Ruffhouse
Currently an investigator with the Florida Ghost Hunters in central
Florida. Parahub Radio Host & Florida Ghost Hunters Investigator.Join
us from 7 - 9PM EDT and an encore at Midnight EDT each Thursday for
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Ruffhouse 20 questions
1. Where do you see ghost hunting and Paranormal groups, web sites
or Ghost information, tours, lecturers, books like your own in 10
years?
Hopefully back to where they were before all the paranormal shows became the latest craze. I see this current fad of everyone thinking that "ghost hunting" is cool and fun, fading away. Most of the current groups will probably have disbanded and only the real investigators that have the time and resources will be doing actual research. Either that or apes will have taken over the world.
2. What would you personally consider to be the definitive proof that
ghosts are real?
An actual full body entity carrying on a conversation with me on live TV. So if any spirits are reading this, call me. We'll do lunch.
3. What is the most real evidence you personally have uncovered so
far?
We work a lot with EVP. It's hard to dispute audio evidence if it's presented with video evidence as well. Sure you COULD fake it but I know what we have done and we keep absolute control over our environment when we are doing investigations. So any evidence that we as a group present is going to be the real deal. And we have to all agree on it before we present it. So far, no evidence has been presented because we have yet to find any definitive proof we can agree on as being paranormal.
4. Are you skeptical of the claims other make of their findings?
Absolutely. You have to be. Unless I am there when the event happened, I can't conclusively say what something is. There are so many variables that come into play with each aspect of the investigation. Were street lights in the shot when it was taken? Where was everyone in relation to the recorder when the EVP was recorded? Is that a jelly donut on the end table? Important questions that need to be addressed and can only be answered if I personally experienced the event.
5. If you could investigate your "Dream Haunted Hot Spot"
where would it be?
Hmmm, well I would have to say probably Ground Zero in New York. I recently spoke to Loyd Auerbach on our radio show and mentioned that to him. He says there are Psychics that can't go near the spot because of the strong energy that surrounds it.
6. What was your first Paranormal encounter?
In short, I and several friends were on a road in my hometown called "Ghost Light Road". It was called that because a phantom light would appear at the end of the 5 mile stretch and no matter how far you went down the road you would never get to the source before it went out. We decided one night to go down there but got bored waiting. We found some construction equipment to play on and when we were done we headed back toward the main road. On our way out we experienced the light behind us. It came closer and closer, faster and faster, brighter and brighter. The more I sped up, the closer it got. I was fish tailing down this dirt road and just about to crash into a ditch when it disappeared just feet behind us. I locked up the brakes and we all jumped out only to find a quite and empty dirt road. True story. Never found out what it was either.
7. What scares you about Ghost Hunting or Paranormal Investigations?
Nothing in this world scares me. OK, maybe one. I sleep next to her each night. All kidding aside, coming upon a homicidal homeless guy with a broken beer bottle in the dark would probably do it.
8. If you could work side by side with one of the Paranormal Investigator
greats, who would it be?
I have never really thought about it. I personally haven't really followed the careers of other investigators. I don't watch paranormal shows or read related books. I kind of march to my own drummer. I listen to what others have to say and may incorporate what someone else said they do into my investigation routine if I think it might work. But I don't really have anyone in mind.
9. Read any good Paranormal Books lately other then your own?
LOL. Please last statement. Although I am currently scanning through Marie D. Jones' book "PSIence" because I have an interview with her coming up.
10. What Question do people ask you most when you tell them your a
paranormal investigator, writer?
"You hunt ghosts? Wow! Can I go with you some time?" That one and "Can I have a t-shirt?"
11. In your opinion, Where is the most Haunted city in the world?
I grew up near St. Augustine, Florida. It has a lot of history being the oldest city in America. There are some really cool spots like the lighthouse where I did an investigation and actually smelled pipe smoke that has been linked to the old light house keeper. It's hard to get in there now that "Ghost Hunters" did a show there.
12. Do you feel more people should get involved with Ghost hunting
or Paranormal Investigation?
Only if they are prepared to do the leg work, the hurry-up-and-wait, the long hours in the dark and the umpteen hours of tape review. That's really the part that people don't get to see much of on these TV shows. The reviewing of evidence might be the most important part and if you skip through you will miss something. You actually have to do 3 investigations in one place. The initial "scouting" and learning about the place, the actual investigation, and then the review of evidence.
13. What does the future hold for you?
Millions of dollars and a really cool radio deal on Sirius or XM radio. I'd really like to get a show on Fangoria Radio. Any takers? Hello? Dee, ya reading?
14. Paranormal Conventions, conferences do you see them growing? And
which ones are the Must go to ones?
Absolutely. But again like I said in my first response, I think it will die down (no pun intended) as the popularity of the TV shows fades away and people become less interested in ghost hunting.
15. What is your most favored tool of the trade?
My digital recorder. If nothing else, ya gotta have that. I am an audio guy so I gotta have my voice recorder. Very rarely do I not get an EVP with it. It's a cheap one I bought at Wal-mart for about $40.00.
16. Tell us about your best moment in investigating or conference
attending for you?
- My favorite moment was when my partner Jay Shoemaker and I got an
EVP at a house investigation in 2006. Because of the way he has his
recorder rigged, he responded to it as soon as the spirit said something.
We have the EVP posted on our Florida Ghost Hunter MySpace page. It
was really cool.
17. What is the hardest part about being a paranormal writer?
I wouldn't know. Probably coming up with fresh material. I mean what hasn't been written about? I am not much of a writer (at least I personally don't think I am.)
18. How do you document your investigations?
We use video, audio, digital cameras and written documentation.
19. Have you ever taken a ghost Tour? And, What about it did you not
like?
I have taken one tour in my life. It was fun until later someone told me that the tour guides would make things up as they did the tour. I was told once that a friend of a friend lived along the route. They put an angel out on their front step just because they thought it looked nice. It became part of the ghost tour with a story of a dead child attached to it. I haven't been on one since.
20. What in the field of ghost hunting and Paranormal Investigating
needs the most attention.
TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING! Way too many people just decide that ghost hunting "looks fun" and without any training on what to look for or what the rules and regs might be, they just go stomping through a cemetery at night (which is illegal by the way) and presenting anything they find as "evidence" on their website. Then they wanna fight with someone who tells them that it's not. People need to read what the experts write about. Tag along with an established group. Ask questions of the pros. Find out what you NEED to know before just going out and trying to investigate on your own.
