| All rights reserved. |
| American Standard |
This is not an effort to "exclude" any one. It is an effort to INCLUDE everyone who already
agrees and follows these simple, widely accepted standards of operation. It is not a group, a
club, or an agreement binding you to the arbitration of others. It is a celebration of those
who follow the guidelines like we do.
WHY? The goal is to be able to refer groups with whom we share a common code of conduct
to clients or others who ask for help or seek council. It is a networking tool so that you know
if you contact a member whom is linked on this page you will know that they share our
ideals. These groups can be asked for help, the will share their findings, their evidence,
their knowledge and you will know that it was gained under the same codes of standardized
conduct that you yourself employ.
A few years ago the Sci-Fi Channel premiered a show called Ghost Hunters. Now,
paranormal themed movies, radio shows, podcasts, and television programs are enjoying
much success and interest in all things supernatural are at a peak. The paranormal
community has become a hot bed of activity. Paranormal researchers, groups, teams and
individual ghost hunters are springing up every where; they are in almost every state and in
practically every major city. The only problem with that is that this is an unregulated field.
It is an unarguable fact; there are certain groups that just want to investigate "haunted"
locations, for various reasons. Then on the other end of the spectrum we have groups who
invest time, money, and efforts into helping others, collecting data and attempting to
further the field of paranormal study. It is time for those that are dedicated; those of us who
follow a set code of conduct and support ethics in paranormal research to make a stand.
How can we do that?
I recently stumbled across the answer to that question when I found Minnesota Ghosts and
saw that these intrepid investigators have challenged the Minnesota teams to step up and
join them in setting the bar as far as standards are concerned. Immediately I knew that
this, The Minnesota Standard, was what I had been struggling to come up with; a way that
all of us who are on the same page can form a more efficient network. A network of like
minded people with the same goals who could work together to further the image of
paranormal investigators, of ghost hunting and of the paranormal community as a whole. A
network of investigators that people can count on and that the community can be proud of.
It is widely agreed that a set of guide lines, much like the TAPS Family Requirements, is
long over due. The American Standard is an attempt to set working standards in the field of
paranormal investigations that teams may voluntarily adopt. We can build a strong
network of ethical investigators and show our support of principled codes of conduct. We
ask that you join us. Step up and take a stand.
What is The American Standard?
Read On!
Your probably following it already!
*
1. Maintain a web presence
We are judged by people searching for information about the paranormal before they ever
meet or speak to us. They judge us on the strength of our web presence. Most groups do this
but many do it wrong. You should approach all visitors like potential clients and your site
should be informative, easy to navigate and easy to read.
Having a registered domain name (this is a .com, .net, .org) is a very good idea. You have to
make it easy for people to remember. The registered domain also shows others that you are
serious about your group because you have put money into the serious nature of your
website. A MySpace.com profile is good for networking and marketing but is a horrible
choice for your ONLY web presence. The average person is not going to go to Myspace to
find answers if they have questions or need help. They are much more likely to use a search
engine.
However, we are not a watch dog organization. Your web presence type is entirely up to you.
The following considerations are listed as a community service to suggest the best web
presence you can offer a potential client. They are a guideline.
Please consider these things when building your website
- Feature your members If you are scared about putting your picture on the internet, then
you shouldn't be working with the public. A picture and a biography will tell a potential
client that you are real, down to earth people with lives and families and professions. It
will make them more comfortable contacting you.
- Feature your investigations. You do not have to have full reports but say where you have
been and when. Feature training investigations when you can to emphasize that you do
organized training sessions as this will also put a potential client at ease. Name the teams
you have worked with or for. If you have references, offer them. It is important that you
show a potential client that you do active investigations.
- No unrelated ads. It only makes you look unprofessional to have a page cluttered with
winking, blinking, distracting ads. Potential clients are not going to take you seriously if
your web page is full of dating advertisements and the like.
- Be organized. People usually come to your site through a search engine and they are
looking for something specific when they arrive. They will leave your site and chose
another if it is hard to navigate your page and they can not find what they are interested in.
