Paranormal State

topic posted Thu, December 27, 2007 - 7:48 PM by  offlineMaryEllen
I just happened to catch a few episodes a few days ago
www.aetv.com/paranormal-state/
I thought it was a well done show

love all-ways,
mem
posted by:
MaryEllen
SF Bay Area
  • Re: Paranormal State

    Sat, December 29, 2007 - 3:56 PM
    I thought it was a steaming pile of crap.
    Really, it was horrifying to see the word "paranormal" stuck onto something so pathetic. Instead of trying to bring a professional in to assist the family of the child who was seeing <the dead> they had some unidentified, obviously unlicensed and naive <counseller> make a few broad comments and then they commenced with various spooky preceedings guaranteed to induce the possibly disturbed kid to try and please his audience and his mother by saying he saw something.
    And the possession by demons thing led me to believe that there was a semi-hysterical fundamentalist bent to it all.
    Honestly, if they just said it was all entertainment, and admitted that they were young amateurs with little education on the topics, it would be more palatable, but they had to pretend that they were somehow <psychic investigators.>
    • Re: Paranormal State

      Sat, December 29, 2007 - 4:17 PM
      Clearly a bunch of religious fanatics using "Paranormal Research" to push their own agenda.

      They try to use their status as college students to give them legitimacy but prove just how wet behind the ears they are.
    • Re: Paranormal State

      Sat, December 29, 2007 - 9:28 PM
      all "paranormal researchers" are amateurs ~ there is no other kind

      love all-ways,
      mem
      • Re: Paranormal State

        Sat, December 29, 2007 - 10:09 PM
        >all "paranormal researchers" are amateurs ~ there is no other kind <

        That certainly explains the state of paranormal research.
        • Re: Paranormal State

          Sun, December 30, 2007 - 11:11 AM
          You are entirely wrong.
          The fact is that there are some graduate programs in Europe, and that there are professionals in the US and elsewhere who have spent years studying the phenomenon. Sadly, these are not the people you usually see on TV as <experts> because they are scholarly and not all that interested in self-promotion.
          I was at UCLA when it still had a department of parapsychology with Thelma Moss. Unfortunately most of the US programs have lost funding and folded.
          If you are serious, then you can pursue a graduate degree in some related field, such as anthropology, physics, sociology, psychology.... and then pursue further post-graduate training with the few professionals who have many years of experience in investigating in the field. It is also helpful to review the case studies and research that were done in the 19th century and early 20th century. I find the work of Nandor Fodor to be helpful for his very deep psychoanalytical approach to poltergeists and other dramatic psi as they relate to emotional conflicts.
          • Re: Paranormal State

            Sun, December 30, 2007 - 11:19 AM
            have you seen a better TV show yet produced?

            IMO the 'point' to these shows is to introduce the concepts to 'average TV viewers' ~ you have to start somewhere!

            love all-ways,
            mem
            • Re: Paranormal State

              Sun, December 30, 2007 - 2:16 PM
              >IMO the 'point' to these shows is to introduce the concepts to 'average TV viewers' ~ you have to start somewhere! <

              The point to these shows is to gain large amounts of money for the producers through advertising revenues.
          • Re: Paranormal State

            Sun, December 30, 2007 - 11:29 AM
            It is simply more sexy to believe there are poltergeists and ghosts than to sit with someone and delve into their emotional conflicts.

            It is simply more appealing to the average individual to have a dramatic amateur run around with a camera, than to sit with a scholar and do any real understanding.

            To this end, I would contend we are hurting people by putting the amateur image on the screen as a definitive one.
            • Re: Paranormal State

              Sun, December 30, 2007 - 12:09 PM
              It is simply more sexy to believe there are poltergeists and ghosts than to sit with someone and delve into their emotional conflicts.
              ~~~~~~~~
              I don't think it's an "either/or" situation here

              I don't see the word "amateur" as pejorative ~ I have personally found that people who think they know lots of stuff have more difficult times opening their minds to what is right in front of them

              I left the academic world, disgusted, with a degree in neuroscience & behavior, a certificate to teach secondary school science & years of lab work & professional research under my belt ~ when you think you know what you are looking for ~ it's difficult to *see* anything else!

