My buddy Steve Fernino, who among his many claims to fame is an investigator with CT Soul Seekers and Director of Paranormal Research Groups, sent me an invite on Facebook to a TOWN HALL meeting on Ethics in the Paranormal Field.
It’s this Friday from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. EST on LiveParanormal.com. You have to register to participate, but it’s free. I believe Deonna Kelli Sayed, who investigates with Haunted North Carolina Research & Investigations, both created the event and is running it.
For the second time today I find myself referring to my Q&A with Phasma Ex Machina. One of their questions had to do with ethics. I was kind of surprised that others who did their “6 Questions With…” didn’t always have answers to the question: “Do you have any moral/ethical obligations in ghost hunting or communicating with the dead?”
I think ethics plays a part in just about anything, but some things more than others. Not that anyone will die or lose their life savings (hopefully not anyway!) in regards to the paranormal like one might with a medical or legal issue, but ethics still factors in.
How many psychics are really on the up and up and not just (a) either exceptionally good researchers who do their homework ahead of time, or (b) exceptionally astute at picking up on the nonverbal communication of others? (I was a Communications major in college. We studied nonverbal communication even more than verbal because it communicates far more. Some people are naturally expert at reading various cues and can tell a lot about a person that way –no psychic abilities necessary. I always found those examples most compelling.)
How many businesses try to drum up business with alleged hauntings but not any real actual proof?
And what about those who try to charge for paranormal investigations? I’m talking about both paranormal investigation groups as well as allegedly haunted places who see a way to make some extra money. (The first one…that’s not good. They can’t really offer anything to people. No one’s patented a ghost removal device. But the second one..well, it is America and capitalism is the American way.)
Those are just a few of the ethical concerns I think about. What are some of yours? Either leave a comment below or come join me at the Town Hall Friday night and discuss it with everybody then.
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Well, Dinell
bring that to the forum!
Deonna Kelli Sayed and Jeff Barnes are hosting and moderating and I am their guest. We aren’t just covering bad behavior but ethics all around. What you just mentioned above is a great and valid point… and just another side to this that we are looking to discuss.
@ParanormalRG
this is something i’d like to do but im also a bit mmmm about being charged for investigations.
Ethics are just as important in the paranormal world as the medical world. The bad side of the turn of the century spiritualist movement is an example of how important ethics can be. Fake psychics and ghost hunter types prayed on those who had lost loved ones for profit. It is important to keep ethical standards high so these types of things don’t happen again.
Well said everybody! Sometimes (often times) as I read other people’s blogs and then the comments that follow up I think the comments are more interesting than the actual post. I mean, the actual post may have been good but then what it sparks…neat! This is one o those times…and it’s right here on my blog! YAY!