# has a spirit ever been captured on camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 7, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002 "2004-03-07T19:56:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/41 "2004-03-08T04:43:26Z")
KCSuze, depends…do you do nudes? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/42 "2004-03-08T04:47:36Z")
Only if it’s for the purpose of anatomical studies. This _is_ for science, after all. But I’d better be paid. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/43 "2004-03-08T04:52:22Z")
what no Quid pro quo? ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/44 "2004-03-08T05:03:58Z")
Nope, all I want is quid, in the British sense of the word. I should be paid extra for knowing Latin _and_ British slang. How many backwoods creatures do? Well, besides the Yeti. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/45 "2004-03-08T05:19:03Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Has a stupid question ever been captured on camera? One need only take a screenshot of some of dearly departed **Wildest Bill** ’s deeper thoughts and I think that question is tucked in with cookies and milk on the bedstand. Examples: [Is There a Anecdote for Anthrax?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=91204) [Would Are Eco Sytem be Ok If We Extincted Mosquitos?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=83579) [Do Pukers Regain Their Protein After Puking?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=83133) Okay, maybe it’s just the _way_ Bill used to ask the questions, but you have to admit the fellow had an eye for asking the question in such a way that it would be answered _with vehemence_. That’s why he’s gone, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/46 "2004-03-08T06:35:06Z")
**re: Has a spirit ever been captured on camera?** Yes. In fact spirits have been photographed many, many times. [Here](http://www.absolutad.org/images/nagatani.jpg%5B/url) is once such picture. I believe that anyone with a rational mind would agree that the evidence in the photo is absolut. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/47 "2004-03-08T06:41:20Z")
[fixed link](http://www.absolutad.org/images/nagatani.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/48 "2004-03-08T12:19:31Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Both obviate a dearth of acumen. The thing that really amuses _me_ is when people attempt to demonstrate the size of their vocabulary, but don’t actually know what the words they use mean. Translated into simpler English, the quoted statement reads: “Both render stupidity unnecessary”, which is kinda meaningless, especially when considering what **Ilsa\_Lund** was trying to say, which was to explain why: > [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Both are equally stupid. Of course, even if **Ilsa** had managed to use a better word, like maybe “evince” (or “demonstrate” or “show”), e.g. “Both evince a dearth of acumen”, the explanation is still tautological. That is, when asked to explain why the questions are stupid, **Ilsa** answers “because they show stupidity”. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/49 "2004-03-08T14:08:48Z")
Sometimes it is best to take the high road when people inquire about the ‘supernatural’. Think of the Shermer or James Randi-style approach before flying off the handle. You can be critical and skeptical, but you can’t dismiss something out of hand. Think about it. The question was posted in GQ. We know there are people who don’t understand, and one shows up asking about spirits - not preaching about spirits. While they might have leaned towards belief, it doesn’t mean they deserve to be pitted. I listen to dopes at work who have $400 deposits and a six-month wait for a local spirit medium, and they make my blood boil. Take a deep breath and show some restraint. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/50 "2004-03-08T14:41:56Z")
There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, **Ilsa\_Lund**. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/51 "2004-03-08T15:12:32Z")
> [@Desmostylus](#): > > The thing that really amuses _me_ is when people attempt to demonstrate the size of their vocabulary, but don’t actually know what the words they use mean. > > Translated into simpler English, the quoted statement reads: > > “Both render stupidity unnecessary”, which is kinda meaningless, especially when considering what **Ilsa\_Lund** was trying to say, which was to explain why:Of course, even if **Ilsa** had managed to use a better word, like maybe “evince” (or “demonstrate” or “show”), e.g. “Both evince a dearth of acumen”, the explanation is still tautological. That is, when asked to explain why the questions are stupid, **Ilsa** answers “because they show stupidity”. I actually did that on purpose, if you care to belive me. I was trying to make fun of **Never Have I Because I’s** irrational fear of “big words.” “Evince” was actually the word I used in my online thesaurus to try to find a related, but ultimately meaningless synonym. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Have\_I\_Because\_I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Never\_Have\_I\_Because\_I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Have_I_Because_I)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/52 "2004-03-08T15:15:32Z")
My ‘irrational’ fear of big words is a joke. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/53 "2004-03-08T15:19:15Z")
So was my using meaningless synonyms and tautologies. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Have\_I\_Because\_I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Never\_Have\_I\_Because\_I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Have_I_Because_I)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/54 "2004-03-08T15:20:31Z")
fear was also supposed to be in quotes, as i don’t have any fear of big words. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/55 "2004-03-08T15:37:00Z")
A little philosophy don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/56 "2004-03-08T15:40:19Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > A little philosophy don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. I was willing to shoot Captain Renault and I’m willing to shoot you! :rolleyes: 😃😉 ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/57 "2004-03-08T15:50:12Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > A little philosophy don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Has a hill of beans (which, by the way, would be a quite valuable and even profitable commodity and source of protein) ever been captured on camera? Would anyone here care to speculate on the relative wholesale price of A) a little philosophy and B) a hill of beans ? ---
**Author:** ![gluteus\_maximus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f17d59/32.png) [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/58 "2004-03-08T15:58:19Z")
Almost forgot… That would be the wholesale price of the above items in _this_ crazy world. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/59 "2004-03-08T16:36:30Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, **Ilsa\_Lund**. :rolleyes: Wow, did you attend a prestigious college to learn this one? At least some people try to LEARN something about their world instead of accepting something on “faith” and quoting pithy sayings from centuries old playwrights. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002/60 "2004-03-08T17:25:18Z")
> [@Epimetheus](#): > > :rolleyes: > > Wow, did you attend a prestigious college to learn this one? > > At least some people try to LEARN something about their world instead of accepting something on “faith” and quoting pithy sayings from centuries old playwrights. And some people choose to respect other people’s beliefs without looking down their nose at them. In the thread in question, **Ilsa\_Lund** responded to the OP with: > [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > Given that there are no such things as spirits, no. Whew, I sure am glad to have that one cleared up. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-spirit-ever-been-captured-on-camera/233002.md?page=4)