Ghosts

[Spaced]

I know some otherwise very rational people who insist they've seen/heard ghosts and believe in them? I remain firmly unconvinced. Anyone else a 'believer'?

[Leela]

I don't rule out the possibility.

[Six Ways]

I see no reason to believe in the existence of ghosts etc...especially since I don't believe in a soul or anything like that.

Plus, I would say to the thing about things happening when there's been a death or something: How often do electrical disturbances happen and there hasn't been a death? How many other things that don't happen all the time occurred when there had been a death? People ignore it when co-incidences DON'T occur, and think it must mean something when coincidences do occur, despite the fact that actually, considering how often the events don't coincide, statistically it's completely unremarkable.

BTW, I haven't misread your post and I knowyou went with skepticism, I'm not saying you're stupid!

[Herr Lipp]

Luke, I'd put money on it that if I dropped you off in Pluckley (the most haunted village in Kent and England I think) in the middle of Screaming Woods at midnight, you would shit your pants!

I'm not saying there's ghosts, but the paranoia, sounds and sights would fuck you up.

[Herr Lipp]

http://www.london-walks.co.uk/50/haunted-kent-pluckley.shtml

I remember now, its the most haunted church in England supposedly. And spookily, the only one in the country that doesnt face East.

[Six Ways]

Luke, I'd put money on it that if I dropped you off in Pluckley (the most haunted village in Kent and England I think) in the middle of Screaming Woods at midnight, you would shit your pants!

I'm not saying there's ghosts, but the paranoia, sounds and sights would fuck you up.

Oh, most likely. I'm a total pussy when it comes down to it, but no ghosts! If ghosts appeared I'd explain them away as being logically impossible, and they'd realise they were wrong and stop existing.

[Herr Lipp]

ha, yeah.

I think "ghosts" are made up by people too silly to admit they're paranoid or scared of being on their own in some places. I can distinctly remember when I was younger (okay it was last week :cry: ) at home alone and started hearing what I swore was footsteps upstairs. I naturally armed myself with a kitchen knife and proceeded upstairs to confront..........NOTHING! :O the ghost must've jumped out tha window or something...

[Six Ways]

the ghost must've jumped out tha window or something...

With your VCR?

[Herr Lipp]

Yeah actually.

Must've been a black ghost.

*ba-doon-chink*

[kendra]

This is another one of those mysterious "power of the human mind" deals (same with people who miraculously get well after being prayed over - it HAPPENS and while I'm definitely not convinced it's a higher power, I am pretty damn sure it's got a lot to do with that lump of grey matter in our skulls).

[Herr Lipp]

Interesting. That post reminds me of the South Park where Cartman becomes a preacher.

[kendra]

This calls for an obligatory "Respect my authoritah!"

[Six Ways]

This is another one of those mysterious "power of the human mind" deals (same with people who miraculously get well after being prayed over - it HAPPENS and while I'm definitely not convinced it's a higher power, I am pretty damn sure it's got a lot to do with that lump of grey matter in our skulls).

Placebo effect, yo.

[Spaced]

This is another one of those mysterious "power of the human mind" deals (same with people who miraculously get well after being prayed over - it HAPPENS and while I'm definitely not convinced it's a higher power, I am pretty damn sure it's got a lot to do with that lump of grey matter in our skulls).

Yeah, this is probably pretty much it. It's always the case that you have to believe in the paranormal to experience it. Much like near death experiences and so on.

[ramblingrose]

I wouldn't say I believed in ghosts and such but I've seen things that nobody has been able to explain, and I'm not prone to hallucinating or anything.

[Nak Nak]

What things?

[kendra]

Not to get too mystical or anything, but we honestly don't know what the heck our minds are capable of doing. Maybe we DO have fruity auras and maybe we CAN bend spoons (just that most of us can't) . . . so why can't "ghosts" or such be created as well ? Harness some karmic energy and spin an image of your Grandpappy Earl whittlin' out on da front porch and tell everybody he was really there, when really you were just having a private screening of a memory movie. Or maybe sometimes it's powerful enough that other people experience it, too. Anyway that's getting stupider as I go along so I'll be off.

