Ghost Stories

[absenter]

Don't know about you, but I get into conversations with people about if they have personal experiences with the departed. It can be awkward fer sure as some folks will view the suggestion that our perceptions of reality are incomplete with a great deal of skepticism, sometimes ridicule; I normally wait until the subject is breached before I start in. However, the conversations are always full with opinion and first hand experience because people often have stories they're waiting to tell.

The evidence is pretty overwhelming. Across cultures and continents the phenomenon of "haunting", reports of insubstantial visitors, and in recent history even photos, video and audio recordings continually creep up. Though some of these accounts are surely explainable in a conventional way (the worst being that they are intentionally fabricated) some are authentically unexplainable and I think that at the very least, not unlike the UFO phenomenon, something is going on that we don't yet have the scientific vocabulary to immediately rationalize.

Gettysburg, the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall, Boo Berry cereal, it's everywhere. Even the White House is supposedly haunted by Honest Abe. Regardless, I think its people's own very personal stories which are often the most interesting and fun (I have one or two of my own, but want to hear from you all before I chime in), if for no better reason than that they spark the discussion. For instance, I know that one of our fellow boarders, the bovine avatared Hellmistress, lives in a castle and I would bet dollars to doughnuts that she probably has a story to tell. That being the case, I would ask that those who wish to post please keep in mind that I'm actually very serious about this and want to hear about people's authentic, first-hand experiences and because some find it dificult to come forward with these kind of stories I want the !spirit! of this thread to remain hospitable to those who wish to share. Cynics are invited to remain cynical and contribute, even debunk if they really have the grounds, but lets try to keep this a place where people can speak out and know that they'll be taken seriously.

With that said, I'll offer a thought just to get people thinking. Why do apparitions sometimes have clothes? Clothes don't die. It would suggest to me that either the manifestation of these particular "ghosts" has something to do with a residual consciousness (i.e. the way someone sees themselves) sticking around after death or some aberration or unknown phonomenon of Time with a capital T (i.e. some kind of bizarre fourth dimensional existence). (hope the far-out-ness of this comment shows you why I want people to feel they can be taken seriously)

I'm all ears.

[parrish]

I don't believe that ghosts are the spirits or energy of anything. I do agree that, since they are spotted all across the globe, that it can't be just people seeing things.

The best theory I have read is that they are environmental abnormalities that are somehow triggered to replay. This is more or less explained by the stone tape theory (http://www.iopr.org.uk/4832/66801.html). There is also a chapter in "Weird Science" by Michael White that talks about what ghosts are.

This would explain why they are still dressed in the clothing of the period they lived in and don't usually react to their surroundings (i.e. they don't jump if a loud sound is made).

[Vakanai]

Do I beleive in ghosts/spirits? Yes, I do. Do I believe in most ghost sightings? Heck no. Why the discrepency? If you were a spirit and had all the universe to explore, would you stick around this rock? Just my thoughts.

[Otto66]

Long ago, I started a thread about what scared people and go some
interesting replies. Hope this thread does just as well.

Oh, and although I've heard stories and read accounts of hauntings
I've never had the experience myself. It's not that I don't believe,
just never had it happen.

[Vakanai]

Wait a sec...absenter is now a Junior Member and I'm still a New Member? The internet gods are not kind at all...maybe I should post more...

[parrish]

Wait a sec...absenter is now a Junior Member and I'm still a New Member? The internet gods are not kind at all...maybe I should post more...

Member status is based on post count. I think junior status starts at 100 posts..or you could always customize it.

[Catlin]

I believe in ghosts, as I have experienced several hauntings. I also believe that everyone had psychic ability. I have become so sensitive that I sometimes pick up on the thoughts and emotions of strangers. A few days ago I got hit in the gut with pain as I felt some poor guy get dumped by his fiancee, ouch! I also cannot shake hands anymore without picking up something from that person, no matter how brief.

I believe that we all leave psychic impressions on the earth, and a ghost is simply a very very strong psychic impression left by the departed. We see them as they saw themselves. Thoughts are very very powerful things and its no surprise that they can be so lasting in a semi-corporeal form.

[absenter]

The best theory I have read is that they are environmental abnormalities that are somehow triggered to replay. This is more or less explained by the stone tape theory (http://www.iopr.org.uk/4832/66801.html).

