that human beings have been having since time immemorial. Without GH and shows like it, people would still be having paranormal experiences and want answers. I'd rather see groups like GH educate audiences on the need for gathering empirical evidence than leave it to priests and the like to simply come in and declare people "possessed".

When was the last time you saw a religious huckster try to debunk their own religion?

Was Star Trek a con because it gave several generations of people hope for the future and limitless fun ways to spend their money in the meantime?

[TheBlackAdder]

51. New Show: HOSPICE CARE WORKERS or IMPOSSIBLE AT-HOME PATIENTS

People will wonder why those home health aids are barely paid minimum wage!

While the agencies employing them walk away with millions.

[HockeyMom]

52. I have gone to some of these places on my own

Nobody paid me. No cameras followed me. Yet, I have had MORE experiences than GH has. A TV turning on by itself to static. Showers turning on by themselves. Glasses of water overturning in the middle of the night by themselves. Pictures of monks and little boys caught on digital camers where my own two eyes saw nothing. Hearing music in the middle of the night in my own home when there was none, and my cats running from that same bedroom. Same cats refusing to go into my basement and jumping out of our arms when being carried downstairs. Having my glasses thrown off my face and being broken on the floor. Smelling cooking smells where cooking hasn't been done in almost 100 years. I could go on and on.

While they may hype much of this, I will believe what I myself have experienced.

[onpatrol98]

55. Creepy, HockeyMom...

That is really creepy.

[Marrah_G]

66. What's the best place you've been?

[rustydog]

74. Excellent response! I have an aunt and uncle who claimed for years

their home was haunted by a poltergeist. I never saw any evidence, but then I was at their home 1-100th of the time they were! It is possible.

I can't say they did or did not have any experiences. And there was one time when I was very low, very depressed and I swear my dead mother's hand touched the top of my head and she told me "I love you." Was it her ghost? I really don't know, but I still think Ghost Hunters is just a money-making venture for believers.

It cheapens things when you talk into the air, head lifted, raising your voice: "Are you here now?" "Give us a Sign!"..."Did you hear that? Did you smell that!!!!?"
"Something touched my ear!!!!"

I still want to know why they are using instruments that these people have no way of knowing they register the presence of dead persons! maybe it is registering flea farts and not ghosts? Maybe, just maybe?

[woodsprite]

83. I've had a few experiences. I think the most interesting one was

My daughter and I had just gone into the den with our dog and she started barking and staring at the corner of the loft. She was insistent and had her hackles up. No matter what we said to her, we couldn't distract her or get her to stop with commands. I took her out of the room, calmed her down and went back in the den and darned if she didn't start it all over again. I finally told my daughter "you're gonna think this is crazy, but here goes." I said out loud "mom, dad, whoever is there. Please stop. You're scaring the dog." Within a minute or two, Noelle stopped all barking, hackles went down and she laid down in front of the fireplace chewing her bully stick like nothing had happened.

I'm glad my daughter was there with me so she witnessed it. I know if I told her what happened, she never would have believed me.

We're all electrical energy. I figure that when we die, our energy just transforms into what we call "spirits". I've always believed that, ever since i was a oung child, and actually put that in my faith statement that I had to do when joining my Presby church. Don't know what they thought of that, but they let me join, so I guess it was ok with Session.

[liberal_at_heart]

53. My mother in law loves that show.

I don't watch it. I don't believe in ghosts and I think the show is manufactured, but I don't begrudge my mother in law the chance to watch it. She can believe in ghosts if she wants. It doesn't bother me.

[arely staircase]

54. i like it when they go into basements

and observe electromagetic changes - while standing next to a gigantic breaker box and exposed wiring. when they jump because they 'felt something cold' is awesome too. and when they play those recordings of "ghosts" it almost starts to sound like what they repeatedly suggest and the writing on the screen says after about the tenth play - sort of like all that backwards stuff on my beatles and led zep albums.

[Buns_of_Fire]

64. "Ghost Adventures" is good at that, too.

You hear "brrzt argle fumph", and the screen shows "...stuff a gherkin in your ear..."

