To the "self-proclaimed" Paranormal Investigators. What sparked your interest in the Paranormal?

Question

There are many reasons that I became curious on the subject & studied for many years on the subject.

I am VERY passionate about my studies, because there are so many unanswered questions for me.

I don't advertise what I do or how I do it to everyday people for personal reasons.

So, back to my question, what got you interested in this field? Do you have some kind of structure that you follow? How do you help your clients? Do you do follow-ups or keep track of past clients?

I want to know how the "Proffesionals" carry on their tasks compared to little ole me.

Answer 1

What sparked my interest, were my experiences...I mainly research occurences that i have experienced, as it makes it easier to get a grasp of it.. Like i explained in Nuff,s question..If you have seen it, or experienced it, it just makes it easier to get an understanding of it a little more.. (kind of gives you a head start). There are many paranormal claims that i cannt relate to, cause ive never witnessed them, but only read about them, or taken someones elses word for it., (ufo,s etc)... If you notice i only answer questions, that i can relate with, or have had the same experience....

I find paranormal one of the hardest phenonemens to explore and research, as its there and its not..We cannt just grasp it, in our hands...But i do feel one day, technology will improve and we will be able to get better evidence of it...I dont advertise my interests in it with anyone i know, except for here,... But if i were to investigate paranormal, it would be with an intelligent person, a person with an open mind, and a person who has had some experience, that definately knows it exists..(thats the most important part to me..exp.), cause when you go out time after time, and nothing happens, you dont want the people you are with, to think its all in your imagination..>>> and that just comes from their ego, cause when they dont see anything, theyll think its just all made up lies..and that wil cause them to loose interest in the phenonemen...and as some of us know, we cannt control it, nor can we get evidence at our own will.. Just have to be in the right place at the right time.....and alot of patience.....

Answer 2

For years I didn't believe, then a number of bizarre, ghostly things started occurring after family members died, so I took on my own on-going scientific quest to if not find answers, share stories. Life is a lot stranger than they teach in school!

Answer 3

Just remember that over 90 percent of these "Professionals" have jobs that they support themselves with and do this on the weekends. They usually attend a workshop learn from someone who claims to be in the know, then with their guidance they are instant "Professionals" using that term to hide they are really just weekend amateur enthusiasts because after all they want to be known as scientists.

I do not know about other states but most here are Troy Taylor's students and members of the AGS.

I fear one day someone is going to get into huge trouble over using the term"professional" in this hobby. I have already debated with one such person who was actually giving psychological advise under her title as a professional until I challenged her credentials and she admitted to just being a weekend ghost hunter.

Many people get carried away with their opinions on subjects like the Ouija and when someone like myself disagree with them as in the case of that one lady, they pull the that is my professional opinion, like she did. I have given up I am going to sit back and watch some of them get into deep you know what over the use of that term and calling themselves scientists.

That said I do realize some Pranormal Investigators  are scientists and make there living doing that but their paranormal investigating is usually just a hobby. Even those are few and far between. A little snooping reveals they are members of the AGS or some other on line organization.

Nothing wrong with that just need a little honesty here. Just my opinion.

Oh and for the one person who will challenge my claim of 90 per cent, remember this is an opinion based on the people I know which is not 90 per cent but 100 percent. But if you want to challenge me just go online and see how many Paranormal Investigators  fit the description then post a comment trying to make me look bad.

I always claim my opinions are just opinions based on my personal experience and knowledge.. Join yahoo groups and see how many degreed" Professionals" there are. Attend workshops and ask for their credentials. Or where they got their Parapsychology degree.

The majority of Paranornmal Investigators learned from Troy Taloy, Dave and Sharon Ouester,  Dave Juliano or one of the other well known online ghost instructors.

Very rarely do you see people saying the went to such and such University and work under a grant at a university and have a actual PHD in their name. Most PHD in this field is honorary from the Universal Life church or some Metaphisical online school.

I have met very few honest Paranormal Investigators but one we all know here is Team Evidence. So far he  has not showed the attitudes I speak about.  I have chatted with him many times and he is polite, honest and open.

BB

Answer 4

The final straw that got me into investigations was a home that I lived in.

I had many things happen in this home and just dismissed them and let things be. He wasn't harmful, just annoying.

Finally I had my daughter, she was about 13 months old and came out of her room and without warning went flying backwards(actually off the ground). At first I didn't believe my eyes and thouught maybe she had tripped backwards.

