It hurts… to read people deeming GH credible. But first, let me say, I do not even try to judge GH and GA by the same standard. GA never claimed to be skeptics or scientific just three guys hunting for ghosts, using whatever is thrown their way by so called paranormal experts. GH claimed to be skeptics and scientific and in fact to be something of paranormal experts themselves. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

GA is a high-paced entertainment show, depicting three guys with wicked tv editing skills hunting ghosts. They present a good drama, do extensive introduction and well, make a good show. When I watch GA it is so refreshing because I really only watch for entertainment. I don't watch for evidence, I simply put my brain on "fun" and go for the ride. And boy do they deliver. Granted the possessions give a bad taste, but it's like a car-crash you just can't resist to watch it. :) 

Still I do hope that they by some fluke or accident happen to catch something really intriguing (and not enhanced noise and invisible mists, has anyone seen the mists GA claim to show? Also, except for a few in Moon River the EVP's are non-hearable). But really, that is a vain hope, just an added fun. 

GH… where do I start? They came and said we are serious and scientific and debunkers and then in practice was almost the opposite. The go on and on about EMF inducing this and that, which is total BS. They throw hangers, edit FLIR takes to match their story, talk to randomly fluttering K2's, Grant keeps pulling stunt after stunt, and furthermost, catch living, breathing, people on FLIR and claim them as ghosts, keep mistaking FLIR reflections for ghosts etc etc. This from self-proclaimed skeptics and people who claim to be scientific? It's simply to much. They set the standard of which we should judge them and we did. They fall harder than GA because they put themselves up on a piedestal which did not support them. Remember GH have been doing this for 20+ years, and still they do the same basic mistakes, never develop the field or their techniques and procedure. Instead the use equipment like the K2 which gives a crudload of anomalies but no (none whatsoever) hard data. Such people can not be deemed either credible or serious and neither can their evidence. These are not random guys, these are supposed professionals with years of experience.

So we have GA: three random guys who are novices in the field and basically hunt ghosts for fun and thrills with whatever other people give them, not claiming either to be skeptics or to use scientific methods, hell, they even use mediums and rely heavily on people's stories, and basically never debunk anything, which is ok, since they never set out to do that . They do not claim anything, but do produce some grand entertainment. And that's really all they ever set out to do. Zak once saw a ghost, he wants to see it again and brings two "friends" with on a wild goose chase. And he comes up with very low-grade "evidence" (but they are vary excited about what they catch for sure )

Then we have GH: A number of people, led by two people who has been investigating fro 20+ years and claim to be skeptics and to use scientific methods in their investigation, and go out to debunk. Do they follow up on these claims? Not really, in fact most often than not they do the opposite. They use equipment they do not know how to use, but still claim they gather data with them. 

No, where should judgment fall? Well, in my mind, on those whose actions does not match their words, and that is GH. Period.

Also,  GH is dreadfully boring tv, and the editing an camerawork is sloppy and formulaic. GA in the other hand is tight, well-edited and well-shot and a much better production.That is really beside the point, but the reason GH is sometimes really boring is not because they are more serious and don't "embellish" their investigation, but because the production sucks. 

And let's not forget it is GH who has produced the most lavish evidence, like sheetie, and not GA. The bolder the claim, the better the evidence must be…

Stil of course I hope GH might stumble upon something, but actually, I would be hard-pressed to believe any evidence from GH at all, because of their track record. 

In short, both are equally not credible, but one of them claims to be, the other not.

I was out of boredom and some curiosity surfing wikipedia, without any aim, when I stumbled across the article on Poveglia Island. And it tells a different story than the one we were treated to on GA. It seems almost all of GA's claims is modern folklore, and above that folklore that really isn't common knowledge. So much for research… Not even checking wikipedia on a location you are about to investigate seems less than diligent. 

It seems GA only recounted legends and stories handed to them by local believers, such as the guy who gave them their "tour". An did not check out the actual history. The biggest frig-up this lead to was the claim that there had lied a mental hospital on the island, which it hadn't, in fact the island had housed a retirement home (built in 1922). Not scary enough, I guess. 

Also noteworthy, was that the island had quite recently been used fro agriculture, which kind of contradicts the stories of the place being abandoned due to the common belief the island being cursed/haunted. You don't send the elderly och grow to a place that is commonly known to be cursed, horrific and plagued by death, no? Which indicates the islands reputation is heavily embellished by the paranormal community. Sure it has been used a quarantine station, and (regular) hospital, but also as harbour, artillery bastion and as mentioned before and place for a retirement home and agriculture. 

I know, this isn't that surprising, but still it is irritating that they try to sell the place as hell on earth, with legends that in some cases are factually wrong. Ok, it's GA, it is entertainment, but still this was surprisingly embellished even for them. 

One of the fun things about shows like GA and GHI (and GH at times) is the locations and the history surrounding some of the places. When GA so blatantly ignore the history and go for only for embellished legend (modern in origin), it really devalues that aspect of the show. The fun or sad thing, is that they at Remington made a whole number on how they do research on the locations they visit. Sure, guys, what you do is scour for legends and anything that can add a paranormal vibe to a place. Don't try to pass it of as research. Please.

Lastly, I know, it's GA, it's entertainment, it's a tv show, but it is really quite disrespectful to misportray a place like that. The people watching get the wrong idea and you only purport myth and legend. You could atleast add the actual history of the place and not only legend, if nothing else, so as a service to the viewers. I guarantuee the ghosties wouldn't mind, but I do believe they would mind that you don't even get basic facts right. 

Here is the article (in english, the italian is even better but not I don't know much italian, but enough to realise it does not support GA's claims)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poveglia