WHY INVESTIGATIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT -
AND OUR REVIEW ON 'MOST HAUNTED'
Its important that we do investigations to prove or disprove paranormal phenomenon. One main reason is so that we can see if its environmental factors, equipment, or things that are easily explainable. In such situations, sounds like scratching in the attic or the walls can be contributed to rodents (there have been squirrels that have been found to be the culprits). Also other sounds, like loud bangs or creaks, especially in older houses, can be the wood settling. On days when the sun shines on the house, it heats up the wood. At night, when the temperature drops, the wood constricts because of the cold - this can cause creaking and banging noises.
In regards to orbs, a lot of photos that have been submitted to our team - turn out to be dust particles captured by digital cameras (especially if you enhance the photo and see a 'sea' of them). Orbs captured on film, can turn out to be nothing more than a fly or a bug. The ones we have featured on our site, have those factors ruled out (not only by us, but other teams as well).
Recently I have been watching "Most Haunted", located in England. I have yet to see anything that peaks my interest. You have a host that every time she is on an investigation, already is scared (or acts to be scared), to heighten the sensation of excitement for people watching the program. I recently viewed the program on the Hellfire Caves in England, a very well known site to most paranormal investigators, or people who watch the shows. The psychic that went down there said he was picking up on the lady that was brought down there by deception, she died due to an injury to the head. She was lured down by 3 men pretending to be her betrothed, was tormented by these men, picked up a rock and threw it at them. One of the men, picked up said rock - threw it back and it hit her between the eyes, causing her to fall down, hitting her head yet again - dead
Anyone who knows about the Hellfire Caves, knows about this story - because it is the most famous associated with it. Also, I am sure Psychics have access to the internet and other TV shows that have featured this story - so its not like he was going down there to tell the world something we already didn't know. Anyone also that has access to a computer would know that the caves are a series of tunnels, with the 'temple' located at the end - under a church where people are interred. Also available on the internet, is the name of the famous poet who was a member (Paul Whitehead), and the person who started the order the Hellfire Club - Sir Francis Dashwood. Rumors of Satanic worshipping, orgies, excessive drinking - have been tales told through out the 300 years of the location. Everything he mentioned - was already known.
Another thing about the show, when the have the night vision cameras on, there are about 6 - there is too much glare to see anything. And the shot that is mostly seen throughout the show, is the camera that is fixed on the hosts face - looking scared, flipping out, crying. If they were truly trying to capture evidence, they would not have so many cameras pointed at the people carrying them, and would not be fixed on her all the time. But again my theory on that is its fixed on her to cause more excitement to the viewers (through emotions), and to heighten the actual experience - which usually ends up with very little evidence. Yet another problem I have with the show, they will be talking and suddenly she will say 'what was that' - someone will say they didn't hear anything 'there do you hear it again' - now with all that equipment, you think that if something actually happened, they would take it back to the studio - have their audio team centralize the noise, increase it and replay it for the viewers. In the hellfire caves, she claims she hears a woman weeping (yet they never replay it for us to hear) - even though one tech on the show said to her it could be bats - she said no its a woman - how are we supposed to know? That boom mike they take with them picks up every little noise. Again - this is TV show theatrics that are put in place to try and make it more exciting for the viewer.
Also shown in the show - is a great example of group hysteria. When you get a group of people together who are scared, if one sees or hears something, another will, the rest will be seeing and hearing the same things. This is why on investigations, our team members have to be 'grounded' and need to understand a bit about the paranormal. There is a theory also, if you have someone who is highly scared, one of two things will happen. A) The energy given off by the emotion of fear, will cancel out any little 'energies' that might be in the area (with a group of people feeling the same thing - I can see why they are not picking up anything) - or B) sometimes a benevolent energy can pick up or 'feed' on that and grow (rare cases though). I would never bring someone who has a wild imagination and no control over their emotions on an investigation. Of course if you hear a sudden noise, most people will jump or say an swear word - its natural. But the need to calm down right afterwards is important.
Also in this show - a couple of people started laughing in the inner chamber. I know some people laugh when they are scared, but I think it shows a sign of disrespect in a way. One of our practices is RESPECT. Whether its in a persons home, building or graveyard - respect is so important. Save the jokes after the investigation.
