Some thoughts on MOST HAUNTED live at Eastern State Penitentiary

Did very many folks see Most Haunted's seven-hour live investigation of Eastern State Penitentiary on the Travel Channel last night?  I happened to catch it from beginning to end, with a couple of 15–20 minute breaks.  I'd certainly be interested in hearing other people's take on it.  I've been scanning its bulletin boards and they make interesting reading.

Among others things, several people have been accusing Derek Acorah of being a fraud.  I think one of the biggest fallacies about psychics is that they're always right.  My best friend is a medium and she says sometimes the spirits may have a dicey perspective on something or will outright lie about facts.  When we went to the Brook Room, we had one that was messing with us, but fortunately, there were plenty of others who told us otherwise.

However, I was quite impressed when David Wells told the story of Jack and John, a staff member whose throat was cut by a prisoner.  The historian on site insisted the details David relayed were accurate and could be confirmed only through unpublished records still extant about Eastern State.  The incident in question took place in the mid-19th century and it was an escape attempt by the inmate, John, who tried to steal Jack Gaston's clothes.

The inevitable comparison to Ghost Hunters also arises on the bulletin boards several times, especially since TAPS investigated the same location on two separate shows.  While I enjoy both series, the only objective they have in common is entertainment.  The goal of TAPS is to either verify or debunk whether a place is haunted using evidence through electronic equipment.  They completely dismiss feelings and personal experiences.  Come on, eyewitness accounts do have value in a court of law.  When TAPS confirms a site is haunted, what then?  They ask to be kept in the loop, but they have no medium on hand to clear the property, which Derek and David have done from time to time.  TAPS has had this demonologist guy on in a few episodes, but I've seen no followthrough on his efforts.

Quite frankly, I don't think the electronic evidence is going to convince skeptics either.  People who believe don't need evidence.  People who don't can be shown evidence until you're blue in the face and they'll always look for the "rational" explanation for an occurrence.  The only cases that I've come across that convinced a skeptic otherwise was when they experienced phenomena themselves.

For what it's worth, I was rather flabbergasted when Most Haunted found the claims about the Whaley House in San Diego, California, to be inconclusive.  Its parapsychologist, Ciaran O'Keefe, found the evidence they collected there unacceptable.  Quite frankly, I can't think of anyplace in the USA more haunted per square inch than that place.  I've been there twice and the place is heavy with emotion and something seems to happen there everyday.

For anyone who's interested, I should be posting my Epinions review on Hampton Court Palace within the next week.  I am also in the midst of planning to visit several haunted sites in South Dakota during the 4th of July week.