I see (feel, smell, sense, etc.) dead people... (1 Viewer)

[datonn]

I've watched most of those shows and Paranormal State is very well edited, but is total entertainment. I'm highly skeptical of pretty much everything on that show. Everything that show does is designed to spook or scare you. It's fun to watch, but that's the point. It's a tv show designed to get viewers to come back each week. The Mediums on it are complete BS in my opinion and are told things to match up with what Ryan revealed to the viewer. I'm VERY skeptical but fascinated with the subject in general and those shows fill that curiousity, but you also have to realize that it is entertainment.

The thing I really like about Paranormal State is that they come at it from more of a religious perspective and they aren't really trying to convince anyone about anything. People contact them asking for help, and they do what they can to help (and debunk). They don't have all the electronic bells and gizmos of some of the other shows, but you also know that they are more interested in helping people than most of the other shows.I'd also say the exact opposite about the mediums on the show that you do. Chip in particular is outstanding. I guess it's the same thing...they're not on the show screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!" like some of the other shows or people who are obvious frauds. They are doing it because they all but feel obligated to use the gifts that they've been given to help others.

That said, it makes me SO MAD that A&E, SyFy, et al periodically advertises all those stupid "download an app to make your cell phone a ghost detector" or "play this ghost detecting game" during some of the commercial breaks. Takes any real progress or headway folks could make in having the field of study be considered anything but snake oil and gives skeptics a few more logs on their fire.

 

[Hoart Petterson]

I've watched most of those shows and Paranormal State is very well edited, but is total entertainment. I'm highly skeptical of pretty much everything on that show. Everything that show does is designed to spook or scare you. It's fun to watch, but that's the point. It's a tv show designed to get viewers to come back each week. The Mediums on it are complete BS in my opinion and are told things to match up with what Ryan revealed to the viewer. I'm VERY skeptical but fascinated with the subject in general and those shows fill that curiousity, but you also have to realize that it is entertainment.

The thing I really like about Paranormal State is that they come at it from more of a religious perspective and they aren't really trying to convince anyone about anything. People contact them asking for help, and they do what they can to help (and debunk). They don't have all the electronic bells and gizmos of some of the other shows, but you also know that they are more interested in helping people than most of the other shows.I'd also say the exact opposite about the mediums on the show that you do. Chip in particular is outstanding. I guess it's the same thing...they're not on the show screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!" like some of the other shows or people who are obvious frauds. They are doing it because they all but feel obligated to use the gifts that they've been given to help others.

That said, it makes me SO MAD that A&E, SyFy, et al periodically advertises all those stupid "download an app to make your cell phone a ghost detector" or "play this ghost detecting game" during some of the commercial breaks. Takes any real progress or headway folks could make in having the field of study be considered anything but snake oil and gives skeptics a few more logs on their fire.

OK, I'm starting to understand now. Carry on.

 

[Osaurus]

I lump Ghost Adventures, Most Haunted, and that Extreme Paranormal (only saw 2 episodes) together as they are pure entertainment. Listening to that dude on Ghost Adventures attempting to qualify little specks of dust and bugs as paranormal is hilarious!

I think the others are a little more grounded in pseudo-science, but with editing, who knows.

Mrs. Osaurus and I recently have had interesting occurrences separately at a dog park we frequent. I will post it tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

[McJose]

I'd also say the exact opposite about the mediums on the show that you do. Chip in particular is outstanding. I guess it's the same thing...they're not on the show screaming "LOOK AT ME!!!" like some of the other shows or people who are obvious frauds. They are doing it because they all but feel obligated to use the gifts that they've been given to help others.

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

 

[bmarks6161]

I watched an episode of this a few weeks back. The show is a complete sham. Nothing ever happens. They go into these old, dark places and pretend to hear stuff.Bro, if shows like this were real, if you yourself actually saw a ghost and had any actual proof, it'd be the biggest story in the history of the world. Special reports/breaking news on every network. It's all in your head, your mind is playing tricks on you. Billions of people, billions of cameras...show me one shred of actual proof of a ghost.

