No Trespassing

Halloween is my favorite time of year, as someone who doesn't practice religion, I miss out on all the winter holidays, and Thanksgiving just isn't a big deal in my house. During the month of October, I get more attention from friends, family, and coworkers all suddenly more interested in the paranormal during this time of year. There are countless events, parties, and "ghost hunts" being promoted, as the public falls all over themselves to get in on the spooky action. There is a lot of fun to be had around Halloween, go on a ghost tour, partake in a local team's public investigation, tell spooky stories, just don't go messing around where you shouldn't be. On a regular basis, people will come to me with an invitation to join them at an "abandoned" location, be it a hospital, insane asylum, cemetery, home, whatever. I feel bad as I watch the glee in their eyes about the possible adventure fade as they notice the sour look on my face. Often, this is the moment where I go into a short rant about how locations aren't "abandoned", trespassing laws, etc. I am the wet blanket on Halloween mischief.

I am not the first, and I surely won't be the last to talk about ethical investigating, but never the less here we are.

I thought it went without saying that as adults, we should not be trespassing on private property to conduct investigations. I mean, seriously? I expect mischievous teenagers to hop cemetery fences, with cheap beer and a oujia board in tow, not grown men and women.

I have seen countless teams talk about "respecting spirits", and the importance of maintaining the "sanctity of their resting place" but to me, it doesn't even need to go to that place. It's really simple, you should not be breaking the law. If there are posted hours, you only investigate during those posted hours, if there is a lock, don't pick that lock, if there is a fence, don't hop it! You are an adult, you should not be risking your job, your family, and jail time in order to "ghost hunt". 

But sometimes, the boundaries aren't always as clear. For example, here in Oregon, there is a chain of popular hotels, restaurants, and bars that have several ghost stories associated with some of their properties. This company has made it clear that they are not interested in hosting paranormal investigation teams at the majority of their properties, but because they are "accessible"  to the public through renting a hotel room, eating at one of their bars, etc I often see local investigators posting pictures of their teams at these locations. These investigators aren't necessarily breaking any laws, but this is still unethical behavior. This company has made it clear they don't want investigations, or teams publicizing their "haunting", so why disrespect them by going ahead and doing it anyway? Its one thing to take your equipment while visiting these locations, and another to go public with your excursions and evidence collected.

If you aren't sure about the rules regarding a location, you should always take the time to find out. If you aren't willing to call, that means you probably already know that you shouldn't be there.

This isn't about being a professional investigator, or respecting spirits, this is about being a responsible, law abiding member of society. By drawing attention to accessible not abandoned locations, you do nothing other than increase the possibility for damage, vandalism, and other illegal behavior. There is nothing more frustrating than visiting my local cemetery and finding 100 year old headstones in pieces, and beer bottles littering the grounds. Do yourself, and your community a favor by being responsible.