If this topic has been repetitive I apologize but I didn't see one posted recently.

Does anyone watch ( T.A.P.S. aka Ghost Hunters? ) on the Sci Fi channel?

They signed on for a 4th season and it will debut in September with only 6 new episodes. I enjoy watching them for entertainment purposes but I don't agree with some of the things they do. People forget TAPS's show is on T.V. and sometimes it is scripted for ratings. One thing TAPS have done that is good is bring more attention to the media regarding Paranormal Phenomena. There is more interest in this field because of them.

However, what I don't agree with is only a few things. One of them is provoking! When they can't get any phenomena to ocurr on an investigation, they feel the need to provoke. You don't know what your messing with, so why do you feel the need to provoke? For evidence reasons? You can motivate spirits without provoking. There are many positive ways to motivate them. For example, why not use music from their time period? It might entertain them. Our research team LIGHT treat spirits with the utmost respect by treating them as if they are people. After all, spirits were people before they passed on. Treat them like they are your friend, or family member. Treat them with kindness. If they enjoyed smoking, offer them a cigarette? Or a drink? You never know what kind of response you just might get!? For example do you all remember when Justin got knocked on his butt for provoking a spirit in Ireland? Nuff said! LOL...

The other thing I disagree with is the determination if a place is haunted. They investigate only one time, and they are so quick to judge if the establishment is haunted? LIGHT at least investigates two times, and a 3rd if needed before we make any decisions. If you get activity on the first attempt, that's great but just because nothing happens on the first attempt doesn't mean activity won't happen again.

I don't think TAPS is going to last much longer on T.V. because of ratings. They might fade out slowly. I'd like to see a show without the drama and get a group on T.V. that get more scientific. It takes a lot more then what TAPS show on T.V. to become an investigator and there's a lot more involved.

Uh...if the spirits have been dead for years, how are they supposed to know if they liked to smoke or not? Half of the time you can't even tell for sure who the spirit is.

I also seem to remember them saying something along the lines of 'It might be haunted, but we didn't catch anything,' a few times. Of course, that's not the exact words. Or my memory could be playing tricks on me. I really have watched it in quite a while. There's a lot of the investigation that they don't show you. Don't the leaders have families back home? If so, why do they want to stay gone for that long? I don't know if they really still have jobs back home because I'm sure Sci-Fi is paying well, but that would be a reason they couldn't stay long enough to do more than one investigation.

Bottom line though is that they are on TV. Some of that stuff, or the whole show, could turn out to be faked. If you want information, your best bet would be to contact investigators in your area. Real life ones that aren't swayed by the prospect of being on TV or money. I agree, it would be nice to get a group on TV without all the drama, but chances are that show would be canceled before it even began. If you get no ghosts, and no drama, it can equal one very boring show for most.

They do not always provoke. Since they came back from England they have adopted a more "user friendly" attitude toward these entities.

Certain scenes are obviously planned (you don't just walk into someone's home and have a table, chairs and PC right there for you to us). But the investigations are conducted as would be any situation. Don't forget they're on site for 8-10 hours or more, sometimes spanning several days. Can't show all of it in a 1 hour show.

(I'll bet the out takes and bloopers are a riot! )




Actually it is (was) Brian who provoked and he did get a lot of criticism for it.



He wasn't provoking. Asking something to appear or make it's presence known isn't provoking.

And BTW, it's Dustin not Justin.

ps- 2 investigations isn't enough to definatively say a place is or is not haunted.

*cough* *cough* Jealousy *cough* *cough*

I like TAPS ... and they have a wide range of really good gear. Of course the show is edited and scripted ... if not an episode would be like 10 hours long. I know I wouldn't wanna watch them bringing in the TV and DVD and Audio players into peoples homes for the reveals. I know you've mentioned that you're in a paranormal group... and I hope it's doing well. But you're right, people should be greatful to TAPS for making it big again ... a lot of people give up on it because of lack of evidence, and with TAPS they don't just use anything ... they use the real hard evidence. They go in to prove that it's not haunted and when they find out that they can't prove that, theyre left with evidence of a haunting.