You are wrong here, if someone showed you video of an actual ghost you and newscasters would just call it a fake and it would not get the time of day. I am a fellow skeptic but there is no way that networks would show breaking news of a ghost, legitimate or not, and claim that it was real. I've seen some pretty convincing things on those shows, but you would never catch those videos as a breaking news story.

What "convincing" things have you seen on those shows? There's absolutely nothing convincing on those shows. They pipe scary music/tones in the background and viewers who are already predisposed to believe what they're watching is real are already all wound up.How about this. When you guys are alone in a house do you get easily freaked out? It's perfectly normal for young children to have imaginary friends. I honestly can't believe there are fully grown men, withy actual jobs and responsibilities that believe in this kind of thing. When you saw the Blair Witch Project were you freaking out like a 10 year old?

you are such a bad###As a skeptic, all I said was some of the stuff they catch on those shows is compelling. I was going to try and show you what I mean, but I think I will just move on from this converstaion with you.

 

[McJose]

I lump Ghost Adventures, Most Haunted, and that Extreme Paranormal (only saw 2 episodes) together as they are pure entertainment. Listening to that dude on Ghost Adventures attempting to qualify little specks of dust and bugs as paranormal is hilarious!

I think the others are a little more grounded in pseudo-science, but with editing, who knows.

Mrs. Osaurus and I recently have had interesting occurrences separately at a dog park we frequent. I will post it tomorrow if anyone is interested.

pseudo-science means it's not grounded in anything but pure

 

[datonn]

FWIW:

Around 1:25 and 1:50 into the footage. The "shadow figure" in their footage is somewhat similar to what I saw in my daughter's bedroom...only what I saw was with lights on (while their footage is using night vision)...so what I saw appeared much darker and I could see its opacity.

 

[Hoart Petterson]

I watched an episode of this a few weeks back. The show is a complete sham. Nothing ever happens. They go into these old, dark places and pretend to hear stuff.Bro, if shows like this were real, if you yourself actually saw a ghost and had any actual proof, it'd be the biggest story in the history of the world. Special reports/breaking news on every network. It's all in your head, your mind is playing tricks on you. Billions of people, billions of cameras...show me one shred of actual proof of a ghost.

You are wrong here, if someone showed you video of an actual ghost you and newscasters would just call it a fake and it would not get the time of day. I am a fellow skeptic but there is no way that networks would show breaking news of a ghost, legitimate or not, and claim that it was real. I've seen some pretty convincing things on those shows, but you would never catch those videos as a breaking news story.

What "convincing" things have you seen on those shows? There's absolutely nothing convincing on those shows. They pipe scary music/tones in the background and viewers who are already predisposed to believe what they're watching is real are already all wound up.How about this. When you guys are alone in a house do you get easily freaked out? It's perfectly normal for young children to have imaginary friends. I honestly can't believe there are fully grown men, withy actual jobs and responsibilities that believe in this kind of thing. When you saw the Blair Witch Project were you freaking out like a 10 year old?

you are such a bad###As a skeptic, all I said was some of the stuff they catch on those shows is compelling. I was going to try and show you what I mean, but I think I will just move on from this converstaion with you.

Huh?

 

[McJose]

FWIW:

 

[Hoart Petterson]

FWIW:

Oh COME ON!

 

[datonn]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

 

[datonn]

FWIW:

What? You're expecting a ghost/spirit to come up to the camera, introduce themselves, stay there for 10-15 minutes for an interview, and then say "Party on, Garth" while doing their best air-guitar and Gene Simmons impersonation?! lol.

 

[Osaurus]

FWIW:

this would be awesome

 

[Hoart Petterson]

FWIW:

It's completely fake. It's entertainment. The spooky music isn't a dead (no pun intended) giveaway? In your heart of hearts do you believe there's an actual ghost in that youtube video you posted?

 

[McJose]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

Would you like $1,000,000? Seriously.

 

[Harry Manback]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

Would you like $1,000,000? Seriously.

