Ghostly Encounters

[thestrangequark]

thestrangequark

To put it simply, this thread was started to discuss about ghostly encounters and NOT for anyone to carry out pseudo psychological analysis of the subjects discussed. And plus you are boring me with all your analysis.

Firstly, why are you so against exploring the possible causes of such encounters? That seems very closed minded. Trying to figure out what's going on doesn't prevent anyone from posting their ghost stories, nor does it take anything away from their stories, rather, it adds a layer to the discussion. The paranormal offers a thrilling look into the human mind and how we experience the world. Exploring the scientific explanation doesn't stop anyone from believing whatever they want, either. You can go on believing in ghosts, I'm not trying to actively disprove their existence, just to show that there are other, more rational, and (at least in my opinion) more interesting reasons for these phenomena.

Secondly, this is not "pseudo psychological analysis." One of my degrees is in psychology with a focus in brain science (structure, perception, etc); I know what I'm talking about.

Thirdly, if you find it boring there's a really, really easy solution: don't read my posts!

Perhaps there could be two parallel threads - one for people to tell their ghost stories (as people have done around campfires since the beginning of time), and one for "explain the supernatural" (which has all the cool science)?

I don't know, I think that would be rather dull, don't you? Having all the like-minded thinkers segregate themselves to their own threads doesn't do much to foster discussion and doesn't allow for much learning.

I don't see any problem with this.

Me either.

So be it. I'll keep that in mind when presented with your responses in future postings.

Evidence should be proportional to the claim. If you claim you ate a steak and salad for dinner, no one's going to expect you to show scientific evidence that you did so, your anecdotal evidence for your steak dinner is fine. If you make an extraordinary claim that seems to counter logic, reason, or nature, then anecdotal evidence isn't good enough. You need real evidence for that.

 

[Use of Time]

From the outsiders perspective looking into this thread, I think the TS just likes some good ghost stories. I think it would be polite to allow this thread to take the course in which he intended. You are correct that no one should try to censor you but to be honest, common courtesy would suggest that you play the game or leave it alone.

Just so that I am not guilty of diving in the middle of a feud. I'll present this little story.

I had a beagle growing up that I loved more than anything. Great dog, very good temperment but the dog was a runner if a gate was left open. We had lost her for a couple of days one summer and I was sleeping upstairs around 2 A.M. Out of the blue I remember just waking up with a very strong need to look out the window. I tried to go back to sleep but that desire to peak out the window was very strong. I got up and looked and saw my dog sitting in the street in front of my house. I threw on some clothes ran downstairs and into the street to get her. Now this dog normally runs away from you when you try to get her outside of the backyard but this time she just sat there and let me pick her up. Not really supernatural but very odd to say the least. I had abosolutely no reason to look out of that window in the middle of the night. Very strange.

 

[thestrangequark]

^Like I said, he doesn't have to read my posts. A few other people have seemed interested in them. The polite thing would be to let everyone have a chance to share their perspectives, not just the people who agree with you.

 

[Use of Time]

By all means continue. I agree with every point you make in this thread so I actually agree with you. However, this thread has become a "TS makes post and then you immediately debunk it" kind of thread. I think it kind of takes away from the fun. I think most people know that supernatural things are easily enough explained. These types of threads can be a fun "tongue in cheek" way to share stories. I think jumping in at every post to explain that to people takes away from the fun somewhat. That is my opinion but that is all that it is...an opinion. By all means debunk away.

 

[thestrangequark]

^I guess I just disagree, I think it's more fun to hear all viewpoints rather than to limit it to one. I also don't think that the thread was set up as a tongue-in-cheek thing or that most people understand that the supernatural can be explained. I think it's the opposite: more people actually believe in the supernatural than don't. The vast majority, I would say.

 

[Use of Time]

You are probably right about most people in general believing in the supernatural but most people in this thread have prefaced their stories with something along the lines of "I don't believe in the supernatural but here is a neat story." Whatever, not that big of a deal. I'm not much of a "need to have the last word" kind of guy so by all means continue as you were.

 

[thestrangequark]

^That's true. I shared my own eerie experience earlier. I wonder what the breakdown here actually is, and if it differs greatly from the general population?

 

[Use of Time]

I don't want to insult anybody here but I suspect that the level of intelligence on a Star Trek message board is probably somewhat higher than say an NFL message board. I suspect that this thread will show most people on the BBS are skeptical of supernatural occurances in comparison to say an ESPN message board.

 

[Pingfah]

I have not had any ghostly experiences, but then I would probably dismiss most experiences people might consider ghostly out of hand, and not remember them as such.

I think that for the most part, people who have these delusions are probably more open to the possibility of supernatural occurences in the first place.

 

[EmoBorg]

^That's true. I shared my own eerie experience earlier. I wonder what the breakdown here actually is, and if it differs greatly from the general population?

Let me put it to you simply, If you got ghostly or supernatural encounter to tell us about, please post it in this thread. If you do not have such an encounter, then don't post. Simple isn't it.

Go and start your own thread for debunking the so called supernatural. This thread is for folk's supernatural encounters.

 

[Shaytan]

Let me put it to you simply, If you got ghostly or supernatural encounter to tell us about, please post it in this thread. If you do not have such an encounter, then don't post. Simple isn't it.

Go and start your own thread for debunking the so called supernatural. This thread is for folk's supernatural encounters.