This is a point where many otherwise excellent investigative teams make a less than
satisfying impression.
A person terrified by a haunting is not going to want to see horror graphics. They want
answers. They need to be made to feel as if this highly unusual experience that they have
had or are having can be understood if not explained. They will leave before they will wade
through unrelated content for real information.
- Keep your content current. This is where even I have some trouble but the extra effort to
make the site fresh and update it regularly really pays off. Outdated holiday wishes or
features are going to speak volumes about you as will screaming acid rock, horror movie
sound tracts or graphic, violent or sexual content.
While on Myspace you can reflect your personal tastes in layouts and music, the website
should be more geared to pleasing the visitor. These visitors are the ones who will be
inviting you in to their homes or businesses. When you give out your address or pass out
business cards, or put yourself in search engines, web rings or top sites you are trying to
reach people who (in most cases) are not “into” the paranormal.
Examples of a great web presence:
Ghost Vigil --
Look at the volume of information available on their site. This is a site geared to educating
anyone who wants to gather knowledge. They also feature their investigation reports better
than I have EVER seen any other group do. They handle their evidence well, they are
timely and they follow up with their clients well. This is a team anyone would do well to
learn from or use as an example.
*
2. Team must be made up of adults
Over 21 years of age. Why is that important? Because the client trusts you on their
property, in their homes and businesses and like it or not teenagers are notoriously
unpredictable. I’m not arguing that older teens, over 18, can’t be great assets to a team but
the person representing the group to the public needs to be adult.
Furthermore there are issues of safety to be considered. Children and teens are widely
accepted as being more open to the spirit world and while you might think that that sounds
like a great way to bring the ghosts out to play it could pose a threat to the individual.
Possession or oppression by the spirits may be possible. Not to mention that in some of the
locations we investigate younger people might be vulnerable to persons who will not have
their best interests at heart. We spend too much time in the dark with relative strangers for
it to be a good idea to have children on an investigation.
As previously stated we are not a watch dog organization. Your team and your children are
your business. Please use these suggestions as guide lines.
*
3. Investigate FREE of CHARGE
Paranormal ethics frown on taking payment for investigating a haunting. Reasons vary
from how you could guarantee your services when most of what we do is anecdotal and
subjective to individual interpretation to it would be too easy to deceive innocent people
into being dupes. Not taking payment for our services is a way to stay honest. If you aren’t
investigating to help people, then what are you in it for? Charging money would only
PREVENT people from asking you for help. The goal is to encourage people to ask for help
and seeking pay will turn many away.
Accepting donations and featuring fund raising events would not be considered as asking
for payment.
*
4. Be Honest
You’re trading on your reputation. Your name and team name are all that you have. As
teams come and go and you continue to operate honestly word of mouth will drive clients to
your door. The actions of a few of us do reflect on the majority. Every bad investigator,
every team that falls short of honesty with other teams, within their own groups or to the
public steals our hard won credibility. The public already thinks we are all crazy, no need
to help perpetuate the negative stereotype by only investigating for trophy “captures”,
manufacturing evidence, fictionalizing stories or being tolerant of those who do.
Do not emboss, embellish or fictionalize your accounts of investigations or of evidence. It is
not evidence if your peers can't review it, try to duplicate it, work to authenticate it. If this
summarily proves a natural cause for our evidence or debunks it that is proof that the
system is working.
*
5. Act professionally
It should be able to go unsaid but as a supporter points out it bears mentioning.
1. Arrive for investigations on time.
2. Be prepared. Have everything you need with you and ready to use before you get on the
site. This includes new batteries and whats needed to mark and store your evidence.
3. Be rested. If your not stay at home.
4.Do not go if you are sick or on medication that dulls your senses.
