TCoD Paranormal Society

[Phantom]

Basically what the title is. I made an entire first post and it was eaten by the forum. Hmph.

Are you interested in the paranormal? Ghosts? Aliens? Mothman? ;p
Then this is the place to talk about it.

Personally, I am the founder of a paranormal society here in MN. Have been running for two years now. Our main focus is supposed hauntings and ghosts. We hold what's commonly called the TAPS mentality. Basically we want to debunk supposed hauntings rather than prove them. I have done extensive research into the paranormal, and have a lot of experience.

Also some who know me know I am atheist. Can atheists believe in ghosts? It's a question that's more common than you think. Here's the thing. I don't believe in ghosts. I believe there are things that are unexplained, paranormal things, and I want to find answers. I want to find evidence, supporting or not. It's more a science than anything. My group doesn't go blessing houses or holding séances.

There has been an outpouring recently in paranormal media, tv shows, radio programs, and magazines. Shows like Ghost Hunters (TAPS mentality) GHI, and Paranormal State focus on "hauntings", others like Destination Truth and Fact or Faked are more broad on the spectrum.


Interested? Give your name, if you've had an experience, if so what happened, or if you are a fan of any paranormal show or program.



..::Members::..
Phantom
St. Christopher
Mini Moonwalker
Aobaru
FallOut Blade
Manic Fame
Cap'n Sofa
Ryubane



So me, my name is Phantom. I've run MCTCPS for two years now. We've found some evidence, but nothing really conclusive that was recorded as such. But in the way of personal experiences, there's quite a bit. I am a fan of most shows, except Paranormal State. They are a little too showy for me. I used to love TAPS on Ghost Hunters, but they've sold out.

 

[Music Dragon]

You should read this, I think!

 

[Phantom]

I think I've heard about that.

 

[Green]

In. So fucking in.

 

[Phantom]

Added. MD are you in as well?

 

[Music Dragon]

What? Me? Hurr! No.

 

[Phantom]

Okay doke. So one member so far... WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!

 

[Missile]

Ooh, sign me up! I recently got into paranormal activity (not the movie) and there's so much more I want to learn about it and discuss. I've watched a few episodes of Ghostbusters Hunters and I really like it! So yeah, I'd like to join~

 

[Phantom]

Added...

What would you like to discuss? Any questions?

 

[Missile]

Hmm, let's see... I guess I'd like to discuss people's opinions on paranormal activity? Mainly what they think about all those ghost hunting shows, if they believe them or not. I'm sort of devoid on things to discuss at the moment.

 

[Green]

Aliens.

Unh.

 

[Phantom]

Well, as I said I like Ghost Hunters. Or at least I did. After their second season the show went to shit. I believe they started fabricating evidence. No way in hell are they finding that much evidence.

Ghost Hunter's International- I find entertaining, mainly because I love history and I love the places they get to go.

Paranormal State- bunch of bs. I never was one for it.

Ghost Adventures- I like the fact that they interview local residents and historical experts for every case. Sometimes the stories are scarier than what happens in the show.

A Haunting- Good daytime television. Don't know if a word of it's real, but it scares the shit out of me sometimes.

Most Haunted USA- Interesting at best.


So a bit on EVP's from my group's site.

Electronic Voice Phenomena

According to the American Association for Electronic Voice Phenomena (AA-EVP)
EVP are anomalous, intelligible speech recorded in or produced by electronic devices, and for which no currently understood physical explanations can account.


In English?


EVP stands for electronic voice phenomena. Essentially it is unexplained sounds, noises and most often words that are interpreted by paranormal investigators (ghost hunters) to be a recording of a “ghost voice.” Electronic voice phenomena falls within the broader catergory of Instrumental Transcommunication (ITC) where a ghost or spirit uses a device or instrument to communicate with the living. Examples are tape recorders,digital recorders, televisions, lights, fax machines or computers. Think the little girl talking to the snowy television screen in Poltergeist.


What's the history of Electronic Voice Phenomena?


