Paranormal investigators: do you ask hard and intrusive questions when interviewing potential clients?

Question

I just got through reading a book about the how to.s of ghost hunting and it has a section you can print out or copy that contains some very hard and intrusive questions like how much alcohol do you drink, do you take illegal drugs, is there a history of mental illness etc.

There are other questions that are not intrusive. I understand the reasoning behind this in order to get at the whole truth but I was just wondering how many investiagtors actually ask hard questions.

Answer 1

It is important to get all the information we can to do a thorough investigation. Yes, I do ask those questions because it helps to know all circumstances surrounding a potential haunting. It also helps in helping the individual deal or get rid of a ghost if it is determined there is indeed a haunting.

Many times a client refuses to answer, and that is okay. I believe some negative spirits are attracted to negative energy. Drug addiction alcohol abuse etc can and does attract ghosts with attitudes from time to time and the only way to rid oneself of such is to change the behaviors we have that attract these  entities.

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Answer 2

I have a rough draft of questions that my case manager always ask, and as part of those questions have to do with routine medications, drug or alcohol abuse in the home and mental illness.  She also will ask any question she feels is related to the events...she has flexibility to do so.

The reason that we ask those questions is multipurpose.  First and foremost we want to be able to insure team safety and if you have a drug abuser or alcoholic that lives in the home and will be present, we have to consider that a potential danger.  Put the shoe on the other foot and think...would you want a paranormal team in your home that might be under the influence?  If a team member has to take medications that will produce drowsiness, they are disqualified from that investigation.

Another reason we ask about routine medications is because there is always a possibility that a person who has taken a sleeping pill for rest at night could experience seeing something they believe to be paranormal when it could be as a result of medications.  We do not ask for brand names of meds, but we want to explore any natural reason for a haunting.

Unfortunately, in the case of mental illness you have to consider that all it is not what it seems.  And in our case, the majority of us are female so safety again is an issue.

I would hope that any group would consider asking those questions in some form or other.  Not so much that we are so right, but it does give you an idea about whether or not you would like to continue and set up an investigation or pass it along to another group.

Answer 3

No. We're there to help. 'Reading between the lines' doesn't hurt. If a client seems to be avoiding/hiding something that may be useful to the case, tactful questions, or even a 'time out' may be in order. Direct, pushy questions can thwart the outcome. Most investigations seem to be not productive (results-wise), so I don't want to come on high-handed, just supportive.