Professionalism in the paranormal field

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Professionalism in the paranormal field
June 16, 2009
Jason Korbus
Examiner.com

With the somewhat recent boon of paranormal-themed entertainment on television, paranormal investigation groups have been springing up all across the United Sates. Taking their cue from the Sci Fi Channel’s own “Ghost Hunters,” men and women from many different backgrounds have been joining together in an effort to be the next team operating in their respective area. But with so many groups popping up, and a limited amount of ground in which to cover, competition for investigations can be surprisingly high. The thing is, it doesn't have to be that way.

I believe the key to advancing the field of paranormal research forward lies in cooperation with each other, not in competition. Of course, all groups want to get their share of investigations. And most of us strive to do the best possible work we can. However, when the level of discourse spirals downward into a never-ending game of one-upmanship and backstabbing, it has crossed the line from serious research into simple school yard bullying.

Sadly, incidents like these are becoming common in the paranormal field. Groups are refusing to help one another, refusing to share information and, in many cases, even badmouthing each other. They seem to think that investigation and research is a game, a competition with a “winner” and a “loser.” And that, at the end of the day, all the “victories” will be tallied up and someone will take home a bright shiny trophy.

It doesn’t work like that. The field of paranormal research has enough strikes against it as it is. It is already dismissed as pseudo science. In certain circles it is considered “geeky.” And with words like “ectoplasm” and “proton packs” in the public zeitgeist, being taken seriously can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. The last thing we need are groups fighting amongst themselves and with each other. A community, divided against itself, will assuredly struggle to stand.

This, then, is my plea. Be friendly to one another. Be kind to each other. Actively seek out other groups in your area and offer your assistance to them on their future cases. Make contacts. Develop relationships. Find the common ground and work together! This is the foundation of a successful enterprise. So build it, and the right people and opportunities will surely come. The bad seeds in this field will then have no choice but to slowly fade away.

Thanks for reading.