[Herr Lipp]

My 4 year old cousin once saw a man in his grans living room when he was on his own. He told my gran about it, and described our dead Uncle Billy, with lots of distinguishing features. For a 4 year old, thats too difficult for him to be "fucking" with us, so I imagine there was 'something' in that room.

Animals and children are supposed to be more perceptive to things like that.

[Kinbote]

I've read that the adrenal gland, or a similar one, I don't remember, contains DMT, and it's been speculated by some that some kind of fuckup might send some into the bloodstream, inspiring hallucinatory weirdness - ghosts, alien abductions, etc.

[ramblingrose]

What things?

I once saw a bloke in my kitchen, clear as anything. I was living in university flats at the time, by myself, and I got really excited cos I thought I was getting a flatmate but he just vanished. We lived in a house where stuff moved around by itself as well.

[Herr Lipp]

I've read that the adrenal gland

That's the gland they get adrenachrome from in Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas! and that caused hallucinations galore.

My friend was telling me how he thinks his work is haunted this weekend as it goes, he put forward a very good case.

[Kinbote]

That's the gland they get adrenachrome from in Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas! and that caused hallucinations galore

Except that there's no such thing as adrenachrome.

[Fab]

I remember now, its the most haunted church in England supposedly. And spookily, the only one in the country that doesnt face East.Ah, but the stories maybe (and probably) arose because it didn't face east.

Anyway, I don't believe in ghosts at all, but if I'm in the house alone I'll be terrified that I'll see or hear something scary (big old house in the middle of the countyside). I think I'm predisposed to believe in them, but logically know they don't exist. I love "true" ghost stories, even rather uneventful ones like Ciona's, but they scare the shit out of me.

[Herr Lipp]

Except that there's no such thing as adrenachrome.

.... well thanks for pissing on my party, you punk.

Frank: probably. yeah I'm the same I was getting scared when my friend was telling me about how he has to turn the lights off when he closes up his restaurants before he leaves, and as he walks across the floor sometimes he hears trainers squeaking on the floor behind him and shit. Really strange.

[Fab]

I halucinated stuff twice when I was a kid, at the time I thought they were ghosts but now I think about it it was so ridiculous that they'd have been rather crap ghosts.

[Herr Lipp]

I've just remembered pretty randomly that I stole £2 from a church collection box when I was about 7. What a cunt, I better go pay them back soon.

[Fab]

I used to read ghost books when I was little and you'd be shocked to discover that this picture is one of the most famous "ghost" photos around:
http://www.minnesotaghosts.com/services/page_images/classic/lg/hooded_monk_lg.jpg
Even as an 8 year old I could tell that that was some guy with a sheet over his face with eye holes cut out, but around halloween there was an episode of The Wright Stuff or This Morning and some guy was on it talking about ghosts and showing that picture.

[Herr Lipp]

I dont know shit about photography, but I know how to make those sorts of faux-ghost pics. deary deary me.

[ramblingrose]

Some houses I can't settle in, no reasons whatsoever. I like my house now, even though it's old and creaky, I'll even go in the cellar at night when there's nobody in but me.

[ramblingrose]

I used to read ghost books when I was little and you'd be shocked to discover that this picture is one of the most famous "ghost" photos around:
http://www.minnesotaghosts.com/services/page_images/classic/lg/hooded_monk_lg.jpg
Even as an 8 year old I could tell that that was some guy with a sheet over his face with eye holes cut out, but around halloween there was an episode of The Wright Stuff or This Morning and some guy was on it talking about ghosts and showing that picture.