I think she understands your point but since she's free to do anything she wants, she doesn't care.

 

[{ Emilia }]

thestrangequark

To put it simply, this thread was started to discuss about ghostly encounters and NOT for anyone to carry out pseudo psychological analysis of the subjects discussed. And plus you are boring me with all your analysis.

I invite tsq to go on analyzing this. Because quite frankly analyzing how we construct our reality and how our perception of the world is very subjective is a hell of a lot more interesting to me than people talking about how they met the tooth fairy.

Your mileage may vary but please don't tell people how to discuss the subject you're suggesting.

 

[EmoBorg]

Let me put it to you simply, If you got ghostly or supernatural encounter to tell us about, please post it in this thread. If you do not have such an encounter, then don't post. Simple isn't it.

Go and start your own thread for debunking the so called supernatural. This thread is for folk's supernatural encounters.

I think she understands your point but since she's free to do anything she wants, she doesn't care.

thestrangequark is a she? . Bloody hell, i thought that thestrangequark was a guy.Normally we men are that stubborn and we don't listen to folks.

 

[{ Emilia }]

thestrangequark is a she? . Bloody hell, i thought that thestrangequark was a guy.Normally we men are that stubborn and we don't listen to folks.

You see, the impression I had from reading this thread was that it's you who doesn't want to listen to differing opinions.

 

[Shaytan]

thestrangequark is a she? . Bloody hell, i thought that thestrangequark was a guy.

It's just a matter of perception.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

thestrangequark

May i suggest that you just let folks tell their ghost stories without you analyzing them. This thread was started for folks to share any ghostly encounters that they have. Not for you to make any analysis. You sound like somebody that tells someone next to you every detail that goes on in a porn flick that the both of you are watching. It is just not fun and very irritating.

iguana_tonante

Hey igunana, this orang-utan has some feces, just waiting to fling it at you.

Just because you started the thread doesn't mean you get to dictate who posts in it or what they post. And I would suggest cutting out remarks like the ones above.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Perhaps there could be two parallel threads - one for people to tell their ghost stories (as people have done around campfires since the beginning of time), and one for "explain the supernatural" (which has all the cool science)?

I don't know, I think that would be rather dull, don't you? Having all the like-minded thinkers segregate themselves to their own threads doesn't do much to foster discussion and doesn't allow for much learning.

I'm probably subconsciously thinking from the publishing POV - they're two slightly different audiences, albeit with a sizeable overlap....

Can't say I'm really bothered, was just suggesting a peaceable alternative.

 

[sbk1234]

I keep thinking of the analogy of watching a magic show and being amazed by the tricks, but somebody keeps saying how the tricks are done.

 

[Gary7]

There have been UFO sightings made by relatively large groups of people, and most had the same point of view. Does that mean since multiple people reported the same thing that it's true? Well, it's true they witnessed something collectively, but there's still the question of what manifested the event to begin with.

Now, if you add to this the fact that multiple people recorded the event and more than one video camera captured lights changing direction and moving far faster than any man made object can go... well, it makes for a very compelling argument in favor. If there is no known phenomenon that can do this, what could it possibly be?

But then, you can add another wrinkle to this. While erratic strange lights were witnessed in the sky, the two people who recorded them clearly enough both conspired to edit the recordings with the intent to exaggerate what was seen. They do it to their recordings, then show the result to others who then "replace" their memories with the video recording that they feel "must" be right. Now the deception begins to solidify, as those people are interviewed and agree that the video captures what they saw.

That's just an example of how deception can make the transition over from anecdotal observation to distorted/misleading/altered/fabricated fact.

When I spoke about my friends with the little girl ghost in their house, I learned something interesting a bit later. My friend made a mistake and had actually told the guy who house sat for him about the little girl, about a year ago. And so it's very likely that the guy subconsciously remembered. It's an old house and it does make noises. With the right lighting and sounds manifesting late at night, he could have easily allowed what was happening to fool himself and to feel as though he experienced something that may not have been real. The power of suggestion is very powerful.

And yet... when I spoke to him, he said he'd never experienced anything like that before. He also didn't remember being told about any ghost, that it definitely wasn't in his mind. He's a camera man by profession and has a keen eye for attention to detail on what's real. He also doesn't have an active imagination, never being known for making up any stories.

Still, it's hard to know what's really real here.

One major argument you can make against the existence of ghosts is that despite all of the very high tech equipment that has been used to record paranormal or metaphysical sightings, we still do not have any conclusive evidence. NONE. That does not bode well for the claim of existence. Also, there continues to be fake material discovered, which helps bolster the case against it. Every time something is presented, there's the challenge awaiting to ensure there isn't any tampering or false intent involved.

 

[Unicron]

^ On the flip side of that, one could also argue that if some ghosts are real, and if in some way their existence could be considered proof of some other type of existence than the earthly one we know, then it's questionable whether our technology could capture what would be considered reliable proof. Whatever realm ghosts inhabit may not have the same physical laws as ours, and any contact between the realms is likely to be spotty in the best of circumstances. By the same token, if we actually recovered a crashed UFO from some distant planet, it might possess equipment needed to run for which there are no earthly analogues, and would likely confuse the heck out of our scientists.

I'm pretty skeptical myself, and merely suggesting this as a devil's advocate. I haven't gotten the impression that there's a significant number of fakists out there looking for publicity, although I do think there's a better possibility that, as you suggest, peoples' perceptions can fool them.