How Prepared Are We - Debunking False Claims

[Holister]

For some of use this is a slippery slope. Alot of us know the world of the supernatural and paranormal phenomena does exist along side the rational world that is populated by the skeptics. Why can't we work closer together on this matter.

Too many times have we wasted time on reports have been proven false, and were down right fraudulant just to make us look foolish or so that the claimant would profit in some way. This I believe diverts our attentions away from serious threats and those who truly need our help.

What I'm looking for here are debunking practices and investigation methods. How to identify and recognize what signs to look out for involving a potentially false claim of paranormal phenomena. Also looking for person experiences, strategies, psychology, and useful information on disproving the existance of the supernatural.

[finder_fee]

Actualy, I've never had this problem. If I ever show up on a site where it is a false claim I can usualy spot it within a few seconds...

But I fully admit that I am probably unique in this, and I also admit that when I have gone out to take a look at someplace I tend to do more actual research on it than most, which is usualy your best defense from being pranked by the skeptics.

[skeptic]

People are amazingly unreliable witnesses.
Especially when they're alone.
Especially when they're not.

[Holister]

What equipment did you use? How did you interview your witness? Why did you think their accounts unreliable? How long does your typical investigation last? How long have you been a investigator?

[Kolya]

I can't really speak for skeptic but I've interviewed witnesses or reports of interview of witnesses that couldn't remember what they had seen just minutes prior. Some people are better observers than others. But the good ones do seem to be few.

[Holister]

I wonder why that is? Are some folks just more suceptible to paranormal phenomena that others?

[Kolya]

I wish I knew. It always fascinates me that somebody can be driving down the road and see something laying on the shoulder, call the cops, and give an inaccurate report. It's weird, people just don't pay attention to detail, I suppose.

[Holister]

Maybe weaker minds are easily influnced by the supernatural in order for that supernatural to remain hidden while in plain sight.

[Kolya]

There's certainly some of that.

There's also people who can't report normal happenings, such as driving to work or even what they had for breakfast.

It's just absent-mindedness, I guess.

[Holister]

Could also be hypnotic suggestion. I saw a fella in Bangor once at a show place several peole under and no one even remembered their names afterwards. Freaky stuff.

[finder_fee]

As to wheather there are people being more suceptable.. definately. There are strong minded people and there are weak minded people... Hell, even in normal life, there are people who are just too stubborn to follow what you tell them to do. And I would guess that much of the power to magicly control or influence other people goes away once you realize it has been done. I don't know this for a fact mind you, but I would guess that when you are treating someone as your best friend for no apparent reason and then you realize that, hey, this person is using magic to make that guy like him... you might just be able to break his control over you.

But realize that there is another side to being sensitive to such things, which I'm pretty sure many of you are down with. Sensing Chi, getting bad vibes from a place, or just plain being able to sense people are not normal. That there are definately stronger and weaker people at.

Me, I get to a place where there is something ooogy going on, and I can usualy tell. I know I'm the minority, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in the world who can.

Fi

[Holister]

I guess it boils down to one simple fact; people are gonna believe what they want to believe, be it the truth or not.

[Kolya]

I should re-iterate that it's not always a case of believing, but sometimes a case of simply being mistaken.

[Holister]

Sometimes

[Kolya]

You're not really making any sense.

First you say it boils down to one thing. Then you agree it doesn't.

Perhaps you need to take a break.

[Holister]

I just like to keep you guessing "K".

[Kolya]

That's a pretty useless and time wasting thing to do, sadly.

[Holister]

Sometimes