The double-edged sword of Damocles
Every time I read of a paranormal/ghost hunt type of programme in the tv guide, I'm filled with mixed emotions (as well as damn fine beer).
I've found the positive aspect being the increasing willingness of tv companies to cover and, sometimes, go deep into research various hauntings, some well-known and some not. They expend a large amount of their budget to pay overtime to a film crew - and believe me, they aint cheap! - take time to edit things for clarity and content and to "sell" the programme to the channels execs.
The negative aspect is that it is a business and not an investigation or scientific discussion. Thus, when a tv crew turn up "at random" at a supposedly haunted location, something (if only those accursed and trifling "orbs") always turns up ... just to keep the viewers interested and the overacting focussed!
I get the feeling that if, during the course of filming, a real honest-to-goodness ghost appeared, the on-site director would automatically call for a pause in the filming to complain that the shot was too ad-libbed!
A potential audience-grabber was the all-nighter that a company held at the Tower of London. They had Paul Darrow (from Blakes 7 fame) and Claudia "Hubba Hubba" Christian (from the Babylon 5 series) fronting the programme and I had high hopes. Deary me ... I should've known better. Apart from periodic re-hashes of "paranormal" history of the Tower, the web-cams found ... zilch! The interviewees were interesting but ... space fillers! It was so disappointing - with even the presenters making a joke about the non-event - that my wife was suggesting we get Claudia and Paul to get a taxi to our place and get a hot drink to cheer up!
This is an example where tv coverage which, although useful for dissemination, should always be remembered as an entertainment medium and not necessarily a good method of encouraging interest in the paranormal.
So ... apart from publicising the "haunted history" of a place, we should view tv promotions of locations with care. Great to encourage interest and attendance but don't expect serious involvement and participation.
Go get them orbs, people!
:hmph:
Stop it misguidedfool!