5. Dress sensibly for the conditions and consider an investigation the same as a work place.
When dressing for investigations, wear clothes that would be acceptable in a casual business
meeting. This would include shirts and tops that do not have slogans, pictures or bands on
them, etc., jeans or dress pants that have no holes or rips in them but would be protective
and comfortable if you were outside, or if your team has official designated clothing, you
can wear that.
Do not wear all black, gothic attire, revealing or inappropriate clothing. Capes, flowing
gowns or costumes would not lend any credence to your dedication to investigating, even if
you love the idea of matching camouflage fatigues or black ninja suits for the whole team.
6. Behave as if you are at work, or your grandmothers house. Remember, you are not at a
friend’s house and although you may or may not end up being long term friends with the
client you are not there to make friends but to gather data. **I forgot this once, when I was
a new investigator and made the mistake of being too casual on an investigation by asking
if I could remove my shoes during an 18 hour investigation. Apparently from what I have
heard this was offensive. Lesson learned.**
7. Be polite.
8. Be respectful. Always, always, always be on your best behavior.
9. Make an effort to include the client, if they want to be a part of the proceedings. Explain
what you are doing and why to the client and be ready to answer any questions that they
may have for you. Allow them to test the equipment, monitor the equipment or otherwise
give them something they can do if they show an interest.
10. Be sober. Do not be high or drunk. Period.
*
6. Follow protocols while collecting data
The data you collect should be available for peer review. If it can stand up to stringent peer
review then you may have real evidence. The way you collected the data is most definitely
an issue. If you do not know where your people are or what they are doing then how can you
be sure that isn’t them in a blurred snapshot or on an EVP? Furthermore, your provenance
of the data collected could make all the difference to your peers when they are reviewing
your evidence. Know what equipment was used, how, when and why and present the results
with no commentary on what you think it is.
*
7. Analyze & present your findings in a timely manner.
What good is having hours of tape from investigations held months ago that has never been
listened to? Your pictures, video and audio should be analyzed and presented in a report
form to your client in a timely manner. Do not take so much data that it can’t be evaluated
in a matter of days.
The report is for the client. Present them with what you got, with as little to no set up as is
possible. For instance present pictures with no commentary of your own and ask them to
tell you what they see before discussing what you think is in it. Let them listen to possible
EVPs without having heard what you hear in them.
*
8. Maintain client contact after an investigation
Ask if the client would like to set up an ongoing investigation or would like to be taught
how to collect data.
Make sure that they know that activity may increase after an investigation and make sure
you are available to them if it does. Keep in touch with them when it is appropriate and
follow up your report with research.
Offer ongoing support but be sensitive to them and watch for signs that they are tired of the
scene and may need a break from all of it. Some people will not just say: "We need a break."
It’s a fine line and one only learns how to tread it with experience.
Even then it’s difficult to know how much is enough? Ask them. If they don’t want to
continue that should be their choice.
Don’t leave them hanging.
Don't make yourself a "fixture".
*
We can build a working network of like minded teams and individuals who support each
other:
One team at a time.
Will you stand with us?
If you are following these guidelines or wish to adopt these guidelines for your team, I want
to applaud you for working with a code of conduct, for believing that protocols are
important and for supporting ethics in the field of paranormal research. Please add one of
our banners to your web presence, link it back to this page explaining what it stands for
and then go back to doing the real work of researching and investigating the paranormal.
We have four banners for you to choose from to display on your page. Two are copy/paste
and two are in html code form. Once you decide to display one, let us know which one you
want. The other two can be seen on my Myspace Profile.
As our network grows so will our reputations, so will our credibility and so will our ability
to help those who are experiencing alleged paranormal activity.
Your input is welcome. If you have something that you feel needs to be added to the
American Standard contact us.
Many of you are adhering to these standards now. If you are why not join The American
Standard and have your group listed on our “Standard Operating Groups” page? (To be
added SOON) It is a small step. Reaching out to others who believe in paranormal ethics the
same way you do. Sharing a banner placed on your website, Myspace, social community, or
in signatures that proclaims what your standards are. We can make a difference in the
paranormal community; one group at a time.
*
Disclaimers!