              I would contend we are hurting people by putting the amateur image on the screen as a definitive one.
              ~~~~~~~~~
              anyone who takes TV shows as a measure of 'reality', or the final word on anything is in trouble already!
              but beyond that, TV does serve a purpose

              love all-ways,
              mem
              • Re: Paranormal State

                Fri, April 25, 2008 - 8:00 PM
                Hi Mem, I think TV's biggest single purpose is to control what we see and learn. Just mty 2 cents chaz :)
                • Re: Paranormal State

                  Fri, April 25, 2008 - 8:34 PM
                  I believe it was Douglas Adams who said: "Television doesn't provide a show to an audience as much as it provides an audience to an advertiser." An advertiser is going to have a lot to say about what you see and learn on the television. To that end, advertisers don't really want you to be well educated.
                • Re: Paranormal State

                  Fri, April 25, 2008 - 9:06 PM
                  I think TV's biggest single purpose is to control what we see and learn.
                  ~~~~~~~~~~
                  sure, but knowing that, one can still use it for their own purposes

                  love all-ways,
                  mem
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.

                    Re: Paranormal State

                    Fri, April 25, 2008 - 9:20 PM
                    That's a poor assumption, given the nature of our advertisers, and the status of our general education. Heck, you still have people thinking astrology is in any way meaningful.
                    • Re: Paranormal State

                      Fri, April 25, 2008 - 9:31 PM
                      Mickey ~

                      I have found astrology quite meaningful. Yeah, it was surprising to me, too!

                      love all-ways,
                      mem
                      • Re: Paranormal State

                        Sat, April 26, 2008 - 5:56 AM
                        Case in point.
                        • Re: Paranormal State

                          Sat, April 26, 2008 - 8:38 AM
                          Mickey ~

                          It seems to me that your education is lacking ~ the way you jump to conclusions.

                          My education is quite solid ~ from my degree in neuroscience from Wesleyan University to my certification to teach secondary school science to my years working at The Exploratorium.

                          You, on the other hand, just make snotty, childish, uninformed remarks ~ nothing could be less helpful ~ to yourself and/or others. I've seen more intelligence in elementary school children.

                          The only people who think astrology a foolish dalliance are those who haven't studied it.

                          love all-ways,
                          mem
                          • Re: Paranormal State

                            Sat, April 26, 2008 - 9:30 AM
                            >The only people who think astrology a foolish dalliance are those who haven't studied it.<

                            Now who's being snotty?

                            Astrology has been studied and quantified many times and in any properly controlled condition has always come up lacking.

                            It is people like you who are so locked into the "truth" as you see it who refuse to accept even the possibility you may be wrong.

                            So you follow a superstition that has long been discredited and try to pass it off as some sort of science. You wave around your credentials as some sort of shield against us poor ignoramus who can't hold a candle to your education and enlightenment.

                            In other threads I have pointed out the many legitimate studies that have shown astrology to be not worth a tinkers dam but you persist.

                            So keep following your charts that were last updated by Ptolemy.

                            What I find truly frightening is that you might be feeding this woowoo to the children you are charged with educating.

                            By the way - I happen to be very well educated.
                          • Re: Paranormal State

                            Sat, April 26, 2008 - 10:24 AM
                            < It seems to me that your education is lacking ~ the way you jump to conclusions. >

                            Now who is being snotty? Not to mention making assumptions. I don't need to wear my resume on my sleeve, but we can discuss my credentials, if you wish. I happen to be very well educated.
                            • Re: Paranormal State

                              Sat, April 26, 2008 - 11:18 AM
                              Mickey ~

                              I was just responding to your condescending remark & providing you with evidence to your inaccuracy. I am seeing a pattern to your disrespectful behavior that is an obvious obstacle to any growth on your part. If you are happy to stay in your small minded, nasty place, why do you bother to post in this forum?

                              Personally speaking, I delight in fighting with bullies like you.

                              love all-ways,
                              mem
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.

                    Re: Paranormal State

                    Sat, April 26, 2008 - 1:43 PM
                    filters on; blinders off tee hee
                    • Re: Paranormal State

                      Tue, June 10, 2008 - 7:55 AM
                      I didn't care for the show either. I thought their use of Catholicism and pseudo-pagan rituals was insulting. I watched several episodes. But it just got stupid when they treated Mothman like a spirit that could be conjured up. They only spend three days with these clients, and any evidence they do find is completely inconclusive. Not that it's EASY to be conclusive in this field. But I think it's a big gimmick to boost Penn State.
  • Re: Paranormal State

    Tue, June 10, 2008 - 5:10 PM
    the only time i tried to watch this show i saw a young dude trying to be "spoooooooky" while "directing" a bunch of attractive young women who seemed to be looking to him for guidance on how to proceed in their research.
    the production was overly slick and i failed to find anything to take too seriously from this show.

    i'd much rather watch jason and grant bitch out their underlings on ghosthunters. they seem to have a real empathy for those they are trying to help. sometimes the show gets corny and their little "conversations" they have while the roto-rooter logo is on display are a bit much but somebody's gotta pay for the show.

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