It is reported that Thomas Edison studied the possibility of EVPs for years and concluded that if spirits actual did exist and were able to communicate with the living that they were more likely to do so through this scientific medium rather than through a ouija board, seance or other paranormal means.


What does an EVP sound like?

Most EVPs consist of one or two words but may be a string of words resembling a sentence. I say resembling because quite often to people will hear two entirely different things when listening to the playback. To the best of my knowledge a sentence is the most that has ever been recorded. To date no one has been to record a conversation with a ghost.


How do I "catch" an EVP?


When attempting to capture an EVP it is best to place the recorder in the center of the area you are conducting the experiment, perhaps on a chair. Try not hold the recorder or walk around with it as it will pick up “whispers” of your clothing, footsteps and breathing. Make audible notes of interference that might be picked up on the recording so that you can identify it as such later during playback. These can be a dog barking, a conversation between two people in the same room, a car passing by or weather related interference such as rain, wind or thunder.

If you would like to conduct an interview of a potential ghost, ask it questions as you would of a live person just be sure to make them short and simple. Be sure to give your “ghost” time to respond. Wait several seconds before asking another question. You can be specific in you interview such as: “How did you die?” “Are you unhappy?” “Why are you here?” or you can ask random questions that reflect your surroundings.

 

[Missile]

Well, as I said I like Ghost Hunters. Or at least I did. After their second season the show went to shit. I believe they started fabricating evidence. No way in hell are they finding that much evidence.

Ghost Hunter's International- I find entertaining, mainly because I love history and I love the places they get to go.

Paranormal State- bunch of bs. I never was one for it.

Ghost Adventures- I like the fact that they interview local residents and historical experts for every case. Sometimes the stories are scarier than what happens in the show.

A Haunting- Good daytime television. Don't know if a word of it's real, but it scares the shit out of me sometimes.

Most Haunted USA- Interesting at best.


So a bit on EVP's from my group's site.

I sware I've seen one of those before. Probably Paranormal State, because I remember it being a bunch of BS that looked really fake. Oh, and thanks for the EVP explination; I've been wondering for a while what it meant because I've been too lazy to look it up. I'll have to watch the others, though. A Haunting seems nice, I'll take a look later on~

 

[Phantom]

Ok, and some on EMF

In the paranormal field, it’s largely accepted that in order to communicate or manifest, spirits must gather energy from their surroundings. If this theory is possible, then the energy waves that are altered during the process can be measured. Paranormal investigators measure these changes in the electromagnetic field with EMF detectors.


Use an EMF Detector to Search for Paranormal Activity-


To detect changes in the electromagnetic field, paranormal investigators first sweep a given area to discover that location’s base reading (In other words, the normal reading). A typical base reading is usually anywhere from 2 to 3 milligaus. A needle on the EMF Detector moves back and forth to indicate changes in electromagnetic energy. The needle moves to the right for higher levels of electromagnetic energy. Any spike on the EMF detector that occurs in combination with a sound, visual evidence, a cold spot, or disembodied voice caught on tape could mean that a spirit is trying to manifest.


Use an EMF Detector to Locate Harmful Amounts of Electrical Leakage-


Since EMF detectors measure the strength of the electromagnetic field, investigators often find sources of electrical leakages instead of paranormal activity. Electrical leakages can result in the following symptoms: headaches, nausea, fear, paranoia, anxiety and if the leakage is severe enough, hallucinations.

Paranormal investigators can often follow high readings of electromagnetic energy to the source of the electrical leakage. When investigating, it’s very important to look for these non-paranormal causes of fluctuations in the electromagnetic field. Not only are leakages dangerous for the above reasons, most home owners are highly relieved to discover that a fixable solution exists for what they mistook for signs of a haunting. When the electrical issue is repaired, the symptoms disappear.

