Ghost Hunter shows, good or bad for paranormal study?

I have three shows that are currently airing that I will comment on. A Haunting, airs on Discovery Channel: This show doesn't attempt to give in to any particular argument. They take submitted stories, that are backed by several witnesses including a pranormal team and usually a holy man / woman and/or exorcist. While the "educational" aspect of the show is valuable because they take accounts from the actual people involved, alot of the show is a redramatization, even some of the EVP and photo's used, so it is hard to decide as a spectator whether it holds any fact. Ghost Hunter's, airs of SciFi: This show is great for the scientifically inclined. The team is generally made up of scientists, not usually clairvoyant's, psychics, and such. They attempt to prove or disprove paranormal existance based on scientific method. I personally frown on the show and consider the team "paranormal instigator's". Generally, they shake things up, make whatever entities are in an area angry, and then leave, making other people deal with the aftermath. Paranormal State, air's on A&E: This show, in my opinion, is quite possibly one of the best ever made for paranormal investigation. A team of college students, with scientific equiptment, investigate activity and attempt to solve the problems. They use the actually EVP tapes, camera clips, and photo's that were gathered at the scene. The filming is all done real time on location. There is no reinactment involved. The best part about the show after all of that, is that if the team is unable to prove or disprove, or even help the family at all, they call in qualified experts to help, rather than leaving the family in the lurch. I will admit my opinions are very biased, as I am an ordained clergy member, and I also belong to a paranormal research and assistance team, but they are just that... my opinions.

I'm wondering how the paranormal research is actually going - I've not kept up to date with this. Very difficult to capture a visually non physical being. I do think these shows are sensationalized. They have to be to keep people glued to their TV sets. In reality the only interesting part of ghosts/entities is the reason they are ghosts and entities. Not by the behaviour of the people who own the house they have nested in. Peoples behaviour as a result of a ghost is so predictable and quite boring after a while. The stories as to the reason a ghost has remained attached to the physical is what would make a good series. I can clear them and that's how I find out their stories. But it's rare that I buy into the sensationalist fear stuff. If I did then I couldn't do what I do. I think these shows can keep people held in a mindset about this paranormal phenomenon that is a bit old school, like I said - boring.

I don't think it hurts research. I think you (general you) either believe in them or not. I don't think these shows are going to make a believer out of anybody. I think you already are if you watch them. Me, I only watch Ghost Hunters on scifi.

I really think that Ghost Hunters is good for the field of paranormal research because they do take it seriously, and they will only make judgments based on solid evidence (EVP and video). While they give their personal experiences some credence, if they don't have solid proof, they tend to be skeptical, and I think that's a good attitude to take.

if anything i'd think these shows are exposing this sort of research to a larger audience - and by doing that, they can only be helping it. i don't know much about what's staged or not, but i will say that "ghost hunters" is a very entertaining show to watch.

I have watched a few different shows about paranormal investigations, and I must say that the members of TAPS really seem to know what they are doing. They don't dismiss people when they say that they can sense a presence there, but they do not use that, or their personal experiences, as evidence. I believe that is the way that it should be. There is a local paranormal group within my city, and I got excited about it and decided to look it up. Despite the fact that they have an age limit which I have not met, they also have a psychic that goes with them and they use what s/he says s/he senses as part of their evidence, and I do not think that I could deal with that.

I agree ghost hunters on sci-fi channel.Is probably as real as it gets. I dont see how it hurts anything, if not making people more aware.

I don't think they hurt true research in any way. I watch alot of the shows posted here and I consider them pure entertainment.