Who You Gonna Call?

Some friends of mine are starting a ghost hunting group, and I'm invited to be a part of it!

So's my husband, which means we'll have the requisite skeptic along. Which, apparently, is good for your general ghost hunting-ness, since the idea is to disprove until you have nothing left but the proof that the ghost is either real or a leaky faucet.

Skeptic or not, my husband's gotten into it. He watches all the Ghost Hunter shows religiously, looking for tips and techniques. While we have yet to actually go out to a suspected haunted house, we're gearing up for it.

Me, I firmly believe that ghosts and a variety of other beasties exist. Most may exist on the pages or the movie screens, but still, I find it hard to disbelieve. Maybe that's why I write in the urban fantasy/horror/Gothic mode -- because I can relate to the creatures and the situations. But I question the ghost hunting methods.

Most of the shows I've (been forced to) watched seem to push the 'yell at the haunts to make them mad' approach. This seems counter to what you'd want. Since there are a variety of types of hauntings, the repeaters won't notice, and the ones there for a purpose are likely to be scared off. This leaves the poltergeists, who will throw things at you whether you're polite or not.

I also think that dressing in modern wear to go accost, for example, a ghost from the 1700's is the height of, I'll just say it, stupidity. Dress like someone who doesn't appear to be a savage or from outer space, and maybe the nice ghosts will talk to you.

Our team swears to me that they'll be polite and dress and speak appropriately. Maybe so. I figure I'm going to win either way.

Either we find some ghosts or we debunk some hauntings, but I get more writing ideas no matter what.

Jemma Chase