Oklahoma Investigator Fears Fall-out From TAPS Controversy
Click for insights from Oklahoma investigator Tonya Hacker regarding the controversy surrounding TAPS/Ghost Hunter's 2008 Halloween investigationon the SciFi Channel.
I think we might be seeing the same disconnect between real forensenic investigations and things such as "CSI".
"Real time" and "reality TV" have no connections whatsoever....the demand is still to fit an exciting and marketable 40 minutes into a program to satisfy networks, customers, and marketing people.
Anyone who has seen some of the DVD's created by local groups (anywhere) will see the need or tempation to be more interesting....it is a slippery slope as well....
I think a lot of us worry that television will be the ultimate downfall of paranormal investigations, based on its desire for ratings. That's why I always err on the side of caution. Many shows have come and gone using less-than-honest techniques (I remember watching Scariest Paces and seeing strings accidentally caught in light), yet we rebound.
It will be interesting to see the final result of all this, though. As for it reflecting negatively on the community as a whole... well, I doubt it's any worse than what some "investigators" already do without as much press...
Coming from a law enforcement background I would say the investigative work is lacking. Some of their conclusions I found ridiculous. But hey before "Ghost Hunters" everyone had this imagery of "Ghostbusters" when someone talked about this field. So they have helped more than hurt investigations into a paranormal. BTW like the red bio photo! Grrrr...
I can see we all seem to be drifting toward the same sentiment: while fakery such as this is terrible, Ghost Hunters has at least brought a truer sense of what investigators do to the public eye. I'll re-emphasize, a TRUER sense....
But it is a double edge sword and can give the public (and eager new investigators) the wrong impression as to just what it is proper investigations are comprised of. For the most part, "Joe Six Pack" (to borrow a name) probably hasn't heard about any "scandal" surrounding the show yet. So, for now, their overall image with the casual SciFi viewer hasn't been harmed.
Now let's see if they can rebound properly.
I've watched more than one episode that seemed to indicate a reticence on the part of the two lead investigators. And I have always chocked that up to an inner conflict between what they know as investigators and what the devils on their shoulders are telling them to do, contract in hand.
6 comments:
I think we might be seeing the same disconnect between real forensenic investigations and things such as "CSI".
"Real time" and "reality TV" have no connections whatsoever....the demand is still to fit an exciting and marketable 40 minutes into a program to satisfy networks, customers, and marketing people.
Anyone who has seen some of the DVD's created by local groups (anywhere) will see the need or tempation to be more interesting....it is a slippery slope as well....
Cullan,
I have checked out the link, read the post and seen the videos... I'm pretty speechless right now.
I think Ghost Hunters has broken my heart!
I think a lot of us worry that television will be the ultimate downfall of paranormal investigations, based on its desire for ratings. That's why I always err on the side of caution. Many shows have come and gone using less-than-honest techniques (I remember watching Scariest Paces and seeing strings accidentally caught in light), yet we rebound.
It will be interesting to see the final result of all this, though. As for it reflecting negatively on the community as a whole... well, I doubt it's any worse than what some "investigators" already do without as much press...
Thanks for posting this Cullen. I know you work hard right along with the rest of us!
There is more on the TAPS scandal. More videos and witness testimony is hitting the surface. Who knows what will become of it all!
Coming from a law enforcement background I would say the investigative work is lacking. Some of their conclusions I found ridiculous. But hey before "Ghost Hunters" everyone had this imagery of "Ghostbusters" when someone talked about this field. So they have helped more than hurt investigations into a paranormal.
BTW like the red bio photo! Grrrr...
~T
LOL!! (Tommy)
I can see we all seem to be drifting toward the same sentiment: while fakery such as this is terrible, Ghost Hunters has at least brought a truer sense of what investigators do to the public eye. I'll re-emphasize, a TRUER sense....
But it is a double edge sword and can give the public (and eager new investigators) the wrong impression as to just what it is proper investigations are comprised of. For the most part, "Joe Six Pack" (to borrow a name) probably hasn't heard about any "scandal" surrounding the show yet. So, for now, their overall image with the casual SciFi viewer hasn't been harmed.
Now let's see if they can rebound properly.
I've watched more than one episode that seemed to indicate a reticence on the part of the two lead investigators. And I have always chocked that up to an inner conflict between what they know as investigators and what the devils on their shoulders are telling them to do, contract in hand.
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