Turf Wars of the Paranormal: Fighting Over Locations

Sounds like a TV show title doesn't it? If that were the case we might end up talking about so and so that did such and such leaving everyone equally appalled. Instead we are talking about a fact that happens all too much for this investigators liking. We are talking about real life group fights, both within groups and between groups, protecting places so no others may enter and the overall sophomoric attitude that far to many groups seem to be acting on anymore. Why does it increasingly seem that the professional and upstanding groups fall to this behavior when it not only hurts them, but the paranormal community as a whole? Is it not bad enough that we are still constantly combating the "freak" aspect? And lets not forget the fine line between some unnamed new groups and a bunch of high schoolers out for their kicks; trespassing signs be damned! As you can probably tell, I am rather impassioned on this point, but I will try my best to focus that energy and present to you just why the entire "Junior High attitude" is hurting us far more than it is helping.

One of the biggest problems that many groups encounter is the "I licked it first" mentality. By that I am pointing to the groups who slap the hands of other investigators trying to investigate "their" spot when they have no special privileges themselves. Our group has personally been confronted by another group who loudly intruded on our investigation so as to ruin any EVP we might have recorded. Basically they told us that if we wanted to investigate this public place we needed them to accompany us. They then proceeded to refuse to leave until we did and were quite vocal the rest of the time we were there. Here's my question though, why don't they want other groups to investigate the same place on their own? Are they afraid nothing will be found or that the other group will get a lot more than they did? Either way, different evidence from different sources is a good thing in our field. The more you have to back up evidence of a haunting the better the location looks to others. The better the location looks to others the more want to go there (and many an investigator will go far out of their way for a hotspot). The more that want to go there the more evidence is collected and the more there is to review. Isn't that the point? This isn't a scoring game where you tally how many places only your group feels it has a right to be. This is a community out for answers. So instead of blocking access (however obtusely) to other groups try extending a hand in invitation.

A second big issue is stepping on toes. No one wants to do it and for the most part don't mean to do it when it happens. If you know a specific group that has special allowances at certain location contact them and ask them their views and opinions. If they have an "in" they may be able to help you get in or go along with you and narrate what they have experienced. Don't try to go in the backdoors and around groups who have a location plastered all over their site, try working with them first. If they don't want to then and only then do you try to contact the owner yourself. Be forewarned though that some owner's leave it up to the group who visits the location the most to decide who else should be allowed in to investigate. So if you overlook asking them first you may just find yourself being denied access on principal. Use common courtesy when dealing with another group. You never know when it might turn into a partnership over a case or a multi-group project. Don't be afraid to ask and don't be afraid to work with others if you are the one contacted. Refusing to work with other groups/teams is only working to tear this community apart further than it already is. Instead of having pockets of groups who work with one another it would be ideal to see the vast majority of groups worldwide working together and sharing information.

The third biggest issue has got to be evidence stealing. I have had it happen to me and I know that several others have as well. It is shocking when you are cruising around the Net and find a site that has your picture, EVP, video, investigation report, etc. posted on their site as theirs. Some don't even bother to change the names of those involved or the dates. If you are wondering why this falls under Turf Wars it is because this act of disrespect and thievery is part of the problem. Having to be weary of sharing your information is what is directly helping to cause the above two problems. Are there groups out there that claim to know and do more than they actually have/do? Yes, there are. But the thing to keep in mind here is that it is a very small percentage and those with the passion to actually go out and learn and do the work themselves are a much bigger population. My mother has always said not to sweat the small stuff and that is very true. If it is a small site that took your stuff then send them an email and walk away. If it is a larger site send a longer email and leave it be. Don't be belligerent or rude though, as mistakes do happen. Ask them to kindly remove it or at least give you credit. If they don't there really isn't much you can do about it at this point and time so it isn't worth the upset (unless the item is copyrighted, which is another article).

I guess I just don't get it. Here I thought we were all in it for the research and to find the answers to what may be out there. But how the heck can we do that when you have to watch your back anytime you share something as it might be stolen from you at any moment and used by another group as theirs? Now don't get me wrong here. I know that not all groups are like the examples described above and in fact many do wish to share and learn. But if you have read anything that you took offense to above then chances are that you are a part of the problem, and not a part of the solution. If that is the case, please, this investigator begs you, stop the behavior that is leading this field into even more skepticism than it has to begin with. Show how professional you are in all you do and do not sink to childish antics that would make a teenager blush. If you don't like them then stay away, don't link to them and don't talk to them. There are well over 100,000 paranormal based sites on the Internet, I know of at least 100 personally who would love to work with you if someone else doesn't.