We here at GHOSTS have been called "amateurs".
AMATEUR 1. A person who engages in an art, science, study, or athletic activity
as a pastime rather than as a profession.
They couldn't have said a nicer thing about us.
We're not "entertainment". This is science, not magic.
We have a passion for the paranormal. We're not here for money, fame or to be
"number one". We don't even think of it that way. This isn't a competition or a
race.
We do charities because it is the right thing to do and it enhances the
visibility and credibility of all of us.
so, yeah..we're "amateurs". and proud to be so.
Allen Tanner
GHOSTS
paranormal investigations in new england
Sunday, May 13, 2012
blind men and an elephant
when we investigate, we are all trying to describe an elephant we can't see.
we all have part of the answer. egos, drama, and faking evidence gets in the way
of us putting the parts together so we can see the whole picture.
this seems to be one of those universal stories because it is such a key part of
human nature to be vain, dramatic, and opinionated. here is one version.
John Godfrey Saxe's (1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.
The First approach'd the Elephant,And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal, And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
we all have part of the answer. egos, drama, and faking evidence gets in the way
of us putting the parts together so we can see the whole picture.
this seems to be one of those universal stories because it is such a key part of
human nature to be vain, dramatic, and opinionated. here is one version.
John Godfrey Saxe's (1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.
The First approach'd the Elephant,And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"
The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal, And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"
The Fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"
The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
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