The investigation under the Tor!

I have now put a short report on my blog page about our paranormal investigation of the White Spring underneath Glastonbury Tor, which was undertaken on Saturday night - it was quite intriguing!

blog.myspace.com...

Ross

The results of the paranormal investigation have now been condensed into a short film which is now airing at www.glastonburytelevision.com...

Check it out and see what you think - it is indeed a strange place!

Ross

I saw a few interesting ones.

Some I thought could be cobwebs, insects etc with reflected light. One I thought looked like the result of a laser pointer "drawing" on a wall.

Brian May hair bloke (sounds like Ralph from the Fast Show) running scared was amusing. That Conquerer bloke with his comedy hat and talk about spirit was kinda amusing.

To be honest I think that there is always gonna be doubt when an investigation is set up, with pesky humans moving all over the place. The opportunities for for objects to be moving about in micro currents of air are numerous. I think ideally you could do with setting up cameras and leaving the area sealed for a couple of days.

The pulsing one was quite interesting though. The motion detectors? I would have liked a more camera / video focused setup...with mucho illumination...(IR). Non human animal interference can't be totally ruled out imho. Could someone have been throwing objects in there? Without a geographic layout it is hard to judge. I think you need to benchmark equipment before use. Try to replicate the environment..see what level of sensitivity the sensors have. Some sort of data logging...know which sensor in a room is being set off...could be just one faulty sensor.

Footsteps in water. Could it be replicated by a recording played back? How well can you trust a team member? I know of a "Ghost Club" where the founder was faking stuff to get the punters in. NO suggestion here from me Ross!! One club I have been with was always suspicious that when a certain member was in attendance that more would happen. The night I was with them a child's footprint was photographed by a puddle. The senior club member was not impressed. In fact he said..."Yes we always have more happening when '~#' is about!!" rather sarcastically.

I know you are no fool Nomad just a few observations. Like a lot of these things you have to be their to "get it!!". I have been to a few "hunts" and find sometimes peoples belief makes their objectivity diminished. Then there is the herd instinct, hive mentality...where someone elses notion becomes the explanation.

I am always suspicious of humans. They love to joke and fake things. Cynics would love to infiltrate and set stuff up. I am sceptical and always approach things from the point of view OK science can't explain it...can it be faked. Yes, I have experienced things that I can't explain but I don't believe it necessary to cry paranormal at everything. Don't mean it's not, it just means my burden of proof is higher.

I believe that there could be value in setting up "fake" experiments to test a groups objectivity. Just the odd thing during a vigil to see if a group can be fooled. Could be a real learning experience for them. Take away some of the arrogance and elitist nonsense that I feel a lot of people have. Once people realise there is no harm looking the fool...get some real work done.

So for me if it can be faked, then it is undecided. I suppose believers will label me a James Randi clone or something. But I am no fool...I am open minded...it is just the burden of proof.

I gave up going to vigils because of the total gullibility of those present. People go mostly to prove something...ghosts, spirit Demons...so any scant evidence seems to be enough. That's what makes the cynics job easy...they don't have to fool the people, the people fool themselves.

Just a couple ob bobs worth

I know what you are saying, because there have been so many cases of fakery in the past - but rest assured, NEVER on my TV programmes, I will not stand for it and would walk off the set.

I agree with a lot of your points, and it was ashame we only had limited equipment and time for this one, but we do intend to go back with more and better equipment soon.

The motion detector going off was strange though, as everyone was sitting at the far end of the building well away from this room, and the sounds were also caught on cassette and digital sound recorders, but the night vision camera in this room was pretty poor so we couldn't see if maybe a rat or something had set it off, albeit unlikely.

I do believe some of the orbs were flies, stray torch reflections and even as you say a possible laser pointer from the IR thermometer, and I did comment on this in my summing up - but some of these orbs and "rods" are much harder to explain, especially where clairvoyant Helen "asked a spirit to pose for a photo, which was then captured by Sarah next to her"!

It was a intruiging investigation and the next one will be for longer, with better kit and less humans!

Ross
PS Tune into the first hour of my show tonight when I will be discussing this investigation and opening the lines for callers. www.glastonburyradio.net... from 9 p.m. UK time

Hey Nomad,

I am aware of your intent, so I am pretty sure that your integrity would not allow fakery. But with others it can be a fine line out there.

I know that you work with people that you have known for some time and trust. But I have noticed that many "teams" seem to consist of just believers because of the friction that cynics and sceptics can cause. This I believe creates a medium where interpretations are subjective not objective. This can make things very one sided and perhaps invalidate findings...especially for the scoffing cynics!!!!

I have felt things, heard things and seen things that defy my sceptical logical brains simple view of the world. I know that the human mind can be easily led...it likes order and can fill in gaps in knowledge with experiences or imagination.

I was at one event where a "sensitive" amongst us, was playing the Derek Acorah and collapsing on the floor saying "Oh the stench..there's evil...." or something like that. During a refreshment break a fellow "hunter" confessed to me that he had actually farted in that location, because it was out the way...and was amused that the "sensitive" was deeply breathing his "guff gas". It was at this point, that most of us realised that the self styled "sensitive" was a muppet!!!

I think that a good scientific approach is the way to go. Many "investigations" seem to consist of dusting off the equipment from previous events and repeating the experience. I think all equipment should be bench-marked for performance and sites should be "surveyed" first.

The benchmarking should consist of testing equipment in various environments...sort of a quality calibration. You would then know that data recorded is site specific and not faulty circuitry, operation...or operator. I believe that there is value in checking equipment after use too.

The surveys could, for example, be small investigations to ascertain the best locations and practicality of an investigation. I guess that, in a way, this was achieved with your White Spring night.

I do feel though, that some "Ghost Hunt" organisations are just merely a social event...a bit of a jolly...it is sad....It puts prices up and discredits the field. Ruddy Most Haunted clones...

Personally, I was a sceptic, then believer now I would say I am more a cynic....but open minded enough to know that there is more out there...but I don't necessarily believe that it is ghosts and ghoulies!!

Keep on looking.....