I've never heard it called that, but the stone tape theory seems somewhat nebulous, like a jumble of a coulple of ideas. Does it mean that the stored "data" is broadcast like a movie on a screen or in the mind of the viewer? What triggers the broadcast? Why do some events get recorded and others not, because of the environment in which an event takes place or because of the level of mental disturbance or distress? I'll have to check it out.

vakanai: If the above theory is closer to the explanation of the phenomena that people see than there wouldn't be something with the volition to explore. And if you haven't had lunch yet, may I suggest a WHAmburger and french cries.:D Just kidding, thanks for your input. Serious. Serious.

otto: Think i remember that thread and it was definitely a gooder. thanks for the encouragement. I would say that its not something you could go looking for, but some do (not necessarily sensitives) and witness things.

naiad: Whether these events represent "psychic impressions", I can't verify either way, but they certainly affect the psyches of those who witness them. The explanation may be less etherial than most believe it to be. Regardless, please share your haunting experiences!

Heres a story for ya. My apartment is in an old building. Lots of noises from the heat, the neighbors, the floors, but one day something happened that really freaked me out. The toilet flushed on its own.

My toilet has no upper tank (which luckily means no upper deckers, serious, serious!), but flushes by way of a lever connected to a pipe. Me and the GF would hear the flush often and eventually ended up taking watch to see if the lever moved. It was terrifying. When you knew no one was in the apartment and all of the sudden the toilet flushes...I jumped on more than one occasion.

We never saw the lever move, though the toilet did flush on numerous occasions in front of us. The super fixed the toilet after a while and we chalked it up to overactive plumbing, but the jury is still out on whether theres another roomate in the apartment. I've seen her once, but that's another story.

Please continue to ruminate on what may cause these events, but if people have first-hand accounts, I would love to hear them.:)

[Vakanai]

Personally, I beleive in the spirit theory of ghosts, but I also beleive that some sightings are psychic impressions. Whether the soul goes on or its some kind of delusion, or just a reality warp, etc. has been going on since time immemorial. However I think its best explained as this, if there is a afterlife, yay for you, and if not, least you won't have any complaints then either. Not a direct quote, but basically shows what my mom said.

[parrish]

Does it mean that the stored "data" is broadcast like a movie on a screen or in the mind of the viewer?

Yes. The tape part of the theory was in reference to recording tape. It is broadcasts in the environment when something triggers it.


What triggers the broadcast? Why do some events get recorded and others not, because of the environment in which an event takes place or because of the level of mental disturbance or distress?

I've heard that the environment has to be in certain conditions and its also been suggested that brain waves are involved.

Obviously its a pretty loose theory. I think it originated in the 1970s.

[Tad]

I also cannot shake hands anymore without picking up something from that person, no matter how brief.

That's why mom always told you to wash your hands! Especially in flu season. ;)

[hellboyone]

I don't believe in ghosts (or psychics or mediums or the boogie man or Santa Claus...well, the last one I'm still not sure about ;) ). But I sure love ghost stories and I love trying to figure out the rational explanation behind anyone's ghostly experiences.

[Vakanai]

I don't believe in ghosts (or psychics or mediums or the boogie man or Santa Claus...well, the last one I'm still not sure about ;) ). But I sure love ghost stories and I love trying to figure out the rational explanation behind anyone's ghostly experiences.

Honestly, the rational explanation is often the dullest and least entertaining of all explanations. I personally have never accepted the rational explanation, espcially if I saw all the facts. But then, my reality is what I make of it. Currently I'm living in a world of chaos, intrigue, and cheeseburgers. And an amazing lack of gravity. Go Vakanai go!

[parrish]

Honestly, the rational explanation is often the dullest and least entertaining of all explanations. I personally have never accepted the rational explanation, espcially if I saw all the facts. But then, my reality is what I make of it. Currently I'm living in a world of chaos, intrigue, and cheeseburgers. And an amazing lack of gravity. Go Vakanai go!

I think that's one of the reasons why the rational explanations don't get as much attention. They don't sell as well if there is no fear behind it.

[6are54]

I just stay open minded about pretty much everything. But I like the idea of ghosts and spirits. Although, I don't like the idea of one's poor soul forever wondering the earth after death, tormented and enchained. That would suck.
I always say: the only thing definitive in life is that nothing's definitive.

[hellboyone]

Honestly, the rational explanation is often the dullest and least entertaining of all explanations. I personally have never accepted the rational explanation, espcially if I saw all the facts. But then, my reality is what I make of it. Currently I'm living in a world of chaos, intrigue, and cheeseburgers. And an amazing lack of gravity. Go Vakanai go!

