Ghost Hunters “Soul Searching”
We have decided to move to a new format on the Report Card articles we create for the Ghost Hunter episodes.
Jason and Grant have always highlighted that they earn their living as plumbers. But clearly they do not bang on pipes now. How would they have the time? With all the travel, personal appearances and special events, what time is left to install porcelain fixtures?
The most recent episodes that have aired they appear to us to be magicians!!!
So without further delay, onto the Ghost Hunters: Soul Searching Magic Plunger Moments ™
The old Footsteps-heard-overhead-or-down-the-hall-trick ™
Again the new staple of a Ghost Hunters episode. This one did have a twist to it. They also captured a “hot spot” on the thermal that appeared to be “walking” away from them as they walked toward it. Then suddenly disappeared as it crossed a “threshold” into another room.
Most likely it was some sort of reflection, then disappeared because there was different flooring in the second room. Either that or the invisible walker hated the other room. 
We will give them three Magic Plungers ™ since they added video to these footsteps.
The old KII-meter-make-it-light-up-in-response-to-a-question-trick ™
They have used the KII meter often to have “conversations” with spirits and this episode Jason has a short one with a spirit that didn’t like him. He said he would leave the room if the spirit “turned on the lights”. Seeya Jason!
The KII meter measures magnetic frequencies or waves and is so easy to light up off camera that anytime they use it, we find it hard to believe anything they claim it is doing. Most likely a crew member is off camera with something like a two-way radio. See the following video for examples.
We will give them two Magic Plungers ™ since they stole the idea from Chris Fleming.
April 10th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
The one device that can cause EMF to go off in a room at a great distance is a Blackberry. Any incoming or outgoing texts, emails, or calls will make a detector light up like a Christmas tree. This is why we demand that cell phones be turned off completely during an investigation. For some reason, Blackberries have the strongest signal.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
The two plumbers are merely those who stand in line to beguile the credulous for profit.
April 19th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I am noting the ubquity of fraud in the paranormal community. Houdini began exposing charlatans more than a hundred years ago and the work still continues.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:40 am
But no matter what type of evidence you have there will be people who don’t believe it. You can recreate anything these days. The question you have to ask is, if you can recreate it, does that mean its not paranormal? I believe not. If you get a pic of a shadow person, and someone can recreate it, does that make your evidence less credible?
April 20th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Resume: I don’t BELIEVE fraud in the paranormal community is as rampant as you say.
Tommy: I agree with you that just because something could be faked, it doesn’t mean it was faked.
My point with showing these Ghost Hunters tricks is because so many people became interested in the paranormal because of these guys. I don’t want them to ruin the good work that is being done elsewhere.
I guess the bottom line for me is no matter who presents “paranormal data”, one needs to be aware that some people have an agenda that may not sync up with honesty. Trust in what you collect yourself and look at what others collect with a “hey that’s interesting” kind of attitude.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
One has to first advance a testible definition as to what constitutes a “ghost.” In concrete language and theoretical coherence, what are its properties? With what protocol, methodology and controls can we perform experiments? This is the basic construct for the scientific method, the way humankind has made its discoveries. Replication of empirical data leads to more knowledge and discovery; lack of same leads to absence of evidence.
True science is difficult, extremely so, which is why so few take it up in our country. Pseudoscience is far less so which is why so many take it up.
To not understand the difference between the two is revealing; real science offers evidence as to why and how we came to be.
April 21st, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I agree with you djb. I saw a video the other day that really got my attention. Thats what I was referring to in my earlier post. It was someone, and I can honestly say I can’t remember the guys name, that was showing how the flashlight that was going on and off in a TAPS episode could be faked. Yes it could be faked, but I can’t honestly say that it was.
But on the other hand, the guy showing how it can be done could be bad for the paranormal community in that now the people that are not true investigators have a blueprint on how to fake evidence.
May 7th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Crickets chirp.