The Age of Paranormal Blindness

As time passes by, and technology absorbs every spare moment, I've noticed something slightly alarming. Kids don't believe in ghosts anymore. They simply don't see them. They don't allow their minds to rest enough to see those things peeking at them from the dark. Phones and tablets consume every ounce of visual energy, and aside from a poltergeist knocking a device out of their hands, they refuse to see beyond them. 

       I've always believed that you can't fully experience the paranormal until you accept that there's more to this world than what you can see and touch. Some non-believers have moments of poltergeist activity, but never a lasting relationship with the beyond. Of course, not everyone wants a relationship with paranormal beings, and I can't blame them for that. It's not for everyone. I worry, though, that this age of digital domination has led to an age of paranormal blindness. 

        Paranormal blindness is the inability or unwillingness to see beyond the tactile. If someone can't see or touch it, it doesn't exist. As kids grow in a digital atmosphere where their world is entirely based within a 6-inch screen, the chance for experiencing the paranormal becomes slim. This does not solely affect children, however, as more adults live within their devices. The paranormal world now rarely gets the attention it craves, and people wonder why haunting reports have declined in recent years.

       The one true tragedy that will inevitably arise from this new age is the lack of paranormal research. Without an interest in the paranormal world, the next generation will be less likely to attempt to rip down the veil between the dead and the living. Paranormal science is in danger of extinction. With paranormal programs only focusing on the jump-scares and never the science, kids (and adults) only see the entertainment value hauntings. True paranormal researchers are left in the shadows with very little funding and a general lack of respect. 

       In this age of paranormal blindness, I think we should highlight our scientists and the research that has moved them forward. Paranormal websites and reality tv shows only focus on groups of uneducated "hunters" who spend an hour scaring themselves. I'm not saying there's no place for that- entertainment is entertainment. I would just like to see more shows documenting real scientists as they research the paranormal. If we bring awareness to the science behind the scares, there is hope that a new generation of paranormal scientists will begin to emerge. I, for one, would love to see what they discover.