Do you believe in ghosts or the paranormal?

[Jonluw]

I believe in them. Living in a house built on a monk burial ground, it's a bit hard not to, especially when I was woken in the night to the sound of heavy footsteps going up and down the landing, stopping just outside of my bedroom, remaining there, seemingly staring in on me, then going back up the landing and stopping outside my mums room. This continued for 4 hours until my mum screamed for my dad to come up the stairs at which point everything went dead.

After than, I have had glasses smash in the night, heavy breath blowing in my face during the day and night, footsteps running up the stairs, the feeling of someone standing behind me in several rooms, 'waking up' before I properly go to sleep, more like drifting off and suddenly sitting up with heavy breathing, cold sweats and a feeling of terror.

My mum has also seen eyes at night, some are very beautiful, others old, others young and others dark and menacing. She went to a psychic and was told that the eyes were people who had died and had locked onto her spirit like a chain. She was told she had a man who watched over her and protected her from evil spirits because she was so susceptible. After that meeting, the eyes appeared once more, before disappearing for good.

In our house we have had people call names when no-one is home, things have been thrown when no-one is around and whenever we change something in the house, things come alive for a month or so before stopping again. Lights turn on and off, my disabled sister used to speak to 'imaginary friends' and open her draws at night before laughing and talking then going to sleep. one night, we heard the draws opening and closing and I thought to myself, "Oh she's at it again" until realisation hit me that she was away for the weekend at a hostel, that was definitely frightening.

There are many more occurrences only made worse by the numerous bodies we have dug up in the front and back gardens.

Well, in that case it looks like you should contact some scientists and get some empirical evidence up in that shit.
Hey, you have the chance to change our understanding of the universe and the metaphysical right here. Might even be a Nobel-prize waiting for you.
(Well, except for the part about waking with a jolt right before falling asleep. That's incredibly common. Normally accompanied by a sense of falling.)

Yes, but the problem is that they're saying that only on the grounds that they do not know what the explanation is.
Not knowing the explanation for something does not mean that the explanation has to lie outside the current scientific understanding of the world.

Erm, yes.... My intended edit never happened because of horrible internet and people yelling at me.
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What people are saying is: Look at that thing that happened! You can't explain how that happened! That must mean a ghost/paranormal phenomenon did it!

This is stupid. What they're saying is "That can't be explained, therefore I can explain it."

Eh, I don't think that that translation is necessarily accurate. If you read the definitions of what they say, all that they're saying is that the explanation doesn't lie within what is accepted as normal. This could mean that the phenomenon requires more scientific analysis or it could mean that space-rays from the planet Xenon are fucking with us. It is possible though, that your translation is what they do actually mean.
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And yes, when people insist that a phenomenon is supernatural when there is a perfectly valid mundane explanation, they are being close-minded.

Well, yes that one's obvious.
What I'm trying to explain is that people insisting that a phenomenon is supernatural when there is no perfect mundane explanation at hand are also fallacious.

There being no reasonable explanation to an event is not sufficient to conclude that the event must have been supernatural. At that point, all you know is that you don't know; since there can be any number of facts that you are missing out on.
There needs to be an indication that the event was supernatural for paranormal explanations to be viable. Like for example ectoplasm suddenly appearing when the phenomenon happened.
Not having an explanation is not grounds to assume the explanation is supernatural.

Edit: This'll be the last post I make tonight. It's 1:30am and I live in a 100 year old manor. It's uncomfortable being up alone this late. (No, not really, but I need to wake up early tomorrow. That is, earlier than I did today (2pm))

 

[Hosker]

No, but I am open to it, due to some strange, vague, unexplainable memories from when I was younger.

 

[mandaforever]

I'm sorry, but if you're unable to look at the other side of the spectrum, your argument is invalid, by the rules of logic. Also, you kind of sound like a jerk...I could think of harsher words to use but I'm going to go with "jerk" here.

I can look at it. Poke it with a stick and watch it squirm. I have heard the arguments but the fact remains that there's no evidence for the supernatural. Now that's logic.

And what's so jerkish about, y'know, accepting reality? I'm sorry if I sound condescending but my 5 year old sister isn't gullible enough to believe in all this rubbish. Do you know how silly you "true believers" sound?