I'd be happy with $1000 if you're breaking into your Jeopardy winnings.

 

[McJose]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

Would you like $1,000,000? Seriously.

I'd be happy with $1000 if you're breaking into your Jeopardy winnings.

James Randi Challenge One million dollars to anyone who can prove they have psychic or paranormal abilities. No gimmicks, no tricks, easy money.

Datonn could be a wealthy man very soon.

 

[datonn]

It's completely fake. It's entertainment. The spooky music isn't a dead (no pun intended) giveaway? In your heart of hearts do you believe there's an actual ghost in that youtube video you posted?

Well, factor in that video is a promo to try and get more people to watch the show, so they've added the music and done a little creative editing. If you saw the actual episode when the footage was captured, it might have rubbed you a different way. No music, no sensationalism. Three guys walking around and talking in an abandoned building, then capturing that ??? following one of them left-to-right as they left the room. That, and a brick and wood defying gravity without any wires or "editing."And yes, I do believe that what was captured on film by that Ghost Adventures crew was a ghost/spirit. Can I prove it? Absolutely not. Not a PRAYER of a chance of being able to get a "convert" of a skeptic unless you were physically there in the building with them! However, I can't definitively prove about a ba-zillion things around us to you either...so add this to the list. Heck, I've never actually SEEN gravity...so how can I present video evidence that it is real? Sure Newton THINKS he knows what makes us not all fly off the Earth, but what if Newton was wrong? What about anti-matter? Or a giant squid? I know a few have "magically" washed up on shore or that a few scientists have CLAIMED to dissect a few on film (alien autopsy, lol), but were you in the room with them to make sure it wasn't just a prettied-up whale carcass?!

 

[datonn]

James Randi Challenge

One million dollars to anyone who can prove they have psychic or paranormal abilities. No gimmicks, no tricks, easy money.

Datonn could be a wealthy man very soon.

Retirement, here we (hopefully) come! lol

 

[Hoart Petterson]

It's completely fake. It's entertainment. The spooky music isn't a dead (no pun intended) giveaway? In your heart of hearts do you believe there's an actual ghost in that youtube video you posted?

Well, factor in that video is a promo to try and get more people to watch the show, so they've added the music and done a little creative editing. If you saw the actual episode when the footage was captured, it might have rubbed you a different way. No music, no sensationalism. Three guys walking around and talking in an abandoned building, then capturing that ??? following one of them left-to-right as they left the room. That, and a brick and wood defying gravity without any wires or "editing."And yes, I do believe that what was captured on film by that Ghost Adventures crew was a ghost/spirit. Can I prove it? Absolutely not. Not a PRAYER of a chance of being able to get a "convert" of a skeptic unless you were physically there in the building with them! However, I can't definitively prove about a ba-zillion things around us to you either...so add this to the list. Heck, I've never actually SEEN gravity...so how can I present video evidence that it is real? Sure Newton THINKS he knows what makes us not all fly off the Earth, but what if Newton was wrong? What about anti-matter? Or a giant squid? I know a few have "magically" washed up on shore or that a few scientists have CLAIMED to dissect a few on film (alien autopsy, lol), but were you in the room with them to make sure it wasn't just a prettied-up whale carcass?!

Are you being serious here?

 

[datonn]

Are you being serious here?

I was just having a little fun with you on the whole Newton, anti-matter and giant squid tangent...but you hopefully can see through the sarcasm to see my point. It's the same thing as if you tell me to prove to you that I love my wife. Is proof that I'll go up and give her a big, sloppy kiss? Is it that I work 8,000 hours/week to put food on the table and a roof over our heads? Is it that I'll spend an entire afternoon letting her siblings' kids crawl all over me and make me their rag-doll when I take them to the park or sledding...even though kids (other than my own) aren't really my cup 'o tea? Is it that I've never cheated on her? Is it TELLING her that I love her?How exactly could I possibly prove to you that I love my wife? Irrefutable...audio/video evidence that would pass any/all scientific scrutiny? I could do all the things above...but couldn't I also do all those same things if I loved someone else or didn't love anyone?

