Ghosts

[MagpieGirl_13]

That's why I don't go to psychics!

 

[NeRFaHoLIc]

With both these tales it conveniently doesn't explain who informed everyone about the 'vision'. Ok for the first example the couple go to this lady's business. Then when leaving they get hit by a truck. I assume the 'psychic' then let everyone know that she had forseen it. Who was going to contradict her? For all we know she could have told them they were going to live a long and happy life then BAM....oh...uh...I knew that was going to happen...yeah..I told them..just ask them..oh wait..you can't.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I don't believe in psychics at all. I watched one episode of psychic detectives and I could feel my brain cells depleting. I'd be better off sniffing petrol.

A girl at work has a cousin who is very 'spiritual'. Claims she has seen many ghosts, and can foresee things. Apparently she's very good at finding lost stuff. She was telling me that her Aunty lost an important watch that belonged to her grandma. My friends cousin had a dream one night, where she saw the watch in a bunch of magazines. So she rang up her Aunty and told her to empty out her basket of magazines (apparently she keeps her magazines there). Turns out the watch actually was there.

 

[Kerrby]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I don't believe in psychics at all. I watched one episode of psychic detectives and I could feel my brain cells depleting. I'd be better off sniffing petrol.

A girl at work has a cousin who is very 'spiritual'. Claims she has seen many ghosts, and can foresee things. Apparently she's very good at finding lost stuff. She was telling me that her Aunty lost an important watch that belonged to her grandma. My friends cousin had a dream one night, where she saw the watch in a bunch of magazines. So she rang up her Aunty and told her to empty out her basket of magazines (apparently she keeps her magazines there). Turns out the watch actually was there.

There's lots of stories about twins having dreams that their other twin had died and it's come true the next day.

 

[Niximus]

There's lots of stories about twins having dreams that their other twin had died and it's come true the next day.

True, but it is outweighed by the numbers of stories of people who had dreamed that their twin/loved one etc died and it didn't come true. People dream all sorts of things and with so many people you can expect that some people will just happen to dream things that later occur.

 

[NeRFaHoLIc]

There's another theory on ghosts I remember reading about. I don't remember much about it but something about ghosts just being outer body experiences for living people. Eg. You're asleep and your soul/spirit/essence (whatever you wanna call it) goes off wondering.

 

[Stats Man]

I dunno. Interesting topic.

I think there would be some form...I mean, surely nothing like a spirit can vanish, can it?

I've had no major experiences like this from memory...but I reckon that places like Victoria Park have them - so much energy has been generated/used in a place like that for over 100 years...it can't have gone to waste...it's so quiet now (haven't been in a long, long time), but surely it all still means something? I mean it was home to so many in many senses...it's one places I have experienced goosebumps, and not because it was Collingwood's home ground, you sense that there's something more.

 

[Niximus]

I think there would be some form...I mean, surely nothing like a spirit can vanish, can it?

To vanish it must first exist

 

[Moonwatcher]

One thing I find weird with tvs, is sometimes when I go to bed, if I open my eyes, in my peripheral vision, the tv screen is quite bright. It's not on, but it's very bright. Even when I look at it, it's bright, but not as bright as when I look in my peripheral vision.

80% of your eyes light receptors are dedicated to your peripheral vision (according to Tony and Barry Buzan). Maybe this explains it. I've not noticed it.

 

[Moonwatcher]

A curious experience i had was when i opened my pantry door(which was unobstructed) and bent down to get some potatoes, In my peripheral vision i could see the floor just behind me where i noticed a shadow move despite being alone. I didn't pay much attention but when i stood up and took a step back i tripped over a chair that was right behind me. I figured had the chair always been there then i should be able to close the pantry door without obstruction but i couldn't the chair was in the way.

I've had more experiences but are much longer.