Well Pluto you should write to TAPS and suggest your ideas to them and see what they think. You never know ... they might like them. But because they don't do things your way .... doesn't mean it isn't the right way.

But I'm a fan of the show ... If I never liked it I would be saying how much i sucked and blah blah blah. I give them props for making it.


Gene

How would you get more scientific than using scientific equip such and Digital recorders, cameras, geigermeters (sp?), Thermal cameras, EMF detectors, infared cameras? I'm just wondering what more scientific means would be other than using scientific equip.


Thanks,

Gene

I personally like the show "TAPS". Yes, they do many, many hours of investigation. I also love the way they will 'debunk' certain things too. I think it's one of the more credible shows on TV right now. Just my opinion.

Jody

The equipment might be scientific but their methods could use a little work. and TAPS might be credited with bringing paranormal research into the spotlight but they are not the first researchers and should not be considered the de-facto. The show is just that, a show. enjoy it while it lasts.

Exactly. Wouldn't fly. GH isn't a documentary. It's pseudo-reality TV. I have no problem with a documentary about ghosts and the paranormal but that's been done many times before. You just won't get a successful (they've been on for 4 years, credit where credit is earned) TV series documentary style.

I for one don't think there's all that "drama", especially in season 3. Besides, it show's they are human, real people. Not stuffy sciencists and not actors. Every group of people - paranormal or not - has it's drama, conflicts, personality issues etc. That's part of the entertainment value.

And as I've said before, we only see the tinest fraction of what is actually filmed. A 1 hour TV show (really 40 minutes after commercials!) can't possibly summarize everything that happens in a 12 hour investigation, and days of going over evidence collected.

If you have any of the seasons in DVD check out the extra scenes feature. There's a lot of stuff that doesn't make it to the final cut. Or the editors take one 30 second slice of a 10 minute scene. That's reality of TV/film/feature productions.

The bald guy (grant?) ruins it for me. I just dont like all the tension he brings. I dont get why the people stick around him, i would leave.

There is another show called most haunted with an english guy that is goofy too. The psychics seem so much like drama class rejects.

It would be nice if they had a skeptic, middle of the road guy that uses the scientific stuff and psychic that is a normal person. And have the people like or at least show some respect for each other.

Brian was not with Dustin, when Dustin got knocked to the ground. Dave Tango was with Dustin, and I think Dave did provoke them, although I thought Dustin did too. Brian, I believe, was with the Irish Ghost hunter, and that guy kept trying to get Brian from getting himself to far into the situation, when I believe that all the Brian wanted was to chase after a shadow and get more evidence. That could be me.




I also noticed that Dustin hasn't been in any shows after that too. I could be wrong, I just haven't noticed him since then.






Actually, that is Jason, and I think it's great he's there. To me, he, in fact both he and Grant, give the whole thing some sense of seriousness. I see Jason as very grounded and not someone who wants to chase after every little thing and proclaim it ghost. He wants to play the critic to make sure they check every possible explaination that it's not haunted. He doesn't play hardball. Plus, he seems like a very good leader, and that is what the rest need, in my opinion anyways.

I know Brian wasn't with Dustin. Just saying it's Brian who usually tries to provoke.

Jason is actually very a very nicely spoken person. I think he takes charge in the group and believe me that is very much needed in a group at times!

I don't ever remember them saying "this place is haunted" Most of the time they go through the footage (3+ cameras with 8+ hours each, voice recordings, everything.. must take a few days!) and find anything out of the normal.. then present it to the home owner or building owner or whoever and say "We found this, what do YOU think" and leave it at that. The owners are the ones that say "Wow its really haunted!".

And on top of that, I'm fairly sure they've revisited a couple of places, guess I'll have to pull out my DVDs and see for sure.