Yeah...the rational explanations are no fun. (Except for when it's something scientific. Science = cool.) I think that's why so many people don't accept them. What the hell is more fun? Seeing the ghost of Abraham Lincoln or finding out that you have mental illness? :)

[Myron L]

I have deinitely had many experiences that are unexplainable and would lend themselves to paranormal phenomenon. Additionally, my family has always had a tendencies to be, for lack of a better term, psi-sensitive. My mother often was plagued by premonitions and I say plagued because it nearly always was foreshadowing someone's death. Ironically, though, I didn't sense it when she passed herself.
I often get caught in weird synchronicity loops where that all happen together. Eerie stuff.
I don't disagree with he residual energies being trapped in an inanimate object and being "re-played"...bu also, ponder for a moment, that all carbon-based life forms are "powered" by ElectroMagnetic Energy and based on Einstein's (?) theories neither Matter nor Energy can be created or destroyed, only shifted or changed in some way...so where does a person's life-force go when they "die" ? Could it be force of will that forces a person to remain in a residual form ? Hmmm...

[Neil Hill]

I definitely believe in spirits who choose to continue here on earth once their physical bodies have literally "given up the ghost" (sorry, couldn't help it). As to psychic phenomenon, astral projection, psychometry, etc. al., let's just say that I'm immediately skeptical until I get a good feel for whether or not something smells like bulls**t. If the person (if it's someone I'm talking to in person) seems genuine and much of what they say lines up with what I've studied and read about on my own, their theories and stories have much more credence. I'm just naturally curious about all things paranormal anyway, so I'm an easy sell. However, it does pay to be skeptical.

Like Rick said though, I love ghost stories and could read or listen to them all day long.

[6are54]

While we're one THESE subjects, check this out:

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


I like that stuff, actually, on another note, my favorite scientist is Tesla and I'm surprised Mike hasn't done something about him yet.

[Otto66]

...so where does a person's life-force go when they "die" ?
Well, grammy went to Plattsburgh, NY.
But she may have been the exception.:D

Tesla, while not a myth, wasn't as much the scientist as he's
been romanticized to be.

[Myron L]

Well, grammy went to Plattsburgh, NY.
But she may have been the exception.:D

Tesla, while not a myth, wasn't as much the scientist as he's
been romanticized to be.

lmao...

instead of those stupid "Ricola" cough drop commercials..."NIKOLA"
Tesla was one of my fav hair bands (lol)

[Otto66]

But, "Nikola" would NOT be Edison's Medicine.

[Myron L]

But, "Nikola" would NOT be Edison's Medicine.

Could "Nikola" be a "Cowboy for The Modern Day ?"

[absenter]

Wow. A lot to respond to.

Something that has always bothered me is why there are not more reports of ghost-animals or, and this is going to sound really silly, ghost-dinosaurs/extinct animals. For that matter, why no ghost trees? Though tales of shades and fully recognizable people show up regularly, the same isn't true for other living things. Though they die, had a "life force", there are far fewer accounts (if anyone has seen dinosaur ghosts nows yer chance to spill it) of this kind. So what gives?

Long after the super fixed my toilet, I had an experience that was much less easy for me to explain away. I woke up at night, in my room unable to move. My room was most definitely my room and not a dreamtime approximation of my room. I was seeing, I was awake, but I couldn't talk and couldn't lift my head. As I became increasingly aware of my situation I was overwhelmed by a feeling of terror and could hear myself whimpering, trying to cry out, afraid of the fact that I couldn't move more than anything else. The GF slept next to me and would not wake. I remember desperately trying to rouse her, thus the pitiful whimpering, but it didn't work. One thing I could do was look about and in a corner of the room, where the door is, stood what appeared to me like the featureless shadow of a young girl. I freaked. And as if just by remarking it I had frightened the...whatever, it turned and ran straight through the door, which was closed.

I was awake for a short time after this without regaining control over my body and eventually I must have fallen back asleep because I woke up the next morning and immediately related the story to the GF. I've heard of people experiencing similar symptoms to my own and reporting another presence in the room which they attribute to the "usual suspects". There is in fact a fair amount of historical precedent for these reports which have even made thier way into the culture at large. I remember thinking of this painting that morning:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/absenter/fuseli_nightmare.jpg

There is most likely a rational, physiological explanation for this, but it's not that I have a mental illness. Comments like that make people very wary of even speaking about experiences like this, because they're quite sure of what they've seen or heard, are maybe even ready to court the idea that the event has a mundane explanation (are often looking for this), but fear the thoughtless condemnation of an unsympathetic mob.