Did you have the "Usborne Book Of Ghosts"? Alice's mum confiscated that because we were giving ourselves nightmares about Borley Rectory. I love ghost stories too, especially "real" ones. Pontefract is full of them. My ex and his friend heard the sound of hundreds of horses and people shouting in the middle of the night, and apparently if you stay in the house next to the castle you'll be kept awake all night by that sort of thing.

[ramblingrose]

FRANK!!! have you ever had any strange experiences on Towton Moor?

[Fab]

Oh man, Borely Rectory! it was the most haunted building in England until it burned down and they found a nun or something, that's all I remember of that. I has so many ghost books I don't remember what I had, I remember having a fun-fax type thing though.

And I've never heard of or been to Towton Moor.

[ramblingrose]

lol at funfax.
Towton Moor is not too far from you, it was the site of an extremely bloody battle during the war of the Roses (i think). They say the Cock Beck ran red with blood and tens of thousands killed in a day, and shitloads of people reckon they've seen things up there.

[Fab]

heh, you said cock.

[ramblingrose]

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

What I can tell you is that it's very eerie and quiet up there, I don't like it.

[ramblingrose]

heh, you said cock.

I know, I laughed.

[ramblingrose]

http://www.geocities.com/neons2000/towton.html

This is a crap example but still.
Have you ever been on a ghost tour of York? They're great!

[Fab]

I have, yeah, it was much fun. I went on this one: http://www.ghosthunt.co.uk/ I went on one in Nottingham too, that was more ghost orientated, the York one was just fun.

[ramblingrose]

I went on one in Edinburgh where they shut you in a mausoleum, that was fun but sadly nobody had a major freakout. I really want to go on some of the London ones, and I want to go on the Pontefract one. Is there a Leeds one?

[Fab]

I hope so, but I doubt it. Lawnswood is meant to be amazingly haunted, or at least the old building was, I don't know if the ghosts migrated or anything. Is the Pontefract ghost walk supposed to be good?

[ramblingrose]

Edinburgh one
http://www.blackhart.uk.com/cod/tours.html

Afterwards it transpired Ruth and I had both contemplated screaming to try and scare the other people, but had both been too embarrassed to do it.

[ramblingrose]

I hope so, but I doubt it. Lawnswood is meant to be amazingly haunted, or at least the old building was, I don't know if the ghosts migrated or anything. Is the Pontefract ghost walk supposed to be good?

I love Lawnswood cemetary, particularly the disproportionate Edwardian lady in the doorway. My nanna and grandad's mortal remains are scattered there too.
I don't know if the Ponte ghost tour is any good, but there are so many stories it should be. I could do one actually, I know enough locations and stories.

[Fab]

oooh, the Edinburgh one sounds scary, with all the talk of people finding scratches on themselves afterwards.

[ramblingrose]

We had a good check in the pub toilets afterwards but couldn't see anything, when we got back to the hotel Ruth noticed that I had loads of bruises on my back and scratches on my arms but I'm so accident-prone we decided they weren't anything exciting. Though the next morning we had matching inner-thigh bruises.

[ramblingrose]

ps we got the book afterwards, if we'd read it first I think we'd have been really scared. Ace marketing. I want to set up a Leeds ghost tour!

[Fab]

Oh my, that is a bit creepy, even if you are accident prone it's a bit of a coincidence. maybe they hypnotise you and go round punching everyone. I can't read that page anymore, I'll have nightmares.

[ramblingrose]

They don't, but you'd only need one suggestible person to set everyone else off. There were a couple of people crying but nobody fainted or anything. We did both feel a bit weird but we think that was because we were desperate not to freak out and look like idiots, so we got scared of getting scared if you see what I mean. The book is pretty scary though, I could only read it when there was somebody in.

[revgoozen]

ghosts are spooky.