I would love it if this hadn't happened. I still choose not to believe in ghosts, but the experience was so real, I can't write anything off anymore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waking_dream

Oh look. There's an explanation. All I had to do was google the symptons.

I was wide awake, just like I am now. Also, this happened during the day. Sorry, but I'm not going to listen to you. Clearly you are a huge jerk with tunnel vision who does not know what a valid argument is, and I can't argue with a non-argument. At least I ACCEPT and BELIEVE the other side of my "argument"

 

[Crazycat690]

Nope, I believe in science

Well I believe in science as well, but then again, there's a psychic that my mom have gotten help from several times, and all of the times what he said was correct, and he don't even live in the same country. So how does science explain that?

Science, to me disproves all religions, not paranormal activity.

 

[Prince Regent]

I'd be a very hypocritical Atheist if I did now wouldn't I.
So no I don't believe in ghosts or the paranormal or anything really.

 

[megamanenm]

Nope, I believe in science

Well I believe in science as well, but then again, there's a psychic that my mom have gotten help from several times, and all of the times what he said was correct, and he don't even live in the same country. So how does science explain that?

Science, to me disproves all religions, not paranormal activity.

Placebo, cold reading etc... What was her problem and how did the psychic "help"? You're not giving a lot of information here.

 

[Fugitive Panda]

I don't believe, and I give incredulous looks to people who do, but I sure do love to pretend that I do. My mind runs wild in spooky situations, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I don't care for ghosts though. Ghosts aren't scary or interesting, they're just passive-aggressive dead people. Gimme otherworldly horrors that defy description, make my day.

 

[rutger5000]

Dunno I think so. To maintain my sanity I need to believe in souls, I also uphold several budhist believes. From there it isn't so hard to go to the supernatrual. Let's just say I probably won't believe a person who tells he has seen a ghost, but I wouldn't suprised at all if I saw one myself. A zombie or vampire would suprise me though, I can't imagine those having functional bodies.

 

[ELD3RGoD]

I think the weirdest thing to happen was when I came downstairs to find my dad sleeping on the couch in the lounge (He usually sleeps in the downstairs bedroom) and I was a little bit confused because he'd gone to bed before me and I'd clearly heard him shut the door before I went to bed. I asked him why he was on the couch, considering the bed is much more comfy and he told me he didn't think he could sleep in there any more after he heard little children running around the bedroom and stopping at the side of the bed before running off again. My dad is a massive sceptic about these things and it was a bit of a shock coming from such a believer in science.

Finally, we tried to sell the house a few years ago which obviously involves taking pictures. The guy came around with his camera and took a picture of the downstairs bedroom. He checked it out, looked a bit confused then took another, again looking confused and trying a third time. He cleaned the lens and tried once more before finally saying there were little lights or smudges in the pictures and it took him about 10 attempts before he finally got a clear picture. We decided to see if the lights appeared when we took pictures and so we sat down one by one on the bed (except my mum who refused.) My brother had one light in the image, my dad 5 or 6 and finally me having, honestly a swarm of lights around me and this massive greenish 'smudge' practically on my shoulder. I very rarely stay for too long in that room now (Now an office.)

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I don't believe in any religion, but unless you experience things like these, you will have no reason to believe in spirits etc.

 

[Togs]

I was wide awake, just like I am now. Also, this happened during the day. Sorry, but I'm not going to listen to you. Clearly you are a huge jerk with tunnel vision who does not know what a valid argument is, and I can't argue with a non-argument. At least I ACCEPT and BELIEVE the other side of my "argument"

Dont you think its a little arrogant to assume your perceptions of the event are 100% infallible?
Its been shown but that old chestnut science to be true that our brain tricks and lies to us.
And no, your arguements arent valid- they're the same tired old cliches that get trotted out every time this topic comes up, they always remind me of playing whack-a-mole- no matter how many times their slapped down they just pop right back up.
Oh and something Ive been wondering- how does the guy refusing to bend over backwards to stop from offending you affect the validity of his arguements? Really cant get my head round that one....

 

[ELD3RGoD]

Obviously you didn't read a word of the previous sentence. Repeat clients. FOR 20 FUCKING YEARS. Nobody, no matter how gullible, pays 200 dollars on a regular basis for absolutely no reason. She gets referrals all the damn time. It is a legitimate buisness, dude.

Taking advantage of people is fraudulous, no matter how long one gets away with it.