I went over and picked her up and she kept pointing and screaming NO. When I looked at her chest there was a large red imprint almost a hand.

That was the last straw. I did some research and evp work found out that Tim hated children and was known for screaming at kids for coming close to his home. He died in the home 11 years earlier and was not found for almost 2 weeks after his death.

Answer 5

Many things sparked my interest. It was mostly the paranormal things that happened to me. After my uncle died 4 years ago, I would write him medium sized letters. In my sleep he would reply to them. I never told anyone. I thought it was just a dream. Then about 5 months ago on Oprah they did a special on EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) & talking with the dead. I was like "OMG! I'm not crazy!" and I googled it and listened to people's EVPs. So I set up a recorder infront of my dad's um. I replayed the tape and forwards it read, "I tried to get up." Backwards it reads, "I love you, pumpkin." AND IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE HIM! Then about 2 months ago I made a darkroom downstairs in a room in our basement. I had to move my Grandpa's fishing gear. Well, the next day I go down there the fishing stuff had been moved to the original spot. My mom never goes into that room. She only goes downstairs to do the laundry. I set up my recorder and sure enough my grandpa left a message calling out my mom's name over and over again. It was also TV that played a major role. I watch ghost hunters, a haunting, rescue mediums, slyvia browne, john edwards, paranormal state, etc.

Answer 6

I have alway been keen on this kind of things, but the last drop was very mysterious own (others people proved it too, I was not alone) experience.

Answer 7

>Hey Ghost, I reluctantly got into doing this. It was not something I woke up one day and told myself I wanted to study spirit activity. I have never proclaimed myself to be a pro at this. I really dont believe there is a such thing as a "pro". Many here in this section know who I am, how I approach the subject, and how hard I am on anything. I make ghost hunters look like believers in everything. Its got to be rock solid evidence or nothing. I do not advertise, nor do I push my group. In fact I keep it very well hidden. Anything I look into is strictly word of mouth.  I do it purely to help someone try to get a grip on whatever they believe is happening. With a degree in electrical, several certifications in mechanical, a couple of years framing, I can go into a home or building and look things over from a builders standpoint. I can tell you when metal is shrinking or expanding, look at frames and walls to tell where swelling or shrinking is happening. Knowing how to use electronic devices in my line of work professionally, means I know a little about when and what they are used for and capable of. I wont get into the scientific approach here and now, but suffice it to say, if I cant get it to happen twice or it cannot be duplicated, no matter what I personally believe, it doesnt get saved! When something happens, I dont run around going off, I get up and go check it out. Thats where my knowledge of law enforcement,bail bonding and bounty hunting helps.(yes I am licensed in the state of Colorado to do that as well) I have had to chase down people more apt to hurt you than any spirit will probably be able to and I am not afraid of a dark room or to check out a bush behind a grave stone. My interest was ignored for years, brushed off as coincidence. Since I was a child I always made excuses for and found plausable answers for things even though I knew deep down they were not correct. So I naturally gravitated to looking into ghosts and trying to explain what I had experienced over these many years.And yes, I keep track of those I help and yesI usually become friends with those I help. I keep in contact on the web and I keep in contact thru the phones.

Edit: wow 7 minutes in and already a thumbs down. thank you whom ever. LOL

edit: Yeah well at least they can answer you questions, I find those who dont like the truth are blocking. Your question is a fine question. It requires a some thought and some personal info.

edit: I would like to thank all those who have the thumbs down button on automatic for my answers. I have worked very hard to gain your trust and confidence, I see it has worked. Your all very special people. Just thought you might want to know that.Your all invited to my house for the BarBQ this weekend.

Answer 8

The whole 'paranormal investigator' phrase appears to be one that's been purloined from the English language with an attempt by people involved in a particular activity to make it their own.  

In the same way the word, 'g*y' once meant happy, a group of people who like to find out about metaphysical events want paranormal investigator to have meaning directly related to themselves.

A professional is a person who pursues an activity and gets paid for doing it.  I've known a lot of professional paranormal investigators in my life.  Not a one was a scientist.  Most were dowsers, using the paranormal to investigate a particular phenomenon.

Paranormal investigators [dowsers] are real.  They aren't chasing ghosts and arguing among themselves over who's the bull-goose of the flock.  They don't need to because it becomes immediately obvious through their results.  The professionals among them make a living doing it.