 

[Hoart Petterson]

Are you being serious here?

I was just having a little fun with you on the whole Newton, anti-matter and giant squid tangent...but you hopefully can see through the sarcasm to see my point. It's the same thing as if you tell me to prove to you that I love my wife. Is proof that I'll go up and give her a big, sloppy kiss? Is it that I work 8,000 hours/week to put food on the table and a roof over our heads? Is it that I'll spend an entire afternoon letting her siblings' kids crawl all over me and make me their rag-doll when I take them to the park or sledding...even though kids (other than my own) aren't really my cup 'o tea? Is it that I've never cheated on her?How exactly could I possibly prove to you that I love my wife? Irrefutable...audio/video evidence that would pass any/all scientific scrutiny?

Seriously, what in the hell are you talking about? You're comparing competely different things/concepts.

 

[datonn]

Seriously, what in the hell are you talking about? You're comparing competely different things/concepts.

It's just an example of something most people believe is real (love) that is next to impossible to prove using empirical, scientifically-irrefutable evidence. I'm not asking you to stop believing in love! I'm asking you to at least concede that there are some things in life that are tough-to-impossible to prove to even the most hardened of skeptic.

 

[McJose]

Well, factor in that video is a promo to try and get more people to watch the show, so they've added the music and done a little creative editing. If you saw the actual episode when the footage was captured, it might have rubbed you a different way. No music, no sensationalism. Three guys walking around and talking in an abandoned building, then capturing that ??? following one of them left-to-right as they left the room. That, and a brick and wood defying gravity without any wires or "editing."

And yes, I do believe that what was captured on film by that Ghost Adventures crew was a ghost/spirit.

There's the problem. How do you know they didn't edit anything? Because they told you? I've got some magic beans you might be interested in.

 

[McJose]

James Randi Challenge

One million dollars to anyone who can prove they have psychic or paranormal abilities. No gimmicks, no tricks, easy money.

Datonn could be a wealthy man very soon.

Retirement, here we (hopefully) come! lol

Seriously. Why don't you take this challenge? It's a cool mil just waiting for the taking

 

[Hoart Petterson]

Seriously, what in the hell are you talking about? You're comparing competely different things/concepts.

It's just an example of something most people believe is real (love) that is next to impossible to prove using empirical, scientifically-irrefutable evidence. I'm not asking you to stop believing in love! I'm asking you to at least concede that there are some things in life that are tough-to-impossible to prove to even the most hardened of skeptic.

You're comparing an emotion to a ghost because neither are visible?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Thought I'd bump this thread as a way to document some of the non-fiction shows focused on the supernatural...just in case anyone is interested:

Sunday

10pm - The Haunted (Animal Planet) - not too bad...a good 60 minutes of entertainment, anyway

Tuesday

9pm - Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal (A&E) - one of the better shows on TV right now on the topic

10pm - Paranormal State (A&E) - THE best show on TV for the Paranormal, and it's not even close

10pm - Ghost Lab (Discovery Channel) - Pretty good, although their methods seem a little crass.

11pm - Celebrity Ghost Stories (A&E) - a little hokey, and not particularly great...other than it being interesting to here celebs talk about some of their past experiences

Wednesday

8pm - Ghost Hunters (SyFy) - After Paranormal State, the best show out there right now...along with GHI)

9pm - Ghost Hunters International (SyFy) - Ditto to the comments above

Friday

9pm - Ghost Adventures (Travel Channel) - Very good, but the lead dog (Zach) is a little over-bearing at times

??? - Most Haunted (Travel Channel) - probably overstayed its welcome...and the screaming woman (friend of the lead investigator) is unbearable.

I realize that people that don't believe in ghosts/spirits will chalk all this up to fiction, but if you have an open mind and REALLY want to learn something about the subject, Tuesday and Wednesday nights are your ticket.