Actually, the woman on that website is one of the most dangerous type of con artists active in the paranormal field, because she tries to capture sexual abuse victims and other people who really need professional assistance to overcome their problem.

Sexual abuse is a very serious traumatic experience, and if handled incorrectly (for instance by a spiritual moonlighter only out for money) it can become a life-long problem, and even get worse. The problems it causes are often difficult to connect to the problem, difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to actually solve. Paranormal moonlighters also have been known to actually talk people into having false memories of sexual abuse, resulting in untrue accusations, shattered families, lawsuits and a lot of unhappyness.

Imagine a borderliner or psychotic person going to such a sprititual con artist instead of a qualified doctor. Chances are they'll literally end up dead.

Psychic Sally is pretty damn accurate, even if she does have an annoying voice.

 

[megamanenm]

Dunno I think so. To maintain my sanity I need to believe in souls, I also uphold several budhist believes. From there it isn't so hard to go to the supernatrual. Let's just say I probably won't believe a person who tells he has seen a ghost, but I wouldn't suprised at all if I saw one myself. A zombie or vampire would suprise me though, I can't imagine those having functional bodies.

Why would you need to believe in ghosts to maintain your sanity?

 

[Aqua Trenoble]

I'm not asking people to personally experience anything, I'm just saying that they blatantly disregard or even attempt to disprove other people's personal experiences. That is the mark of a complete douche. I'm providing potential evidence, you are just ignoring it in favor of an explanation that is more comfortable to you.

Really, I'm insulting people because they deserve to be insulted and because it makes me feels better about this whole inane conversation. If you don't understand either of those reasons then you really should go elsewhere.

"Potential evidence." Even you couldn't call it evidence without that wiggle word in there. Also, you're insulting people because it's you're only argument. Your mother preys on people afraid of their own mortality, simple as that. How about instead of insulting me, tell your mom to lay a curse on me.

When was I insulting you? And why would anyone lay a curse on you when you're perfectly willing to doom yourself?

It's potential evidence because apparently nobody else is a credible source. I'm insulting people in addition to my argument, because people should be named for what they are.

All you're trying to do is make me angry, so you have no place here.

What happens is you mother "heals" them and in the time they think it's working that's actually their body fighting off the virus and they just co relating it to the healing

That's pretty awesome that life-long health issues and cancer can spontaneously and coincidentally be healed by the body. I'm not sure that it supports your argument, though.

 

[TonyVonTonyus]

Demons, gods and spirits all seem very likely to exist to me, why wouldn't they? I also kinda believe porphyric hemophilia could be real.

 

[megamanenm]

Demons, gods and spirits all seem very likely to exist to me, why wouldn't they? I also kinda believe porphyric hemophilia could be real.

Wrong question, why WOULD they exist?

 

[chunkeymonke]

Yes i believe in psychics, I also happen to have this rock for sale it creates a magic force field around you that fends off tigers, do you see any tigers in this forum? of course not because my rock fends them off.

 

[rutger5000]

Nope, I believe in science

Well I believe in science as well, but then again, there's a psychic that my mom have gotten help from several times, and all of the times what he said was correct, and he don't even live in the same country. So how does science explain that?

Science, to me disproves all religions, not paranormal activity.

I always say that one who uses science to prove of disprove religion doesn't understand either. By definition science does disprove the paranormal though. If science would prove it, it would't be paranormal activity. So I don't agree with you on that note.
I won't argue with you on the psychic that helped your mom, as you already had a reply on that one.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

[quote="chunkeym

 

[ShadowsofHope]

I have played Starcraft, yes. I have seen the Ghos- Oh. Those ghosts.

No, I don't. At least, about 90% certain. After watching movies like REC or Insidious, however, the dark can get very funky at times.. (which can all be explained by the various sleep disorders I have been diagnosed with, no less, but still funky).

 

[chunkeymonke]

Yes i believe in psychics, I also happen to have this rock for sale it creates a magic force field around you that fends off tigers, do you see any tigers in this forum? of course not because my rock fends them off.

I'll give you $50!!!! Do you take Visa?

Please don't insult me my magic tiger fending rocks are hot on the market its 1000 bucks a pop and did i mention they run out of juice after a month and you buy a new on every month. But its worth it to keep your family safe from tigers right?