Why do some feel that an EVP is NOT a source of evidence?

Question

There are some I have listened to that were clear & well spoken. Some here feel that you "strain" to hear something or make yourself believe there is something there.

Answer 1

THEY THINK EVPS ARE RADIO FREQUINSIES BEING PICKED UP.

Answer 2

I've yet to be convinced of the validity of electronic voice phenomena. The reason I hold will probably be different than most answers you get here since I have experienced many After-Death Communications myself.

I’m not a sound engineer. But I thought sound is a wave, a form of energy. Sound waves are produced and manipulated everyday. I’ve heard an African Grey parrot call “ here kitty, kitty” and would love to hear that on an EVP! I’ve heard a sonic boom recorded and everyone knows Steven Hawking speaks quite eloquently with the aid of a computer.

So if sound is energy, and energy can be recorded why can’t the dead use energy to record on analog or digital recorders?

I do believe After-Death Communication is real.  

In the 1976 book "Death and Beyond" by Greely, you'll find the author included stats from previous studies around the world. It's interesting (to me) that ADC's are more likely to happen to specific groups of people.

3-5 % of the population  (remember this is from a 1976 book reporting various studies) depending on s*x or race reported having an ADC.   African-American respondents were nearly twice as likely to have contact than compared to 24% for whites.  According to the 1997 book " Love Beyond Life" by Martin and Romanowski, the report of ADC's has risen since the 70's asking; have the occurrences increased? Or, are people more comfortable talking about it? The authors continue, the differences between African Americans and whites suggest that cultural and religious beliefs may "facilitate" or "hinder" ADC's. Also noting significant differences among nationalities, age, and religious affiliations. Another interesting stat noted in "Love Beyond Life" on age: a third of teens report ADCs, a fifth of those in their 20's and 30's, and rising reports of ADC's after age 40.

Would any of these stats parallel with the belief EVP’s are valid evidence? Maybe, maybe not.

As a professional medium for over 9 years (ability since 3 years old and, yes "it" runs in my family) I've done discernments for entire families where the departed will tell me they have been to "visit" a specific member of the family much to the surprise of the rest of the family.  Seems to be a "mom always did like you more" thing. Although; the deceased person has usually visited the family member who was the least bereaved, in my experience.

I can hear what people on the other side are saying and it has been confirmed as accurate. I've been told names, how the person passed, very personal details I couldn't have gotten elsewhere (actually I couldn't have thought up on my own) and much more, like meaningful songs, obscure movie quotes, and just plain weird, expressions.

I've yet to hear an EVP that convinced me. When I listen to mostly inaudible EVPs, I listen in a different way. I listen psychically. So far, there has been no one there. It’s empty. While some EVPs can be chilling no doubt, I have found them void of the energy of consciousness. I have yet to discern a spirit behind the sound of any EVP I’ve heard. Doesn't mean they aren't real. I've never heard a spirit say something while a recorder was going and then the recorder pick it up.

I’d like to experiment with an experienced paranormal group someday. They could do recordings while I do a discernment with loved ones and then they listen to the recording with equipment that picks up below human voice range. Now that would be interesting. I’ve heard the EVPs that sound like kids saying “I’m cold” or “ help me” these make me crazy since I’ve spoken to children who have crossed and not a single one, has every conveyed discomfort or confusion.

So there’s my very long reason. In the end I think people have to experience and decide for themselves no matter the statistical data. I’ll stay open to the possibilities, you keep investigating EVPs and maybe someday you’ll record the very EVP that convinces me.

Answer 3

ive never personally tried it but having lost my 18 yr old to suicide i'm more interested in it now i would give anything to hear his voice once more time  i know if he spoke i would deffinately know if it was him or not

Answer 4

Too many variables and chances for 'observational error'.

Answer 5

Most of them are static noises and honestly I have never heard one that is really clear. hearing words and phrases in stitic is  like seeing faces in clouds.

Answer 6

Some people are so deluded that they will never believe regardless of the evidence.

Answer 7

It is because of the quality and inconsistencies within the field of what is accepted as an EVP and what is not.  I have heard some recordings that are downright creepy and seem legitimate, and heard others that so called professionals have deemed authentic that sound like a dog barking or some kind of unidentifiable background noise.  I have also heard Grant on GhostHunters call a "voice" that they all heard as an EVP.  Technically if they heard it with their own ears without the aid of a recording device, then it was a disembodied voice, not an EVP.

I also hate it when someone tells you what they think the alleged EVP is saying BEFORE you get a chance to listen to it.  Many people end up agreeing with whatever they are told it is supposed to be saying.

Many EVPs are retrofitted to the situation.  Someone records what sounds like a voice saying "Molly", someone does a minutia of investigating to find out a previous owner had a dog named Molly.  Presto, it must have been the previous owner searching for his lost dog.  And if there was no Molly, it must be a child saying "mommy" looking for its mom!

Only clear, clear, clear EVPs should be accepted as evidence.

Answer 8

I belong to a group and have personally caught E.V.P.'s one saying I'm God. But it was in a cemetry when kids had been in there playing with a ouija board. Want to hear it? Go to our site and listen to it.   www.indianaghostdoctors.com

Answer 9

Assuming an EVP isn't fabricated or manipulated to begin with, it's nothing more than auditory pareidolia.  What makes me think this?  I have many, but I'll just give you a few.

First, because ghosts have no voice boxes.  Without voice boxes you can't produce speech.

Second, if a recorder can pick up the voice then my ear can pick up the voice.

Third, if ghosts were able to speak they would almost certainly do so frequently.

Four, there is no consistency in the production of EVPs.  If you get one yesterday why can't I get one in the same place today?

Lastly, if ghosts could interact with the living and make coherent responses to questions asked, they would do so.  As it is, most all EVPs are nothing more than a vague word or two in response to a general question.  Why is it so many EVPs tell you beforehand what words you should be listening for?  If EVP were a legitimate phenomenon no such guidance would be necessary.

When the day comes that someone asks a ghost what his name is, his date of birth, his date of death and gets an answer that is subsequently verified, then I will begin to consider the EVP phenomenon.  As it stands today, it's nothing more than auditory pareidolia.

Answer 10

As others have said, it comes down to poor controls and subjective interpretation. Those who collect these EVPs rarely ensure that all extraneous noise has been eliminated and that the recorder is insulated from RF interference. The recording itself is problematic because they always seem to be noisy, nebulous recording where you could fit any number of words or phrases to pattern-match what's heard in the recording. That's called audio pareidolia. What's I find interesting is that no EVP I've ever heard has sounded like normal speech. It is always stilted, jerky, over- or under- stressed in the wrong places, etc. It's just not actual speech.

If someone has recorded an EVP that sounds like normal speech and is unmistakable, I'd certainly be interested in hearing it and learning the conditions of its recording.

Answer 11

It is a very hard thing to believe without experiencing it yourself.  I collected several hundred recordings that I "believed" to be evp but still wondered if what I was hearing could possibly be real.   Then one day I was given a recording made at a home where a young man had committed suicide.   I was asked to analyse the recording and spent several days going over it.   Finally I had to give my findings to the family and really didn't want to because some of the things I documented as hearing were very personal and would be embarrassing if true.   As it turned out everything the young man's spirit communicated was true and I had no way of knowing any of it.  I had never met him or his family and knew nothing but his name.   He wound up leaving his mother 65 messages on that recording and all of them meant something to her.   I now believe without a doubt that they are real.

Answer 12

too many errors