[LOST_kitty_k]

I believe in them. The first time I realized I did was when I was pretty young. My parents had some friends who lived in an old house that had been part of a military fort in the 1800s (it's called Fort Davis if anyone's interested, in TX) and they left us alone there one night. I was just happy because we got to be there without supervision and I got to wander through someone else's house and check things out. I didn't see anything but I definatlely felt someone there watching and following me and I couldn't sit still. I had to walk all over the house and I felt that I needed to go to the basement but it was locked. Not thinking much of it I told my parents that I felt weird in that house on the way home and that's when they're like "oh yeah that place is haunted". Apparently there are a few soldiers that are seen and heard wandering the place, including the black soldier from the fort who was supposed to be the first black graduate from West Point.

The same thing happened at another lady's house in the same town. My Mom cleans her place and the woman's entire family lived there since the 1800s. It was featured in a movie called Dancer, Texas which actually takes place in Fort Davis. Anyway, I got the same thing there but without the whole you must go to a specific place urge. There were also massive cold spots with distinct points of beginning and ending.

My current home is haunted. For the first time I've seen stuff. I've seen a man upstairs in the loft, tall with dark hair and a beard. I've seen lights moving around in the house and the cats saw them as well. Things move on their own. The best example was the window shade moving slowly halfway up the window and stopping. I've heard male voices when I was the only person home and occasionally whistling. It's not fuzzy and distant like people outside, it's right there in the room. I've had doors close on their own, and things turn themselves off and on. Sometimes the house smells like cigarette smoke, neither of us smoke. Previous occupants did, I found a pack of rolling papers in the wall from the 20's. These things don't happen because I'm afraid to be alone in my own home. I don't even think about it most of the time and it doesn't bother me, it's just interesting. I don't think most people believe me but I don't care because I know and that's all that matters to me.

I think that's the longest post I've ever made.

[ramblingrose]

Your house sounds brilliant!

[Fab]

I also had a Spy fun-fax, and all the little books with perferated edges you put in it. I hope I still have it somewhere.

[ramblingrose]

My friend's little brother was obsessed with funfax, he used to think up elaborate games where he was a diplomat or something and I was his secretary, they all used to end up with us dancing to Wild Honey by the Beach Boys.

[wasp in a jar]

i dunno why i have this pic saved really. i think someone sent it to me.

on the subject of ghosts, i like to think they do exist, perhaps if nothing else, then on a comfort level. my aunt (who's never believed in ghosts) is adamant that she saw her father at his funeral, while my mother (who does believe in ghosts) is certain that she still feels her mother's and my father's presence. i sometimes feel my father's presence, but i put that down to missing him and wistful thinking more than anything else.

i'd love to do a "most haunted" walk one day and scare myself silly.

[Herr Lipp]

Pluckley residents are apparently up in arms about teh number of people that come to the village looking for ghosts. My friends drove there one time and someone shouted "GO HOME!" at them. Amusing.

[Under Burning Stars]

Brookwood cemetary is a military burial ground near to me. I think it's the second largest cemetary in the world. I've been round it and it is truly extensive, covering a huge area. I keep thinking about heading down there with a recording device to see if i can catch some EVP's (Electronic Voice Phenomena, check google and scare yourself) :yes:

[ramblingrose]

Cemetaries and graveyards are only meant to have one ghost, if they're consecrated. Apparently the first person to be buried there has to be the guardian of all the other dead souls for all eternity. Sounds like a bit of a drag to me.

My mum is into lots of oddball stuff and she and her friends do spiritual healing and stuff on each other every Thursday. Her friend has seen both my grandmothers and described them in minute detail. Weird.

[Under Burning Stars]

Spititual healing can really work with positive intentions. :yes:

[Six Ways]

Spititual healing can really work with positive intentions. :yes:

Yeah, but not cos of any spiritual stuff, and not if you don't believe in it.

[kendra]

I've been trying to find a gentle way to break that to my dad. He keeps asking me to come for healing prayer and I'm like "MAN IT DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST TIME" and usually the people feel *something*. I'm just not good enough at unconscious self-manipulation. If I could make my pancreas work I would have done so by now!