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70 The Shady Science of Ghost Hunting

The Shady Science of

Ghost Hunting

Continued from Page 69

If murder victims whose killings remains
unsolved are truly destined to walk the earth and
haunt the living, then we should expect to
encounter ghosts nearly everywhere. According
to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, roughly a
quarter of all homicides remains unsolved each
year. (In fact, fewer homicides are solved now
than in the past; in 1976, 79 percent of
homicides were cleared, down to 64 percent in
2002.) There are about 30,000 homicides in
America each year.
Using the most recent numbers, that's
about 11,000 unsolved murders per year, and
110,000 over the course of only ten years, and
probably well over million over the course of the
twentieth century in America alone.

Where are all the ghosts?

husband's Teac reel-to-reel recorder. She is sure
And why aren't they helping to bring their killers
that the voices are spirits, proving there is life STRINGER’S
to justice, with so many crimes unsolved? Why after death. Estep also claims to hear voices of
would they hang out in scary mansions instead
aliens on some of her tapes. She says she has
of directing police to evidence that would
taped some 20,000 ghosts and aliens. Aliens ZINGERS
avenge their murders?
don't speak English, however, so she is not sure
For that matter, why are ghosts seen
what they are saying. Maybe she was picking up
wearing clothing? It's one thing to suggest that a in
Satan speaking in tongues.
person's spirit has a soul that can be seen after
Interest in EVP apparently began in Barry’s Bay, Ontario
death; but do shoes, coats, hats, and belts also
the1920s. An interviewer from Scientific
have souls? Logically, ghosts should appear
American asked Thomas Edison about the
naked. The fact that they don't suggests that possibility of contacting the dead. Edison, a man STRINGER’S ZINGERS is a unique
people's ideas of what ghosts are—and what novelty sign and product artisan shop in
of no strong religious views, said that nobody
they look like—are strongly influenced by social Barry's Bay, Ontario, headed by Ronnie &
knows whether “our personalities pass on to
and cultural expectations. (For an excellent Stephanie.
another existence or sphere” but it is possible to
discussion of this, see Richard Finucane's book
construct an apparatus which will be so delicate
"Ghosts: Appearances of the Dead & Cultural From signs for the cottage or favourite
that if there are personalities in another
Transformation.") establishment to doll houses, all are
existence or sphere who wish to get in touch
If ghosts exist, why are we no closer to handmade and custom designed.
with us in this existence or sphere, this apparatus
finding out what they really are, after so much
will at least give them a better opportunity to
research? express themselves than the tilting tables and Customized orders take 3 - 4 weeks.
The evidence for ghosts is no better
raps and ouija boards and mediums and the other
today than it was a year ago, a decade ago, or a For more information or to place your order,
crude methods now purported to be the only
century ago. Ultimately, ghost hunting is not email: stephanie@stringerszingers.com
means of communication.
about the evidence (if it was, the search would
There is no evidence, however, that
have been abandoned long ago). Instead, it's Visit STRINGER’S ZINGERS Online at
Edison ever designed or tried to construct such a
about having fun with friends, telling ghost www.stringerszingers.com
device. And he probably did not foresee spirits
stories, and the enjoyment of pretending you are
communicating with our tape recorders and
searching the edge of the unknown. (It's also
television sets.
about making money selling "Ghost Hunters" T- Other early pioneers include Friedrich
shirts, books, and videos.) Ghost hunters may be
Jürgenson and Konstantin Raudive. If what
spinning their wheels, but at least they are
Raudive thinks he was hearing were indeed
enjoying the ride. []
voices from dead people, it confirms the
findings of other spirit scientists like Gary
Electronic Voice Schwartz that the dead have very little of interest
Phenomenon (EVP) to say to us. Raudive would hear things like "I
follow you tonight," "please interrupt," and
"might be Mary-bin." David Ellis investigated
The Skeptic’s Dictionary Raudive's and Jürgenson's claims and published
his results in The Mediumship of the Tape
Electronic voice phenomenon is the alleged Recorder: A Detailed Examination of the
communication by spirits through tape recorders (Jurgenson, Raudive) Phenomenon of Voice From Everyone at
STRINGER’S ZINGERS
and other electronic devices. The belief in EVP Extras on Tape Recordings (1978). Ellis was not
MERRY CHRISTMAS
in the United States seems to have mushroomed convinced. In 1997, psychologist Imants Barušs
and
thanks to Sarah Estep, president of the American conducted a series of experiments attempting to
A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Association of Electronic Voice Phenomena, replicate Raudive's work.
which claims to have members in some 40 states
and publishes a newsletter. Estep claims that in (Continued on Page 71) www.stringerszingers.com
the 1970s she started picking up voices on her