| A
listing of completely addressed questions, concerns, and comments.
Any
question or concern not addressed below should be asked to
us directly through our inquiries
page. Click on the question for our response.
FAQ
Last Updated 8/01/08
_________________________________
What
makes your group different?
Mid-Atlantic
Paranormal Research is different for a variety of reasons.
- We
follow in the footsteps of the science of parapsychology
and noted parapsychologists. However, we are not parapsychologists!
Parapsychologists are scientists that have degrees in the
field of parapsychology.
- We
debunk, document, and strive to understand what is occuring
in a given situation. We are not interested in the mass
collection of "reputed evidence" as is so often
the case with other groups. We conduct research and aim
to help people.
- We
acknowledge the inability to make any certain claim regarding
any documented phenomena. Nothing we capture or document
is reported as being "proof" of anything because
at this time we don't know for certain what causes such
phenomena to occur.
- In
our investigations, we utilize and combine personal knowledge,
logic, and insight with individual experience, witness interviews,
environmental analysis and documentation to achieve the
best level of understanding in regards to the study of paranormal
phenomena.
- Psychics,
if used, will have been tested and deemed credible by the
MAPR, but are regarded as a secondary source; one which
is used as a means to provide direction and insight for
investigative purposes and as a basis for historical research.
As well as to help correlate instrument based findings with
psychic and or personal experiences and feelings.
- We
respect the privacy of the families, homes, and businesses
we help and work with. No names, locations, or evidence
is displayed on this website unless permission is given
to do so.
- As
a research organization, we strive for professionalism and
we hope our website's appearance, layout, and content is
only our first example and opportunity to illustrate our
professionalism to you.
- We
are the only group from South Jersey to have had the honor
of being featured on the Haunted
New Jersey Podcast (Show #55, which is available for
download in our media
section.)
Why
is your group so small?
We
are small and the benefit of this is trifold.
- It's
about quality, not quantity. Being small enables us to be
more reliant on the evidence we find being actual. The more
individuals present, the more chances there are for interference
and error in the documentation process. This is due to a
lack of control over the environment. Multiple teams on
multiple floors can potentially create false evidence. Having
a small team eliminates this concern.
- If
you happen to request our assistance, then you know there
will only be a few individuals entering your home and not
an army of people. MAPR will not have more than 5 total
members at any given time.
- The
people in the group are trusted by each of the members and
are well known so we can count on them to be honest, responsible,
and respectful of your needs and the needs of MAPR.
How
can I become a member?
Becoming
a member of MAPR is usually reserved for those individuals
that we have become familiar with and with whom we have developed
a mutual trust, since we need to be able to trust our members
and what they find. Normally the individuals in MAPR are people
we know from regular life, but exceptions can always be made.
Contact
us for further information.
Do
you conduct private investigations?
Yes.
If you are interested in having us investigate your home or
business please contact us through our Inquiries
page.
Why
don't you charge for your services?
We
are not interested in making money from people's concerns,
fears, or problems. We are interested in researching and documenting
paranormal activity as well as providing accurate information
and feedback to inquiring families and individuals who are
in need. We do what we do as a paranormal research group as
a serious hobby because we enjoy it for what it is; the helping
of others is simply a benefit.
Do
you accept donations?
Yes,
donations are greatly appreciated, but not expected and will
go to serve the needs of MAPR by funding equipment needs and
group maintainance costs. However, at this time any money
donated is not tax deductible since we are not a registered
non-profit organization at this time.
What
do you mean by "our investigations and analysis are done
in a completely objective manner; without religious bias,
practice, or influence?"
We
mean exactly what that statement says. Many of the paranormal-based
groups that one can find on the internet claim to be scientific,
but their investigations are far from scientific and even
contain moments of meditation, prayers, seances, house blessings,
and the use of obvious religious-based terms which indicate
strong religious undertones to the group activity and general
motive. Groups such as these unfortunately exist, effecting
a lot of the local community with their outlandish claims,
poor use of equipment, and incorrect information. As a result,
they tarnish the existence of reputable groups and individuals
who pursue true scientific means and protocol in their work
and in their public relations regarding paranormal research.
Is
Mid-Atlantic Paranormal Research anti-religion?
No,
we feel that religion can have a wonderful place in the life
of the individual. However, we think, as researchers, that
religion in general has no need to be applied or filtered
into researching the paranormal. If we feel that an individual's
religion or spirituality will in some way help them, then
we will direct them to pursue that avenue. Though to reiterate,
we, as a research group, feel that religion is not applicable
to what we do as researchers and scientists; the reasons for
this are thus explained:
- If
we, as scientists, are pursuing science and truth, to the
best of our known ability, we will, by default, meet up
with those tenets of religion which are also true.
- Science
pursues the unknown by studying and learning about that
which can be known, as it is able and available to be understood.
Religion already professes an understanding of the unknown.
So, to apply it to a process who's focus is pursuing knowledge
of the unknown is simply contradictory.
