In the past three episodes of DT, we have been treated to three "ghostly" FLIR images.  Interestingly enough, two were the same temperature as the surrounding area and the third image actually showed a bit of heat.  So…what is the average Joe to make of these "findings?"  Are these images evidence of the paranormal?  Maybe, maybe not.  But I believe that that is rushing things.  A better question is…are we getting enough information to seriously consider these images as evidence of anything?  I do not think so and I'll tell you why…

First things first…here's a shot of the…and I quote…"the weapon of choice for ghost-hunters and truth-seekers alike"…..ok then….:

http://www.syfy.com/destinationtruth/backpack.php?id=22

That's a good starting point.  But beyond allowing "mere mortals to see in the dark"….let's take a good look at what that particular model of infrared camera:

http://www.flir.com/thermography/americas/us/content/?id=18330

This is where my problems began.  When the Pompeii episode aired, I began searching for video of thermal reflections.  I wanted to see what they looked like.  I wanted to see the surfaces involved, how far human body heat can be reflected, all sorts of things.  What did I find?  Either a bunch of nothing or a bunch of "ghost-hunting" clips.

At first, I thought I just wasn't trying hard enough.  But then…it kind of dawned on me.  This i-Series infrared camera isn't intended to find ghosts.  It's really to examine electral and mechanical systems.  If a human figure is seen, it's probably acknowledged as a simple thermal reflection and dismissed.  Why keep any footage of it and why show anything like that?  That is why I couldn't find anything.  Well…except for ghost-hunting clips screaming "Ghost!"

So…back to DT specifically.  I mentioned that we don't have enough information to seriously consider the images that we have seen to be reliable.  What kind of information?  Glad you asked.  Let me kick out four points of criteria that I'd like to see covered in connection with these images.

1) Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  I really want the settings, the temperature range, and the time stamps on EVERY FLIR image shown.  After the "Doctored Manson FLIR" debacle…I want everything labeled.  Not that I don't trust these paranormal shows…but…I don't trust these paranormal shows.  Settings, Temp Range, and Time Stamps please…

2) The DT crew has shown a propensity for clowning around and for taking part in cultural dances and such.  Great…let's use that joy for "make-believe" and acting and start recreating these FLIR images.  Lets get some sort of scale.  Lets get some sort of temperature comparison.  Lets back the party up and recreate the same scenario and see if we can get some results.

Now, the argument against that is "But Rev…we can only show so much on TV.  We're on an ultra-tight schedule."  Completely understandable.  I like the pacing of the show and really, I don't want to see that changed.  However…there is this new thing that the kids are clamoring about.  Something called…"the intrawebs" or somethin'.  It's were you can film junk and then upload it to this net thing and other people can then view it.  I know…sounds crazy, right?  I hear it's pretty easy to do as well.

Jokes aside.  You want people to consider your evidence…do the work and then show the work…

3) When reviewing the evidence at the site…beyond the "WAIT!  WHAT WAS THAT?!?" response…maybe then we can actually acknowledge that things like thermal reflections do exist.  Let's take a good look at the area for reflective surfaces.  It's important to do this right at that moment because the ambient temperature and current humidity may be playing a role.  I cannot stress enough that the first thing that you should do is stop and account for everyone in your party..including the invisible camera guy, sound guy, and producer.  The possibility that someone in your party is reflecting heat off of something and the FLIR is picking it up should be first and foremost on the check list.

4) When all that is done…please…for the love of God…show us the area IN THE FREAKIN' DAYLIGHT!  Keeping us in the dark when you're trying to prove something to us is both literally and symbolically insulting.  Again…one can use that crazy inter-web thing to show us this footage.

This is the kind of information that we need but we do not have.  Without this information…we just don't have enough to go on to properly examine the footage. 

And before I go…two last thoughts…

The first…say the image in Pompeii is real.  Say that you truly believe that what you caught is not a thermal reflection, but is an actual ghost.  Then…why leave?  Because your flight leaves in a couple of hours?  Change it.  I mean…you believe that you have proof of the afterlife.  That is ground-breaking, monumental, hang your hat on…kind of stuff.  Yet…you leave…

In other words, you go gold mining in a cave.  You find a huge chunk of gold.  Your flight leaves in a couple of hours so you leave and go mine in another cave.  Really?  This is what you would do?  Really?  Because, I'm thinking…and just throwing it out there…that most people just might stick around in that first cave and go after just a bit more gold.  Just sayin'…

The second thing…going to Jason and Grant for their expert opinion?  Really?  Talk about having a vested interest in something.  A while back Loren Coleman, of Cryptomundo fame, was asked about some lake or something and if there was a monster in the lake or if there could be a monster in the lake.  His entire gig is cryptozoology.  Of course there is a monster in the lake, silly-billy.  Of course there could be a monster in every lake you silly goose.  Of course.  So are J&G going to see ghosts in those FLIR images?  Um…yyyeeeahhhhh….it's good for business.  Want to impress me?  Get a FLIR representative to verify those images.  At least that would be a starting point for a serious discussion.  But Jason and Grant?  I just asked my flashlight if J&G could be trusted.  It flashed twice…and that means "no."

