Yet another thing that I believe awakened my passion for the paranormal was watching Scooby-Doo cartoons every Saturday morning. The gang’s manner of investigating ghostly activity was – to say the least – a bit slapstick, but the general idea was backed by solid scientific method. Whether it was haunted castles, cursed idols, or animated mummies, the show always provided an education on the basics of paranormal investigation, the five key lessons all young ghostbusters should learn:
1.) Always look for an explanation other than “It’s a ghost”. Though Shaggy and Scooby were always quick to run from any creepy creatures, the rest of the gang usually kept their heads and tried to find out what was really going on. If you want definitive proof of the existence of ghosts/monsters/aliens you need to eliminate every possible (and more plausible) alternative.
2.) Keep your eyes open for clues. Though Velma may be legally blind without her glasses, when she has them on she spots all kinds of clues. Footprints, strange substances, and secret messages were the usual clues. In a modern investigation, (where you rarely have someone trying to scare you away from a secret gold mine) these translate into things such as loose pipes, creaky floors, and open windows.
3.) Interview the locals. Local legends can give you a good idea of where to look for paranormal activity. This usually came in the form of a warning for the occupants of the Mystery Machine, but asking around the neighborhood can guide you to a specific hot spot of activity. Similar stories about a particular location increases the chances that there is something to be found there.
4.) Be persistent. The gang never gave up after their first attempt to catch the monster inevitably failed. You can’t expect to capture evidence after only a few hours of work, unless you have more luck than Fred with his Rube Goldberg-esque traps. You could return to a site every day for a month and not capture a single EVP, video, or photo that could even be remotely considered to be paranormal in origin, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there to find.
And lastly-
5.) Don’t drive a beat up old van to your investigation. It will always break down in the middle of nowhere.
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