Oh, and Most Haunted was for drama and nothing else..

Ghost show Most Haunted has been cleared of fraud by TV watchdog Ofcom, following complaints of deception. Viewers complained that the Living TV show, featuring "psychic" Derek Acorah, deceived the public by claiming to find evidence of paranormal activity. But Ofcom ruled that Most Haunted was an entertainment show, not a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, and should not be taken seriously.

Taken from SaRuMaN Here

But if you've ever seen Yvette freak out, its kinda obvious... Ghost hunters its much more professional about it.. and the crew is much better at keeping the camera steady! I love Ghost Hunters! *goes to watch some*

I like Ghost Hunters alright. The show is entertaining, and I loved the episode when they went to the St. Augustine lighthouse, since that's close to where I live. However, at times - especially on their website - they seem a bit flippant towards hauntings. I don't know, but the hauntings my family and I have experienced over the years have been anything but casual. It's always traumatic in some way to those who are being haunted. The one haunting I sort-of 'investigated' (helped out a family member), I had to come at it like a counselor, offering real and on-going help to the person, not just grab some footage of a shadow and high-tailing it out. I know the guys sit down with the person at the end and give some advice, but it just doesn't seem to be enough. Just my opinion

i like the show, but the one thing that really bothers me is how cheesy the scripted parts are. they really don't need to set up every scene. i think for the most part that people (most?) are smart enough to figure out what's going on. ughh, but the scenes where jason's like "all right, let's get home." or whenever they get a call while they're 'working' at roto-rooter... it SO rididculous that they would need to act these things out. we get it, you got the call, i'll buy it, i don't need to see a re-enactment of your reaction when you got it (if there was even a call...). i enjoy the actual investigations, but the 'drama' is a bit insulting.

I understand that, trust me I do, though I think it's just what the owners wanted. Meaning, I think all that they wanted was to verify that it is haunted, and that they have evidence, and not that they are going crazy or something. I think that the owners feel they can go from there, once they have what they get from Jason and Grant. Just my observation.

TAPS definately stays in contact with the people afterwards.

TAPS isn't just the handful of people on TV. The main part of TAPS has about a dozen members and there are family groups out there too. Overall, the people aren't left on thier own once the show is over.

Some people want more assistance, some don't. And the reality is that unless you 100% authenticate a place being haunted some people don't want anything more to do with you.

Hey MP, I just began watching it recently. I watched tonight and not only where they in my state, but 15 minutes from me, but I do understand they are older reruns. Unfortunately they didnt get an EVP's or photos etc, just cold spots etc. It's interesting though...JN-

I was watching Ghost Hunters ( because nothing else was on ) and it occurred to me.

there they are getting all freaked by temperature readings fluctuating , when actually that is normal. Each room of your house can have various temperatures in the same room. feel it or not , the air is always moving , when it doesn't it becomes dank and stale.

you have mini fronts in a room , warmer air rising , cooler sinking. always moving.

so following a temperature means nothing ( unless your looking at a 5 degree + difference for no reason in one spot ) but a couple degrees ? means squat.


===

also that one episode in the prison where a figure runs - you can see that it's quick flash of the underside of a shoe under the blanket on the left. Not the dork that tried to reenact it saying ' I can't see where I'm going' as they are yelling to him to run faster , but what they claim is the real deal.

I've examined that footage frame by frame and cannot see enough detail to say it is a shoe, a foot, or anything but a vague elongated blob. I have heard the "shoe" claim before, and have even heard people say they see sneakers or trainers on this thing. And yet there are no laces, no treads, no stripes, no swoosh-- nothing I can see that says "shoe." Therefore, it seems to me that when people say it's a shoe, it's an instance of pareidolia.

