Paranormal Investigation Common Sense

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I tried to watch the Season 4 Finale of Paranormal State tonight and was disgusted by what I saw. I didn’t stop watching it because I was disgusted, just because I really don’t care about the hunt for cryptids. If I wanted to watch people trample around through the woods, I’d just take some people back out to Denton in search of the infamous Goat Man who supposedly haunts the bridge there. (What’s that you say? The Goat Man haunts the bridge in your town too? I know. He really gets around.)

Anyway. What bothered me so much was the seemingly flagrant disregard for personal safety the team exhibited. As anyone who’s been on an investigation with a paranormal investigation team knows, rule number one means no one goes off by themselves for any reason. Well…except bathroom breaks, but you get what I mean.

Did the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) break that rule? Nope. I saw groups of at least two while I was watching. So kuddos to Ryan for adhering to the basics. Clearly, this isn’t his first paranormal rodeo.

Here’s what bothered me: One of the groups was a team of two women. Another group had like four guys in it. On what planet does that seem like a good idea?

Before all you Femme Fatales out there come down on me, I’m not saying that a man is going to be any more effective at fighting off a mythical creature or a ghost than a woman is. I think we’re all equal opportunity screwed in those situations. What I take issue with is the blatant lack of common sense.

They were roaming around through the woods in the middle of the night.

Wild animals live in the woods. Sometimes, wild animals like to eat people. Occasionally, homicidal sociopaths are wandering around in the woods at night, too. I get that PRS concerns themselves only with the paranormal, but…still. I’m sorry, but if I’m a sadistic serial killer, I’m not going to back off and let the two chicks scamper off to safety because they happen to be in the middle of a paranormal investigation.

Now, I suppose I could be all worked up over nothing. Maybe the ladies were packing heat. Or maybe they’re nth degree black belts in the most dangerous form of martial arts out there and can take out anything that crosses their path. Even still…Can you honestly tell me that Ryan needed three other guys with him and couldn’t have spared one of them to go with the ladies, if for nothing else than to give the appearance of common sense.

Maybe I just think it’s time TV paranormal investigators showed a little concern for the non-paranormal dangers that come with the investigation. Seriously, if the Jersey Devil really was a pterodactyl like the one witness drew – and what was up with that anyway? – shouldn’t they have been worried about, I don’t know, getting eaten?

Am I alone in this?

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