 

[Kram]

There are quite a few psychics on tv/internet which claim to commune with the dead.
One thing that strikes me is that there is no "set" way, or established single method in which these people commune with the dead. They seem to have their own effective method of opperating.
It has to be noted, and I would like to hear the sceptics point of view on this, a few of them are on the money basically all the time when it comes to facts or naming names. Interesting to say the least.
Actually seeing these people in your minds eye whether you want to or not migh no be th most pleasent of experiences if you dont wish to be a medium.

Any psychics reading this post want to comment???

IMO John Edward and Alison DuBois have no special powers. Edward's apparent accuracy is a result of an age old technique called "cold reading" and selective TV editing.

An article on stage psychics.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcoldreading.html

Former illusionist James Randi has for many years offered a 1 million USD prize for anyone that can, under proper scientific controls prove that they have any paranormal abilities whatsoever. DuBois declined the offer to be tested. Over 1000 people have tried and none have managed to past the prelim test.

If anyone out there had genuine ability you would think that they would pick up a lazy mill?

Edit - some responses to his offer . .

[youtube]UbFzUH2cfno[/youtube]

 

[NeRFaHoLIc]

IMO John Edward and Alison DuBois have no special powers. Edward's apparent accuracy is a result of an age old technique called "cold reading" and selective TV editing.

An article on stage psychics.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcoldreading.html

Former illusionist James Randi has for many years offered a 1 million USD prize for anyone that can, under proper scientific controls prove that they have any paranormal abilities whatsoever. DuBois declined the offer to be tested. Over 1000 people have tried and none have managed to past the prelim test.

If anyone out there had genuine ability you would think that they would pick up a lazy mill?

I think South Park did it the best.

Did you recently lose someone? Yes. Was it your mother? No. Was it your father? No. Was it your sister? Yes. Ok, I'm sensing you recently lost your sister. Oh my god how did you know?

 

[BomberGal]

IMO John Edward and Alison DuBois have no special powers. Edward's apparent accuracy is a result of an age old technique called "cold reading" and selective TV editing.

An article on stage psychics.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcoldreading.html

Former illusionist James Randi has for many years offered a 1 million USD prize for anyone that can, under proper scientific controls prove that they have any paranormal abilities whatsoever. DuBois declined the offer to be tested. Over 1000 people have tried and none have managed to past the prelim test.

If anyone out there had genuine ability you would think that they would pick up a lazy mill?

Everyone should look up Derren Brown on youtube. He uses his "mindreading" (he's not a psychic and doesn't claim to be: he's a psychologist, with a great understanding of human body language, who 'exposes' how people like John Edward work) to take people's wallets in the street and pay for stuff with green paper. Seriously. He can get you to think/say/do whatever he wants...and he can turn it around on you to make you think he knows what you're thinking!

 

[Kerrby]

I think South Park did it the best.

Did you recently lose someone? Yes. Was it your mother? No. Was it your father? No. Was it your sister? Yes. Ok, I'm sensing you recently lost your sister. Oh my god how did you know?

I prefer Family Guys .

Does your name start with A? No. B? No. C? No. D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P Yes! P, it's Peter. Is your name Peter? Yes, how did you know!!

 

[Hawks1523]

Okay. This is most likely my mind just playing tricks on me, from watching videos, reading stories and all about ghosts. Was sitting here, reading everybodies experiences with my curtains closed, no lights on. Caught this bright light from the corner of my eye, which I can't explain. Like I said, was most likely just my mind playing tricks on me since I'm reading about ghosts, but I had a massive chill down my spine. I'm feeling fairly warm, but for a good 30 seconds I felt really cold, most likely because of how scared I was of what I saw, or thought I just saw.

I believe ghosts are real. Or there are alot of people with too much time on their hands, and who like to fool people.

 

[Thrawn]

They've been too many bizzare and freak occurrences on the subject of ghosts for it to be mere coincidence. There have been many accounts across so many different kinds of cultures that actually describe ghosts and experiences with them. What's important is that they're much or less similar to each other, even in some accounts science cannot explain what is going on.