We reserve the right to limit, restrict or deny access to this list.
agrees and follows these simple, widely accepted standards of operation. It is not a group, a
club, or an agreement binding you to the arbitration of others. It is a celebration of those
who follow the guidelines like we do.
WHY? The goal is to be able to refer groups with whom we share a common code of conduct
to clients or others who ask for help or seek council. It is a networking tool so that you know
if you contact a member whom is linked on this page you will know that they share our
ideals. These groups can be asked for help, the will share their findings, their evidence,
their knowledge and you will know that it was gained under the same codes of standardized
conduct that you yourself employ.
A few years ago the Sci-Fi Channel premiered a show called Ghost Hunters. Now,
paranormal themed movies, radio shows, podcasts, and television programs are enjoying
much success and interest in all things supernatural are at a peak. The paranormal
community has become a hot bed of activity. Paranormal researchers, groups, teams and
individual ghost hunters are springing up every where; they are in almost every state and in
practically every major city. The only problem with that is that this is an unregulated field.
It is an unarguable fact; there are certain groups that just want to investigate "haunted"
locations, for various reasons. Then on the other end of the spectrum we have groups who
invest time, money, and efforts into helping others, collecting data and attempting to
further the field of paranormal study. It is time for those that are dedicated; those of us who
follow a set code of conduct and support ethics in paranormal research to make a stand.
How can we do that?
I recently stumbled across the answer to that question when I found Minnesota Ghosts and
saw that these intrepid investigators have challenged the Minnesota teams to step up and
join them in setting the bar as far as standards are concerned. Immediately I knew that
this, The Minnesota Standard, was what I had been struggling to come up with; a way that
all of us who are on the same page can form a more efficient network. A network of like
minded people with the same goals who could work together to further the image of
paranormal investigators, of ghost hunting and of the paranormal community as a whole. A
network of investigators that people can count on and that the community can be proud of.
It is widely agreed that a set of guide lines, much like the TAPS Family Requirements, is
long over due. The American Standard is an attempt to set working standards in the field of
paranormal investigations that teams may voluntarily adopt. We can build a strong
network of ethical investigators and show our support of principled codes of conduct. We
ask that you join us. Step up and take a stand.
What is The American Standard?
Read On!
Your probably following it already!
*
1. Maintain a web presence
We are judged by people searching for information about the paranormal before they ever
meet or speak to us. They judge us on the strength of our web presence. Most groups do this
but many do it wrong. You should approach all visitors like potential clients and your site
should be informative, easy to navigate and easy to read.
Having a registered domain name (this is a .com, .net, .org) is a very good idea. You have to
make it easy for people to remember. The registered domain also shows others that you are
serious about your group because you have put money into the serious nature of your
website. A MySpace.com profile is good for networking and marketing but is a horrible
choice for your ONLY web presence. The average person is not going to go to Myspace to
find answers if they have questions or need help. They are much more likely to use a search
engine.
However, we are not a watch dog organization. Your web presence type is entirely up to you.
The following considerations are listed as a community service to suggest the best web
presence you can offer a potential client. They are a guideline.
Please consider these things when building your website
- Feature your members If you are scared about putting your picture on the internet, then
you shouldn't be working with the public. A picture and a biography will tell a potential
client that you are real, down to earth people with lives and families and professions. It
will make them more comfortable contacting you.
- Feature your investigations. You do not have to have full reports but say where you have
been and when. Feature training investigations when you can to emphasize that you do
organized training sessions as this will also put a potential client at ease. Name the teams
you have worked with or for. If you have references, offer them. It is important that you
show a potential client that you do active investigations.
- No unrelated ads. It only makes you look unprofessional to have a page cluttered with
winking, blinking, distracting ads. Potential clients are not going to take you seriously if
your web page is full of dating advertisements and the like.
- Be organized. People usually come to your site through a search engine and they are
looking for something specific when they arrive. They will leave your site and chose
another if it is hard to navigate your page and they can not find what they are interested in.
