I recently went on a ghost hunting tour, an activity I genuinely enjoy. These tours are often rich in history, delving into the stories of people left out of the major historical narratives. This particular tour did not disappoint, offering a blend of eerie fun and historical insights.
As part of the tour, we got to play with various ghost hunting equipment, including spirit boxes and EMF detectors. The spirit boxes, in particular, were a highlight for many participants. For those unfamiliar, a spirit box works by scanning through radio frequencies rapidly. As it does so, it picks up fragments of audio from different stations, and occasionally, words or phrases seem to pop out.
Here’s where it gets fascinating – and misleading. Our brains are incredibly adept at seeking patterns. When we hear a word or phrase that seems contextually relevant, our brains latch onto it, creating the illusion that we’re having a conversation with the dead. This phenomenon is a perfect example of confirmation bias. Our brains are eager to confirm our expectations, so when we hear something that fits the narrative, it feels profoundly real.
On this tour, it was astonishing just how much it felt like I was getting intelligent responses through the spirit box. The experience was almost convincing, reinforcing the importance of skepticism. It’s crucial to remember that our brains can easily fool us, especially when we’re eager to believe something.
The evening concluded with us using a FLIR camera, a device that detects heat signatures. While it was fun to experiment with, it didn’t yield anything particularly interesting. Despite the lack of ghostly evidence, the tour was a fascinating exploration of history and a reminder of the need to question our perceptions.
In the end, while the thrill of ghost hunting can be alluring, it’s essential to approach such experiences with a healthy dose of skepticism. Our minds are powerful, but they can also be deceiving.
If you want to learn how easily your brain can be deceived, view this video. It's about disinformation for journalists, but it includes a primer on how the brain functions. https://humanistlearning.com/disinformation-for-journalists/
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