So yes, I believe in ghosts.

 

[Escude]

They've been too many bizzare and freak occurrences on the subject of ghosts for it to be mere coincidence. There have been many accounts across so many different kinds of cultures that actually describe ghosts and experiences with them. What's important is that they're much or less similar to each other, even in some accounts science cannot explain what is going on.

So yes, I believe in ghosts.

Like EVP you mean?

 

[Thrawn]

Like EVP you mean?

No, Mr Rolleyes - but it's quite fascinating nonetheless.

 

[Escude]

No, Mr Rolleyes - but it's quite fascinating nonetheless.

fascinating? evp has been explained by science anyway, its nothing paranormal, just search google. Whenever scientists go into haunted houses, nothing happens or if things happen, they are perfectly well explained. Cultures across the world, report, zombies, aliens, witchcraft, voodoo as well so that means you believe in those as well? we are programmed to believe in normal.70% of americans believe in paranormal.That is a fact.

 

[linda]

My n02 daughter is 8 years old .Three or four years ago she told her older sister that she often saw a little girl playing on the landing at the top of the stairs .My daughter told me about it but because she didnt seem worried we just let it go and didnt say anything .About six months ago she suddenly started to get very upset when she went to bed .Also she stopped wanting to go to her grandads house to stay which she loved before .What had happened is at my dads she had seen what she called a scary man in her bedroom .She had also seen my mum ,great grandma and her sister and then her other great grandma all of whom are sadly dead .She has never seen my mum ,yet she managed to tell me things about her appearance that she simply couldnt know and also went into in depth detail about the others which again she wouldnt know because she was so young when they died .
She got so scared we felt the need to take her to a medium it was the only thing we could think of .We told the chap that she was having problems but didnt go into specifics .To our amazement he actually told us what she had been seeing firstly telling us we had a hotspot on our landing (how could he know that is were she had always seen the little girl ).He then explained that my mum was actually in the room at that moment ,which was a strange feeling seeing as though I hadnt seen her for more than 20 years .He told Jaime that there was a man called Bill who was hanging around and that although he wasnt trying to harm her my mum and her great grandmas werent having any of it and were around her to look after her.He also told me somethings my mum was saying which was both joyous and upsetting .
He also taught Jaime how to stop herself seeing things in bed by pulling a pretend sleeping bag over her and zipping it up .
She has been fine since although one morning before school I went upstairs to hurry her along , she was stood staring at the landing looking a bit disturbed .I hugged her and said whats up and she said she had a feeling she was going to see something .I was fairly scared but tried not to show it and said what do you mean , she replied she always had this feeling before something happened .I then said can you see anything yet ,she said no but at that precise moment for absolutly no reason something fell off the drawer next to the door.
Did I jump .
I actually laughed, it was either that or run around screaming .Nothing else happened but for the next few days I didnt enjoy being in the house especially with just my youngest who is three .

Sorry its a long story .I have to say I am in no way religious but when you witness things like the medium it makes you think

 

[MagpieGirl_13]

I have heard stories about young children seeing 'spirits' of dead people. I don't doubt that children have seen these sorts of things.
I know a young boy who apparently has. About 2 years ago my friends young son (about 3 at the time) was over at the elderly lady's house accross the road. The elderly lady's husband had passed away, the young boy had met the husband before he died & knew that he had died. After being over at the lady's house he came home & told his mum that he had seen Mrs X's husband in the bath tub (or bedroom, I can't remember). The boy's older sister (about 6 at the time) hadn't seen this, wether she couldn't or just didn't I don't know. His mum reminded him that Mr X had passed away, but the young boy was convinced he had seen him. I don't think he has seen him there since though.

I do believe that young children can see this sort of stuff, sometimes. Tbh, I never have as a kid.