I agree that minor temperature fluctuations are normal. Of themselves, they don't mean a thing. And I think there are probably more useful things to look at than a thermometer. But I have seen them obtain astonishing results with one in an episode featuring Chris Fleming (from whom I honestly did not expect anything to write home about). Myself, I'm not inclined to run around a haunted location with a thermometer unless cold spots have been reported, and I'm trying to explain them. If you're not working from some particular theory about temperature fluctuations, a cold spot is just a cold spot.

I agree Boorite. As I said I just recently began watching it. On Wednesday they went to two different locations, one was a home and the other an old "haunted" building where it is said homeless people had died in the basement. I was really excited to see what they got for evidence. Not only did they not get anything, there was more drama revolving around I think Brian, who was "losing" thousands of dollars of equipment, and not only that, they were making fun of him through the entire show. I just feel that they should keep their comments off the show, it takes all credibility away. They were not only in my state, but 10-15 minutes away and that building is known for drug addicts shooting up and overdosing in the basement. It is right downtown and well known for sounds, and cries. Granted, spirits seem to hide when PI's enter, but they didnt seem to collect much of anything. I guess what I am trying to say is, if they do a show with NO evidence found, thats fine, but one right after the other, plus fighting makes for poor TV in my opinion. I did see one a few weeks ago that was great, so will keep watching and hoping it gets more interesting for me..YES a cold spot IS a cold spot. JN

'=

where is a link to that footage ? I'd like to see it frame by frame.

I found one - and here is the kicker . the camera moves but no one is supposed to be up there , and the dust is kicked up really fast. not to mention that 'shoe'

it is more likely that this was filmed with one of them running with a blanket over their head , kicking up dust , moving the camera by the physical force of them running on that catwalk ( it shakes the camera ) and in the end they sped the film up.

because that looks like crap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDSZkzRuQSA

now when they had been at that one hospital and a short figure crossed the hall - that was interesting.

I don't recall exactly what the readings were that was sighted on the show. We go by a 10 or more degree drop to indicate a possible paranormal cold spot. Which is also a good reason why it's important to take base temp readings - so you know what a dramatic drop is compared to some control value.

However, even with air currents on the whole the tempurature with in a house should be changing that dramatically room to room.

Uh...tell me something, please. Ghosts are people, right? Well, dead people that come back to haunt us every now and then whether it be by their own will or residual energy or whatever your reasons are for it. So tell me...if what they filmed was the ghost of a person, why can't that ghost be wearing a shoe? I mean, how often do you see naked ghosts running around? They're usually wearing something from their life, right?

If it was a fake, I don't think that TAPs did it. Maybe someone outside of their group, but I don't think it was anyone in their group. They go out of their way to disprove these things. The video of the blankets moving down the bed comes to mind. They figured out that someone was messing with their camera and it was actually someone behind the bed that was moving it. If they were into faking things, wouldn't they just have left that in there and claimed it as proof? Of course, I guess you could look at it another way. Maybe they did that just to earn credibility. 'We don't fake things, see? We debunk things!'

Bottom line is that it's a TV show. They're in it for the money. It could be completely real, or they could be making up stuff to keep their ratings up so they can continue making money. Like I said in one of my earlier posts, if you're that interested in it, find or form an investigation team of your own.

That's the reality of paranormal investigation. Sometimes it can be a long period between getting evidence. And even when you do personally experience something you may not get anything documentable.

Exactly!!

Does TAPS charge for their services? I know they call the people they are investigating for "clients", which sounds like there is some sort of payment. Doesn't really matter either way, I was just curious. There's a part of me that would love to have them investigate my grandmother's house

No respectable paranormal group will charge you for an investigation!

SAY DUSTIN!

haven't seen the show in quite a while,but I don't think TAPS charges people. I wish I could have seen the irish episode.Weren't they at Leap Castle fo rthat one? I don't think you should provoke spirits especially since you don't know what you are dealing with.
But I do think they try to make a serious effort to investigate the paranormal,and certainly have made people more aware of ghosts.

TAPS are free of charge. The Ireland investigations were awesome. Some really cool evidence was uncovered there.