This is a point where many otherwise excellent investigative teams make a less than
satisfying impression.
A person terrified by a haunting is not going to want to see horror graphics. They want
answers. They need to be made to feel as if this highly unusual experience that they have
had or are having can be understood if not explained. They will leave before they will wade
through unrelated content for real information.
- Keep your content current. This is where even I have some trouble but the extra effort to
make the site fresh and update it regularly really pays off. Outdated holiday wishes or
features are going to speak volumes about you as will screaming acid rock, horror movie
sound tracts or graphic, violent or sexual content.
While on Myspace you can reflect your personal tastes in layouts and music, the website
should be more geared to pleasing the visitor. These visitors are the ones who will be
inviting you in to their homes or businesses. When you give out your address or pass out
business cards, or put yourself in search engines, web rings or top sites you are trying to
reach people who (in most cases) are not “into” the paranormal.
Examples of a great web presence:
Ghost Vigil --
Look at the volume of information available on their site. This is a site geared to educating
anyone who wants to gather knowledge. They also feature their investigation reports better
than I have EVER seen any other group do. They handle their evidence well, they are
timely and they follow up with their clients well. This is a team anyone would do well to
learn from or use as an example.
*
2. Team must be made up of adults
Over 21 years of age. Why is that important? Because the client trusts you on their
property, in their homes and businesses and like it or not teenagers are notoriously
unpredictable. I’m not arguing that older teens, over 18, can’t be great assets to a team but
the person representing the group to the public needs to be adult.
Furthermore there are issues of safety to be considered. Children and teens are widely
accepted as being more open to the spirit world and while you might think that that sounds
like a great way to bring the ghosts out to play it could pose a threat to the individual.
Possession or oppression by the spirits may be possible. Not to mention that in some of the
locations we investigate younger people might be vulnerable to persons who will not have
their best interests at heart. We spend too much time in the dark with relative strangers for
it to be a good idea to have children on an investigation.
As previously stated we are not a watch dog organization. Your team and your children are
your business. Please use these suggestions as guide lines.
*
3. Investigate FREE of CHARGE
Paranormal ethics frown on taking payment for investigating a haunting. Reasons vary
from how you could guarantee your services when most of what we do is anecdotal and
subjective to individual interpretation to it would be too easy to deceive innocent people
into being dupes. Not taking payment for our services is a way to stay honest. If you aren’t
investigating to help people, then what are you in it for? Charging money would only
PREVENT people from asking you for help. The goal is to encourage people to ask for help
and seeking pay will turn many away.
Accepting donations and featuring fund raising events would not be considered as asking
for payment.
*
4. Be Honest
You’re trading on your reputation. Your name and team name are all that you have. As
teams come and go and you continue to operate honestly word of mouth will drive clients to
your door. The actions of a few of us do reflect on the majority. Every bad investigator,
every team that falls short of honesty with other teams, within their own groups or to the
public steals our hard won credibility. The public already thinks we are all crazy, no need
to help perpetuate the negative stereotype by only investigating for trophy “captures”,
manufacturing evidence, fictionalizing stories or being tolerant of those who do.
Do not emboss, embellish or fictionalize your accounts of investigations or of evidence. It is
not evidence if your peers can't review it, try to duplicate it, work to authenticate it. If this
summarily proves a natural cause for our evidence or debunks it that is proof that the
system is working.
*
5. Act professionally
It should be able to go unsaid but as a supporter points out it bears mentioning.
1. Arrive for investigations on time.
2. Be prepared. Have everything you need with you and ready to use before you get on the
site. This includes new batteries and whats needed to mark and store your evidence.
3. Be rested. If your not stay at home.
4.Do not go if you are sick or on medication that dulls your senses.
5. Dress sensibly for the conditions and consider an investigation the same as a work place.
When dressing for investigations, wear clothes that would be acceptable in a casual business
meeting. This would include shirts and tops that do not have slogans, pictures or bands on
them, etc., jeans or dress pants that have no holes or rips in them but would be protective
and comfortable if you were outside, or if your team has official designated clothing, you
can wear that.
