# Supernatural experiences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984 "2008-09-24T14:24:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/101 "2008-10-01T19:49:55Z")
I love ghost stories and always read these threads. I have no explanations for the stories where the tellers seems so thoroughly convinced (like the grandmother’s appearance). I can only relate my own experience, which is that I often “see” things that later absolutely are not there … because my brain tries to see a pattern that doesn’t exist. This happens most often with word, something which, as a writer, I use daily. I will glance at words on a page or sign, swear I see one thing, blink, look again, and I see the proper copy. If I were a dedicated “ghost-seer” I’d probably leap at patterns my brain would expect to see. If there are mysteries to be explained, they’re all within the working of the human mind. It’s vastly complex and only partly understood by us, the possessors. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/102 "2008-10-01T20:11:37Z")
> [@Milkman\_Dan](#): > > I’m not questioning that she or any other ghost wears clothes, this is already assumed. I want to know WHY people can take non-living objects such as clothes to the other side with them. It’s possible they can manifest themselves in any way they choose. There have been cases\* where a ghost has appeared in different forms, pretty much just to screw with people. (sometime it was even a deeeemoooon OOGABOOGA!) **IF** this is true, it’s not a stretch that clothes would be ridiculously easy to manifest. \*Stick with me here, I’m not saying said cases were necessarily TRUE. We’re talking _A Haunting_ level stuff of Discovery Channel, I’m just pulling out completely random information I’ve come across. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/103 "2008-10-01T20:22:56Z")
> [@Milkman\_Dan](#): > > I’m not questioning that she or any other ghost wears clothes, this is already assumed. I want to know WHY people can take non-living objects such as clothes to the other side with them. Obviously, **LurkerInNJ** ’s grandmother—being the kindly sort she was—had no wish to subject her grand[son? daughter?] to the shock of seeing his/her grandmother suddenly appearing fully nude in his/her bedroom on her disembarkment from the mortal coil. She wore the dress and apron she’d just died in, because—being the kindly sort she was—she no doubt anticipated that **LurkerInNJ** would find out about it, and wanted to thoroughly freak his/her shit out. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/104 "2008-10-02T03:23:24Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Yes I have, and all I see there is stupid word games that are obviously intended as threadshitting. You don’t want an answer to your question, and you refuse to accept any answer you’re given. No you are wrong, and my question as clarified is easily answered. Frankly, I’m amazed that no one has even tried. It speaks absolutely volumes that no one wants to even _attempt_ to say how you recognise a ghost and distinguish one from other things I might experience. Look at the answers I’ve been given… > [@Jolly Roger](#): > > A disembodied human spirit? A soul? Energy? Maybe they’re all just some kind of imprint left in an area I mean how the hell do I use that? What does a spirit look like? What does a soul sound like? What is “energy” like to touch? I don’t know where I’d \*start \*to know if I’d experienced a ghost based on this. And then we have… > [@KGS](#): > > …a manifestation of energy left behind by the death of a human being Same problem. How do I recognise a “manifestation of energy”? I haven’t a clue, personally. These are the only two answers I’ve been given. You say I’m playing “word games” but I cannot use these answers to recognise a ghost and distinguish one from other things I might experience. Failing to define what the heck you are talking about while blithely talking about it is the very essence of woolly thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/105 "2008-10-02T03:31:43Z")
Princhester, I’ll attempt to define, but first I want to know, what type of ghost are we talking about? An “apparition” (appears in a human or pseudo-human form), a poltergeist (doesn’t appear, but moves objects), or a manifestation (not necessarily a humanoid form, but has a visual component). Or should I just take a crack at “ghost” and then go into sub-branches where I feel necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/106 "2008-10-02T03:34:46Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Princhester, I’ll attempt to define, but first I want to know, what type of ghost are we talking about? An “apparition” (appears in a human or pseudo-human form), a poltergeist (doesn’t appear, but moves objects), or a manifestation (not necessarily a humanoid form, but has a visual component). > > Or should I just take a crack at “ghost” and then go into sub-branches where I feel necessary? You tell me, I don’t know what matters. I don’t know what these things are, outside of fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/107 "2008-10-02T04:03:31Z")