Cheers,

Gene

People forget that TAPS / Ghost Hunters is on T.V. How do we know for sure, what is real and what isn't? You have to think that with Sci Fi running the program, that some of it is scripted. For example, the whole Brian thing in the 1st season was definitely made up for drama. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy their work and show. I met them in person. I met Jason, Grant and Steve and got the chance to work with them at the Houghton Mansion in North Adams, Ma back in March. It was really cool shooting theories back and forth with Steve while investigating the mansion with him. He is my favorite one of them all because even though he is a Ghost Hunter / Investigator he keeps things real and objective at the same time on being open minded and listens to what other people have to say in the field.

I find it odd that in the beginning of the show, during the first two seasons... it was hard to prove to Jason Hawes that a place was haunted. He needed hard evidence in order to call a place haunted. Everyone on the show had a hard time proving to him what was paranormal and what wasn't. After the 3rd season, it appears he is more open minded to calling places haunted even if they only get 1 or 2 EVP's. Sometimes those EVP's you can't even make out half the time.

As for temperature changes in a room, I agree with most of you that it don't mean squat by itself. It has to have at least a 5 degree or 10 degree drop in order for it to be considered a change in the atmosphere. What I don't see TAPS do on T.V. is monitor the whole place of it's normal temperature reading first. I see them monitor a room and take a base reading, but just because it changes a bit in one room doesn't mean a thing. It could be changing in the entire house or establishment. What I recommend as an experienced investigator is have a person in each room with a thermometer and see if you get the same changes in the other rooms. If you do, it's a normal reading for that foundation. It you get different readings in a room and the other rooms are the same, than you can say its abnormal. That would definitely collaborate it more.

I am also skeptical about this whole new invention with the K-2 Meter. I mean, come on... spirits are trained to answer into this meter every time Chris Flemming asks a question? It seemed to not miss a beat. All it is... is an EMF Detector that lights up. It will light up if a spirit is near it. We own a couple of those light up EMF Detectors. They light up every time you are near something that is giving off an EMF. I also think Flemming might become a new member of their T.V. show because of his invention. He'll replace Brian who has left the show because of his new born child.

So there are things that I remain skeptical about because they are on t.v. and a lot of people forget that. I am sure they work 4 - 8 hours on a case and most of it is edited to be shown for an hour's worth. I just don't agree with them provoking. You can get the same results in communication without provoking. We do it in a more positive manor with the utmost respect and we get the same results as TAPS, if not better. EVP work is like conjuring spirits in a way, and you are opening a doorway you do not know how to close. So you don't know what you are exactly bringing in. Forgive my typo's if there are any. I'm sorry for misspelling DUSTIN's name. Mind you I use a wireless keyboard and mouse and sometimes it's not always up to par.

I'm not putting anyone down on TAPS, I'm entitled to disagree with their methods. That's what makes each group unique though. I inspire everyone to follow their own methods and techniques. It helps the field to become better. If everyone followed TAPS or the same techniques, we'd all be going no where!

Most of this field is trial and error as well as based upon millions of theories. I just want everyone who is an investigator to receive the credit when the credit is due. These scientists seem to step in and chime in when someone in our field makes a huge discovery or has a break through in our field. I hope that all of us get the recognition we all deserve. If I see someone on t.v. who may be giving us a bad rep, I'll be disagreeing with it. Especially if it hurts our field.

Again, on a show you're only seeing a few minutes of an 8-10 hour investigation. Heck, they show camera setup taking just a minute or so and you know it takes at least an hour to get everything going! How often do they go lights-out and then flash to a scene 4 or 5 hours later? Of course things happen inbetween that just don't make it to the final cut. Doesn't mean base readings and such aren't taken.