I don't know what happened that night, though I have a few ideas and am willing to accept that there might be nothing "paranormal" about it, but the fear that overtook me is almost eclipsed by the worry of speaking out about it and being viewed as a loon. I hope those who have a story to tell are not swayed by the sentiment of people who are unwilling to listen with an open heart and mind.

And say what you want about Tesla, but he gave us alternating current. What have you done for me lately?:)

[Otto66]

What have you done for me lately?
Working on changes to the Laws of Physics.
But, without funding, its slow going.;)

[lerochelle]

Alright, this may sound crazy, but then again we could say the same thing about half the stories on here... no condenation intended.

I have two stories, but I will leave the second for another night. I have allways had "feelings" about situations and people, and I thankfully am seeing this "gift" emerging in my almost three-year-old daughter. My parents can have converstions from accross the room without speaking a word until one of them suddenly states, "I don't think it's like that at all." or something like that. I have been able to do something like that when I was ina car with them and the windows were down. I was getting cold and thinking about asking my mother to roll her's up when she just did. Mayhaps coincidence.

My ex husband liked to drive 75MPH around a curve meant for 50 at night on the inside of the curve. One night I got this heavy feeling in my stomache and looked at my then six-month-old daughter in her car seat and got a flash picture of her bloody and lifeless. I imediatly told my then husband to slow down and NOT to take the inside curve. I guess it was something in my voice when I said it, but he did as I asked. About halfway through the bend, we passed a big black F-150 truck without his headlights on. We didn't see it until it was right next to us.

A few months later, this "gift" warned me again on this road, but this time, my then husband didn't listen. We hit some black ice, went off the road, and into a field, back into the ditch up towards the road, then back into the ditch.
I was the only one hurt. The doctore said that between going the 75 MPH and hitting the ditch twice, one of my vertebrae in my middle back was crushed.

*sigh*

But that was not the story I was going to tell.

My grandmother died when I was eight years old. My grandfather died one year, one month, and one day, later. We moved into thier house three months later so my dad could run the hobby shop connected to the property.
I'm not exactly sure how long after we moved in that this happened, but it had to be within three months of that... hmmm... lots of threes there.

I was having a nightmare and awoke to someone gently brushing my hair away from my face. I sensed, rather than heard a woman's voice saying that it was alright. I woke completely and looked around, my gaze finally resting on the side of the bed I was facing. A large dent was in the mattress as if something or someone was sitting on the edge of my bed. Now, I'm nine years old at least since my b-day is in November. I WATCHED and HEARD the dent in the bed rise back up to normal level. I knew it was my grandmother. SHe would allways brush my hair away from my face when I was upset. I knew she had to go. Don't know how I knew these things, but I did.
I simply said "I love you grama, Bye." and felt as if the air around me grew lighter, as if the world itself sighed with relief of the weight of her as she left this world and went on to the next.
I rolled over and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I told my parents what had happened.
They both told me I was dreaming. I crept back to the stairs and sulked, listening to thier conversation. My mother said, "If she was dreaming, then I had the same dream last night."
My dad just sighed, "Yeah, me too."
***
Society tells us, as my mother did, that those of us with "gifts" should hide them and never tell anyone about them. I refused to listen to society or conform to it's norms.
That is what made me a "Freak" at school. Was it wrong for me to tell Jeremy not to walk his dog that day? (I had never seen his dog. Didn't even know he had one until that day I passed him in the hallway.) I don't think so. If he had listened to me, then maybe his dog wouldn't have jumped in front of traffic and gotten killed.
I am never going to hide my "gifts" and I am going to teach my daughter to use hers.

I had been comming to pick up my daughter at five every day for three weeks staright. All that time, she had been going to the daycare lady and telling her that "mommy is going to be here soon" a few minutes before five. The lady chaulked it up to internal clock and rythem. Then one day, Cat, my daughter, told her that I was going to be there soon at two O'clock. The lady brushed her off telling her it was going to be a few more hours before I came to get her. Cat was apparently ademant (can't spell).
Ten minutes later, I walked in the door. I had gotten off work early.
The lady imediatly told me what had been going on the past few weeks and what had happened that day.
Mother-Daughter bond? ESP? I don't know. But I do know this.
I am not going to suppress it in her, EVER. I will teach her to hide it, but to use it as well.

There are things in this world that we cannot even hope or dream of explaining. Some people seek these things out, like a few of my friends did when they dragged me along to some abandoned houses looking for ghosts. Most of them looked normal, scary in the dark, but normal. But one, I refused to go inside. They just could not get me to leave the car. Not even to relieve myself. That house, *shudder* it wasn't just dark, it was DARK. My gut told me to leave. My friends went inside anyway. As soon as they went inside, the house seemed to loom up in front of me. A few minutes later, my friends returned, slightly shaken, but unscathed.
Or so we thought.
In the past nine years since then, out of the five that went inside, TWO are still alive. Bad luck that.

