I’ve been out on a few paranormal forums lately, which is something I do from time to time. While reading through a few threads I read about a few groups out there who say that the science isn’t important, but providing the clients with comforting answers is. In essence, they didn’t care about whether or not their investigation methods were scientific, just that they produce some comforting answers, regardless of whether or not those answers were the truth. I personally think that’s a load of bull flop, and if that’s the purpose of your group then you need to stop claiming to investigate and simply call yourselves what you are: paranormal counselors.

I’m sure this will rile many an investigator, but if so then it’s because they do not want to face the truth. Just like most other counselors, paranormal counselors are not trained psychologists and don’t have to have real answers. They simply need to appease the client and make them feel better when dealing with the issue, just like so many so called paranormal investigators do. They take whatever “evidence” they collect, interpret it however they see fit, and then present it to the client in order to “help” them. They also claim that the client doesn’t want scientific investigations, which says to me the client wants to be lied to since pseudoscience isn’t truth, it’s fiction. Basically, these investigators have found the perfect victim to play out their con. Many will strongly disagree with that statement, primarily on the grounds that the group isn’t making any money. But a con does not require money as the only source of gain. The gain can be from nothing more than the investigators feeling good about “helping” someone. In fact, in this case, the only difference between a professional con and one perpetrated by these type of investigators is that they don’t go after money. Both lie to the client. Both make it look like they’re doing something when they’re not (EMF, EVP, etc), and both will back peddle and use wiggle words to cover up the fact that all they have is a house of cards.

One thing that surfaced in several of these threads were groups that were irritated with other groups “policing” them. It’s funny how these same groups talk about working together to share ideas, but the moment their ideas and methods are criticized they immediately take offense and go into this type of mode of thinking. Some have even had threads shutdown on the more gentile of boards because they begin to get hostile, and instead of the mods/admins letting the conversation continue and reprimanding the person causing the problems, they simply shutdown ALL discussion. Poor form if you ask me. How on earth are people suppose to share information and ideas if threads get closed because someone gets offended? You might as well say, “You can post subjects here that go along with our general group think,” otherwise someone will get bent out of shape and we have to stop discussing it before someone starts flaming another. Most of the threads I saw were pretty tame, and it almost seemed like the threads were closed to silence that topic.

Another thing that some of these threads brought to mind was the lack of “policing” that goes on in the paranormal community, which is why it’s so riddled with fraud. One thing that keeps coming up is that groups shouldn’t denounce other groups methods, or “pick” on other groups. The argument is that the energy required to do so could be better spent on making headway in the field. I nearly busted a gut when I read that because NOBODY is making headway anyhow, yet there is a ton of headway being made in false claims, fraudulent videos posted on youTube, and every group I’ve seen out there is doing nothing more than “Spook Huntin’”. In other words, everyone is in a glass house, so throwing stones will only bring everyone’s house down. So I can see why they’d want to not have the community scrutinized.

So, in closing I ask investigators this: Are you investigating the paranormal in a search for the truth, or are you investigating the paranormal to make the client feel better? If it’s the latter, why don’t you call yourself what you are: Paranormal Counselor.