It started out from its humble beginings earlier with cameras and tape recorders. It then expanded into some honest experimentation with other sorts of metering systems, electrical and magnetic fields, temperature detection, etc...
The tool is supposed to assist the user in accomplishing the task at hand. But what occurred is the tool became the task. The experimentation turned into a headlong rush to find the toy that had more flashing lights, beeps and bells, knobs, switches and dials. The fact that it used batteries or plugged in became its own validation.
Time tested uses of mediumship and clarvoyance became the plague, to be avoided at all cost. That was old school, of witches, shamans and card readers. That sort of thing had to be kept far from the psudo-science of electronic ghost hunting to avoid risking the purity of the scientific method.
With the exception of the ever-present few, who take the time to hone their skill and learn their electronic craft, the field of ghost hunting electronically as gone to pot. It has given any doofus the means of picking up a blinky meter or beeping sensor and call him/her self a ghost hunter. Most of these individuals couldn't tell the difference between a pico-farad and a fence post. But by golly, if the meter beeps or blinks in reaction to a poorly grounded fan switch, they have found Satan Incarnate. It is only the validity of the hardware that keeps them from being tossed out to the sidewalk for the idiots that they are.
I hold that the electronic age had the potential if producing the next generation of dowsing (which in my use and experience will out proform any meter out there), and automatic writing. It should have been used in conjunction with and as validation for mediumship and other forms of spiritual detection. And with it, could have produced a valid data base for future theories, not just ones based on ppls 'gut' feelings.
So, unless the knuckle head with the emf meter can pass a basic electronics course, so he/she can tell at least which end of the meter to use, they should all have thier batteries pulled and be sent to their rooms, and leave the real investigations to ppl who know the equipment and the nature of what they are hunting.
PS I humbly apologize to CaveRat for all the grief all the electronic wannabes have put you and all your fellow wizards thru. to all battery operated idiots.
Edited by greg_dragonlvr, 25 August 2009 - 04:33 PM.