Would you consider this evidence?

Question

Jfb, you asked a great question. You should post it. I will answer your question while asking one myself.

The first thing that makes a believer, is usually personal experience. Personal experience cannot be felt or duplicated by others. Thats where credibility comes in. Do we believe the persons account?

The second thing for me is if it is a pic, are there more than one pic? I personally dont like single pics. I require at least two and even beeter three pics of the same thing from different distances and angles. these are hard to get for sure. I dont like night pics because you cant see whats around the pic, (reflections and such).But even still different distances and angles makes it hard to discount, if the same thing is in the pics. Having the temps, humidity, times, and circumstances are required. Where was the sun, moon, or any other light in reference to the pics.If you gonna post a pic and say its a ghost, I want to know everything about the pics. Would this be evidence?

Answer 1

Yes, it's evidence, but evidence is a subjective thing and it always, always, always has to be qualified with the methods and controls used to obtain it in order for it to be useful and compelling in a scientific investigation. When people say that there is evidence for ghosts, for example, they are correct that there is evidence for them, but what kind of evidence? Is it reliable, objective, confirmed? Usually not.

So, if you take a photo of a ghost, and you're the only one around when it happens, the photo is evidence but it is still reasonable for others to doubt the authenticity. For EVPs, the situation is enough tougher since EVPs, especially Class B and Class C, can't be distinguished from pareidolia in any objective way. In addition to the controls you mention, you need to somehow confirm that RF interference didn't happen and that the mic was completely isolated from external noise. This would be VERY hard to show in almost all situations where EVPs tend to be recorded. Still, using the highest quality equipment would be advisable, and even better, using a redundant system where two different recording set ups are used simultaneously would help the credibility. If both systems pick up the same "message", you'd have something a little more convincing. Even so, it would still be reasonable for a skeptic to question your evidence along the lines I mentioned above.

Answer 2

Another Gomer who needs to double-negative to believe!  *laughter*

Answer 3

Evidence of an overactive imagination.

Answer 4

I'm a believer because of what I see on TV such as Lisa Williams, John Edwards, Ghost Hunters, etc. I've done EVP twice and got 2 voices. I used to be hardcore skeptic til I saw shows on TV.

Answer 5

they say pictures are rather great ways to get evidence if thats what you are asking.... i myself have some of odd things in them we didnt notice til the family member passed on

Answer 6

My skeptical perspective is a direct result of the lack of evidence, so I am perfectly willing to alter my opinion should any credible evidence surface.  Such evidence would have to be very reliable.  It is impossible to know where a person is coming from, so I'm afraid personal testimony would never suffice.  As you know, pictures (and even video) can be both altered and fabricated, so pictures/video would be tenuous evidence at best.

The best evidence is repeatability, predictability or any sort of scientific approach.  I have read your answers so I know that as far as paranormal investigators go you appear to be among the best in your methods and perspective.  However,  before studying or trying to capture EVPs, wouldn't it be wise to first establish whether or not they even exist?  This is the first stage in paranormal investigation.

You ask a good question here.  You also appear to favor the scientific approach, which is exactly the way paranormal phenomena should be investigated.  When the science begins to support the claims many supporters in the paranormal make, then I will be eager to reevaluate my position.