[sakabatou]

78. Yes. It's like when you see the subtitle, then you hear it.

[EvilAL]

56. Fraudsters.

Sure it's not illegal to do what they do, but saying they can "deem a house haunted" is as fucking ridiculous as it gets. None of those shows have ever found verifiable evidence of ghosts or anything paranormal in all the episodes. Some have been caught faking the shit too.
What bugs me the most is I know a few people around here that totally believe that shit and went out and bought EMF metres and other "ghost hunting" stuff and think they are fucking scientists.

[Owl]

60. My brother believes in that stuff too. Me? I think it's all silly nonsense.

[Apophis]

62. Agree with everything you said.

[rustydog]

68. SUCKS! I love the "Did you see that!" lines used as the camera is pointed elsewhere

then the camera rapidly aims in the direction the person is pointing (Just missed it! "it brushed against my shoulder!&quot
the use of nightvision photography as if a ghost can be captured on video.
I still want to know how the inventors of the ghost finding equipment knows how and WHAT to build? How do we know the readings on the equipment isn't the device "reading" a flea's fart?

Ghosts, if they exist, must be present 24/7. Why do we have to visit them at night? Why do we have to speak loudly into the air when addressing specters? Do ghosts lose their hearing ability when they become apparitions? Why do the lights have to be off except for effect?

[liberal_at_heart]

72. does every thread on the board have to be about how what someone else believes is wrong?

This place really sucks right now.

[rustydog]

77. It looks like this post on the possible sensationalism of a TV show

purporting to be about finding Ghosts has turned into a debate about after-life.
we are free to believe what we want to about the existence or non-existence of ghostly apparitions.
I happen to think the show is a joke, but that is my opinion and I am stuck with it. That does NOT meanI do not believe in ghosts, I just don't believe that hokey show.

The show does have a disclaimer. it is for entertainment purposes, it is not on the History or Learning Channel like Honey Boo Boo, a true learning experience.

Come on people, Pawn Stars, Hardcore Pawn, Lizard lick, Honey fucking booboo, how many mining shows. every one of these shows basically show that greed and violence in varying degrees is the answer to problems.
How about this disclaimer: Not Reality, Actuality.

[sakabatou]

79. I don't see it as a documentary. It's entertainment, pure and simple.

[union_maid]

81. What I fin!d most entertaining

is when they kind of yell at the ghosts. If they feel like a ghost is refusing to communicate with them (which is pretty much every episode) sometimes they speak sternly to the ghost. Mostly it's the guys that do that. Now, if I'm the ghost I'm thinking, "Hey, I'm a ghost. I don't have to take your shit. I'm a supernatural being, ferchrissake, and you're an earthbound tool with a camera. Don't mess with me!"

[Digit]

80. Well, I believe it has been two years now since I saw my first apparition

Nobody died in my home as far as I know and it was only built in 1970.

Anyway, I was on the phone one day speaking with an attorney I was checking out to handle an upcoming case. It was only 4:30 in the afternoon when I noticed movement to my right. I was sitting at my kitchen table when I noticed a female figure walk across my dining room into the foyer. I was positively speechless. I stammered into the phone to the attorney totally embarrassing myself.

The "image" had a veil over her head and did not look at me at all. I could see through her but saw her clearly enough to notice the veil. I live alone and had been home all day.

The analytical part of my brain cannot make sense of this at all, and even my woo-woo part wonders what in the hell I saw.

I have no explanation. None.

[Jack Sprat]

82. Scripted, fake, and very boring.

How many times can these shows draw blanks on the same theme before people finally tire of it? You and I could go to the same places that they do and never encounter any instance of paranormal activity. That's because there is no activity. No ghosts are found, no appartitions appear, and all they can claim is some scratchy sounds on a recorder that nobody would ever hear except on a recorder playback.

I wish some rational debunker would do a similar show visiting the same places and showing how ordinary these supposedly scary settings really are. What do I think? It's extremely redundant and tedious. Formerly, I was mostly skeptical. After seeing these shows, I'm completely skeptical. All they proved to me was that there is no "there" there.