 

[Aobaru]

Yay! I'm in~

My thoughts on paranormal activity:

I'm essentially a skeptic. I think the majority of things people think are paranormal (case-in-point: 99% of EVPs) are bull. I mean seriously, how is seeing a face in an inanimate object any different than interpreting a voice in a sound recording... that could be anything? However, there is the very rare case of an EVP that stumps even me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5trAYXiJM (around the 2:00 mark).

I think Ghost Adventures is probably the best ghost show on TV because it's so raw and unedited (relatively). Ghost Hunters is okay, but a bit too methodical for me.

 

[RespectTheBlade]

I'm in. I watch a lot of paranormal stuff, and I truly believe in the paranormal. Most Recently, I've watched Ghost Hunters, Ghost Lab and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files. From what I've seen, I really have trouble finding how these things couldn't be real. There are also a few personal experiences within my family that led me to believe in the paranormal, ghosts in particular.

 

[Phantom]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5trAYXiJM (around the 2:00 mark).

That video, faked. Altered. The actual video part. You see the person walk out, then they "mirror" flipped it and shaded him out, watch the actual video again.

EVP are interesting though. We make sure to hold one EVP session in each room during the physical investigation. But a real investigation runs for a week. We have people place recorders in their house when they leave. That's the weird shit.

From what I've seen, I really have trouble finding how these things couldn't be real. There are also a few personal experiences within my family that led me to believe in the paranormal, ghosts in particular.

Please share Blade.


Also the one thing that I could never debunk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-9W6MAlQyQ

 

[Missile]

There are also a few personal experiences within my family that led me to believe in the paranormal, ghosts in particular.

I agree with Phantom. May you please share with us?

Oh, yes, and that video you posted Phantom; I can't debunk it, either. Seems pretty real, if you ask me.

 

[RespectTheBlade]

Well, I heard this from my mom. she told me a bunch of stories about an apartment she lived in when she was young. On the floor above them she said that she constantly heard sound such as footsteps, doors opening and closing, and the pages of a book being turned. But, there was nobody living on the top floor. My uncle, who was living with my mom in this house, saw a woman in 1800's style clothing walk across the hall in the middle of the night. And, when a guest came over to the house and was fighting with my great-grandmother, a pillow came flying out of nowhere and hit the guest n the face. My mom always stresses to me that she felt that the spirit was benevolent, like it was watching over them.

And another story that happened more recently: I was with my dad over by the house of our landlord, and he went to drop off something around midnight. Our landlord left his door unlocked so we could drop it off. My dad went into the house, and comes back with a look of terror on his face. He said that he heard somebody talking in their sleep. He was sure it wasn't the landlord, as he slept in a room too far away for us to hear. The next day, he talked to the landlord. It turns out that the previous owner of the house had suffered a heart attack and died on his way out the door.

I, Personally, haven't experienced anything, but stuff like this always leads me to believe in the paranormal.

 

[Missile]

Well, I heard this from my mom. she told me a bunch of stories about an apartment she lived in when she was young. On the floor above them she said that she constantly heard sound such as footsteps, doors opening and closing, and the pages of a book being turned. But, there was nobody living on the top floor. My uncle, who was living with my mom in this house, saw a woman in 1800's style clothing walk across the hall in the middle of the night. And, when a guest came over to the house and was fighting with my great-grandmother, a pillow came flying out of nowhere and hit the guest n the face. My mom always stresses to me that she felt that the spirit was benevolent, like it was watching over them.

And another story that happened more recently: I was with my dad over by the house of our landlord, and he went to drop off something around midnight. Our landlord left his door unlocked so we could drop it off. My dad went into the house, and comes back with a look of terror on his face. He said that he heard somebody talking in their sleep. He was sure it wasn't the landlord, as he slept in a room too far away for us to hear. The next day, he talked to the landlord. It turns out that the previous owner of the house had suffered a heart attack and died on his way out the door.

I, Personally, haven't experienced anything, but stuff like this always leads me to believe in the paranormal.

Woah, that's scary. Especially the second story. That one made me open my closet and turn the closet light on. (I actually get scared easily) The first one's pretty creepy, too.