How
are you able to pursue science if you are unable to repeat
experiments and get consistent results?
During
any period of scientific thought and development, inconsistencies
in results are expected until full understanding is achieved.
What we get from these situations is information regarding
how to fine tune the scientific process and agenda enabling
us to one day have the ability to produce consistent results.
We pursue science to the best of our ability and as our knowledge
and understanding will permit us to do so.
I
noticed that some of your members have backgrounds in the
occult; what does the occult have to do with paranormal research?
The
occult in general has nothing directly to do with paranormal
research. Historically speaking, occultism is "ancient
science," but mixed with folklore and superstition, which
through the evolution of human understanding, developed into
the many branches of science that we know today. The relative
reason for having a background in the occult in relation to
paranormal research is rooted in the desire to understand
the unknown and the mysterious aspects of life. The directly
beneficial reason for having a background in the occult is
that one has a better understanding as to the effects of individual
perspective religiously and spiritually speaking. Studying
and researching the paranormal in conjunction with an occult
background completes the scope of the unknown aspects of life,
provides an immense understanding of the mysterious and hidden,
and uncovers the often feared areas of human understanding.
In short, we don't scare easy and our imaginations and personal
beliefs don't color our conduct or research.
I
see that one of your members is a registered minister with
the Universal Life Church, is he available to perform a house
blessing?
No.
As a scientific organization we do not perform any form of
religious and or spiritual services and no member is permited
to do so in affiliation with this website or this organization.
If you would like to have a house blessing performed please
contact a clergy person associated with your religious background
or one suited to your personal spiritual philosophy.
Are
you able to remove or rid a location of paranormal phenomena
like a ghost or entity?
No,
not in the sense that the word "remove" implies,
but what can be done is upon understanding why something is
occuring we may be able to rectify the situation with a relative
solution with the hope of ending the occurence or anomaly.
Thereby resolving the situation and helping the individual
or family.
Your
website doesn't have a lot of evidence on it.
No,
it doesn't. The reason for this is, this website is not meant
to be a scrapbook of our activities or our lives as individuals,
but instead is intended on being a public resource for individuals
in need, to get to know us, our approach, and our goals, as
well as information and insight that they may be searching
for in regards to a particular topic or issue. The only evidence
we post on the site is the best evidence we obtain which is
displayed in a manner to make it easy for the public to find
and experience.
How
come you have no pictures displayed on your photographs page
when most paranormal based groups have a lot of photos on
their website?
The
majority, if not all alledged "ghost photos," can
be attributed to camera error. Digital cameras, the most common
form of photographic media used today, are usually the creators
of the well known forms of "ghost photos" (orbs,
mist, ectoplasm, vortexes, etc.) that have become popular
amongst ghost hunter groups. If confronted with such images,
the camera manufacturers have known explainations for these
occurences and should be the first ones consulted before an
investigator claims any form of paranormal phenomena has been
documented and to do the contrary is simply poor research.
Photography during an investigation is best used to document
the surroundings and the investigation itself, but its results
should never be used as proof of anything paranormal. To elaborate
further, unless an investigator can rule out the many causes
of an "orb" (dust, rain, dander, pollen, insects,
etc.) they should not be making any claims as to the legitimacy
of the alleged orb as something paranormal. The same goes
for any abnormal camera footage or image. If you can't rule
out the obvious then its not viable evidence and should not
be used as such. For further information regarding paranormal
photography please read this article.
If
orb photographs are usually not paranormal and tend to be
dust or some other physical aspect in the air which the camera
flash is reflecting off of, then why do so many groups get
these type of photographs when they investigate a supposed
haunted location?
When
you have a group of people roaming the various floors of a
location they are going to kick debre into the air. This is
one reason for the consistancy of various groups having orb
photos taken repeatedly in reputed haunted locations. Also
alot of these locations tend to be older buildings which will
also contribute to the existance of air born matter. Having
a small team and controling the environment helps to eliminate
this and similar problems large investigative teams create.
What
is your view on Ouija boards?
Ouija
boards, and similar games and devices, are driven by the subconscious
minds of the users (referred to as the ideomotor action).
They do not open alleged "portals" as is so often
claimed and serve no legitimate purpose other than for personal
entertainment. Boards rarely, if ever, work with such seeming
accuracy when the users are blindfolded, which implies an
existing subconscious aspect to the workings of the board
and thus an argument in favor for their actual non-paranormal
nature. Any paranormal activity resulting after use of a Ouija
board could be attributed to triggered Recurrent Spontaneous
Psychokinesis which can occur as a result of the fear and
stress caused by the seeming reality of the board to the unknowning
individual. In short, if one believes that Ouija boards are
real, then it is best that they do not use them for their
own peace of mind.
What
can one expect from involving the MAPR?
Expect
thorough research, multiple times. Professionalism. A good
group of level-headed people and unbiased results.
Where
else can Mid-Atlantic Paranormal Research be found online?
We
can be found listed on these following websites:
FAQ
Last Updated 8/01/08
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