Please Validate Me!

Originally posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2009



Please Validate Me!

Over and over it seems that groups of "ghost hunters" are going way far out of their way to validate themselves or their group. I see it with just about every newer group out there and it is sad. If you wear matching t-shirts, I am talking about you. The matching tee's with the group logo does nothing but scream "I am validated." In fact, your shirts may as well state that on the front in a spooky typeset. The only time that these shirts would be warranted is if you are in a location where security needs to know who you are. The ghosts in a cemetery do not require that your group be valid. If you design shirts and wear them in public for advertisement, perhaps it is not so bad. By all means though, remember you are representing your group when you wear it in public. At least use the common sense to not wear them to a private residence or an investigation that is intended to be kept private.

Another common thing that screams "validate me" is the paranormal "radio" show. You just have to love the mess that blogtalk is. Granted there are a few good ones out there, the vast majority of these shows suck. If you have a radio show and the majority of the time you talk up your team, it is not interesting. Only your friends and group care to listen to you polish your own turds. You are doing nothing more than begging for validation. If you want a good show, have good guests or talk about things of interest.

The easiest one to ridicule is the "TAPS family member" llama shit. I personally would not want to be tied to those dimwits. Your integrity drops by volumes when you associate yourself with TV fraud. Do you really want your research associated with trickery and made for TV horror? I would hope not. TAPS may have been a reputable group at one time. Now they are not even half respectable and by screaming "validate me" through them, you lose.

Equipment is another thing. There is nothing wrong with being a gear whore, I am one myself. When you just HAVE to have that latest shiny blinking gadget out there, you are being screwed by the business of ghost gadgetry. I still see ghost hunters breaking their bank accounts trying to purchase a thermal imaging camera. If you research how they work, you would not want one in the first place.

There are also the ones that just have to visit the big famous haunts. You know the ones, Myrtles, Waverly, Fort This and Fort That. What they fail to realize or even admit to sometimes is that most of these locations boil down to two things. You either went on a tour or "investigated" a room full of people. Going to these big locations doesn't mean jack. They don't make your team valid. Do go check them out and enjoy the tour. Most are awesome locations and need the tourism.

The truth is, if you are secure enough in your abilities as a paranormal researcher, you do not need validation. Your work will speak for itself. You do not need every bell and whistle to validate yourself. Instead of spending that money for the latest back-lit must-have EM field meter, how about spending some time reading and learning. Instead of incorporating your team, why not read up on the equipment that you use and how it works in detail. Gain validation through knowledge, not these shallow attempts at it. Hone in on your skills and not para-validity.