To Fear or Not to Fear

by Steven D. Smith

"Fear is the main source of superstition...to conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom" - Bertrand Russell

And this has what to do with Borley? Let's deal with the quotation's various parts in order.

Firstly, there's "fear". What is there to fear at Borley? I don't recall any tales of anyone coming to serious harm there. Frightened for a moment or two, yes. Harmed permanently, no. Surely, the only thing to fear at Borley is fear itself?

Then, there's "superstition". Anyone who goes to Borley is - whether they realize it or not - superstitious. After all, if you don't believe in ghosts and the supernatural, why go there? It's only possible to prove that ghosts, etc. _do_ exist; it's not possible to prove they _don't_ exist (just because someone visits Borley and doesn't have a supernatural experience, it doesn't _prove_ that the place isn't haunted).

Finally, we have "wisdom", or "knowledge", and that is what the serious ghost hunter's ultimate objective is; i.e. acquiring the knowledge to understand and prove the mechanisms that cause supernatural phenomena.

"So what?", you may ask. Well... this all adds up to another of my pleas for serious investigation, not thrill-seeking, at Borley.

Please try to overcome any fears you have about the place. It would seem that whatever you experience won't harm you permanently. Clear your mind; don't expect anything in particular to take place (there is a school of thought that says if you're too willing to see something, you probably will). Keep your cool and hold your ground, regardless of what happens. It is often at "that crucial moment" when something "spooky" is happening that people lose their nerve and flee, thus possibly depriving the world of conclusive proof that ghosts do exist!

Be objective about whatever you experience. Could there be a logical/simple explanation? Report your experience(s) in a matter-of-fact manner, avoiding speculation and, ideally, conclusions - the best reports are those that don't draw any conclusions but, rather, leave the reader to make up his/her own mind. Let other people comment upon and question your report - after all, that's what happens in the scientific world when someone submits a paper on a subject. The results of your experience(s), or "research", may not be immediately obvious, but the serious ghost hunter knows that each piece of information is potentially "a part of the jigsaw" which, eventually, will comprise the whole picture; the wisdom.

With best wishes,
Stephen D. Smith