THE PARANORMAL

[bleedingshrimp]

As much as I'd like to, I have no belief in ghosts, gods, fairies, monsters or anything of the like.

[stargazer14]

I just finished a box of Monti #2's...

every one burned perfect.

The hair on the back of my neck is standing up. Freaky.

[smokem]

I don't even believe that we are real. We're just part of someone's dream and their alarm clock will be going off soon. bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Erm310mce]

I'm curious, what is everyone's take on all these Paranormal TV shows like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Paranormal Activity etc?

At the beginning I thought they were entertaining but lately I just don't have much interest to watch.

[kjellfrick]

I'm sceptical, and I'm eagerly awaiting some evidence that confirms that these things are part of our physical reality.

[Torontonian]

Never seem to hear stories of animal ghosts, only people - why would that be?

Sentience?

I don't even believe that we are real. We're just part of someone's dream . . .

You're not a solipsist are you?

Bertrand Russell flirted with solipsism, although he eventually abandoned the ridiculous idea. During his solipsistic stint, however, he was sent a (now infamous) missive, the contents of which make up one of the great philosophical jokes of the modern era. In Russell's own words: 'I once received a letter from an eminent logician, Mrs. Christine Ladd-Franklin, saying that she was a solipsist, and was surprised that there were no others.'

[MIKA27]

Mika, I can't speak to all of the art/images that you presented above as evidence of UFOs but the early Christian and Byzantine painting and tapestries have been debunked regarding their alleged "UFO" images time-and-time again. What some people choose to see as space men in space ships, are (and this is consistent with the iconography of the time) anthropomorphic representations of the sun and moon. Similar images, often in the same places in the composition are seen in much of the work from that period, sometimes with faces with more or less detail, sometimes with "rays" emanating from them, sometimes not. I can understand why some people see spaceships but as far as I can tell it's wishful thinking.

Hi Stale - Thanks for your input bud, I personally do not believe that what everyone sees is real and it's certainly not my belief that everything painted no matter how much it resembles UFO's for example are exactly that. I would much rather have a UFO land in my yard and its occupants come by for a Siglo VI THEN I would truly believe.

Having said that tho, I still believe there is more to this than meets the eye and that there are other life forms somewhere be it humanoid or not.

This thread wasn't intended to only discuss UFO's, but anything paranormal such as ghosts, hauntings, or just plain weird such as one being able to guess the next song comming up on their radio. (KEN)

Its great to see so many people here input their thoughts be it people who have had experiences or those who are sceptics. Fantastic.

[MIKA27]

I'm curious, what is everyone's take on all these Paranormal TV shows like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Paranormal Activity etc?

At the beginning I thought they were entertaining but lately I just don't have much interest to watch.

Erm - I believe these shows on TV are run by wannabe detectives and its these very people who ruin the integrity of those people who are the 'real deal' and look into the paranormal. The only positive about such shows is that it has re-ignited the quest to solve mans question as to weather various paranormal instances/incidents are real and if so, how can it be proven?

[MIKA27]

finally, when in my younger teens, i'd occasionally wake and see a shimmering figure. it was human shaped but never all there. sometimes in the garden outside or in a tree outside the bedroom, sometimes in my doorway and as time went on, it would occasionally stand near the bed and sometimes even be leaning over. just silvery shimmering in the shape of a human but not a discernible face or anything. over several years into late teens/very early 20's, it happened may be 8 to 10 times so it was infrequent. at no stage did i ever have the slightest feeling it meant any harm at all. but i always knew that the moment i told anyone about it, that i would never see it again. i had no doubt of that. then away camping with friends once in early 20's and had had a few drinks and we were all sharing such stories and even though i knew i shouldn't, i told the group about this. the instant i did i knew i'd never see it again. and i never have.

and if any of you had told me that story, i'd think it a complete load of crap.

Thats an amazing story mate.

I have had a similar case occur to me over the years from a child to as late as my late 20's. Quite often I saw strange shapes in and around the home, in human form but with no discernable detail other than the outer shape. I was always certain it was a ghost of some sort. It was never agressive or gave me the impression it meant any harm.

Most of the times I observed this, it was during the late evenings out the back where my parents had their garden and also in my room at the foot of the bed.

To this day, I don't know what it was but one other thing I can tell you is that my brother has seen it as has my mum.

Thanks for sharing.

[Torontonian]

If by 'paranormal' you're alluding to diminutive green martians and the like (hurrah for stereotypes ), then I would have to answer in the negative. On the other hand, given that the majority are 'religious', most (myself included) would admit belief in the metaphysical - albeit on differing ontological levels.

[gfoster]

I maintain an open mind. I neither believe nor disbelieve, I simply feel I don't in any way, shape or form know everything that is possible or not possible out there. I most definitely believe in an afterlife.

As for animal "ghosts", when my chihuaha (named mijo) passed two years ago, I continued to see flashes of him out of the corner of my eye for weeks afterwards until we lost our dalmatian (who was suffering from cancer) too. When we lost the dalmatian I stopped seeing him. Did he come back to "ease" her along and let her know it was going to be ok? Dunno. I like to believe so but have no proof.

All I know is if Mijo isn't waiting for me when/if I get to heaven I'm not going to be a happy camper and someone is going to owe me a very serious explanation.

-- Gary F.

[jquest63]

An interesting family story that I thought about on morning commute. My uncles recently deceased father came to him in a dream and said to him don't worry all is well and told him to play the lottery with specific 6 #'s. My uncle woke and wrote them down, but being a man of science, did not play them dismissing the dream as well, just a dream. Well, when the lottery was drawn, for shits and giggles he compared the numbers he wrote down with the lottery numbers and sure enough they were the exact numbers drawn. Weird, makes you wonder.

