Writing Psi Detectives

More detectives, less experts Detectives have always been called upon to solve a wide range of mysteries from crime to insurance fraud or cheating spouses. A detective's job is to get to the bottom of a mystery, to examine all the evidence and take into account the psychological and sociological factors. In paranormal research, the media has habitually called on psychologists, mediums and clergy as `experts' on anything remotely unusual. But there is no reason, however knowledgeable such specialists are in their own fields, that they should be called upon automatically as primary contacts. Such people usually have strong belief systems and tend to solve mysteries within that belief system. For example, a medium will solve a supposed poltergeist haunting case by saying it is due to a spirit of a deceased human; a priest may come up with evidence that a demon is responsible; a conjuror that deliberate trickery is at work, and a psychologist that misinterpretation of natural events and subconscious motivation is responsible. Seldom do these `experts' deviate from the politicallycorrect answer of their own belief system. We need more free-thinking, independent, sceptical detectives with no professional axe to grind or vested interest in a particular philosophy. . Copyright © 2004 by Michael Davies