Debunking
Debunking the Paranormal, Perfecting the Supernatural Investigation.
When investigating the paranormal or supernatural, proper debunking is just as important as using the right equipment. The most important part of any paranormal investigation is the ability to debunk a location. This means that one must be willing to explore alternative explanations in order to properly address a potential haunting. The true measure of a paranormal investigator is their commitment to the truth.
Observation of visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli should be carefully examined from all possible angles.
Examples:
Lights
A common cause of mysterious lights that appear in a certain place can be explained as reflections, or the lights from a passing car.
Tactile
Tactile refers to the sensation of feeling touched by something that isn’t there. Tactile sensations most often occur when some or all of the body’s senses are deprived, i.e., total darkness, complete silence, etc. Cobwebs, dust bunnies, bugs are a common cause.
Music/Sounds
Animals, insects, wind are a common cause of sounds. Moans, groans, creaks of a house. Plumbing drips and leaks. Many of these are only heard during nighttime due to being drowned out by daytime activity.
In short, observation skills are very important in the field of paranormal investigating. Try not to jump to conclusions. Keep an open mind, and have open eyes and ears.
As Sherlock Holmes once said, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
Mark Rowland
Lead Investigator
Black Hills Paranormal Investigations
If you are experiencing any paranormal activity and are in need of help contact us at either help@bhparanormal.com or though our website www.bhparanormal.com
August 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I would also like to add Smell to this list.
There have been cases where people have thought they smelled a ladies perfume, or a musk. When in fact it was just an open window in front of the flowerbed. Or always the smell of baking in the morning, when it was just the grandmother next door making her bread for the day. One thing we at BHPI practice is to make sure we do not come to an investigation wearing any perfume, cologne, lotion, etc. We do not want to taint what could potentially be a phantom smell.