 

[linda]

I have heard stories about young children seeing 'spirits' of dead people. I don't doubt that children have seen these sorts of things.
I know a young boy who apparently has. About 2 years ago my friends young son (about 3 at the time) was over at the elderly lady's house accross the road. The elderly lady's husband had passed away, the young boy had met the husband before he died & knew that he had died. After being over at the lady's house he came home & told his mum that he had seen Mrs X's husband in the bath tub (or bedroom, I can't remember). The boy's older sister (about 6 at the time) hadn't seen this, wether she couldn't or just didn't I don't know. His mum reminded him that Mr X had passed away, but the young boy was convinced he had seen him. I don't think he has seen him there since though.

I do believe that young children can see this sort of stuff, sometimes. Tbh, I never have as a kid.

Supposedly this medium I went to see says that it is very common for children to see spirits but most grow out of it .With my daughter I know she isnt making it up because in as nice a fashion as possible she is as daft as a brush and not clever enough to make it all up .

 

[Thrawn]

fascinating? evp has been explained by science anyway, its nothing paranormal, just search google.

Ah yes, because vague references to a google search is really going to dismiss such things?

Whenever scientists go into haunted houses, nothing happens or if things happen, they are perfectly well explained.

Not all the time.

Cultures across the world, report, zombies, aliens, witchcraft, voodoo as well so that means you believe in those as well?

Haha, not all of them do. The belief in ghosts is much more frequent and universal than the ones you've mentioned. Besides, those reports aren't as consistent as ghost stories, and they are usually full of a lot more holes. BTW, I do believe in intelligent life outside our planet too.

we are programmed to believe in normal.70% of americans believe in paranormal.That is a fact.

And where'd you get this statistic from?

I'm not American and don't live in the US, so I don't really care about this statistic. What I'm more interested in is a global one.

 

[Kram]

Supposedly this medium I went to see says that it is very common for children to see spirits but most grow out of it .With my daughter I know she isnt making it up because in as nice a fashion as possible she is as daft as a brush and not clever enough to make it all up .

I think that she has been watching the Sixth Sense far too much.

 

[linda]

I think that she has been watching the Sixth Sense far too much.

No everything I have said is what happened .I have no explanation for any of it

 

[Escude]

Ah yes, because vague references to a google search is really going to dismiss such things?

its called scientific research.I am not a scientist, i dont have a phd.. i am merely telling what those guys found out when examining EVP.

Not all the time.

Would you mind to give an example of a haunted house where scientists couldnt find an answer?

Haha, not all of them do. The belief in ghosts is much more frequent and universal than the ones you've mentioned. Besides, those reports aren't as consistent as ghost stories, and they are usually full of a lot more holes. BTW, I do believe in intelligent life outside our planet too.

i believe in aliens as well, but its a BELIEF.That is the key word.I believe in lot of other things as well. People believe in ghosts because religion states when we die, our soul survives.In continents like Africa, for example, , they use voodoo to call those souls.(so they believe).How many scientists have examined voodoo now you know? the best medium in the world james vaan praagh is a fraud and its proven.We are prone to believe in paranormal and this is why shows like X files are massive hits in the US. (i am not saying this, research says that)

And where'd you get this statistic from?

I'm not American and don't live in the US, so I don't really care about this statistic. What I'm more interested in is a global one.

America is a western country and its more comparable to Australia, than say, India for example.In India, almost everyone believe in ghosts.You have to study their culture for that.Same in africa.I lived in africa for 2 years and if you tell them that you are an atheist, they will consider you as a low life (that is a fact).They take it as a serious offense.

I got the statistic from here

A recent report from the Gallup Organization titled, Three in Four Americans Believe in Paranormal, suggests that “just about three in four Americans hold some paranormal belief — in at least one of the following: extra sensory perception (ESP), haunted houses, ghosts, mental telepathy, clairvoyance, astrology, communicating with the dead, witches, reincarnation, and channeling. There are no significant differences in belief by age, gender, education, or region of the country.”