Paranormal Unity - can't we all just get along?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this question, and subsequent statements which all seem to echo a similar idealism.  You may have heard of them.  They go something like this: “paranormal: we all have the same goal”.  I’m sure there are some of you reading, right now, who know exactly where I’m going with this.  I have a really simple retort to “we all have the same goal”, and it goes like this:  “No. We really don’t.”

I’ve been involved in paranormal for a good few years now.  Real years, not fake made-up years that people in the community of paranormal have given themselves permission to stretch the truth on – you know, to make themselves seem more of an authority in paranormal than they actually, realistically, are.  (I’m sure there are viewers reading this who are nodding their heads right now because they know exactly what I’m talking about) The fact of the matter is, everyone is absolutely, positively, and categorically, NOT “in this for the same reason” and we all do NOT “have the same goal”; not even close.  “We all have the same goal in mind…”  No.  We really don’t.  And therein lies the rub.  Because as picture-perfect as those without certain (unpleasant, even “negative”) experiences would like to believe, the truth is, paranormal is an entire field filled with backstabbing, green-with-envy, jealous personalities who can barely contain their resentment when they see another team “getting ahead”.   And trust me when I say, “getting ahead” is a perception in the eye of the beholder.

Y’know, someone has to say it out loud, so I guess I’m taking the lead on this one.  There are people in paranormal who work well together; does that mean everyone else is failing at “paranormal unity” because they don’t work well with other teams?  My response?  No, it really doesn’t.   Why?  Because there are teams out there who behave in ways that respectable and reputable teams wouldn’t want to be associated with, that’s why.  Because there are people in paranormal who use other people in paranormal, to get to where they want to go, and y’know, call me naive but, I don’t know many people who enjoy being “used”.  So naturally, rifts occur.  Is it wrong?  No. It’s not wrong.

So when a team whines about people talking about them behind their backs; when a team is publicly defending themselves from the negative remarks of multiple other teams or multiple other people – having the personal experiences I’ve had in the field of paranormal – I don’t jump to the conclusion these whiners are being treated unjustly.  I don’t jump to the conclusions these whiners are being treated unfairly, or paranormal peers are ganging up on them, challenging and disrespecting, the very essence of “paranormal unity” – and by their accounts, these paranormal bullies need to be stopped and shunned.  No.  I step back and wonder why these people are brazenly flaunting their patheticism, and equally wondering why it is they’re finding themselves in these predicaments to begin with.  The plain and simple truth of the matter is, paranormal unity is a concept that doesn’t work because there are groups in the field of paranormal who have really good reasons for why they won’t work with other groups in paranormal.  It’s really that simple.  It’s not wrong.  It’s not an affront to the good nature of this volunteer field we’ve come to know and have deep appreciation for.  It’s a basic, very normal, fact of life.  We can’t all be friends because some people simply do not work well on the same plane.

So, to get straight to the point:
THAT is why we can’t all just get along.

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