The Doctor asked: "…perhaps you could post a link to the thoughts of who you might consider an authority on the subject."

Well, if we're talking shadows, glowing mist, measuring temperature of such things, and just an overall knowledge of what things could be, I'd go with these guys….I would consider them an authority on such things… 

Just have to laugh at the chasm between MIT and all those ghost hunting shows. Not so much of a chasm between GH and Scooby doo LOL.

Just clicked on the subjects at MIT. Drool drool, I wish I could do all of them, yet I find it hard enough to pronounce even the names of the subjects. Electromagnetic theory, techniques of radio astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology yum yum. But alas my brain died long ago so off to scooby class I go…

To The Doctor – I was answering your question concerning an "authority on the subject."  My original question centered around a "prevailing belief."  As in, does the entire paranormal community generally swing one way or another?  This simply implies looking at many websites and getting a feel for what is currently believed.

An authority on the subject is a different matter.  For example, I believe that we can agree that Grant is certainly not an authority on the matter due to his sloppy investigatory methods, questionable evidence and even more questionable character.  One can make a fairly strong argument that he, essentially, is just making things up (as seen in that link that you provided…"non-human entities…not of this earth"…please…).  That is why the only authority that I would acknowledge is one with impeccable scientific credentials.  At least this person would be able to tell me what a shadow is and what we know about the physical nature of shadows.  He (or she) would be to prove what they say.  This is the only type of evidence that I can accept.  Looking at a shadow, neither caught on film or on the FLIR, and telling me that "he" is looking over the railing at you is simply not good enough.

You said "the people at the link you supplied might not have a clue what you are talking about."  I agree.  And there's a very good reason for that.  What we are talking about hasn't been proven in the least.  The boys and girls over at MIT could tell me what actually does exist in nature and how it works.  They could also tell me why or how prevailing beliefs in the paranormal community are most likely wrong or at the very least, highly unlikely.  So without even knowing the subject matter at hand, they would still be an authority on the subject…