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 We Aren't Mainstream
Until the mid 1990s those who researched and investigated ghosts were considered somewhat strange, if not downright odd. Nonetheless many of them bravely appeared on segments of Unsolved Mysteries, and In Search Of and other television shows of that ilk, and attempted to explain the unexplainable. The task of the researchers was simply to visit the show’s chosen location and ascertain whether or not it was haunted. After the findings were announced, the researcher explained his, or her, reasoning in the most esoteric terms. Thus baffled, the audience was left to conclude that those who investigate the paranormal were somewhat different. Fortunately times have changed.
Greek philosopher Heraclitus pointed out “Everything flows, nothing stands still.” And so it is in the first decade of the 21st century, a change has occurred in the public’s perception of the paranormal; interest in the supernatural, particularly ghost investigating, is at an all time high. The Internet and the proliferation of ghosthunting clubs and those who investigate the phenomena, are largely responsible for this new attitude towards the paranormal. This trend has not been lost on Hollywood filmmakers or television show producers. In the past few years the theme of numerous box office winners has been survival of death. Several popular reality shows feature paranormal topics and ghost investigating, and there appears to be no end in sight. This popularity might lead us to conclude that ghosts and ghost investigation have suddenly become mainstream.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many learned and eminent people in the field of ghost investigating today. But this in itself does not qualify the field as mainstream traditional, nor does it lend credibility beyond the collective knowledge of these researchers.
This is a field in which there are no experts; it is a field where differing opinions and modalities abound, and there are far more questions than answers. Perhaps mainstream status isn’t as important as learning more about our chose field.
© Copyright Janice Oberding 2005. All rights reserved.
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