Ghost in the Machine: Top Paranormal Searches of 2008
The Internet is great for: 1. Checking mail. 2. Getting stock quotes. 3. Finding proof that ghosts exist.
At least that's how it seems given all the people that click on stories, videos and more claiming to be evidence of encounters with spirits. Ghosts may be dead, but they aren't going away, and in fact emerged as the most sought-after supernatural phenomenon of 2008. Possibly the ghost-with-the-most this year was the weird blue mist at the gas station. Spirit from beyond, or trick of light? No one knows, but it was fun to search about.
Speaking of fun, in a year of serious global troubles and political milestones, the Web has to thank people like Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer. The two Georgia residents announced to the world that they had a frozen Sasquatch corpse. This claim melted like the ice around the rubber gorilla costume that they present to the public. The elaborate Bigfoot hoax kept the Internet buzzing for days.
The annual "discovery" of an alleged Chupacabra in Texas also provided the online world with a doozy of a diversion. The mythical goatblood-sucking creature of the American Southwest is often subject to supposed sightings, but the existence of an apparent specimen generated hype worthy of a horror film. Sadly, to the horror of many transfixed Web users, the body turned out to be a mangy pit bull.
These two hoaxes were cherries on the proverbial sundae of paranormal enthusiasm. People gravitating to old classics like aliens, the Loch Ness Monster, and vampires kept cryptozoologists busy updating their websites.
One last popular search term may prove that ultimately, the real monsters of the world are as impressive as those we can imagine. Megalodon was a prehistoric shark approximately 40 to 60 feet long. Yes, a shark as big as a truck. Some people believe that this terrifying creature still exists in the deep waters of the world, sparking fear and fascination across the collective cyber-unconscious. Who wouldn't want to see what one would look like?
As the remote corners of the earth vanish, and the few remaining natural secrets of the world are unveiled, the imagination will probably continue to run wild with new mystery beasts (we didn't forget about you, Montauk Monster!) Heck, even our president-elect has a fondness for terrifying fictional creatures.