Paranormal Television and Disinformation
Disinformation is defined as false or misleading information that is intentionally spread with the purpose of deceiving or manipulating others. It may be a bit extreme to state that all paranormal television shows are deliberately misleading everyone, but it is safe to say there is also misinformation that is being spread due to ignorance or lack of accountability. I can say that if someone wanted to make sure they are sharing honest and factual information, they would do the work and show how they validated their findings. This definitely isn't always the case with the cast of these shows. At the end of the day paranormal television is subject to ratings and producers who know that their audience tunes in for the spooky aspect of the paranormal. Taking this into perspective it does paint the entire genre with the same brush. They cannot be trusted... So let's take a dive into some examples of how paranormal television could be altering the perception of the paranormal with disinformation.
FALSE OR INACCURATE HISTORY OR INFORMATION
In most paranormal television shows they begin the dialogue with information about the location which includes history and paranormal experiences. These interviews can make the location seem spookier or generate a negative image of the location and its history. There have been many cases of history being embellished, altered, or created in order to set the stage for the audience and a jumping off point for the cast to link certain experiences, activity, or data. A good example of this is a well known show went to an up and coming location that was a former Odd Fellows home. They mention that there are often skeletons found in Odd Fellows locations and the show put a sinister spin on this knowledge. Anyone with a computer and ability to do research can find information regarding this topic online and the factual information regarding the Odd Fellows organization. They would easily find that there is no negative meaning behind skeletons within the order of Odd Fellowship. We often see innocuous or false historical information sensationalized with the purpose of making the location have more potential of a 'haunting'. I was given several examples on my paranormal teams Facebook page of paranormal television shows misrepresenting locations and spreading disinformation, which falls in line with many stories I have been told over the years. It is always important to do your own research when it comes to the history of a location and to find documentation of the claims. In many cases these shows do not do legitimate research, nor do they attempt to validate statements made by those they interview.
LACK OF DEBUNKING OR FINDING NATURAL EXPLANATIONS
As a paranormal investigator I know that I need to show my work. When we capture EVP, get responses on equipment, have an experience, or have any anomalous occurrences; we have to attempt to debunk or cross reference redundant data to support or validate our findings. We often find that paranormal television shows give you the meat, but they don't show you how it was cooked and they don't tell you where it came from they just tell you to eat it. They constantly show limited information in order to convince the viewer of paranormal activity. A good example of this was an episode of a famous television show with a trio of investigators. They were in an area of a location where they had significant activity occur before their investigation and then during their session in that area. They left a static camera there as they exited and a few minutes after leaving they captured a disembodied voice. Interestingly enough later in the show they share their session in that next area and the lead investigator had made a loud exclamation that matched the sound they captured in the active area with the static camera. A good critical thinker or individual that was interested in making sure there was legitimacy to their claims would have cross referenced these recordings to make sure they weren't explainable. In my years as a paranormal investigator I have found much of the explainable "anomalies" are actually something a living person or investigator has done and not tagged. Paranormal television rarely accounts for debunking procedures or finding explanations, especially if the audience isn't going to readily recognize something explainable if the producers place the two events further apart rather than in sequence.
CREATE FEAR OR NEGATIVITY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PARANORMAL
Paranormal television shows aim to make the viewer uneasy and create the thrill of the unknown. Suspenseful music, well placed commercials or pauses, and sound effects have done the job on many shows but the cast also knows they need to be over the top to make sure they keep the audience interested. What you don't see is that no matter what the cast or "investigators" hear or experience, they have to use it. Hear a sound? Use it. See something out of the corner of your eye? Use it. Instead of creating a desire to find explanations it has pushed people to automatically assume things are paranormal. Over time and exposure to paranormal television we have noted that our clients share claims that can be easily explained by natural events but they are frequent experiences embellished in these shows as paranormal phenomena. I would have to say 'orbs' in photography and video are one of the most misunderstood and sensationalized natural phenomena that is featured on paranormal television. Quickly followed by demonizing things that are misunderstood or that will generate an increased thrill in the audience. Paranormal television has generated a different level of fear or thrill when it comes to paranormal phenomena, which has also impaired the seasoned investigators ability to assuage the fears. I have to point out the fact if you have not been in the field doing investigations in a serious and standardized fashion, you may not have a well-rounded education regarding paranormal phenomena.
MISATTRIBUTION OF HISTORY OR INFORMATION TO PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
One of the big debates between paranormal investigators is when to do the historical research on a location. Many object to researching the history prior to the investigation so that you don't have any preconceived ideas of what may be going bump in the night. Paranormal television is definitely a cautionary tale when it comes to avoiding the history prior to the investigation. Why are they always finding objects or using historical details to convince the audience of the authenticity of the activity? They get a response to a question on an Ovilus to go to a certain area, then when they get there they find bones and then the Ovilus says "Satan" or "Devil". These types of responses could be edited to appear in sequence but really aren't; however it makes the audience believe there is something to the 'haunting', when it is just really good set up. It is important to maintain objectivity until all the investigation is complete before forming any conclusions, but paranormal television doesn't have the luxury to limit it's "thrill factor" by waiting. It gives an unhealthy image of how paranormal phenomena may be present, how often it happens, and how it all relates to the known or documented history of the location.
FALSE POSITIVES AND FAULTY CAUSATION OF EQUIPMENT RESULTS
I am a firm believer that most paranormal equipment is just expensive paperweights. Through the years I have experienced many paranormal investigators and ghost hunters spend an exorbitant amount of time and money on equipment. Upon starting sessions they spend a large amount of time setting this fancy equipment up and troubleshooting, which distracts from the actual investigation and compromises the entire dynamic. Then it finally beeps and lights up, but they have no idea how it works or what it may be picking up front the environment. Paranormal equipment is subject to the knowledge of the observer, experimenter, and the analysis. Paranormal television has made a lot of this equipment appear to be the holy grail of results when it comes to communication with spirits, but in reality they are followed around or are carrying multitudes of items that cause the equipment to go off in the first place. Their plan doesn't include finding explanations for the results, instead they deliberately misinterpret trendy equipment results for the thrill of the audience. This has directly impacted the expectations and knowledge of paranormal enthusiasts, paranormal investigators, and ghost hunters; even those experiencing paranormal activity.
I could write a million other things that paranormal television shows, social media influencers, You Tubers, and more items of disinformation that can be shared but I think you get the jist. When I was writing this blog my husband constantly said, it's television, they have to get the audience. I do understand that and really nothing will probably change that, BUT there may be one or twenty people that may read this very blog and be more guarded by what they believe on these shows or from these individuals. Most of them are dishonest, but everyday I see people thrilled to meet the cast members of these shows, even though many people know they aren't honest. It's disgusting really. So whatever capacity you consume paranormal content be sure you understand that some of it is all bunk and some of it is honest. Be careful what you absorb, you may just find a bunch of egg on your face when you accept this crap as fact.
Rebecca Boyer
Co-Founder/ Case Manager
Antietam Paranormal Society
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