30 September 2008

Why They Call It Parapsychology

Parapsychology (par-uh-sahy-kol-uh-jee) - the branch of psychology that deals with the investigation of purportedly psychic phenomena, such as clairvoyance, extrasensory perception, telepathy, hauntings, and the like.

Um, yeah. What that definition forgot is this: the branch of psychology that deals also with those people affected by either parapsychology or imagined parapsychology.

Something I didn't think about when getting into this whole ghost hunting business is how the heck do I deal with those people who are being haunted or who are imagining a haunting? These people are stressed beyond belief, ready for answers that will let them know they aren't crazy, and most likely ready to lose their shit if you say to them, "Sorry. We didn't find anything."

That's how I felt about my most recent investigation. The client is desperate for answers, convinced she has a negative/inhuman spirit roaming her house, scared out of her wits with a grandchild who won't sleep alone, and wanting affirmation of her experiences. Affirmation we may not be able to give her because even if she does have a negative haunting, the little bastards hide, knowing our goal is to prove it is there so that someone more qualified (read: priest) can kick its ass, and meanwhile we experience nothing.

I felt for this woman. Whether she's truly experiencing something or just imagining the whole thing, I felt for her. She is absolutely scared shitless and ready to sell her house, even in this crappy real estate market. Now that's desperation.

And what I didn't have the heart to tell her is that even if she is being haunted/tormented by something inhuman, demonic if you will and even if she does sell, the damned thing will probably follow her wherever she goes. And she's back to square one.

This job is much harder than I expected.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ray, when someone asks you if you're a god, SAY YES!

That One said...

So the little ghosties can attach themselves to people? I'd never thought of that. I just assumed that they were tied to places.

Food for thought, this post. Food for thought.

Miss Britt said...

Can you TELL her you found something so she can call in a priest? I suppose that's unethical or something. :-(

Avitable said...

Did you watch last week's Ghost Hunters? Holy shit - the video they caught was eerie!

Expat No. 3699 said...

"I see dead people...."

Anonymous said...

So I guess Parapsychology is not the same as Parasailing?

Mybad.

Anonymous said...

I love your ghost hunting stories. I'm so very jealous.

A Free Man said...

I don't know how to feel about this. I've never been a big believer in ghosties, but at the same time have very little experience or knowledge so tend to reserve judgement.

How do you detect ghosts? And have you ever detected one? And how would you convince a skeptic that it's not completely bogus?

Fodder for a post?

Molly's Mom said...

That would be an aspect of hunting that I wouldn't want to deal with. Oh yeah, that and actually catching something. Would scare. me. shitless.

Not Afraid to Use It said...

LOL @ anonymous!

I'm with Britt. Even if you tell her that you didn't see anything "this" time, that she could pursue the priest option?

And for what it's worth, LittleBird hasn't mentioned the angel on our roof again.

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

Anonymous - Listen! Do you smell something?

Tuli - Well, ghosts don't typically attach themselves to people. Only places. But the demonic does just the opposite.

Britt - I wish, but that would be unethical.

Avitable - I so wish we had a FLIR camera to catch that type of thing!

Employee No. 3699 - Alright M. Night Shama-lama-ding-dong!

MetalMom - HA!

Ashlie - Glad you enjoyed it, hon! I just hope they're all so different and interesting that I can share with you!

A Free Man - I don't think we can ever prove to a skeptic that ghosts exist. I think, using our EMF detectors, thermometers, digital voice recorders, infra-red cameras, and thermal cameras, we can pick up anomalies that cannot be debunked or recreated, anomalies that aren't normal but paranormal. That we can prove. :)

Molly's Mom - Hee hee!

NATUI - I'm glad there haven't been anymore angels. *Shiver*