"SWIGS" discussion....

[bobbybuka]

well....I brought this up yesterday on a different topic, but about a year ago I started communicating with a group that was based in Illinois - they had a website similar to this one, and it all seemed very "low key" and the people seemed fine.

the "group leader" ran his own business - and he had a good reputation "in real life" so some friends and I went to a "meet up" at a "haunted location" in the Chicago area....

I don't know...these people just seemed somewhat "goofy" but the thing went fine...it was even pretty interesting.

But my friends and I decided that we really just didn't want to associate with this Illinois group after that. We certainly weren't "rude" or anything like that, but we figured we would just "lose contact" or slowly fade away from this group...they started asking us to other "events" and we came up with excuses why we couldn't go...still being polite all the while, but they seemed to get really "offended" that we didn't want to become their new "best friends" - they kind of harassed us for a while after that.

So anyway - Lacey and Holly, I'm wondering if either of you (or anybody else in SWIGS) had any similar experiences?

Have you ever had people contact you that you really didn't want to associate with - and if so, how did you guys handle it?

[swigs]

I've never met anyone that i wanted to loose contact with. i have rules about attendance in the group, so if someone were to constantly cancel or just not show up without letting anyone know they would be outed anyways. but for the most part, when people have a hard time making it, they're usually pretty forward about it. we had a man join our group once who was also in a band. but when he realized he wasn't going to have time for both he told me he was going to have to leave. which i understood. disappointed but understood.

but this is why when someone wants to join our group i have a phone conversation and then set up a face to face interview with myself and another team member.

but i have yet to meet anyone weird

i hope i answered your question right.

[swigs]

oh, and i think part of the reason the group may have seemed offended is because, it is really hard to find reliable/available people to stick around. i think thats been the hardest part about having a group

[hollyberries]

I think Lacey explained it well and i also havent really met anyone that i didnt feel comfortable with. When we conduct interviews with possible members Lacey and I both go to the meeting. We try to have it at a public place such as a Starbucks just so everyone in the party is comfortable. We ask a series of questions and to see if they will fit well with the group and etc. We really havent had a person at the interview where we think "No, that person wouldnt be good!". We have had really good luck with meeting nice people. We have had i think only one person which Lacey mention that didnt fit our schedule or was too busy to go on investigations.

[mellie94]

swigs....how would you becocme a paranormal investigator. Would you have to take a test of some sort? where would you find a paranor

[mellie94]

**where would you find a paranormal group in connecticut? how would you start a group, and what will you need.

[swigs]

as far as finding a group in your area to join try google.

there are paranormal classes you can take. you can find them online. but if your willing to do a lot of reading and research on your own the class really isn't needed. plus you can go on boards like this and ask questions. people are pretty good at answering them.

in my opinion the first thing to do when starting a group is getting a great team of reliable people you can count on.

for things you need, search ebay

[omw]

What are a few of most scary or convincing experiences that your group has had? If you wouldn't mind sharing I would love to hear about some of the evidence you have gathered or things that have happened on your investigations.

[swigs]

nothing really scary...yet. im hoping for it though. the farmhouse we did last Halloween, i was by myself in a upstairs bedroom checking the camera and setting things up when it felt like someone was standing over me looking over the top of my head.
i quickly finished what i was doing at went downstairs to get the group organized.
all night long the motion sensors would go on and my video camera stopped working in that same room.
the next day listening to the recorders that were in that room, within 4 minutes of me walking downstairs we caught an EVP. That house was active.

we will actually be going back to that same place on April 25th and ill make sure to post anything we find.

if you want to listen to others there are links in our blog section at

www.myspace.com/swighostsociety

Thanks



p.s. omw, i was thinkin about headin out to weary rd. the cops ever bother you?

[mellie94]

what kind of information should I look up and what should I type in the computer to find it??
Also where would I find the classes??!!

[omw]

I haven't been doing this as long or as seriously as you have, but I am in the same boat. Weird stuff happens and I get real heavy feelings sometimes but nothing concrete. I must add that even though I am curious, if I were to ever see a real ghost or have something undeniable happen, I would probably pee my pants and then commit myself to the looney bin.

Regarding Weary Road, I have been there quite a bit now, and I have never seen a cop. I wouldn't think that they would give you any problems if you did have a run in. When we go at night we often park the car by the bridge and get out and stand on the bridge or walk the road down towards the trees. When I went my 3rd time on Halloween (that was the first time we walked) there was a car coming and we got scared and hid in the corn. I really recommend going there sometime, but if your going to make the trip all the way from Milwaukee, I would probably wait until the leaves grow back on the trees. The trees are such a big part of the whole experience and right now they do not seem as alive as they do when they have their leaves. Not to mention the sound they make if there is a small breeze. Now if you really want to get the whole experience you would probably need to go in August or September when the corn is tall (right at the edges of the road) and the leaves are still on the trees. I hope that's not TMI. If/when you go, let me know what you think.

[swigs]

Apr 12, 2009 22:31:47 GMT -6 omw said:

I haven't been doing this as long or as seriously as you have, but I am in the same boat. Weird stuff happens and I get real heavy feelings sometimes but nothing concrete. I must add that even though I am curious, if I were to ever see a real ghost or have something undeniable happen, I would probably pee my pants and then commit myself to the looney bin.

Regarding Weary Road, I have been there quite a bit now, and I have never seen a cop. I wouldn't think that they would give you any problems if you did have a run in. When we go at night we often park the car by the bridge and get out and stand on the bridge or walk the road down towards the trees. When I went my 3rd time on Halloween (that was the first time we walked) there was a car coming and we got scared and hid in the corn. I really recommend going there sometime, but if your going to make the trip all the way from Milwaukee, I would probably wait until the leaves grow back on the trees. The trees are such a big part of the whole experience and right now they do not seem as alive as they do when they have their leaves. Not to mention the sound they make if there is a small breeze. Now if you really want to get the whole experience you would probably need to go in August or September when the corn is tall (right at the edges of the road) and the leaves are still on the trees. I hope that's not TMI. If/when you go, let me know what you think.

sounds great! thank you

[swigs]

Apr 12, 2009 15:51:33 GMT -6 mellie94 said:

what kind of information should I look up and what should I type in the computer to find it??
Also where would I find the classes??!!

for info i would go to a bookstore and see what they have. i prefer to buy instead of going to the library this way you can refer back to the book whenever needed.

i would google for the classes. i know the american ghost society offers one. then i think you also become a member. but not sure on that.
i know troy taylor offers one.
but none of these classes are free. but some offer books you get to keep so i would do some research before you decide

[mellie94]

thanks...anymore info on how to become a paranormal investigator/ghost hunter please share!!

[swigs]

Hey everyone

Heading out for an investigation tonight. hopefuly the nasty weather plays in our favor.
I'll post anything we find

Thanks
Lacey