Setting the Record Straight: Jason Hawes Speaks Out on the Paranormal Community

There comes a point where you have to stop, look around, and say something — even when it's uncomfortable. The paranormal community has always been a passion of mine, built on years of honest investigation, real relationships, and a genuine desire to help people. But lately, some things have been going on that I can't stay quiet about any longer.

I've been doing this work for a long time. From the early days of TAPS to everything that's come since, the one thing that has always mattered most to me is integrity. When I walk into a location, my job isn't to confirm a haunting — it's to rule out every rational, explainable cause first. That's the standard I've held myself to, and it's the standard I've always believed this field deserves. So when I see that standard being undermined — not by skeptics from the outside, but by people within the community itself — it hits differently.

I wanted to sit down and have a real, honest conversation about what's been happening. The paranormal community is something a lot of us have dedicated our lives to. We've worked hard to give it credibility, to treat the people who reach out to us with respect, and to approach the unknown with both an open mind and a critical eye. That balance is everything. It's what separates genuine investigation from entertainment theater. And right now, I'm seeing that balance get thrown off by drama, ego, and in some cases, outright dishonesty. That's not what this is supposed to be about.

I'm not going to name names here, because that's not the point. The point is the behavior — the manufactured conflict, the communities being divided, the newer investigators who are coming into this field and being shown a version of it that I genuinely don't recognize. When people use the paranormal as a platform for personal attacks or clout-chasing, it doesn't just hurt reputations. It hurts the people out there who are genuinely scared in their homes and looking to us for real help. Those are the people I started TAPS for. Those are the people who deserve better.

What I want more than anything is for us to get back to basics. Ask the hard questions. Challenge the evidence. Support each other as investigators even when — especially when — we disagree on conclusions. That's how this field grows. That's how we earn the trust of the public. I've always said that the best thing you can find in an investigation is a rational explanation, because it means someone's fear has been put to rest. That philosophy doesn't leave room for drama or ego. It leaves room for curiosity, discipline, and respect. I'm asking everyone in this community — whether you've been doing this for twenty years or twenty days — to hold themselves to that standard. Because this field is worth protecting.

The paranormal community is stronger than the drama currently surrounding it, and I genuinely believe we can get back on track — but only if we're willing to have honest conversations like this one. My commitment to doing this work the right way hasn't changed, and I hope yours hasn't either. Let's keep the focus where it belongs: on the truth.