Comments for Ghost Hunts Give Mixed Message at Saint Louis Science Center at http://www.randi.org/site , comment 1 to 8 out of 8 comments http://www.randi.org/site Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:39:34 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19464 News like this gives me hope for my secret homeopathic vodka recipe. - Holmstrom Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:18:18 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19437 Its similar to psychics and clairvoyants who under UK law must advertise their services as being "For entertainment purposes only". Whilst its now having to be legally advertised as a bit of fun, I think most people who attend readings do believe its genuine. The problem is that if the ghost hunts actually used credible scientific methods, then it just wouldn't be very interesting as a ghost hunt. It might be interesting as an exercise in critical and skeptical thinking, but laypeople who go on these ghost hunts generally want to go because they want to see a ghost (confirmation bias anyone?) or because they want to get a bit spooked by the experience Otherwise its Ghosthunter - "I can feel the temperature drop. Does that mean a ghost is present?" Scientist - "No, it means theres a draught causing a drop in the ambient temperature" GH - "But there's an electromagnetic surge, surely that means the presence of spirits?" S - "No, thats a false reading which could be caused by any number of mundane and entirely non-supernatural effects" - Trez Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:21:08 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19428 @Sadhatter: working that idea into something which is genuinely interesting would be the great challenge. That may work better as a half day workshop on the scientific method and how we rule out nonsense (confirmation bias, etc). I'm not sure how to work in the ghost hunting except as part of the workshop after dark (in which case this is really a full day workshop). - MadScientist Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:53:11 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19425 Wow. I recommend everybody check out the link to the background info. There's a glossary of terms that includes everything from bigfoot to demons to U.F.O.s to gnomes with almost all of them presented as if they definitely exist. There is also a long article listing the different types of ghosts that kindly states, "As I give you the following list, remember I'm not looking at them from the physical plane where everything's supposed to make logical sense - I'm looking at them from the astral plane where you can see the full picture." I guess the message is clear, the full picture does not make logical sense. This is really tragic to have a science center investing in this garbage. I hope Randi does go speak there and I hope the topic is How Science Education is Undermined by Uncritical Dabbling in Pseudo-scientific Mysticism. - Zoroaster Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:40:29 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19419 Oops. Looks like Sadhatter beat me to that idea. That's what I get for leaving my browser open too long before reading and posting. - William Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:42:50 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19418 Perhaps their little paranormal research can offer science-based explanations of what the encounter as "unexplained". Sort of a bait-and-switch. "Ha! Tricked ya! You learned something!" - William Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:41:15 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19417 Mr. Blanford you can't be this naive. Your precious SLSC has been hijacked. If you can't speak up then get someone who can, it's the only way to possibly save SLSC. Speak up NOW! One action would be to make sure "plants" are in each group of ghost hunters. Your plants will tell the group that there are no ghosts espically no holy ghosts. your plants will tell the truth about the situation at the haunted place. From the sound of your article you probably will not speak up or install plants or do anything to keep the christians out of your precious SLSC. Too bad because SLSC sound like it was a wonderful museum and a valuable educational tool. - joed Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:00:05 +0100 http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1119-ghost-hunts-give-mixed-message-at-saint-louis-science-center.html#comment-19416 It seems the failing of science lately is that it is unwilling to take the " unpopular" position. The problem with iving into things like ghost hunts, is that it lends legitimacy to them. Why not, instead have a real scientific ghost hunt? Walk through a supposedly haunted local location, not be scared, and have a professional explain how many things are interpretted as evidence of the paranormal. I have always wondered why this hasn't caught on, especially among my sex and age group ( 25 and male.). What is a cooler story " i went to the haunted graveyard, and got scared." or " i wnet to the haunted graveyard, wasn't scared in the slightest, and don't see why others that have been there have been.". - Sadhatter Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:56:52 +0100