Ghost Hunters is the best of the bunch, IMO.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Seriously, it's pretty much like believing in God, believing in love, etc. There is ZERO chance that anyone who hasn't experienced something personally will ever truly believe it. Although what is interesting to me is a lot of the DVR work that is being done over the past several years. People asking questions, then recording intelligent, relevant responses on other frequencies that could not generally be heard at the time of the recording.But yeah, I understand. Orbs? 99% of it is a load of crap IMHO. Psychics/mediums telling you things that someone/something is supposedly telling them that you cannot hear yourself? Suspect (especially if you can't prove that the person had no prior knowledge of any situation that they are discussing). If/when you ever have a personal experience of your own though, you will understand. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. I have no medical conditions that would cause mental issues or hallucinations. I'm not thinking about anything a majority of the time something occurs. It can be 2:00pm in an empty house or 10:00pm in the middle of a party. It just happens. And when it does, it is super cool...and super scary.

Link to the intelligent EVP responses? Serious question, not trying to be a ####....cause I've heard more than my fair share of them both on TV and in person, and I've never once been convinced that it was legit.

 

[ClownDogs]

BOOOOOOOO

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

U scared?

 

[jdoggydogg]

Did someone just post something defending psychic powers?

Check out The Amazing Randi web site. His foundation is offering $1 million dollars to anyone that can prove psychic ability. In the several years that the offer has been on the table, not one person has ever collected a penny. Psychics are either cheats, liars, or simply delusional.

 

[Ned]

 

[Steve Tasker]

We have lots of orb pictures, but last summer we visited an old log cabin that I am told is haunted. My daughter was sitting on the couch watching TV and my step-mother took her picture. My daughter is sitting on the couch. Sitting beside her is a light orb in the elongated shape of a child. There is a distinct head on top of a body shape, with legs up on the coffee table. I am sure my wife has it kicking around somewhere, I will try to find it and post it.

Please do, I'd love to see it. There is a supposedly haunted hotel right near my home that has produced pictures like these, which I've seen. Absolutely crazy.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Did someone just post something defending psychic powers?

Check out The Amazing Randi web site. His foundation is offering $1 million dollars to anyone that can prove psychic ability. In the several years that the offer has been on the table, not one person has ever collected a penny. Psychics are either cheats, liars, or simply delusional.

I think James Randi has already been referenced in here too.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I've seen the shadow people too. I can't explain it either.....still doesn't mean it's a ghost though.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

Not trying to be a ####, but it's hard to take you seriously when you're saying things like this.

 

[jdoggydogg]

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

No one has psychic powers. These "experiences" don't prove the existence of ghosts. Your inability to explain these phenomena is light years away from proving anything beyond a reasonable scientific explanation.

 

[Mrs. BSR]

Mrs. Osaurus and I recently have had interesting occurrences separately at a dog park we frequent. I will post it tomorrow if anyone is interested.

I am interested.

 

[dickey moe]

One of the problems is that your senses are not very reliable. How many times have you been walking and seen something on the ground that you swear is a quarter or a dollar bill? But when you get close enough you realize it is part of a foil wrapper or just a scrap of green paper. How many times have you heard the lyrics to a song only to find out later that what you thought you heard wasn't even close?Magicians live and die by the fact that our brain tricks us into thinking we're seeing one thing when something else is actually happening. Add into this unreliability of our senses that you already believe in the supernatural and you're sold.Why do you think ultra-religious people see Jesus or the Virgin Mary in burnt toast or peeling wallpaper?

Or that Lovie Smith will lead the Bears to the playoffs!

 

[datonn]

No one has psychic powers. These "experiences" don't prove the existence of ghosts. Your inability to explain these phenomena is light years away from proving anything beyond a reasonable scientific explanation.

Sure. Thing is, when have I ever said that I was trying to prove anything...most notably to other anonymous individuals on the 'net who I've never met? Not trying to be a #### (Tasker's favorite line the past few hours, lol)...but all I've done is share some of my own personal stories and beliefs, then respond to people who are telling me I am full of "it." Sometimes with further clarification of my beliefs, sometimes trying to illustrate that folks' simple explanations don't apply in my particular circumstances. Folks can believe whatever they want to believe. No skin off my back either way.

