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Sending in Fake Ghost Images: Risks?

DiskoVilante

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DiskoVilante
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Dec 20, 2006
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I friend of mine (seriously, a friend of mine, not me) wants to send in fake/photoshopped images of orbs and other "ghost" phenomenon to that Ghost Hunter show and the reveal that they were fakes.

Now, what are the risks involved with doing this?
I'm pretty sure she can be sued for doing this, but what would the charges be?
And is it even worth it?

I think it's a great idea...kinda remeniscent of the Sokal Affair.
 
The risk is that the photos get publicised and mooted as evidence, but the confession never does.

It's happened before, sadly.
 
They probably get thousands of submissions and are careful about what they choose to "investigate." Your friend isn't going to be sued for sending photos, and may receive no attention at all. I haven't seen the show, but I'd be surprised if they simply air viewer-submitted photos and declare them spooky without "investigating" them. For investigations they do air, it would be interesting to know if they ask claimants to sign a legal document stating that they aren't knowingly participating in a hoax.
 
Opinion

DiskoVilante said:
I friend of mine (seriously, a friend of mine, not me) wants to send in fake/photoshopped images of orbs and other "ghost" phenomenon to that Ghost Hunter show and the reveal that they were fakes.

Now, what are the risks involved with doing this?
I'm pretty sure she can be sued for doing this, but what would the charges be?
And is it even worth it?

I think it's a great idea...kinda remeniscent of the Sokal Affair.
Click to expand...

Pointless. But if s/he wants to see them published, Coast-to-Coast's always looking for something to share with the world. I've seen so many camera straps and dust motes and lens flares... <yawn>
 
Even if you get them to show it, and people believe it, the confession won't become well known. Flash in the pan. And years later, you will see that photo used as evidence to prove existence of the paranormal.

And yes, satire is dead. Sadly.
 
Sued? You think they would sue someone for this? Sued for what??

BTW seconded on Disco Volante. I love Squeeze Me Maccaroni and Carousel. Great songs.

EDIT: Gah, got that albumn confused with the original, self titled Mr. Bungle. Disco Volante
is also very good.
 
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In my experience of UK paranormal TV, they would not even get round to looking at them! To be honest, to attract my attention I prefer to see polaroid or cine film images, but video is ok. Digital images are so easily faked i simply would not bother. And tipping out your hoover bag and then snapping off some digital shots will get you some 100% genuine orb photos - try it!

cj x
 
devnull said:
BTW, Disco Volante was a great album...... gotta lurve Mr Bungle :D
Click to expand...

Funny, people mention that a lot, but I hadn't heard of Mr. Bungle when I made my forum name. Disco Volante is the name of that hyrdofoil ship in the James Bond film Thunderball.

Anyway, yeah, I was counseling my friend against doing it since it seems rather pointless, but I was interested in outside input too.
 
No Upside

If your friend is hoping that his/her photos will simply be shown on Ghost Hunters, unlikely-- they rarely show other people's photos, and when they do it's only in the context of actually going somewhere and doing an investigation.

If your friend is considering going whole hog-- faking a ghost photograph in his/her own house, inviting the Ghost Hunters to do an investigation, then shouting "gotcha" afterwards-- well, notwithstanding any ethical issues, there's a good chance that such a stunt could go bad. For example, what if they simply don't gather any evidence? That happens in some cases, though fewer every year. Plus, the production company probably takes a safeguard or two-- for all I know, you might have to sign a gag order to allow TAPS in your house.

If your friend has some skill with digital images, use his or her powers for good. Debunk something.

P.S. I'm astonished that Sokal's paper got accepted into Social Text. It made much too much sense to be a convincing postmodernist argument.
 
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DiskoVilante said:
I friend of mine (seriously, a friend of mine, not me) wants to send in fake/photoshopped images of orbs and other "ghost" phenomenon to that Ghost Hunter show and the reveal that they were fakes.

Now, what are the risks involved with doing this?
I'm pretty sure she can be sued for doing this, but what would the charges be?
And is it even worth it?

I think it's a great idea...kinda remeniscent of the Sokal Affair.
Click to expand...

What if....

...people send you faked photos of ghosts...

...which you send to your friend, without saying they are fakes...

Just sayin'.
 
DiskoVilante said:
I friend of mine (seriously, a friend of mine, not me) wants to send in fake/photoshopped images of orbs and other "ghost" phenomenon to that Ghost Hunter show
Click to expand...

How would this be any different from any other ghost photos?
 
He couldn't be sued unless he signs a contract saying "I will not send fake images of ghosts to..." whatever crappy show it is.

There wouldn't be any point, though. The show won't care if they're fakes. They likely know most of the stuff they broadcast is fake. They're not in it to educate the public, they're in it for the money, plain and simple. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they fake half of the photos themselves.

And why would he need to fake an orb photo when it's easier just to wave a dusty rag and take a photo of the result?
 
DiskoVilante said:
Funny, people mention that a lot, but I hadn't heard of Mr. Bungle when I made my forum name. Disco Volante is the name of that hyrdofoil ship in the James Bond film Thunderball
Click to expand...

Disco Volante means flying saucer. Which is the name of the ship in the copy cat version with the "other" James Bond. Or is Thunderball the copy cat? I forget which.:confused:
 
Mmm, a bit off topic, but .... legally (or should that be logically? Unfortunately those two things are far from equal), a fake implies that someting genuine exists, doesn't it? So if you want to sue somebody for making a fake ghost photo, wouldn't you have to prove that such a thing as real ghosts exist? Because if you can't, then how is a doctored photo a fake?

Hans
 
MRC_Hans said:
Mmm, a bit off topic, but .... legally (or should that be logically? Unfortunately those two things are far from equal), a fake implies that someting genuine exists, doesn't it? So if you want to sue somebody for making a fake ghost photo, wouldn't you have to prove that such a thing as real ghosts exist? Because if you can't, then how is a doctored photo a fake?

Hans
Click to expand...

Good point. And on what grounds could a person be sued for submitting a doctored photograph? Exposing a hoax isn't against the law, nor is Photoshopping an image, as long as you are not violating a copyright. I'm not arguing, I'm just curious what the legalities are here.
 
doctoratlantis said:
Pointless. But if s/he wants to see them published, Coast-to-Coast's always looking for something to share with the world. I've seen so many camera straps and dust motes and lens flares... <yawn>
Click to expand...

People think lens flare is supernatural? Lol cool! *loads up new avatar* I like purposely inducing lens flare. LOL

(it's a communications tower. Pic taken during a meteor shower. There is actually a meteor zooming by in this pic, but you can't see it in this really small version. But believe it or not, I wasn't intending to get a pic of a meteor. I just wanted some cool lens flare.)
 
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How about this instead? Your friend goes into cold storage to get her/his heart to stop while you stand by with a defibrillator. Your friend then haunts the show on live TV.
Then you deib your friend and s/he shows up alive and shouts out "HA! I told you ghost wern't real!"
Oh! Wait! Yeah. I guess, uh, that wouldn't work. Nevermind.
 
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