Comparing humans with instruments

Comparing humans with instruments might seem like a pointless activity, especially when we are all interested in doing is seeing and recording ghosts. It is, however, instructive when you're considering the use of instruments on vigils.

Unless you use instruments regularly, it may not be obvious that they record things very differently to human witnesses.

Instruments: objective but dumb

Instruments are very literal; they see, they record, they don't react. For people, the very act of seeing includes interpretation. One witness may be scared because they see a floating light as a ghost. Another witness may gaze at the same light in wonder, recognising it as very rare ball lightning. A camera just records the light's size, position and colour. When the witnesses are interviewed afterwards, both may get the colour wrong but the camera won't.

Though the instruments appear to come off better in this comparison, being objective, tireless and accurate, they have their faults. Sometimes they may be too sensitive or not sensitive enough. However, their biggest fault is that their readings have to be interpreted. This means that they are at the mercy of biased, subjective people.

Only people see ghosts

An anomalous photo is only 'anomalous' because someone says it is. A photographic expert may examine the photo and decide it's not anomalous at all. Similarly, an 'anomalous' reading on an EMF meter is only anomalous because someone says it is.

Instruments are dumb but people have different levels of experience and knowledge that can direct their interpretation of equipment readings. People are very important because only they see ghosts. On a vigil you always need people but you don't always need instruments.

Seeing and hearing is in the brain!

The single most important thing to remember is that much of the process of seeing or hearing occurs in our brains rather than in our eyes or ears! What we see or hear can be modified before it even reaches our memory. This applies to other senses too. Try, for instance, the EVP Gallery.