What's your approach to the mysterious?

[Doctor Boggs]

I just got to thinking that a discussion on our various investigative styles might be interesting and informative.

Personally I like to go in assuming it's a hoax. Do background checks on people, surveillance to figure out what they're up to. Most of the time I'll dig up a reasonable answer at that stage and close the file, then onto the next. If something odd really does turn up, I hit the books to figure out what next.

I know that ain't much to go on, I just sorta want to get the ball rolling. So, any takers, how do you all like investigate your cases?

And yeah, obviously, keep it vague enough not to screw yourselves. But just maybe informative enough to give new people some tips?

[skeptic]

I have a standard form of questions I issue people when I go to investigate their claims.
The answers are usually quite telling of the nature of the beast.

[Natasha]

I found that there's little new under the Sun. The human experience is vast and has encountered most of the things we encounter today already. Unfortunately, you find most of the information in the (folk)lore not the scientific literature. I scour the (folk)lore first, the scientific literature second, and then try to visit the people and places myself, which may or may not end up in battle. Hanging around Kolya seems to mean battle more often than not. That's not fair to blame it but it sure is fun.

[DarKnyht]

I depend on researching lore and old news archives, along with a few select newsgroups. Once that is done I occasionally ask questions in person but I am really bad at it.

Most of the time I just trust my instincts. So far it hasn't let me down too often, but there was that time it got me in a really bad car accident though...

[skeptic]

I found that there's little new under the Sun. The human experience is vast and has encountered most of the things we encounter today already. Unfortunately, you find most of the information in the (folk)lore not the scientific literature. I scour the (folk)lore first, the scientific literature second, and then try to visit the people and places myself, which may or may not end up in battle. Hanging around Kolya seems to mean battle more often than not. That's not fair to blame it but it sure is fun.

There's a reason why it's called folklore.

[Natasha]

I'm aware of it.

[Logan]

Radio it in, put some researchers on getting me an identity, tail the target in case something I spot can give a solid ident.

After we get a solid identification, we gather up enough firepower and personel to wage a small war (it would surprise some of you how many rounds it takes to drop some of the nasties) and wait while the eggheads run a threat assessment. If the thing is not public, and it's habits don't create a risk, we look for the next target and monitor that one.

[Ron Caliburn]

First thing I try to do is figure out if it's dangerous to innocent people.

If it isn't, I make sure soem of you somarter folks hear about it so it can be dealt with.

If it is, I take steps to find it and destroy it before it does any more damage.

[Clarity]

_____I just feel a certain way inside and do what my heart tells me to do.

[Technocrat]

I approach it with wide eyed wonder.

But I try not to get too close.

Sometimes it bites.

[Kei Nakamura]

First I smile and laugh like a schoolgirl, then I dive into my archives untill I am certain I have every scrap of published information on the subject at hand. Then I fabricate the sensors to best observe and record data on the subject. Next I spend time testing and calibrating the equipment. Finding someone like Koyla, or Mr. Caliburn comes next - in the field I am not exactly the cream of the crop, but I have always prefered lab work to field studies. With any luck, the people in the field with me keep the majority of the equipment intact, which gets me another batch of readings to analyze and input into my archives. If fortune is truely with us, when I return to the lab, I not only have readings and data, but also a test subject to study and test hypothesis on.

[Bearshaman]

I tend to try and go to the area, and just play tourist at first. Blend into the background, using my heightened senses to sniff out anything out of the ordinary. Maybe talk to a few locals and a few of the Nature Spirits in the area.

If I find something, then I consult a few freinds, someone on here, or reference books to see if can figure out what it is. If its a threat, then I try and take it out, head on....bad habit, one of these days going to run into something that I am not able to take on by myself. Just been lucky so far I guess.

[Doctor Boggs]

Yup, definitely some variety there. Anybody got any tips they'd give to someone who'd just gotten their first glimpse of this world?

I used to get stuck with a lot of hauntings, if I couldn't get out to help the person myself I'd just recommend moving. Family gets to sleep at night in the new home and the thing left behind (assuming there really was anything) gets bored and moves on if nobody else moves in for a while.

[Scotty]

eeap i tell em come ear ta tha society. best choys thay ken make.

[Cybermancer]

I study it until I understand it.

Thereby removing the mystery.

[concrete_Angel]

Number one, assume nothing. The old saying about "assuming" does tend to be true.

Number two, every bit of info helps. It might contradict, it might sound stupid as hell, but it's never useless. If nothing else, it helps you find out what NOT to do.

Number three, and this is important, get a damn good health plan.

Oh, and four, from Will: never underestimate the effect of having others with you, no matter what the situation.

[Hudson69]

I will have to go with Dr. Boggs style except for the disbelief part. I try to go in with an open mind and not say yes or no as to what is happening but try to look at what is being given to me, why, by who and so on. I take nothing at face value and follow up on all major leads first; if that includes surveillance, research or backgrounds then that is part of the investigation. I dont have questionaires per se but there are a set series of questions that I like to ask. Once the major leads go away or I have followed them up as far as I can I will start to work on the "less likely" leads.

If there is something wrong or it is on-going and I am still at a loss then that is when I start hitting up friends and co-workers with the info and see if they can think of somthing I couldn't.

It is really pretty basic; just use common sense. If you have a question about something then ask, you never know what the answer might be.

[Doctor Boggs]

Well now, it seems like most here like doing as much research as possible. Just outta curiosity, how does everyone go about it? When on a case I mean, where do ya go for info?

I like small town libraries myself, the older the better. A lot of times ya get lucky and the librarians been working there so long they can steer ya in the right direction. It ain't sure fire, but it can be a good start.

[Natasha]

The older the better, indeed. Books that measure their age in centuries are my favourite. I have only begun to gather books in my personal collection but I have access to some really obscure databases and the like. Asking around The Society never hurts; usually it helps.

Most important is my memory and index I've put together of all the materials I've read. I've read so many grimoires and tomes and whatnot that they don't help if I don't remember where I read about this or that.

[Doctor Boggs]

Huh, sounds like I could use your help there Ms Natasha. I have trunk loads of old books and whatnot sitting around that could use organizing. Maybe you could recommend someone trustworthy?

[Ron Caliburn]

Street people mostly.

They see things others don't and the monsters tend to be attracted to them - easy prey.

[Natasha]

Maybe you could recommend someone trustworthy?

Depends upon what you're looking for this person to do. I'd trust Galya and I'm pretty sure it'd be easy to get her to Canada.

[DarKnyht]

I find Libraries and newspaper archives are useful, but most of my work is done through the internet. I have quite a few newsgroups I subscribe to, a few IRC channels, select websites, and mailing lists that all can provide clues and answers.

But then I am more attuned to the electronic means of researching.

[Natasha]

I find Libraries and newspaper archives are useful, but most of my work is done through the internet. I have quite a few newsgroups I subscribe to, a few IRC channels, select websites, and mailing lists that all can provide clues and answers.

But then I am more attuned to the electronic means of researching.

It's people like me on the other end of the wire.