Ghostly Encounters

[thestrangequark]

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.

Seriously. Everyone should be able to have their say; believers, non-believers, and fence-sitters.

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

It's just a matter of perception.

Wait...are we saying here that my gender is a matter of perception? I mean...I've definitely met people for whom this would be true, but I'm pretty unmistakably female!

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.

I think this is a false analogy. A magic show involves a specific social contract: the audience knows it's a trick, the magician knows the audience knows it's a trick, and the magician's skill is based on his or her ability to fool the senses of his or her audience despite the fact that we all know it's an illusion (if anyone understands the natural flaws in human perception, it's the magicians -- they are as expert, if not more expert in this than are many psychologists and neurologists). When a magician, however, stops acknowledging the fact that he's doing tricks, and tries to claim actual magic like Yuri Geller, the "psychic surgeons" of the 90s, and the disgustingly cruel John Edward and Sylvia Browne, the magician becomes a hack, but I digress.

Knowing why a magician's trick works (ie the specific flaws in human psychology, neurology, and physiology the magician exploits) is not the same as knowing how the trick works, and if anything it increases the awe and wonder of the magician's skill.

Gary, sadly, I've never seen account of UFO that wasn't explained or explainable naturally. I sure would like there to be one that is actually alien!

 

[Misfit Toy]

It's just a matter of perception.

Wait...are we saying here that my gender is a matter of perception? I mean...I've definitely met people for whom this would be true, but I'm pretty unmistakably female!

I've seen pictures of you with a mustache....

 

[thestrangequark]

^And it was a beautiful thing.

 

[Gary7]

That's certainly plausible, that manifestations of ghosts may not be detectable or recorded electronically... although you'd think if our eyes and ears can pick up things that so could our instruments. Some people claim to have taken photos of ghosts only to see a slight whitish haze that isn't discernible, or nothing at all. Much higher speed sensors could solve that so less light is required to catch the image.

 

[Balrog]

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.

I wouldn't say the experience was totally wasted. According to these new readings, I think we have an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I wouldn't say the experience was totally wasted. According to these new readings, I think we have an excellent chance of actually catching a ghost and holding it indefinitely.

If the ionisation remains constant, we could really kick ass - in a spiritual sense.

 

[Gov Kodos]

This reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole through your head. Remember that?

 

[thestrangequark]

Self-trepanning? I never thought him the type.

I thought of a really weird thing that happened to my mom that I've not been able to work out yet. This happend about 15 years ago. She had fallen asleep with her TV and a bedside lamp on and at some point in the middle of the night the noise and light woke her. She said she then saw something up on the wall near the television. At first it looked like spiders, but they would have been huge (bigger than a man's hand) and they didn't seem to have enough legs. Even though she was half asleep, she reached for her camera and took a photo. I've seen the photo, and it shows two strange objects that look like huge brown spiders each with only 4 legs, but they don't look particularly solid or animal or insect like. They look more like your typical lens effect or development flaws (this is what most photographed "ghosts" are, which is why people only tend to get pictures of ghosts when their flash is on). But if it was just a lens effect, then why would she have felt the need to photograph it in the first place? Usually, photos of "ghosts" are the most easily explained "evidence," but the strange circumstances surrounding this instance make it more difficult. I wish I knew more about the physics and the technology involved that could have caused such a strange phenomenon.
To sum up:
-I know the photos were not faked, because even if my mom wanted to play that kind of prank (which would be out of character), she didn't have the physical ability to fake it (she is disabled and could never have created such a set up), and at the time, she wouldn't have had access to any photo manipulation tools that could have helped.
-I know that she's telling the truth about the circumstances of taking the photo, because the program that was on the tv aired only in the middle of the night.
-I know that she must have actually seen the objects, because there would be no other reason for her to take an awkward random photo of haf her tv and part of the wall in the middle of the night.

So, it's a mystery! Anyone have any ideas?

 

[sidious618]

What a perfectly timed thread! Today I was out with a friend of mine and we went down to an abandoned mental hospital here on Long Island which regularly tried electro-shock therapy and other experimentation on hospital inmates. The place was incredibly creepy and looked not unlike how you'd picture a concentration camp (I took some pics and would post them but I've yet to upload them).

As soon as I got out of the car, it was as if I could hear the screams coming from the long dead patients. What a depressing fucking place it was. The brick was ugly and worn, the buildings were open and you could just make out the insides of them where furniture had been laying about for years and years.

The back of one of the main buildings was where the patients were allowed to go outside, but only under strict supervision, and shit if it didn't feel like you'd suddenly see some of them roaming around.


The grounds were enormous and at one point there was a large open field with only a tall tower in the middle of it. The tower was old and dilapidated, but most of all it simply did not fit in with the otherwise grassy surroundings, like it was something that simply should not have existed.

It was wild.

Here's a photo journal of the place by someone else. Set Two shows the outside the most so check that one out: http://b.f11.org/photo/Pilgrim/

It was probably the closest I've come to a "supernatural" event and likely the closest I ever will. The fact that all the horror was done by regular people and in an area not far form where I live makes it all the more horrifying. I'll definitely check it out again.

 

[James Bond]

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.

In 6 pages, I've only seen probably about 6 or 7 stories, and waaaay too much stupid banter. Let people have their fun and share their ghost stories without fear of being ridiculed. I'd be willing to bet quite a few potential posters have been disheartened from posting their stories after seeing the drivel from the last 6 pages...

I'm as rational, and even skeptical, as the next guy, but I for one would love to hear more stories, folks!

