# TAPS (Ghosthunters)-Do These Guys EVER Find Anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 20, 2007, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553 "2007-07-20T16:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/21 "2007-07-21T02:58:30Z")
**lowbrass, Baldwin** , Have you ever watched an entire episode of the show? ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/22 "2007-07-21T03:13:04Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] You may find me rude as well. A cumulative absence of evidence is indeed evidence of absence, in cases where, if something exists in reality, there _should_ be evidence beyond unsubstantiated anecdotes. [/QUOTE] And how do we prove that, if ghosts exist, then there _should_ be measurable evidence of their existance? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/23 "2007-07-21T03:23:32Z")
[QUOTE=Enter the Flagon] And how do we prove that, if ghosts exist, then there _should_ be measurable evidence of their existance? [/QUOTE] Because if there isn’t a measurable evidence of their existence then their existence is moot. They could neither interact with the universe or be detectable. And once you cross that line where you accept the existence of something that could not be interacted with in anyway you might as well say the ghosts are hanging out with fairies and the flying spaghetti monster. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/24 "2007-07-21T03:25:49Z")
What’s so rude about saying that there is no such thing as a ghost? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/25 "2007-07-21T03:34:51Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] What’s so rude about saying that there is no such thing as a ghost? [/QUOTE] Nothing really, but since this thread is about the show Ghost Hunters and TAPS, you should have had seen at least one episode before coming in with that statement. You may also comment on some of their more ‘interesting’ finds and perhaps offer an explanation. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/26 "2007-07-21T03:35:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] What’s so rude about saying that there is no such thing as a ghost? [/QUOTE] For real. Why do peple get bent about that? Would they get upset if someone said there was no such thing as werewolves? What if there was a vampire hunter show and somebody asked this board if they ever found any real vampires? Would anyone get upset or accuse us of not being 'open minded" if we patiently explained that no, they never find any real vampires because vampires are mythical creatures which not only _don’t_ exist in the real world but _couldn’t_ exist in the real world. Ghosts – as poorly defined as they are (and that presents a giant problem for these fake “investigators” as well), not only lack a single speck of credible evidence, they also couldn’t possible exist even theoretically in this universe. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/27 "2007-07-21T03:36:29Z")
[QUOTE=Just Some Guy] Because if there isn’t a measurable evidence of their existence then their existence is moot. They could neither interact with the universe or be detectable. And once you cross that line where you accept the existence of something that could not be interacted with in anyway you might as well say the ghosts are hanging out with fairies and the flying spaghetti monster. [/QUOTE] OK, so if they exist, then we should be able to measure some or other effect of that existence? So how do we know that we’re measuring for the right effects? And how do we know when we’ve sampled enough data to conclusively claim that there are no ghosts? ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/28 "2007-07-21T03:38:33Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Ghosts… not only lack a single speck of credible evidence, they also couldn’t possible exist even theoretically in this universe. [/QUOTE] It sounds like you’re onto something important here, could you explain further? How can we demonstrate that your assertion is true? ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/29 "2007-07-21T03:49:59Z")
[QUOTE=Hentor the Barbarian] What’s so rude about saying that there is no such thing as a ghost? [/QUOTE] This isn’t my fight, and I have no desire to get into one, but isn’t that a perfect example of threadshitting? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/30 "2007-07-21T03:50:43Z")
[QUOTE=Enter the Flagon] It sounds like you’re onto something important here, could you explain further? How can we demonstrate that your assertion is true? [/QUOTE] By comparing the claims made about ghosts with what the laws of physics will permit. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/31 "2007-07-21T03:51:54Z")
[QUOTE=Oslo Ostragoth] This isn’t my fight, and I have no desire to get into one, but isn’t that a perfect example of threadshitting? [/QUOTE] Not in a context where a question is being asked about whether anyone has ever found a ghost. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/32 "2007-07-21T03:53:35Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Ghosts – as poorly defined as they are (and that presents a giant problem for these fake “investigators” as well), not only lack a single speck of credible evidence, they also couldn’t possible exist even theoretically in this universe. [/QUOTE] It sounds like we should shut down the universities, because everything knowable about the entire freaking universe is already known. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/33 "2007-07-21T03:56:57Z")
[QUOTE=Zebra] **lowbrass, Baldwin** , Have you ever watched an entire episode of the show? [/QUOTE] Don’t see what that has to do with my making a simple logical point, but – I’ve seen “Ghosthunters”; it’s pathetic. Don’t know what “TAPS” is. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/34 "2007-07-21T04:01:16Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] By comparing the claims made about ghosts with what the laws of physics will permit. [/QUOTE] OK, but do we know that these claims are not compatible with the laws of physics as they will be known in another ten years? Or twenty? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/35 "2007-07-21T04:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Oslo Ostragoth] It sounds like we should shut down the universities, because everything knowable about the entire freaking universe is already known. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Strawman. It isn’t necessary to know everything about the universe in order to know that a.) a given hypothesis is not necessitated by any observable evidence, b) that hypothesis has not been defined within scientific parameters (there are no falsifiable tests) or c.) that popular claims regarding said hypothesis are incompatible with the physical laws of the universe and are therefore impossible, by definition. Like I said, nobody would get their panties in a bunch if i said that vampires were impossible. What makes the existence of ghosts and less ridiculous than the existence of vampires or werewolves? They all have exactly the same amount of evidence and the same degree of theoretical possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/36 "2007-07-21T04:03:34Z")
[QUOTE=Enter the Flagon] OK, but do we know that these claims are not compatible with the laws of physics as they will be known in another ten years? Or twenty? [/QUOTE] Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/37 "2007-07-21T04:12:00Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Not in a context where a question is being asked about whether anyone has ever found a ghost. [/QUOTE] But that’s **not** the question. The OP asked if the **TAPS** guys ever get anything. And the answer is “yes”, they often get anomalous video/audio/temperature readings that they are unable to explain. The guys themselves rarely, if ever, use the word “ghosts” to label these results. Asked and answered; ergo threadshitting. And, by the way, in anticipation of the next barrage of criticism: it looks to me that they have well over 6 figures invested in their equipment. Personally, I wouldn’t spend that kind of money so I could go out and pull pranks on people while risking being exposed as a fraud. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/38 "2007-07-21T04:14:10Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Yes. [/QUOTE] How? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/39 "2007-07-21T04:17:35Z")
[QUOTE=Enter the Flagon] How? [/QUOTE] The laws of physics don’t change. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553/40 "2007-07-21T04:17:36Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Yes. [/QUOTE] Perhaps you would care to briefly describe the major scientific advances in the next 10 or 20 years. I think I might be able to make a few bucks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taps-ghosthunters-do-these-guys-ever-find-anything/412553.md?page=3)