04/08/2026
Why Paranormal Investigating Doesn’t Have to Be Disrespectful
Lately, if you scroll through comments on paranormal content, you’ll notice a growing shift. More and more people are calling out paranormal investigating as disrespectful, invasive, or trashy.
Too often, "ghost hunting" is portrayed as barging into a historic space with a Ouija board, shouting at the walls to force a reaction, or treating locations with complex, sensitive histories, like Northern State Hospital like haunted theme parks. When people treat historic sites purely as backdrops for cheap jump scares, it gives the entire paranormal community a bad name. Real human lives unfolded in these spaces, and disrespecting that history or putting people in dangerous situations isn't okay.
But paranormal investigating does not have to be disrespectful. When you approach it with the right mindset, proper boundaries, and a genuine respect for history, it becomes an eye opening, educational, and deeply grounded experience.
At Dead West Investigations, we operate differently. Here is how we bridge the gap between curiosity and respect and how we teach others to do the same.
1. Respecting the History Before the Mystery
I respect and love history as much as being an investigator, I believe history is just as important as the investigation itself. Ghost hunting isn't new; it has roots stretching back through centuries of human culture, folklore, and early scientific inquiry.
Whether you are using traditional tools like dowsing rods and pendulums or modern electronic gear, understanding the history of what you are using and where you are standing is essential. Knowing the human history of a site honors the people who came before us, elevating the night from a cheap stunt into meaningful exploration.
2. Respect Means Rules: Property, Spirits, and Each Other
When you step onto a historic site, you are a guest in someone else's space. Before every single event, we go over our rules together line by line:
Respect the Property: Leave no trace. Pack it in, pack it out, and never deface or damage a space. We want to be welcomed back, not be the reason a historic location closes its doors to researchers.
Respect the Spirits: We don't provoke, mock, or force interaction. Spirits don't work on a schedule. You can't tell someone, "hey, clock in and talk to me," and expect a performance. If something happens, awesome. If it’s a quiet night, that’s completely valid, too.
Respect Each Other: Kindness and inclusivity matter. Everyone in our group is sharing a vulnerable space together in the dark.
3. Why We Have a Hard "No Ouija Boards" Policy
One of the biggest misconceptions is that ghost hunting means pulling out a spirit board. While Hasbro packages them like a fun parlor game, talking boards have a complex history, and they are not something to mess with casually.
Our firm boundary comes down to energy and body autonomy:
You Are Not a Battery: Using a spirit board invites an unknown energy to use your body, motor functions, and personal energy to move a planchette. You are opening an unregulated conduit and handing over the controls without knowing who or what is driving.
Protecting the Energy: Instead of making ourselves open conduits, we bring our own equipment (like the Phasma Box) and teach guests exactly how it works. These devices allow potential communication using the energy of the electronic mechanism, keeping your personal energy safe and protected.
4. We’re Here to Observe, Not Perform
Another driver of negativity in the community is the pressure to "make something happen," which leads to fake reactions, theatrical drama, and staged scares.
We maintain a strict zero fakery policy. We are here to observe reality. If a strange noise turns out to be the wind, a stray bug, or someone’s stomach growling we own it! (Our rules even state: if your stomach growls, claim your sounds so we don't analyze tummy rumbles as ghost messages!). A little humor keeps everyone grounded. When you eliminate the pressure to put on a show, the real moments carry actual weight.
5. Firm Emotional and Physical Boundaries
Curiosity without boundaries can become unsafe. Beyond tool safety, we enforce clear boundaries for our guests’ well being.
No Contacting Personal Loved Ones: Investigating a public or historic site is not the venue for personal grief work. Trying to reach late family members in these environments can invite confusion and emotional distress.
Listen to Your Body: Physical reactions like dizziness, nausea, or sudden overwhelm are taken seriously. Safety means keeping an eye on your friends, taking breaks, and stepping back when needed.
Changing the Narrative
Paranormal investigating doesn't deserve a bad reputation when it's done right. You don't need dangerous tools, aggressive provoking, or theatrical tricks to experience the unknown.
By leading with historical education, clear equipment instruction, firm energy boundaries, and common sense, we can explore the mysterious side of our world while keeping everyone safe and honoring the spaces we visit.
Whenever you step into the dark, just remember: bring the energy you want to get back.