Sheesh...pretty soon guys are gonna have me doing my best sho nuff impersonation...

 

[Paper Lions]

Maybe you should move.

 

[datonn]

Hold up. You believe that there are people that have psychic powers? Mediums?

Without a doubt I believe this...yes. I have to believe it. Either that, or my sister, neighbor/friend, daughters, most of my grandmother's siblings and I all belong in institutions. There are different levels, gifts and abilities, and there are a fair-share of frauds and/or people who are in it for attention or personal gain. That said, it's impossible to understand unless you've had some of those experiences happening in your own life.

Not trying to be a ####, but it's hard to take you seriously when you're saying things like this.

Just curious...but why? In my own experience, different people have different "senses" or "gifts." It's not something you roll out at parties like a card trick on command (at least not for me), and most of the time it happens, you weren't thinking about it. For me, I just walk into places and WHAM! I'm hit with "something." Smells that shouldn't be there...energy..."visions" of something that happened in that particular place, etc. I've only been spoken to by name once in my life (about more than I could handle), and most of the time I "see" things, it's not like a person strolling over to say hello. It's some thing/one crossing my field of vision in either human form or football-sized shapes of ??? floating in three-dimensional space. No "floating amebas" in your eyes...no flashes of light or dark spots after staring at something bright. Stuff that you could reach out and touch, only to have it vanish or fly through the floor or wall.

Can I PROVE it though beyond a shadow of a doubt?! I think I covered that in my last posting. Take it for what you will.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just curious...but why? In my own experience, different people have different "senses" or "gifts." It's not something you roll out at parties like a card trick on command (at least not for me), and most of the time it happens, you weren't thinking about it. For me, I just walk into places and WHAM! I'm hit with "something." Smells that shouldn't be there...energy..."visions" of something that happened in that particular place, etc. I've only been spoken to by name once in my life (about more than I could handle), and most of the time I "see" things, it's not like a person strolling over to say hello. It's some thing/one crossing my field of vision in either human form or football-sized shapes of ??? floating in three-dimensional space. No "floating amebas" in your eyes...no flashes of light or dark spots after staring at something bright. Stuff that you could reach out and touch, only to have it vanish or fly through the floor or wall.Can I PROVE it though beyond a shadow of a doubt?! I think I covered that in my last posting. Take it for what you will.

The problem, and again, I'm not trying to be a jerk, but this is just how I see it....the problem is that, at least on a subconscious level, you WANT to have this gift. I know some people who claim to have psychic powers, I've met and spoken with "psychics" - they all WANT to have their "gifts". It's not just a selfish thing or a moneymaking thing, most people genuinely want to help others and use their "gift" to make people feel better.Because of this, you're not being entirely objective in your analysis. I think that's what a lot of people are getting at here. You weren't able to explain it easily, so it's a spirit and you (and your family) are all inherently gifted.I think the supernatural/paranormal is a fascinating topic, which is why I've spent a lot of time with it. And I'm being honest when I say that the main problem with the psychics, or people with "gifts", is that the paranormal community, if you will, places a very high importance on being gifted. And when you're a hardcore believer, which you seem to be, would you rather be one of the gifted few, or would you rather take a long, hard, objective look at what you think is happening to you? that's just how I see it. I posted a lot in this thread when it was active awhile ago, and I'm pretty sure we had the same back-and-forth.

 

[Steve Tasker]

And I just want to add, again, that like you, I have had similar experiences. I have had multiple psychics tell me I'm gifted, I have a tremendous aura, all sorts of stuff like that. But if you sit back, and really, really, really, REALLY think about it....

I can't say that there's no such thing as spirits, just like I can't say whether or not there's a God. But IMO, it's a longshot. I consider myself fairly well-grounded in science, and the problem with the paranormal is that the science, if you can even call it that, is shoddy at best.

It comes down to a matter of belief. You seem to have it. A lot of people here don't. I don't really know either way.