And here I was only going to tell one expierience of mine tonight. And I haven't even told you guys about my Grandfather and the flying tools. LOL

Oh well, I think that's enough for tonight.

Sleep well.

And if you do wake up in the middle of the night and see someone in your room that doesn't belong there, don't pray, they don't like that. Just tell them to tell you what they need, or to go away. Ignore them, usually, they will ignore you as well.

[hellboyone]

Long after the super fixed my toilet, I had an experience that was much less easy for me to explain away. I woke up at night, in my room unable to move. My room was most definitely my room and not a dreamtime approximation of my room. I was seeing, I was awake, but I couldn't talk and couldn't lift my head. As I became increasingly aware of my situation I was overwhelmed by a feeling of terror and could hear myself whimpering, trying to cry out, afraid of the fact that I couldn't move more than anything else. The GF slept next to me and would not wake. I remember desperately trying to rouse her, thus the pitiful whimpering, but it didn't work. One thing I could do was look about and in a corner of the room, where the door is, stood what appeared to me like the featureless shadow of a young girl. I freaked. And as if just by remarking it I had frightened the...whatever, it turned and ran straight through the door, which was closed.

I was awake for a short time after this without regaining control over my body and eventually I must have fallen back asleep because I woke up the next morning and immediately related the story to the GF. I've heard of people experiencing similar symptoms to my own and reporting another presence in the room which they attribute to the "usual suspects". There is in fact a fair amount of historical precedent for these reports which have even made thier way into the culture at large. I remember thinking of this painting that morning:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/absenter/fuseli_nightmare.jpg

There is most likely a rational, physiological explanation for this, but it's not that I have a mental illness. Comments like that make people very wary of even speaking about experiences like this, because they're quite sure of what they've seen or heard, are maybe even ready to court the idea that the event has a mundane explanation (are often looking for this), but fear the thoughtless condemnation of an unsympathetic mob.

I don't know what happened that night, though I have a few ideas and am willing to accept that there might be nothing "paranormal" about it, but the fear that overtook me is almost eclipsed by the worry of speaking out about it and being viewed as a loon. I hope those who have a story to tell are not swayed by the sentiment of people who are unwilling to listen with an open heart and mind.



I believe you experienced a somewhat uncommon sleep disorder known as "sleep paralysis" where you're in weird void between awake and asleep. (You might have also heard it called "night terrors".) Under this condition, people have seen ghosts, aliens, and all kinds of things. I experienced this same thing when I was a teenager, seeing little girl ghosts. I thought they were hauntings for years. And then I read some books on sleep disorders and that pretty much explained it.

I still experience it to this day, sometimes several times a night. Although I don't see things anymore (probably because I know what it is now).

Coincidentally, the Wikipedia entry on this has the same painting you posted:

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

[absenter]

I believe you experienced a somewhat uncommon sleep disorder known as "sleep paralysis" where you're in weird void between awake and asleep. (You might have also heard it called "night terrors".) Under this condition, people have seen ghosts, aliens, and all kinds of things. I experienced this same thing when I was a teenager, seeing little girl ghosts. I thought they were hauntings for years.

I tend to believe that this is what happened. As I said, I've heard of this condition (memorably when I first learned about the Fuseli painting), but didn't know that there was any clinical diagnosis for it. Interesting how similar are the visions people have. Its easy to see how without the framework of neuroscience and modern techniques of brain mapping, people would invent names and stories for what they were seeing.

For me, the whole event was so vivid and the impulse to create some kind of mythology for what happened (i.e. a young girl who had died in the apartment) was very strong, even though I leaned towards the explanation you suggest. I must admit however, that I'm still very curious as to why images of walking shadows/feeling of 'presence'? I didn't feel that what was in the room with me was necessarily malignant, but I was frightened by it none-the-less, combined with the shock of not being able to move my body. Why is the one constant among all these common accounts, the feeling that another being is in the room with you? I'd like to hear more about your own expereinces if you're comfortable sharing them. Thanks for the heads-up.

L: Your story is not unsimilar to descriptions in the link provided by hb1, particularly regarding the "absent sitter". Though, if your mother and father both had the same dream...

Otto: Could you please expedite this process? I really would like to be on vacation and a little time travel would really help. Maybe we could get creative with funding. I mean, if we can buy a castle in Romania, then surely we could think up some way of bending time and space on a limited budget.

