To complement my post about some of the most historical haunted places in the United States, I thought I should highlight the “sport” of ghost hunting, if it can be called a sport. Ghost hunting is an activity that has really taken off in recent years.
This could be due to films like “Ghostbusters” and television shows like “Ghost Adventures” and “Most Haunted”, and the surge of advancing high-tech equipment that can supposedly detect paranormal activity.
Most people think that any Joe-Schmoe can do it and it’s probably true that they can. Let’s delve a little deeper into this strange activity, shall we?
Ghost hunting is usually endeavored in groups. Not only does it make the evidence more substantial, but if something goes wrong, you’ve got back up.
The goal of ghost hunting is to investigate potential haunted spots and try to find proof of paranormal activity.
This usually includes historical research of the site previous to investigation and use of high-tech gadgets such as EMFs, thermographs, digital thermometers and digital video cameras.
EMFs are Electromagnetic Field meters that are able to measure a change in an electric field over time. EMFs are used to detect any unexplained changes or fluctuations in the electromagnetic field of an area; unexplained means the possibility of a ghost to any ghost hunter, or gal in a women’s costume. Infrared digital or still cameras are important because ghosts rarely manifest themselves in the light (or so they tell me), so if there is anything that happens in the dark, the infrared will capture it where regular cameras can’t.
Temperature instruments, such as thermographic cameras, thermal imaging cameras and infrared thermometers are widely used because it is supposed that ghosts have a lower core temperature than humans (you know, since they’re dead and all). Any spot of the room that is colder than the rest is often thought to be paranormal activity.
Most amateur ghost hunting will rarely yield “results.” Whether these results are credible or not, most people are skeptic. In fact, only about 34 percent of Americans think that ghosts actually exist. But if ghost hunting is the thrill that you’re looking for this Halloween, then by all means, do it. Let me know how it goes.
Emma Rae Curtis is a costume/dressing up/makeup & accessories expert. She mainly writes about Halloween but also about all things costume and dress-up related.