I've spoken to Jason at length about some of the episodes and he's told me things did occur, were filmed but just didn't make it to the final cut. For example, in the Race Rock Lighthouse episode, Jason bets Brian that he will catch a fish before Brian finds a ghost. I asked Jason how the fishing was (as I'm an avid fisherman and have fished off Race Rock many times too). Jason told me he did in fact catch a fish and it was filmed but wasn't included on the final version that aired.

Bottom line is you can't go by what is shown on TV as a complete documentary of all the events of an investigation.

They're plumbers. Enough said.

By you anyways

lol Well, I guess they can rid you of ghosts and toilet troubles.

Exactly my point Po...!

I seriously doubt that. Can you back it up somehow, or are you just speculating?

Agreed. While the scenes filmed may have been layed out for the cameras, the conflict itself I feel was 99.9% actual, as evidenced by the fact that Brian is no longer with TAPS.

Ive only been watching TAPS for a few weeks and I am happy Brian is gone, what a little whiney girl he was..JN

I thought that Brian returned to TAPS? Oh well, he seemed to want to cause drama quite often. I definately do not believe that the tension between him and the rest of the crew was scripted. Get a group of people together and pretty soon there will be tension. It's just human nature. If there was a reality show about my life, everyone would believe it was made-up!

he eventually does ... but don't ruin it for JN lol. He does return but Steve is now Tech manager. So much better ... Brian is pretty dumb when he wants to be.


Gene

He comes back but then he leaves for good at the end of season 3 (sorry JN).

He really is gone from TAPS, along with several other people. I hear they're forming a new group.

Thanks MP, As I said the ones I am watching are reruns, just not to me. Is Jason, Grant and Steve still going to be part of the team? Yes Brian was a baby, and I have other feelings of what was going on with him, but will tell you via PM..

As far as I know at this time Jason and Grant are staying. Steve is staying too. So is Mike Dion although he technically isn't a TAPS member just a family member (part of NEP). I think Tango (never met him) is also staying. "Blue Steel" Dustin has left (his wife had a child recently too). Don't know what he'll be up to if anything.

I recently visited their official website, and I reviewed their list of recent TAPS Members. They did cut down a lot. If I remember on their old site, they use to list something around 30 to 40 members. Now it's down to 18. However... Brian and Dustin are both still listed there. Unless they haven't updated it yet. From what I am reading on their website, the new group is going to consist of Jason, Grant, Steve, Dustin, Tango, and Chris Flemming. I also heard through the grapevine that TAPS is looking to step down as they do not wish to do this anymore. They might pass it down to their top investigators such as Steve, Tango and Dustin. I don't know what will happen to the show, but I think it might last for 10 seasons. After the 10th it might fade out. They'll still be around, but I don't think the show will.

I still would like to see a show without all of the drama, and cut right down to the chase of things. No creepy music, or sound effects etc; What I'd like to see is a group on t.v. getting into it scientifically, using different techniques and methods etc; Again... don't get me wrong I like TAPS. I think they are nice guys and have done a lot for the field. It would be interesting to get a group on t.v. and shoot all kinds of theories and do experiments while investigating.

Shows like I expressed will only make the field become better.

Not sure where you read it, but Brian is long gone. They are beginning a new season with Jason, Grant, Steve, and Tango. They are doing fantastic work, I dont believe they would rather work for RotoRooter..Their ratings are thru the roof...JN

Personally, I don't see the show surviving more than 1 season w/o Jason & Grant. They are "the face" of TAPS and GH.

Could be a good marketing plan - get out at the top of their popularity!

Would be a shame if TAPS as an organization faulters or folds. That would leave a lot of TAPS family members out in the cold. I'm sure the groups would continue doing their work. But a lot of people have worked very hard to become family members. Would be a blow to many to loose the distinction.

Just have to wait and see.

You know, from my perspective, since they got so much evidence over the seasons, I don't think Jason and Grant won't leave for another probably 4-6 seasons.

Does this show still air?

Ain't is supposed to air on Wednesdays or something because I can never seem to catch it anymore.

And when does the new season begin?