[parrish]

http://theshadowlands.net/places/

I posted that link a little while back for anyone interested in local ghost legends.

[Eric Lofgren]

I don't believe that ghosts are the spirits or energy of anything. I do agree that, since they are spotted all across the globe, that it can't be just people seeing things.

While I have no strong convictions either way, I wonder if the prevalence of manifestations around the globe and through time are really almost like a clue to the inherent psyche of homo sapiens regarding things unseen and incomprehnesible . I recall reading about one theory that suggested that there might be a God part of the brain. In other words, the human brain is hard wired to create a belief in a spiritual, or unseen realm. Could be that spirits or ghosts might be an extension of that.

The best theory I have read is that they are environmental abnormalities that are somehow triggered to replay. This is more or less explained by the stone tape theory (http://www.iopr.org.uk/4832/66801.html). There is also a chapter in "Weird Science" by Michael White that talks about what ghosts are.

I've often wondered about this myself. How the environment surrounding certain areas picks up the activity of certain events and stores them, replaying them over time. As an extension of that perhaps it might take the brains of certain individuals to 'read' of hear those replays. That could explain why not everyone sees or feels ghosts.

[6are54]

Tesla, while not a myth, wasn't as much the scientist as he's been romanticized to be.

Oooooooooooooo! You disin' ma man Niki Telsa!?! I challenge you to a dual!!!
;)

1. Never said he was a myth, but his work sure was weird - (awesome).
Hey, I didn't ask they make the Prestige. But they made it, OK!!! :mad:

2. Romanticizing things is a natural and essential part of history, folklore and human nature. Without it, life is mundane limbo.

[6are54]

Wow. A lot to respond to.

Something that has always bothered me is why there are not more reports of ghost-animals or, and this is going to sound really silly, ghost-dinosaurs/extinct animals. For that matter, why no ghost trees?

Hmmm, maybe, just maybe, it's because we don't really pay attention to animals or plants EVER, even when they are alive. We eat them, use them to fill voids (pets). We chop them down and pollute them. But we don't listen to them, we think them inferior and dumb. For us to manipulate as we please, as though that's all they are on earth for. So why would they stick around once they are free from all that.

(ok ppl, don't freak out on me now - it's just an opinion)

[parrish]

2. Romanticizing things is a natural and essential part of history, folklore and human nature. Without it, life is mundane limbo.

Interestingly put. I think this is can bring us right back to ghosts. It seems like some people who say they have communicated with ghosts (some not all) want the communication so much and so their minds trick them into thinking they have. If they just saw something in the environment that was unusual, but not threatening, it would be pretty mundane.

[Vakanai]

Since absenter brought it up, my thoughts on time travel. Firstly, the laws of physics are just fine for possibility time travel. I won't go into details on all the theories on how it could be done(wikipedia probably lists them though), but my thought on what would happen if one did somehow mess with time. The traditional view is what I like to call the 'Back to the Future' view, where if you stopped your parents from falling in love you won't be born and the universe continues on. Another theory states if you killed your grandfather, you won't be born, yet the you that did the killing will still exist. A variation on that is the universe splits in two, one where you weren't born and one where you were. Now for my view. If you were to do something paradoxial, the universe would try the splitting in two tactic, and we would all be doomed. Energy, matter, and space can neither be created nor destroyed, so how could one universe create another? There isn't enough stuff for a parallel universe to form everytime someone kills their old man. Boring I know, but every once in a while my inner scientist bonks me on the head and takes over. Not that it matters, but since this is a sort of paranormal thread, I have seen two ufo's. But I still think they are all just top secret government aircraft.

[6are54]

Interestingly put. I think this is can bring us right back to ghosts. It seems like some people who say they have communicated with ghosts (some not all) want the communication so much and so their minds trick them into thinking they have. If they just saw something in the environment that was unusual, but not threatening, it would be pretty mundane.

Yeah, there's that. But I do believe some beings are more sensitive to phenomenon (if phenomena exist) just as some beings possess a higher capability of perception, whether it be simple lucidity or complex emotional intelligence (which one could argue are really the same thing).

Also, there's the whole Law of attraction theory, which simply put, means that if you want to see, it will be so.
“That which is like unto itself is drawn" -Esther hicks
You're reality is what you make of it, you get what you put your energy and focus on, whether wanted or unwanted.
Whatever you want wants you, what you sow, you reap.
Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have.

[absenter]

Anything that you can imagine is yours to be or do or have.

I want the Ghostbustersmobile.

Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut seriously, I want the Ghostbustersmobile.

REALLY SERIOUS NOW, theres something about what you're saying, 'what you want, wants you', that i really like. Though I'm sure you're going to have some detractors, I think that when authentically 'wanted', not just wished for but actively persued, there is a reflexive and inverse action, in a very real way, that also rushes towards you. Or at least it can sometimes feel that way. Just like it can sometimes feel like little dead girls are waking me up in the night and running through closed doors.:rolleyes:

[parrish]

I could use a ghostbuster mobile, too. The only problem I have is that when my wife asks me for a good reason to get one "Because I want one!" is not a good enough reason for her. She says we need to eat.

[absenter]

The proper name for the ghostbustersmobile is, I believe, the "Ecto 1". Wanted to just put that out there for all you purists and sticklers. Parrish, maybe this information will help in negotiations with the wife.:D

BLATANT PLUG! If anyone wants to see the ghost what lives in my Ipod, as well as other denizens of the dark, check out the "I Will Lurk No Longer" thread and tell me what you think. :D

[parrish]

Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ectomobile) says its officially called teh Ectomobile, since there has been several versions of it.

[absenter]

Not sure. Ecto 1 might be the name from the cartoon. But doesn't Wikipedia also say the at the pyramids are made of discarded tires?

[parrish]

I think its ectomobile because there have been several. The plates on the car said it was ecto-1, so I guess either is right.

[Vakanai]

It is the ectomobile, ecto-1 was just the license plate number. Guess ectomobile didn't fit. I think I missspelled license. And possibly missspelled. One day I will be laughed right out of these forums. Nah, you guys wouldn't do that...I think...

[Vakanai]

Which reminds, I recently heard a rumor they were considering making a third Ghostbusters, any one know more about this?

[parrish]

Which reminds, I recently heard a rumor they were considering making a third Ghostbusters, any one know more about this?

I think its just a rumor. It comes up every few years, but with all the late sequels (Rocky, Indiana Jones) coming out, maybe something will happen with it.

[Vakanai]

Thanks for the info. It sounded too good to be true at the time, but the recent string of sequels did make me wonder. I don't know why, but the Hellboy movie made me think alot about Ghostbusters the first time I watched it. Maybe it was just the paranormal theme to it.

[hellboyone]

Which reminds, I recently heard a rumor they were considering making a third Ghostbusters, any one know more about this?

The last time this was a possibility was when Chris Farley was alive, Dan Aykroyd was all set to make a third one with him and Harold Ramis and the other guy (since he can't get Bill Murray to commit...he's a "serious actor" now). But Farley died and it never happened.

Then there's this:

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/12566/Ghostbusters-Video-Game-Confirmed-for-Xbox-360/

[parrish]

I had also heard a rumor that Ben Stiller was involved at some point.

Geez, with a Hellboy video game and a ghostbusters game, I might have to look into getting an xbox 360. The last system I had was a sega genesis.

[hellboyone]

The XBox game looks cool, but it's not really a Ghostbusters game. It all seems too serious. I'd love a true-to-the-movies game. The last time that happened was on the Commodore 64. I played the eff out of that game.

[lerochelle]

The only game platform I have right now is a playstation.

The FIRST and ORIGINAL playstation...

Ex Husband got the X Box in the divorce...

Would love to get a X Box 360 though. LOL And with my "Discount" I think I might be able to get it... Soon.

MUAHAHAHA!!!

[Vakanai]

I don't like that laugh so much. I thought evil laughter has a w instead of a u, but its all technicalities. Oh, and unless "Discount" has something to do with alimony, it went over my head. The Ghostbusters game looks great, but why do they look more like they are getting ready for a war? Those are some huge blasters. Amazing how ghost stories turn into games, I have a theory about it, called topic drift. Kinda like continental drift. My new motto is, "Where the hell am I and where are my pants?" No reason.

[lerochelle]

MWAHAHAHAHA! There. I stand corrected. LOL

Discount applies to purchasing the X Box with my retail discount card and the extra bit from the ex for child support. Hey, my kid will play with it too!

[6are54]

The only game platform I have right now is a playstation.

The FIRST and ORIGINAL playstation...

Ex Husband got the X Box in the divorce...

Would love to get a X Box 360 though. LOL And with my "Discount" I think I might be able to get it... Soon.

MUAHAHAHA!!!

The FIRST and ORIGINAL playstation is the best!

Meeeheeheeehee!

[parrish]

The FIRST and ORIGINAL playstation is the best!

Meeeheeheeehee!

Well, it did have the first Hellboy video game.