Do not wear all black, gothic attire, revealing or inappropriate clothing. Capes, flowing
gowns or costumes would not lend any credence to your dedication to investigating, even if
you love the idea of matching camouflage fatigues or black ninja suits for the whole team.
6. Behave as if you are at work, or your grandmothers house. Remember, you are not at a
friend’s house and although you may or may not end up being long term friends with the
client you are not there to make friends but to gather data. **I forgot this once, when I was
a new investigator and made the mistake of being too casual on an investigation by asking
if I could remove my shoes during an 18 hour investigation. Apparently from what I have
heard this was offensive. Lesson learned.**
7. Be polite.
8. Be respectful. Always, always, always be on your best behavior.
9. Make an effort to include the client, if they want to be a part of the proceedings. Explain
what you are doing and why to the client and be ready to answer any questions that they
may have for you. Allow them to test the equipment, monitor the equipment or otherwise
give them something they can do if they show an interest.
10. Be sober. Do not be high or drunk. Period.
*
6. Follow protocols while collecting data
The data you collect should be available for peer review. If it can stand up to stringent peer
review then you may have real evidence. The way you collected the data is most definitely
an issue. If you do not know where your people are or what they are doing then how can you
be sure that isn’t them in a blurred snapshot or on an EVP? Furthermore, your provenance
of the data collected could make all the difference to your peers when they are reviewing
your evidence. Know what equipment was used, how, when and why and present the results
with no commentary on what you think it is.
*
7. Analyze & present your findings in a timely manner.
What good is having hours of tape from investigations held months ago that has never been
listened to? Your pictures, video and audio should be analyzed and presented in a report
form to your client in a timely manner. Do not take so much data that it can’t be evaluated
in a matter of days.
The report is for the client. Present them with what you got, with as little to no set up as is
possible. For instance present pictures with no commentary of your own and ask them to
tell you what they see before discussing what you think is in it. Let them listen to possible
EVPs without having heard what you hear in them.
*
8. Maintain client contact after an investigation
Ask if the client would like to set up an ongoing investigation or would like to be taught
how to collect data.
Make sure that they know that activity may increase after an investigation and make sure
you are available to them if it does. Keep in touch with them when it is appropriate and
follow up your report with research.
Offer ongoing support but be sensitive to them and watch for signs that they are tired of the
scene and may need a break from all of it. Some people will not just say: "We need a break."
It’s a fine line and one only learns how to tread it with experience.
Even then it’s difficult to know how much is enough? Ask them. If they don’t want to
continue that should be their choice.
Don’t leave them hanging.
Don't make yourself a "fixture".
*
We can build a working network of like minded teams and individuals who support each
other:
One team at a time.
Will you stand with us?
If you are following these guidelines or wish to adopt these guidelines for your team, I want
to applaud you for working with a code of conduct, for believing that protocols are
important and for supporting ethics in the field of paranormal research. Please add one of
our banners to your web presence, link it back to this page explaining what it stands for
and then go back to doing the real work of researching and investigating the paranormal.
We have four banners for you to choose from to display on your page. Two are copy/paste
and two are in html code form. Once you decide to display one, let us know which one you
want. The other two can be seen on my Myspace Profile.
As our network grows so will our reputations, so will our credibility and so will our ability
to help those who are experiencing alleged paranormal activity.
Your input is welcome. If you have something that you feel needs to be added to the
American Standard contact us.
Many of you are adhering to these standards now. If you are why not join The American
Standard and have your group listed on our “Standard Operating Groups” page? (To be
added SOON) It is a small step. Reaching out to others who believe in paranormal ethics the
same way you do. Sharing a banner placed on your website, Myspace, social community, or
in signatures that proclaims what your standards are. We can make a difference in the
paranormal community; one group at a time.
*
Disclaimers!
We reserve the right to limit, restrict or deny access to this list.
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