The other off putting thing about these "cheap" low end i series FLIR's is the resolution. That page you posted Revenant claims 120x120 – 180x180 pixel resolution. That's not a lot of dots! The better more expensive  cameras have 640x480 resolution. But they don't use those, cos they're cheap (the show not the cameras).

Just imaging downloading pron at 120x120 resolution LoL. Ooops….

Patrick said: "I just cannot take the stupidity of these shows any longer.  They have long since past the point of humorous entertainment."

Orion echoed the sentiment by saying this: "I stopped watching those shows a long while ago, I couldn't take the stupidity anymore. Honestly, I don't know how the rest of you guys 'n'gals here do, even knowing you know it's 90% hogwash. How on earth do you still find these shows entertaining?? They're totally predictable, repetitious, boring, and intellectually dishonest in so many ways."

I completely understand this.  I've been there myself several times.  And sometimes I do ask myself why do I watch the shows and then in turn write long and boring posts about them?  The answer that I always come up with is…because somebody has to.

Now, that isn't a conceited answer.  I'm not saying that "I'm" the voice of reason.  If that were the case, all of us would then be in dire circumstances.  What I am saying is that there must be a voice heard in the hard wind of nonsense.  And collectively…SV is that voice.

Recently, I've been thinking along these lines.  Why do what we do and is any of it valid?  I believe that it is.  I have nothing against the big skeptical magazines, e-zines, websites or whatever else.  But…SV is on the front-lines.  Every single week the populace is bombarded by bad science, terrible evidence, and horrendous investigatory methods on these television shows.  Many people just buy into it.  But some people see something or hear something and it starts the wheels in motion.  Something doesn't seem right.  What do these people do?  They hit the cyber-highway and maybe they find their way here.

And when they get here…it's important for them to discover that they are not alone.  That they can see that other people are questioning these things as well.  Better yet…it's not a bunch of "FAKE!" chanting, it's a collection of logical, science-based discussion (well, most of the time…).  And on top of that…they see a mountain of evidence.  They can search the site, find the show that they just saw and look at what people have to say about it.  They can start thinking about things in a different light.  How can that not be a good thing?

It's because of all that that I started this thread.  We have to question everything.  Is what we are being given real?  Is it an accidental deception?  Is it an intentional deception?  These are things that we must never lose sight of when considering what is true and what is not.  The mere fact that DT is not giving us enough information to intelligently decide anything about these FLIR images is just wrong.  It is my opinion that it is intentionally deceptive.  It is the Beast of Dartmoor footage all over again.  Show us 3 seconds of something, intentionally keep any sort of information about the incident from us, and then just expect us to swallow it as paranormal.  In the immortal words of my grandfather with his deep Chicago accent "Dat just ain't right, my friend…"

Am I against this sort of thing?  You bet I am.  Am I going to continue to post things like this?  It's…*sighs*…it's almost like we have an obligation to.  The voice of reason must be heard no matter how loud the clamor of craziness is.  Ok…I think that's enough for now.  I think my soapbox just broke… 

Nosfer wrote: "Take a show like DT, try to get some extra
viewers tuning it because the promos show J&G and boost the view
shares. What they don't consider is that they probably lose an equal
number of people tuning OUT because J&G are appearing."

Very true indeed.  I would groan whenever they took evidence to these two "experts", instead of people who actually work with audio and video for a living.  Equally bad is having Steve and Tango give their opinions. 

The thing is, I believe Josh has more intelligence in his little finger than the whole GH team put together.  He's an educated man who has literally been around the world and has (or maybe had, after SyFy began tampering with the crossovers and such) a real interest in Cryptids and the like.  Many years ago he expressed his own personal interest in the Yeti, and esp. in the first season I got the impression he found a way for someone to fund expeditions dealing with his own interest in cryptozoology.  But SyFy/Pilgrim took greater control and now the shows are somehow more slick and less raw, if that is the correct word.  And although DT investigated some alleged haunted locations, it was on an occasional basis.  Now, it seems that 1/2 of every episode is devoted to the paranormal.  Again, no doubt for ratings.

Don't get me wrong, I totally agree about Josh.  I'm just pointing out that he exhibits more intelligence then some of the individuals in these productions.  In his early shows before SyFy clamped its claws into it, he was a fun character who was still interested in exploring for the unknown.  Watching him change over time, and not for the better, has been bothersome.  To me, I've always thought that the show in its original format would have been better served on, maybe, NatGeo, Travel Channel–anywhere but SyFy.  Now I find DT almost unwatchable in its "new and improved" form.   OK, I'll use the words Sold Out.  Sad.

P.S. Don't know exactly how to take this, but in an interview he answered a question about the dangers of their expeditions in a revealing manner.  Josh first said something to the effect that he had to be careful because of legal issues, but that they are never in any real danger.  Wish I could find the quote.  Really got me thinking what he meant or was insinuating.