What a perfectly timed thread! Today I was out with a friend of mine and we went down to an abandoned mental hospital here on Long Island which regularly tried electro-shock therapy and other experimentation on hospital inmates. The place was incredibly creepy and looked not unlike how you'd picture a concentration camp (I took some pics and would post them but I've yet to upload them).

As soon as I got out of the car, it was as if I could hear the screams coming from the long dead patients. What a depressing fucking place it was. The brick was ugly and worn, the buildings were open and you could just make out the insides of them where furniture had been laying about for years and years.

The back of one of the main buildings was where the patients were allowed to go outside, but only under strict supervision, and shit if it didn't feel like you'd suddenly see some of them roaming around.


The grounds were enormous and at one point there was a large open field with only a tall tower in the middle of it. The tower was old and dilapidated, but most of all it simply did not fit in with the otherwise grassy surroundings, like it was something that simply should not have existed.

It was wild.

Here's a photo journal of the place by someone else. Set Two shows the outside the most so check that one out: http://b.f11.org/photo/Pilgrim/

It was probably the closest I've come to a "supernatural" event and likely the closest I ever will. The fact that all the horror was done by regular people and in an area not far form where I live makes it all the more horrifying. I'll definitely check it out again.

Cool. Reminds me of an abandoned, and allegedly haunted, hospital some friends and I tried to sneak into about a year ago. It's an old, dilapidated building that even just on it's own brings up feelings of depression and fear. It used to be an old Tuberculosis hospital, but it apparently also housed aboriginal mental patients; and ALLEGEDLY, was the site of medical experimentation on those patients. We weren't able to actually get in, as the place is heavily monitored by security patrols at night, unfortunately. We didn't experience anything really paranormal, but it was definitely one of the creepiest outings I've ever been a part of. My friends and I plan on trying to go back one of these days, and actually get in this time.

Here is a quick link that shows a bit of information about the hospital near the top of the page, as well as a few of the other potentially "haunted" places in my city.

 

[sojourner]

I just had a thought. What if irrefutable proof that ghosts exist were discovered? Do you think the number of suicides would skyrocket? After all, proof of some sort of existence after death might be all that's needed to convince the really depressed.

 

[sbk1234]

Here are the two possibilities for each story that can be, or has been shared here.
1. It's completely true, and one has had a "ghostly" experience. If this is the case, then it's an absolutely amazing, incredible event that is mind boggling.

2. It's completely untrue. If this is the case, then it can be a really fun, entertaining story.

Either way, I see it as a win. So, IMHO, since I really don't see how anybody is really being harmed or taken advantage of, I don't see much reason to argue either for or against.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I just had a thought. What if irrefutable proof that ghosts exist were discovered? Do you think the number of suicides would skyrocket? After all, proof of some sort of existence after death might be all that's needed to convince the really depressed.

That depends. Are the ghosts having fun? Can they eat and drink and have sex or do they just swan around dismal ruins and crap housing?

 

[Gov Kodos]

I just had a thought. What if irrefutable proof that ghosts exist were discovered? Do you think the number of suicides would skyrocket? After all, proof of some sort of existence after death might be all that's needed to convince the really depressed.

That depends. Are the ghosts having fun? Can they eat and drink and have sex or do they just swan around dismal ruins and crap housing?

Imagine an afterlife pursued by goths and wannabe vampires.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I just had a thought. What if irrefutable proof that ghosts exist were discovered? Do you think the number of suicides would skyrocket? After all, proof of some sort of existence after death might be all that's needed to convince the really depressed.

That depends. Are the ghosts having fun? Can they eat and drink and have sex or do they just swan around dismal ruins and crap housing?

Imagine an afterlife pursued by goths and wannabe vampires.

:: considers ::

I can think of worse.

 

[EmoBorg]

Let be civil here. More Ghost Stories and much less pseudo psychoanalysis. This thread was started with the intention of sharing ghost stories. Let folks share their stories without fear.

If i offended anyone i am sorry.But please respect the thread's intentions.

I got stories from my army days that i will post later.

 

[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.

In 6 pages, I've only seen probably about 6 or 7 stories, and waaaay too much stupid banter. Let people have their fun and share their ghost stories without fear of being ridiculed. I'd be willing to bet quite a few potential posters have been disheartened from posting their stories after seeing the drivel from the last 6 pages...

I'm as rational, and even skeptical, as the next guy, but I for one would love to hear more stories, folks!

I must have missed where I said people should not have fun, post more ghost stories, or should be ridiculed. In point of fact, the only actual ridiculing has come from one person toward someone else being skeptical, but polite and fair, which was what my post was addressing.

It also addressed that like it or not, not everyone is going to agree with what you post, and you can't control their content. You can ask politely, but after the fifth or sixth time asking and after making some rude remarks, maybe it's time to let it go.

 

[Rarewolf]

After all, proof of some sort of existence after death might be all that's needed to convince the really depressed.

If you could prove 100% without a shadow of a doubt that there's nothing more than our mortal existance, that would depress me.

But there's all that space out there, so much to do and so little time to do all there is to do down here, let alone up there, that it just doesn't tally to me, that this is it.

So I can enjoy my gap life, unhindered.

 

[Shaytan]

It's just a matter of perception.

Wait...are we saying here that my gender is a matter of perception? I mean...I've definitely met people for whom this would be true, but I'm pretty unmistakably female!

No, I was just trying to stay in topic

Let be civil here. More Ghost Stories and much less pseudo psychoanalysis.

It could work the other way : less pseudo ghost stories and more psychoanalysis

This thread was started with the intention of sharing ghost stories. Let folks share their stories without fear.

Fear ? Of what exactly ? That polite skeptic people would discuss quietly their stories without mocking them ?

 

[Roger Wilco]

What's wrong with mockery of the ridiculous?