Most Haunted

[zouzounaki]

Okay, so I'm a sucker for anything vaguely supernatural on the various "science" channels, i.e. Travel, TLC, Discovery, History etc. So, when I saw that Travel, far and away the best for specials, was debuting a new series, Most Haunted, last night, I was excited, especially when the description seemed to indicate that it focused on one particular alleged haunting per ep. When the credits came on, I got the idea of Scariest Places from the Family Channel (when it was still Fox, possibly the best "real" haunting show ever shown!) and I settled in for the night! I was appalled!

Having taken parapsychology courses (under Dr. Andrew Nichols, who can be seen in quite a few of the specials, as well as his teacher Dr. Roll, who most notably lately was in Discovery's A Haunting in Georgia), I was stunned and disgusted at their idea of what a parapsychological investigation would be; they did almost everything wrong. And they kept taking "readings." "Readings." Readings of what they never specified; was it temperature? Electro-magntetic fields? I've had a chance to handle the equipment of a "ghost hunter" and profess to having little knowledge as to either really worked. These people were worse; they barely seemed to know *why* they were doing it other than it looked really scientific! Dr. Nichols had a tendency to make fun of Sci-Fi's Ghost Hunters for their unprofessionalism; I cringe to think what he'd say about this. Each and every small noise was cause for screeching and blurred cameras as the over hyper ghost chasers ran in terror, never able to admit that nothing happened at least one!

The most embarrassing moment came when Derek the medium, quite afraid I'm sure that all of his posturing was really coming to nothing, was "possessed" and proceeded to utter a Dalek-like, deep throated "Con-FRON-TA-TTTIIIOOON!" I was in hysterics. Not good for a show only a half an hour into the first episode!

How depressing I find it to see that this is what ghost entertainment has stooped to (Oh, where are you MTV's Fear, or Family's Scariest Places?!) and that this is the impression the public is getting of paranormal investigators: unscientific, unprofessional, sensationalistic hacks dolling it up for the cameras.

Peace, Ghani

Comments

[may-child.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I must admit that seeing the Travel Channel's lineup made me wish I got that particular channel (I only have the most basic cable), but now I'm glad I don't.

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

It's really sad actually, because I was really looking forward to it too. I think Dr. Nichols just inspired this sense of indignance into me about the presentation of soft science on tv but, still, I don't think I would have fallen for it. That medium was just too much for me! Hehe, I should record a couple of eps for you, there's some room after the Lucas AFI tribute I'm sending...

[may-child.livejournal.com]

It's really sad actually, because I was really looking forward to it too. I think Dr. Nichols just inspired this sense of indignance into me about the presentation of soft science on tv but, still, I don't think I would have fallen for it. That medium was just too much for me! Hehe, I should record a couple of eps for you, there's some room after the Lucas AFI tribute I'm sending...

ROTFL!!! Thanks, I could use a good laugh.

LOL!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

One of my best friends is a ghost tracker. She also is continually disgusted at the way ghost hunting and evp and all is portrayed in the media... I remember after "White Noise" she had many, many snarky comments that I didn't necessarily understand but I was willing to take her as the expert. :)

Re: LOL!

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha, I'm this close to being certified (or is that certifiable?! LOL!), just need to take my open book test which I actually should have done at the end of my last class but he had had car trouble and had forgotten them so, I wait! I'm usually not so snarky about it (as Dr. Nichols himself said, we do it for fun anyway!) but this just seemed SO unprofessional.

Hope you enjoyed your trip! I'll be making my way over to your lj in a moment to see if you've posted a report! :)

[may-child.livejournal.com]

How depressing I find it to see that this is what ghost entertainment has stooped to (Oh, where are you MTV's Fear, or Family's Scariest Places?!)

Ah, Scariest Places on Earth...how I miss that show.

[ghanistarkiller.livejournal.com]

It was one of the greats! They'll still show it occasionally, usually around Halloween but, as it was produced by Fox, I have a feeling they have to pay Fox for it so, alas! The Family Channel's crap now, just another outlet for Disney to push their stuff on you.

[may-child.livejournal.com]

Ugh, as if Disney doesn't have enough avenues.

I wish they'd just release the series on DVD.