You do hear sounds on the show - one in the caves was a loud bang noise. They went to investigate, and found a rock by one of the iron gates. The gentleman picked it up and said "its warm, its warm" - held it for a moment - then gave it to the host - who claimed it was warm too. They think that a ghost threw it at the gate. Now the cave is made of rock (of course) - and its possible that a piece of rock - over the gate which is drilled into the rock - gave way and fell, making the noise. Reasons for it being warm are a). He was holding and warmed it up b) heat rises - so the top of the cave would be absorbing the heat from all the lights and equipment.
So I am a little sketchy on the Psychics of the show, and still not as impressed as I was expecting to be with their 'evidence'
Also with the show, they have captured 'tiny orbs' on film - then they replay it (as they should with the sounds). One program, I think it was entitled 'The Haunted House' - was exactly what we caught on film many times - its called a fly. On night vision cameras, they use waves to send out and to bounce off objects, capturing what little light is out there to enhance the image. When a fly or other insect fly's by - it does give off the impression of a little orb. The ones in the hellfire caves though - still not sure what they were, but they were about the size of an insect. In a place that is said to be so haunted, and have such a sad story (Suki - the girl killed), and such diabolical rituals, and even still having the 'temple' under where people are buried- you think that 'orb' activity would be much more present, than just a dime sized thing quickly flying by. The house where we captured the huge orb (first video in our video section) - is not proved to be haunted, but there might be something with the land. But still - no where the history of the hellfire caves. You would think with their budget, their techs, all that expensive equipment, they would have caught more. But maybe the ghosts and 'spirits' don't want to be shown on tv? Maybe don't like the fact that a few of them are asking them to do tricks like a trained dog? Or maybe they don't like all the equipment and the people they brought in? Guess we will never know.
As far as entertainment, this is an entertaining show, but as far as actual proof and bring us sufficient evidence - the jury is still out.
We have to take such shows as this, and paranormal teams that don't follow up (and take whatever they capture on film as a factual paranormal phenomenon), that don't do actual research - with a grain of salt and keep logical and a bit skeptical.
Its very important that paranormal teams not only band together through their research (and the public if they capture some evidence), to stay logical and to try and keep the false reports separate from the unexplained (truth). This is so important so we can try and figure out what is exactly happening, and if this is truly those that have crossed over, what they are trying to communicate with us, or why they are still here.
We may never know the answers, but if we can separated truth from fiction - maybe we can get a little closer to understanding what is going on.
B.Fowler - Head of Investigations - HAPIA
UPDATE....
Finally I saw an episode of Most Haunted that actually had me sitting forward in my chair and taking notice. Its the episode where they went into what is called the "London Dungeon" Now this is not the actual Tower of London Dungeon, but a series of tunnels in a building - that has on display grotesque images of witch burnings, victims of the plague, various forms of torture, and Jack the Ripper victims. These are all done in wax - and look so real.
The first psychic Derek, didn't capture anything - but was supposedly picking up on Jack the ripper and his copycat. As stated in the beginning of the program by the Paranormal Expert, even though these scenes are shown through the building, the psychics shouldn't pick up on anything that had to do with the infamous murders in White Chapel (which was located 2 miles away).
The second psychic David however, picked up on 3 'energies' of a man, a wife and a child. This was quite interesting. But what grabbed my attention - when they went into another spot in the building (where the public has no access) things started happening. When he was describing the energy, I counted at least 7 'orbs' flying around him (could have been the same one, appearing and disappearing). These were not flies - but did look like actual orbs. He was saying how strong the energy was, and the stronger it got - the more the orbs appeared. Also when he went back to what is known as the 'autopsy' room, he asked if they could have a sign - and a loud metal click was heard. Not too sure about this - but the orbs definitely caught my attention. Seeing the orbs, and hearing his most different explanation of the possible energies in the place, has got me believing a bit more in his abilities.
Another room another team was set up - and there was much banging noised, things being thrown around, and an orb appeared a few times around on of the men. Now the piece of wood that sounded like it was thrown that was found in the middle of the group - could be as the 'Expert' said - wood falling for the roof. But the other noises were interesting. It was said that there is poltergeist activity in this room.
My personal jury is still out on the show - still too much dramatic theatrics and flipping out by the host (and the boom operator). This time however, I am impressed by David, and the orbs.
