"SWIGS" discussion....

[bobbybuka]

I couldn't help but notice the "screen name" of SWIGS on here - and I've also really enjoyed many of the "no nonsense" posts made by "swigs" - so I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind!

I looked at your myspace and am now aware that "swigs" stands for SOUTH WISCONSIN GHOST RESEARCH and your group describes itself this way:

The people of the South WI Ghost Society (a.k.a S.WI.G.S) are interested in collecting paranormal evidence without the use of Mediums or Sensetives. If you would like to have your home or business investigated please contact us at [e-mail] or call us at 414-510-9343 There is no charge for any of S.WI.G.S investigations.


so first I just would like to ask a couple very "general questions" like how many are in your group? how did you become a group who "collects paranormal evidence" - or basically, just how did you come together and get started doing what you do?

also - how many "investigations" has your group done?


THANKS MUCH!!!

[swigs]

hello there,

thank you for the questions

i started SWIGS almost 3 years ago. i was going to join some people in starting a different group but when they told me i would have to purchase my own equipment i decided to just start my own. it took a long time to get it going including interviewing possible members and buying equipment.

as far as investigations go we haven't done a lot but there is a lot of competition in the milwaukee area. if you were to google milwaukee groups you would be surprised to see how many come up. but we do have monthly meetings and do some legend tripping in between.

it probably took a good 2 years before i found the 7 reliable and trustworthy members that could keep up the great work that they do.

it turned out to be more work then i thought. but ive met some great people a long the way.

i hope i answered everything for you

thanks
Lacey

[bobbybuka]

And thank you for the answers, Lacey!

Obviously, since I'm posting on this board - I have an interest in all of this, so if you don't mind - I can think of a lot of things that I've never had the opportunity to ask somebody with experience in this area!

When you get annoyed with me, just say so!!!

But also, I think others on here should feel free to ask anything that's on their minds, too - IF YOU DON'T MIND!


You already brought up "equipment" and that's something that I've always been curious about....

I watch tv shows like "Ghost Hunters" on Sci-Fi (probably most people on here have at least seen shows like it) - so the equipment is pretty interesting...

I can understand digital thermometers to measure a sudden decrease or increase in temperature...I think the digital "voice recorders" would be important, and naturally having cameras set up would be extremely useful...

But the whole "EMF METER" thingy...I don't know. I've even had one in my hand at one point, and I just wonder if that's a phoney thing...what exactly are these "Electro Magnetic Fields" - ??

Are they real?

OK - I also think that "Thermal Camera" that TAPS uses is very impressive! It must be extremely expensive - if it really does what they claim it does, at least...but, I could also understand how that "Thermal Effect" could be very easily faked in the post production phase of a tv show. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Just in general - I'd like to know your opinion on all the equipment we tv viewers see when we watch these tv shows....


Of course, my biggest question would also be "HOW MUCH DOES ALL OF THAT STUFF COST??"

[swigs]

i would say the easiest way to explain emf is electric currents.

we do use an emf in our investigations. not only for helping find paranormal activity but also to help explain some occurrences. There are a lot of people out the that have electro magnetic hyper-sensitivity. one of the major side effects from this are hallucinations and paranoia. the meter helps show the concerned that this could be the cause.

the first thing we do when we walk into a room or place with the emf is find the base meter reading. now if the meter were to drastically change thats when we make sure to take lots of pictures and make sure the recorders are going.

i find them useful but not necessary.

the thermal cam is a awesome tool but VERY expensive. and i know ill never own one. lol
it could easily be faked, but i dont think thats something taps would do.

for the price of all the equipment, ive been lucky enough to buy most of it on ebay. i got a great deal on an emf and K-2 meter. it may have been used, but they work great.

i hope this helps understand some of it

[bobbybuka]

so I think it was a few weeks ago on "Ghost Hunters" that they noticed a light fixture that gave off unusually high "EMF's" - and they recommended to the homeowner that they should have the light fixture repaired...

I've wondered about that ever since I saw it!

Let's say that you found "unusually high emf readings" in my home...could I hire an electrician and tell that person "These light fixtures are giving off high EMF's, please lower the EMF's!" - ??

That's what I meant when I asked if EMF's are "real" - if I hired an electrician to repair or "lower" EMF readings in my house, is there anything at all that an electrician could really do to lower or "fix" an EMF problem?


QUICK EDIT - also, what is that "K-2 Meter" that you mentioned? What does it do?