[Vakanai]

Never played the first Hellboy game, but I heard it was as bad as the movie was good. Damn, if I only had a time machine, or got into a coma that only lasted until the Golden Army came out.

[lerochelle]

I want the universal remote control... kinda like on the movie Click... though I've never seen that movie. But I do like the concept... Press a button and skip through a fight with your spouse... relive great momments, fast forward to the Golden Army... etc.
Although the itea that it learns like Tivo does scare me little....

[Vakanai]

If I had Tivo, and it tried to figure out what I liked based on what I watch...I don't want to even think about it.

[Vakanai]

A ghostly-ish question, if some form of sentient energy does continue on, would it most likely continue it's existence indefinately, or would the energy eventually at some point convert to so much heat and light?

[parrish]

A ghostly-ish question, if some form of sentient energy does continue on, would it most likely continue it's existence indefinately, or would the energy eventually at some point convert to so much heat and light?

Well, I guess that depends on your religious or philosophical beliefs.

In the physical world I would assume the a person's energy would decay (if it goes on), just like everything else does.

[absenter]

I would like to take this time to confess how frightened I was the first time I saw Ghostbusters. As mini-Absenter, I was terrified of the terror-dogs, petrified by the scene where the dessicated hands come out of Sigourney Weaver's chair and horrified by the green ghost that slimed Venkman. I also vauguely remember at the very end this same green ghost flying towards the screen to swallow the audience and this scared me so much that I had to cover my eyes. I'm sure my parents got more than they bargained for. Now the film makes me laugh; then, I was a mess. Maybe a wicked awesome video game would help me to deal with this difficult memory...

V & P: That's a tough one. I think Einstein was mentioned earlier in the thread. Correlating his theory that matter and energy do not disappear, but...change, to the notion of spirit makes sense to me (if for no other reason than that whatever spirit is composed of most likely follows the same rules as any other matter or energy). What are thoughts and soul but chemo-electric pulses? It may be possible that certain places are like insulators around a copper wire, capable of stabilizing that electric map of human conciousness (not unlike the "stone tape" thing), though I fail to see how the transfer would occur from body to environment. If this is the case, the destruction of the insulator would pretty much do in yer ghost. It's often said that around such events the air turns cold and it's been suggested that there is a vampiric quality to whatever manifests, such that the potential energy in the very air is used by...whatever...to appear. Something like that could stick around as long as there's energy to exploit, which means...forever.

Any more stories out thar...

[Vakanai]

Well, I did see something on the travel channel(I think) long, long ago. It was a type of hunched, primate, ghost/corpse thing that hung out around places with lots of death, like a trap door where people starved to death.

[parrish]

I do have a ghost story.

I was in my bedroom when I was 13 or 14 and I heard a woman's laughter coming from in fron of the door, which was closed. It was real quick, just a "ha ha" but it came from inside my room.

My sister's room was across from mine, but it wasn't her voice or my mom's. Never heard it again.

It was too dark to see anything, but it scared me.

I am sure there is a rational explanation behind it, but it was very distinctly a voice.

[absenter]

I had a similar thing happen to me.

When i was about the same age, 12/13 I think, my grandmother died very tragically. Me and my father were on a trip and had to cut it short in order to get back. We came in at night to the funeral home where her body lay in state and the both of us, me and my father, walked up to the casket. The room was filled with empty chairs. My father got down on one knee and took her hand. I stayed with him for a while, but wasn't sure what to do or how to act and ended up leaving him alone with her, his mother, to pay his private respects. Walking into the hallway, I was suprised at how i wasn't crying, how unemotional i felt and that's when I heard the undeniable sound of my grandmother, who was lying dead in the other room, singing. There's no doubt in my mind that it was her voice and the proximity of the sound of her singing, which was a very distinctive kind of hum that she did all the time, was very close, right behind me. I even remember quickly turning and seeing no one and kind of freaking as there was no one around or nearby. I walked briskly back to the room where the body lay, somewhat overwhelmed, and my father was still kneeling and greiving at her side. I didn't say anything.

This is the only other first-hand account that i have of this kind of event. In that moment and still today, I second guessed my senses. Though its possible that someone else was in the funeral home that i didn't see, who sounded like and sang like my grandmother, I'm pretty convinced it was her. Later on, i found out that she had hung herself in the basement of her home. The information was kept from me because i was a kid. I've often wondered about going to speak with the people who live there now, ask them a few questions, see if they've heard anything or seen anything. Apologies for the confessional and very unabsent and personal recounting of this story, but...well. There ya go.