Sunday, March 04, 2007 . 3/04/2007

In case anyone didn't know, Sci Fi is creating yet another "Reality" series which is, in fact, pseudoscience. Taken from the article:

"The program, which airs on the Sci Fi (Science Fiction) Channel, tries to distinguish itself as an investigative series: "For the first time ever, a series that doesn't just ponder the questions, it hunts for the answers. From cryptozoology to government conspiracies, "Sci Fi Investigates" will launch a new expedition every episode to aggressively investigate the unexplained phenomena ....We will uncover new evidence and subject old evidence to the newest forensic investigative technology for fresh analysis. We will interview eyewitnesses for new insights and recruit the foremost scientists and historians, skeptics and believers to uncover new clues and reveal new perspectives of legendary mysteries."

Despite such breathless claims, the series provides little science and few answers.

The program's inability to find explanations is not so mysterious given the lack of scientists and investigators on the show. The "Sci Fi Investigates" team consists of four principal cast members who look into UFOs, Bigfoot, ghosts, voodoo, and other topics."

Given the review in the article, I'd say that Ghost Hunters is far more "scientific" than this show. For example:

"Throughout the series, the team's actions bear little resemblance to any sort of real scientific investigation. According to the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, investigate means "to study by close examination and systematic inquiry." Judging by the episodes that have aired, the examination is not close, nor is the inquiry systematic. It is instead a hodgepodge of half-baked, unscientific experiments and studies with no clear purpose or protocol. It is, in short, pseudoscience."

At least Ghost Hunters uses technology and tries to debunk a haunting before claiming that a place is haunted.

I used to love shows like this.. ones that attempted to explain the paranormal. However, the more I learned, the more I realised that most, if not all, "unexplained phenomena" have a rational, down-to-earth explaination. Sometimes I wish that I didn't know anything and believed everything, because I miss being spooked by ghostly claims. Ignorance truly can be bliss. 0 Comments - Post/view comments