Very interesting stories...Like sleep paralysis, a lot of these experiences have a proven psychological basis which is as fascinating to me as the idea that there might be ghosts. As human beings, we are prone to 'magical thinking': we only notice the coincidences in life that directly apply to us, and overly attribute postive events to things we have done ourselves and negative ones to external factors. A simple example: we only notice the storms, lightning, broken vases, that occur when a loved one has died, we've had a go on a ouija board etc. but not the countless other examples. If you didn't think like this you'd feel very depressed and powerless in the world (depressed people are possibly more realistic than the rest of us!). In its extreme form it leads to people believing that Michael Buerk wearing a red tie on the News has a special meaning for them but try this.....write down and sign a piece of paper saying 'I want my mother/father/partner/whatever to die painfully in a car accident today' then fold and keep it. We know it isn't rational but most people won't do that....just in case.
Similarly a lot of people see ghosts, faces etc. because the human brain is designed to spot these things, that's how we notice one another! The same applies with voices, put people alone in a room with a tap running and most of us will hear voices eventually (I don't have links but read any basic psychology textbook for the experiments).
There's also a lot of interesting work being done about ultra low frequency sound waves which have the effect of producing absolute terror in animals(including us) although we can't hear them. Tigers growling produce these waves and they've been discovered in many 'haunted' buildings, including Edinburgh Castle (see Fortean Times for further information)
I certainly don't think we can explain everything and probably never will but i do have an interesting story. When I was 15 there was a craze for ouija boards in my school. I did not touch the board/glass on this particular occassion but did ask the question 'what was the worst day of my life' (It was 26th July 1991) I thought as hard as I could about another date (24th July 1990) which lo and behold came up on the ouija board. I asked it whether that was correct: the answer came 'no' and then it gave me the correct date. So I think there is something in ouija boards but it's got more to do with suggestion and non verbal communication between people than evil spirits. I wouldn't mess with them because of my human tendency to completely do my head in!
(,
Wed 29 Oct 2003, 15:14,
archived)
Similarly a lot of people see ghosts, faces etc. because the human brain is designed to spot these things, that's how we notice one another! The same applies with voices, put people alone in a room with a tap running and most of us will hear voices eventually (I don't have links but read any basic psychology textbook for the experiments).
There's also a lot of interesting work being done about ultra low frequency sound waves which have the effect of producing absolute terror in animals(including us) although we can't hear them. Tigers growling produce these waves and they've been discovered in many 'haunted' buildings, including Edinburgh Castle (see Fortean Times for further information)
I certainly don't think we can explain everything and probably never will but i do have an interesting story. When I was 15 there was a craze for ouija boards in my school. I did not touch the board/glass on this particular occassion but did ask the question 'what was the worst day of my life' (It was 26th July 1991) I thought as hard as I could about another date (24th July 1990) which lo and behold came up on the ouija board. I asked it whether that was correct: the answer came 'no' and then it gave me the correct date. So I think there is something in ouija boards but it's got more to do with suggestion and non verbal communication between people than evil spirits. I wouldn't mess with them because of my human tendency to completely do my head in!
That's pretty interestingOn the subject of sound waves I read that a wave can get "stuck" in a room for years and just sort of reverberate around. There is a certain spot in my kitchen where if I stand and hum a certain note I can make the windows and cupboards vibrate, which I guess could be confused for something supernatural if you were that way inclined. I agree with the face recognition thing too
(,
Wed 29 Oct 2003, 15:44,
archived)
experiment for youif you put something twangy (short ruler, toothbrush etc) between my teeth and twang it you can make your skull and eyes vibrate so that tvs and monitors go all wierd.
not supernatural, but mildly amusing.
(not supernatural, but mildly amusing.
monstrinho do biscoito teeeshurts = www.nogunarmy.com,
Wed 29 Oct 2003, 16:45,
archived)
so, if i...put a ruler between YOUR teeth and twang it, MY skull will vibrate?! that sounds pretty supernatural to me
(
manolith hooray for me,
Thu 30 Oct 2003, 11:54,
archived)
It does have a simple cause...Evey container, a room or concert hall for example, has what's called a simple harmonic. The note that will have a wavelength exactly twice the length of the room. When that note is truck one half a wave fills the room and the room vibrates to the 'simple harmonic'. Best place to try it, snd it's why singing there is soo much fun, is the bathroom.
(,
Thu 30 Oct 2003, 10:50,
archived)
Odd thing with the sound.......I noticed this silly little thing by accident
If the smoke alarm goes of in the hall way and the parrot (who also lives in the hall) starts squawking... the sound resonates in your ears and sounds like a matrixesque digital shrieking noise
(If the smoke alarm goes of in the hall way and the parrot (who also lives in the hall) starts squawking... the sound resonates in your ears and sounds like a matrixesque digital shrieking noise
beefandcheese,
Thu 30 Oct 2003, 21:12,
archived)
Get a slinkyPlace coiled up version over ear.
Turn head 90 degrees so the slinky is now facing the ground.
Drop slinky end while holding one part to ear.
Promptly hear "laser" sound.
Realise it is completely off-topic.
Find post is deleted.
(,
Fri 31 Oct 2003, 21:50,
archived)
Turn head 90 degrees so the slinky is now facing the ground.
Drop slinky end while holding one part to ear.
Promptly hear "laser" sound.
Realise it is completely off-topic.
Find post is deleted.
I definitelyJust did the "i want my grandfather to die painfully in a car accident today."
and I signed it
and added a drop of blood for good measure.
Nothing's going to happen. ^_^
Most people won't do it. Heh. I will.
Muahaahaa.
(and I signed it
and added a drop of blood for good measure.
Nothing's going to happen. ^_^
Most people won't do it. Heh. I will.
Muahaahaa.
Eleroach13,
Sat 1 Nov 2003, 19:27,
archived)