[swigs]

as far as what a electrician does to stop the emf im not exactly sure.

i know sometimes the wiring just needs to be insulated. and something as little as a lamp can just be replaced.

im not an electrician so im not sure. sometimes people will call them in to see what they can do and some people just stay away from the area or dont spend as much time there.

a k-2 meter measures natural energy similar to an emf. sometimes can be used to communicate with paranormal with the lights

[bobbybuka]

OH - the thing with the lights that light up...ok, I guess it's obvious that lights light up...but I'm saying, when the TAPS guys are asking a "spirit" to light the lights, and they do light up...

that's the K-2 meter?

I'm not sure what you mean by "natural energy"...but if I've started to annoy you, I apologize!

[swigs]

on a windy day outside ive seen the k-2 light up. that kind of energy

[bobbybuka]

I really do appreciate everything that you've been kind enough to answer, Lacey!

Before I just bore you silly - I want to get into the real "meat" of what I wanted to know...

So what is it like when you - personally - when you and your group conduct an investigation?

Could you "walk us through" what goes on and what it's like when you conduct an investigation with SWIGS?

(somewhere else on here, I mentioned that I bought a very old "historic home" just over 3 years ago, now...it's supposedly haunted, and the most I really want to say right now is that some "weird things" have gone on. But let's say I call you and talk you into doing an investigation of my place...what could I expect?)

[swigs]

well when someone contacts us we do a phone interview.

after that we try to get there within a week or 2. depending on everyones schedule.

because we all work for a living we do most of our investigations on fridays and saturdays.

depending on time of activity (day or night) is when we'll come.

when we get there we ask for a tour of the hot spots. i usually only take one or two team members with on the tour.

then we start to set up equipment. we try to stay for about 6 hours depending on activity

we wrap up and try to get back to the customer (face to face) within 2 weeks depending on schedules.

we dont have the equipment that the groups that are on tv have, and we probably never will. but we do a complete investigation and debunk as much as possible.

thanks for all the questions
Lacey

[bobbybuka]

Thank you for taking the time to answer all of that!!!

[hollyberries]

Hello im Holly and im apart of Lacey's team....I have been reading this "disccussion" and it's pretty interesting. I just thought i would add one tid-bit of info about our investigations. Lacey has done a great job explaining what we do.

the investigations are the easy part some people watch GH and you see steve and tango go over the footage {evps, photos taken and any other stuff they used}. they seem to have done all this info in a matter of 10mins right? well when we go over everything it takes sometimes up to 2 - 3 days to go over everything. when i helped Lacey for the 1st time i realized that i had to listen to the EVP recorder for 6hrs --- because that's how long we were at a place we were doing the investigation. so that takes alot of patience and time. It's totally worth it as we have caught some EVPs and its always exciting.

[bobbybuka]

Holly - thank you also for getting in on this discussion!


I just think that the chance to actually ask questions of people who have experience with "paranormal investigations" is a great opportunity that just couldn't be missed - so I do appreciate anything that either of you want to say!!!

you know - when I'm watching "ghost hunters" I am very aware that they are producing a television show...like, for example, how lucky was it that Grant and Jason just happened to have a camera crew filming them as they were finishing up a plumbing job and got a call from their new case manager about their latest TAPS gig??


So let's go back to the fictional scenerio that I've called you about my house....how would you guys "handle me" if both of you (and the rest of your group) just figured that I was a lunatic?


(and by the way...the things that truly have occured at my home are so minor that I almost feel like it would be a waste of time to call people like you...I'm not trying to "test" you guys or anything like that! but obviously it has crossed my mind over the past few years about just getting the opinions of people who have experience in this area - genuine experience, I mean. so once again, it's really great of both of you to take your time to answer all of this!)

[swigs]

first of all we would never call anyone crazy.

we would try to give reasonable explanations for the occurrences.

great reason for the emf detectors.

[hollyberries]

Like Lacey said, we would never call anyone crazy who would come to us for help. Most people who have experienced paranormal activity know that the average person probably won’t believe them . they have also have a problem believing what they are seeing! I believe most people who are looking for help are hoping that what may be going on can be explained. We also like GH would offer scientific reasoning on why there might be "bumps" in the middle of the night and just trying to find out the real cause of something can bring ease to a person.

I have to admit when we go on an investigation im hoping the place is haunted lol! when we cant find any evidence i get sort of disappointed....