[Ken Gargett]

Thats an amazing story mate.

I have had a similar case occur to me over the years from a child to as late as my late 20's. Quite often I saw strange shapes in and around the home, in human form but with no discernable detail other than the outer shape. I was always certain it was a ghost of some sort. It was never agressive or gave me the impression it meant any harm.

Most of the times I observed this, it was during the late evenings out the back where my parents had their garden and also in my room at the foot of the bed.

To this day, I don't know what it was but one other thing I can tell you is that my brother has seen it as has my mum.

Thanks for sharing.

no one else ever saw it as far as i know and i half don't believe it anyway. which sounds odd.

[Ken Gargett]

ps - as for tv shows, i quite like 'supernatural'. good fun.

[JMH]

I just finished a box of Monti #2's...

every one burned perfect.

The hair on the back of my neck is standing up. Freaky.

Clearly the least credible story in the whole thread!

[Cubanface]

I don't think you can have a science oriented mind and believe in anything unexplained. We can already explain much of our environment and the universe we are a part of. The things we can't explain I believe we'll be able to someday.

[Stalebread]

. . . I neither believe nor disbelieve, I simply feel I don't in any way, shape or form know everything that is possible or not possible out there. . . .

I have said in the past that my wife knows everything that can be known.

I know all the rest.

[Kangaroo495]

Clearly the least credible story in the whole thread!

BTW, your Avatar has really sped up. The cat looks like it's snorted some coke or something.

[Wiley]

I don't think you can have a science oriented mind and believe in anything unexplained. We can already explain much of our environment and the universe we are a part of. The things we can't explain I believe we'll be able to someday.

I beg to differ. Historically, many of the great scientific minds have been believers.

[Torontonian]

I don't think you can have a science oriented mind and believe in anything unexplained.

Perhaps you could clarify (or qualify) what you mean by 'unexplained'? If you're referring that which is unwarranted, incoherent, or unjustifiable, then I would agree. But if you're lumping all supersensible phenomena under the heading 'unexplained', then I would have to disagree. Some things are simply beyond the ken of empirical science; but that doesn't make them irreconcilable with a 'scientific' mindset.

Historically, many of the great scientific minds have been believers.

This is actually something of an understatement. The vast majority of scientists and philosophers, up until the turn of the nineteenth century, have been religious in one way or another (monotheists, polytheists, pantheists, deists, etc.). Scientific naturalism is a relatively new philosophy. Of course, there are also many religious scientists active today: e.g. Francis Collins, who headed the famous Human Genome Project.

[samb]

I pretty much believe in all of it. The paranormal, 'alien' life, 'sixth' senses, etc... I dont exactly have any definite experieces that I can or will claim as a "paranormal" experience. But I do believe that its all their and some people are either blind to it or its just not meant to be for them.

[riderpride]

I pretty much believe in all of it. The paranormal, 'alien' life, 'sixth' senses, etc... I dont exactly have any definite experieces that I can or will claim as a "paranormal" experience. But I do believe that its all their and some people are either blind to it or its just not meant to be for them.

Agreed (well the first part anyways); if it can't be verified or refuted, then keep an open mind. As for me, there was a three week stint where I could predict which Simpsons episode would be on (spooky).

As for TV, my girlfiend and I are both into Paranormal State (not the most professional, but improving) and A Haunting (low budg, but good directing and editing).

[smokem]

You're not a solipsist are you?

Solipsist? No, I can't even spell that. Just a cigar lover with a bad sense of humor. Although I did see a figure once try to steal some of my cigars.

Also I don't believe science and belief/faith are necessarily exclusive of each other.

Finally, I forget the movie title, but it has a line something like, "I see dead people, and they annoy me."

[Kangaroo495]

I just finished a box of Monti #2's...

every one burned perfect.

The hair on the back of my neck is standing up. Freaky.

I actually caught some such paranormal activity on camera. The shot is a little blurry (as usual when photographing such anomalies), but I'm pretty sure it's real. Don't remember taking the photo, and was quite surprised to see this when I looked at my shots later on in the day...

[MIKA27]

Dodgy bids exorcised in NZ ghost auction

Source: Ninemsn.com.au

New Zealand auction website TradeMe has rolled back the price of "two captured ghosts" which sold on Monday night for $NZ5000 ($A3,850), after several last minute bids were removed.

The auction was won by a Christchurch man, whom Trademe has confirmed was legitimate bidder, after a flurry of bids boosted the price from $NZ1840 ($A1,418) to $NZ5000 ($A3,850) in the final eight minutes.

On Tuesday morning a user named Joe158, who had been one of the final two bidders, was removed from the site.

Trademe spokesman Paul Ford said the final price would be rolled back to the highest genuine bid which had been confirmed at $2830.

"The legitimacy of the buyer was never in doubt, we just wanted to make sure the final price paid was fair, and not ramped up by unscrupulous bidders."

He said earlier it was "disappointing" when "last minute attention seekers" sought to spoil high profile auctions.

The "ghosts" were being sold by Christchurch woman Avie Woodbury who said they had been captured from her house and stored in glass vials.

Ms Woodbury said the spirits - an old man named Les Graham, who lived in the house during the 1920s, and a powerful and disruptive "little girl", who turned up following an experiment with a ouija board - have been kept asleep by putting them in holy water which "dulls the spirits energy".

All proceeds of the auction were to be donated to the SPCA, once the exorcist's fees had been paid.

Mr Ford said Trademe's normal success fee had been refunded to the seller as the money was going to charity.

MIKA: ........Ok?