What kind of Ghost Hunter are you?

Chasing a Stereotype

So, you have thought about your intentions of ghost hunting, things are looking a good for you and you are ready to get out there and experience the unknown on your own. I want to ask you, what kind of Ghost Hunter do you want to grow up to be?

There are many kinds of teams out there to pick and chose from or even base your protocol off of. Finding your specialty… this is important! You do not want to go out there and represent the entire field of paranormal investigators while you run amuck, break or use equipment the wrong way. Another thing you want to avoid is creating hysteria within locations; I will get into that later on. Are you freaking out your team members and creeping yourself out so bad that you are about to have a nervous breakdown? I speak on the behalf of every legitimate paranormal researcher out there; please refrain from running amuck in your research. It just makes us all look bad.

What kind of ghost hunter do you want to be? I will list a few stereotype specialties that can possibly help you pick and chose your destiny with ghost hunting.

·      The Tech - This is the team/individual that lives and breathes for those trusty gizmos and gadgets on location. They love the technical aspect of investigating. Building or developing new and unique tools of the trade. They can hook up anything to their trusty laptops and that is what they do best, the technical side of investigating. Is this you? Do you want to be the first MacGyver of the paranormal?

·      The Mad Wanna-Be Scientist! – Quantum Mechanics, physics, mass, numbers, statistical data, computation, accumulation of force, experimental evidence, theoretical hypothesis, photoelectric effect,  quantum theory of light, relativistic kinematics, Cartesian tensors of linear, angular momentum, matrix methods, space-time coordination and E = J(T,v) just to name a few. If this makes sense to you and you understand it, then this is your specialty Einstein!

·      The Skeptic- You don’t believe in such things as a ghost, but then again you are running around in abandoned buildings and creepy locations to perhaps catch a glimpse of something that will overall change your mind into a believer?  I am not sure if there are any real skeptics in the field, but there are many who claim this title. I am in hopes that everyone remains skeptical while on an investigation, but then again I am a believer. So, if you are a self proclaimed skeptic and you don’t believe a damn thing that has to do with the afterlife, you may want to make a list of pro’s and con’s of why you are in the field in the first place. Do you really like bursting peoples bubble that much? Or are you in the closet with pantyhose on?

·      The Hysteric- The thought of seeing a ghost terrifies you. You refuse to be alone in locations and each time you hear a noise you jump a good thirteen feet out of your skin. You are the one who is most likely to get possessed on location, you are aware of this, and you fear this. But for some reason, you show up to investigations. Every little bump, knock, tap or small breeze of wind is a ghost. You have witnessed more apparitions than you can count on both hands and you are a self proclaimed chicken of the group. Why the team is keeping you there is beyond answer, perhaps you have a lot of equipment or you just attend all the meetings? Well, if you are that afraid to witness unexplained activity, I do have to ask you why you are putting yourself in the position of being terrified. Perhaps you enjoy the adrenalin rush of fear? Perhaps you just want to face your fears? No matter what your reasoning is, you may want to figure out why you are allowing yourself to be the groups’ diversion and comic.

·      The Psychic- Do you see dead people? Okay, so you can see them, then for what reasons are you hunting dead people? The majority of psychics state that they see dead people on a daily basis, at the grocery store, the car wash, the highway and so on… so, if you want to communicate with the dead, why not have your ghost hunting teams investigate your local grocery store while you shop around?  Why do you like to enter dark abandoned buildings and search or communicate with the dead when they are at your disposal on a daily basis? Being the psychic you perhaps do cleansings, burn some sage, dangle some crystals or place magic stones in the four corners of a household? You clear away ghosts; would that make you a specter-exterminator? I am not poking fun I am just wanting to help you realize why you are a ghost hunter.

·      The Intuitive Devotee – These are the people who want to be psychic, perhaps they are “in training”. They live breath and sleep psychic intuition in hopes to eventually cross the lines of becoming a full fledged psychic. The devotee believes more in psychic ability than most psychics. You are perhaps gung ho about talking with the dead and meditate daily to connect with the other side. These types usually fall into the category of The Hysteric. I really have nothing nice to say about the Intuitive Devotees, I apologize. (not really)

·      The Contrary Ghost Hunter- You have watched every single ghost hunting show ever made in the history of television. You have studied their actions, their clothing, their equipment and their techniques. You are the leader when it comes to hunting ghosts. You know how each piece of equipment works and you have spent countless hours on the internet searching locations and analyzing other people’s evidence. You know everything about ghosts and the history of paranormal investigations. You are the one that people look up to because you have written several articles about the unknown and they made sense to a handful of people. You are an expert but you do not want to put in the man hours of actually conducting investigations. You are not an active investigator; you just play one on the internet. Why? Why not?

·      Arm Chair Ghost Hunter- This one stereotype will be describing the greater part of people on the internet who may be affiliated with the paranormal. The Arm Chair Ghost hunter is the person who will spend countless hours watching ghost cams and posting on message boards. They are regulars at all the chat rooms and everyone knows your nickname. You have never witnessed a full fledged investigation in person and have no desire to. You would much rather stay at home in your pajamas playing on the internet.

·      The Historian- You are in it for the history, the stories and the legends attached to these locations. You can be found at your local historical societies and you have the connections at a half a dozen archives in your area. You enjoy finding the story and finding out if the legends are true. You could care less if there are actual ghosts but you are curious. You get satisfaction from the history and documentation behind the haunting.

·      The Specialist- You have a knack for one or two components on an investigation. You take great photos or you focus on EVP or some other type of equipment. You know what you want to collect and you will stop at nothing but to go in to a location and collect proof. You more than likely can sleep standing up and own stock in No-Doze products.

Well, that is a few stereotypes. I could list more but I am sure it would make a lot of people more irritated with me than they already are. But keep in mind; I am not trying to make anyone upset or angry. I am simply trying to help you understand why you are or why you want to be a ghost hunter. I only wish that you observe yourself while on an investigation and whole heartedly understand why you are interested in the field.  Find your knack and what you will actually enjoy. If you have a passion for ghosts, then find it. Be who you are and offer it to the fullest.

By Tonya Hacker

Question: What is my Stereotype?

"You do not want to go out there and represent the entire field of paranormal investigators while you run amuck, break or use equipment the wrong way."

"Do you want to be the first MacGyver of the paranormal?"

"I am not sure if there are any real skeptics in the field..."

"You have witnessed more apparitions than you can count on both hands and you are a self proclaimed chicken of the group."