 

[McJose]

The plural of 'personal anecdote' is not 'evidence'.

 

[honky kong]

Has anyone said "boo!" yet?

 

[datonn]

Good enough, S.T. I appreciate the very thoughtful replies. Long reply coming (sorry).

I've gone through a lot of stages in my life. My childhood, I didn't experience much, outside of a few very odd physical experiences in elementary school and then when I was about 14. Then when I got to college, I had one of the more scary, horrific experiences of my life. All I can attribute it to was a demonic presence. I wrote about it earlier in this thread, and it was absolutely awful. That messed me up...particularly after those same experiences "followed me around" for a few years after college (the "Highlander" types of experiences I wrote about before). Again though, no drugs, no alcohol, no dabbling with the occult, no medical issues, etc.

In my mid to late 20s, I didn't have many experiences, and it was fantastic. I had a powerful experience at the home of an employee of mine, which after I told her what I was seeing/feeling, she basically corroborated the facts of what I was telling her in high detail. Then I married my wife and moved into our first home in St. Paul, and we had "Frank" as a roommate. That's what we'd call "it" anyway. Seeing things out of the corner of our eyes...feeling a heavy, uncomfortable but non-threatening presence following us around, and the "silk handkerchief" story I wrote about before.

We had our oldest daughter and later moved to our current home. That's when a LOT started happening again. For me though, it's not that I want to have experiences. Having experiences, however, seems to make sense to me related to resolving some of the "unexplainable" in my life. What is interesting too is that historically, the stronger I am feeling in my faith (in God), the more that would happen. The less close to God I would feel, the less anything would happen. That is, until we moved into our current home. In our current home, stuff just happens. Winter, Summer. Happy days, sad days. Busy with the girls, home alone. God is real, God is a lie. Stuff was happening for years...and when we had my friend/neighbor over to the house without telling her much of anything about it, her words to me were essentially "Grand Central Station" (of activity).

I'd be just as happy having it go away or being prescribed a pill that would "fix" a broken part of my brain or ??? That'd be easy! I just think after 30+ years of experiences that it is one of those things that is, in fact, real...and the only thing to do to "heal" or deal with it is to not be as afraid of it, hit it head-on, and not live in denial. It was different when it was just me (and my wife could think her hubby was off his rocker without any animals being harmed in the making of this film, lol)...but now I've got two daughters experiencing a lot of the same things. Even my wife (skeptic) has experienced vivid footsteps above her where there is no longer any floor (now much less skeptical). As a parent, I don't want my kids to end up being in their late 30s feeling as confused and messed-up by all of this stuff as I've been most of my life. Whatever the answer is, I just want the truth. I often wish it were all a load of crap though...at least the scary stuff and/or the stuff I went through in/after college. That'd be SO much easier.

 

[McJose]

So we're not talking paranormal here. This is psychological.

 

[#1 Fan of Ana Ivanovic]

So we're not talking paranormal here. This is psychological.

Without any doubt whatsoever.

 

[jdoggydogg]

For me, I just walk into places and WHAM! I'm hit with "something." Smells that shouldn't be there...

Has your cat been missing for a few weeks? Check the attic.

 

[datonn]

That's the thing, McJose...I don't know. If I had to hazard a guess after 30+ years of O.J.T., I would say it is probably BOTH. Nobody can experience some of what I went through during/after college and not have it leave a little scar tissue on one's psyche...I will wholeheartedly admit that.

I just wish I could trade places with a few skeptics when these experiences occur. You guys are mistakenly making the assumption from hundreds/thousands of miles away that I assume every creak or bang is "obviously" a ghost ...and I think several of you are also making the false assumption that I go out of my way looking for these types of occurrences. Honestly, if anything happens, I am quickly running through my mental list of all the logical, tangible things it MUST be (Ockham's Razor), then working my way down the list until I either hit upon the cause or I run out of "things it must be." When I run out of logical things it might be, that's when I try and keep my mind open to the potential for supernatural activity.