What is your opinion on this true story about the paranormal?

Question

Years ago on a paranormal forum a lady was claiming to be an expert on the paranormal. She had PHD listed beside her name and would give advice on things and say things like in my expert, professional opinion.

After being challenged to prove she was an expert she admitted her PHD was from the Universal Life church and her expert, professional opinions are due to her being owner of a ghost walk and doing investigations for ghost for 5 years.

Answer 1

You can buy a diploma.  And if you are paid for your opinion you automatically become a professional.

While people like this woman are basically within the 'rules' they are trying to scam believers.

People need to question the credentials of anyone making claims to protect themselves.

Answer 2

And yet, many people probably repeated and perpetuated the things she said, thinking them more valid because a supposed expert with a degree had said them.  Many people could have seen things she had written and not the eventual disclaimer, and believed the science agreed with what she said, even though she ended up being something of a quack.  Thank you from bringing this to peoples attention, that claims of education and degrees can be misleading.  On your very question YA had an advertisement for Paranormal Investigator school, only 20 bucks.   Would someone with a free afternoon and 20 dollars be more credible than someone with logic, intellect, and critical thinking skills?

Answer 3

Most PhD's in the paranormal have no real credentials, though they can claim to have the degree which they can buy from a place (and take a somewhat minimal test to "prove" that they meet the minimum qualifications).

I am, however, investigating the idea that a lower degree (or even a minor course of study) in paranormal studies might fit well into a more scientific background, offering real credentials instead of those generated from a diploma mill. There are several universities that already have paranormal study programs, though no specific degree or minor.

Answer 4

Not every body. no one who claims to is realy an expert in the paranormal.

Answer 5

There is a word for people who go out of their way to get labeled phD without really working at it: pretentious. Most real phDs I know don't even use the title except professionally because they're not out to prove anything. You'd never know otherwise.

Answer 6

As far as her PHD is concerned I don't really think it is regarded as highly as one that would be attained through an academic institution, it is probably most regarded by those in the Universal Life church if that is your preference. As for her expertise based on experience that's pretty relative and it seems it would really be up to who wanted to trust her with their paranormal experience. In my opinion she has a lot of competition and well if there are indeed ghosts all around us and for those who believe and are open to it daily, I guess there are a lot of experts out there.  

Answer 7

Legally, she misrepresented herself.

Even though she may have had a PHD in another field, she can't very well still call herself an expert unless she has a degree to back it up.

She may have experience in the field, like a few of us in here do have.

However, by no means do I call myself an expert.

If anything, I'm always a student, and amazed by some of the things I have witnessed throughout the years.

Answer 8

Anyone can answer a question and say it is their professional opinion. She probably just wanted best answer. I can give advice on the paranormal. I have experience, but I don't say my professional opinion. That's just stupid. : )

Edit: Sorry, I didn't know it was before answers. People are careless. Someone could have taken her advice and stuck with it. If someone told me they were a MD, and I asked them a serious question, what if I took her advice and left it at that. This puts people in a bad position. Hopefully nobody took her too seriously.