Alright, I’m not very succinct though, so it may turn into more of an essay than a definition. Ghost - A being, either intelligent, or looping (i.e. does the same thing every time it appears), that manifests itself in one of several ways - [ul] [li]Apparition - takes on a human, or humanlike form (i.e. a shadow). Can be recognized by all 5 senses. They are distinguished from a real human in one or more of the following ways[/li][list] [li] A slight glow - often accompanied by a monochromatic image (usually blue or white). Alternatively, very shadowy, a LACK of light instead of an unusual source of it[/li][li] Signs of certain death (i.e. gutted, in tact head trauma etc.)[/li][li] Transparency/Evanescence (ranging from slight to almost clear)[/li][li] Distortion of the image/vague image, such as wavy or smoky (the figure itself, not the foreground)[/li][li] Unusually cold air in the vicinity, and cold to the touch[/li][li] In cases where the image appears fully human, it may be distinguished by disappearing, moving through solid matter, or detachment from the world around them (this last one only really works if other signs are present)[/li][li] Voice often sounds distant, or takes on an unusual echo[/li][/ul] [li] Poltergeist - Does not manifest in any form except noise (voice or otherwise). It may affect real world objects, such as moving books, opening cupboards, pushing people etc.[/li][li] Manifestation - Does not take on a fully human appearance, but has a visual and audio component like the apparition. This may be just a face (though one could fairly put that in the apparition category), a glowing “cloud”, or anything else that doesn’t take on an obvious form. It feels cold to the touch as well, and may appear in non-3D space like showing up in reflective surfaces.[/li][/list] For bonus points: Spirit - Takes on all the properties of apparition above, but can also refer to distinctly non-human entities such as faeries, wolves, cats, elementals etc. Spirits may also manifest control over things (i.e. spontaneously generate fire, send a burst of wind). ---
**Author:** ![Rev.Bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@Rev.Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rev.Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/108 "2008-10-02T14:38:34Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Ok. Let me start by saying that I have begun an email to TAPS. I have discussed it with my family and they all think it might be fun, if a bit embarrassing (our house is still in rough shape – we are remodeling after my BIL all but destroyed the place). I will update the sdmb as to whether or not they accept our invitation. > > As for believing in Bob – nope, there is no need for belief here. I call the phenom a poltergeist because if you leave off the concept of spirits or whatnot – it is a textbook definition of what we experience. It is not proof of life after death, even if they do find that they cannot explain away Bob’s activities, it just means that there are strange goings on around me. I think that is the crux of why I don’t really care if it is ever investigated or not. I am a logical (sometimes overly so, if you ask those around me that expect emotions) person, I can explain away many sounds and things that others would say “oh that must be Bob” – and often do. What I will say, however, is that there are things that have gone on around me for as long as I can remember that are the typical non-malevolent description of a poltergeist. It doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t scare me and really, when you have always known a thing to be a certain way, you don’t question it. I don’t really care what causes the events around here, but I do find it funny that other people assume it must mean life after death or something similar. > > Like I said, I will let everyone know if I get any response from TAPS and we shall see 🙂 Just lurking for the last few years so I won’t pm, but from personal experience, TAPS is very unlikely to even reply to your e-mail. Google shows a bunch of local (to TN) paranormal societies that would probably be very interested. I’ve dealt with local societies before and they are usually more likely to debunk than prove. I’ve been on a ghost hunts with these guys ([http://www.theprodigygroup.org/](http://www.theprodigygroup.org/)). They are a good group with a nice mix of believers and skeptics. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/109 "2008-10-02T16:02:37Z")
> [@Rev.Bear](#): > > Just lurking for the last few years so I won’t pm, but from personal experience, TAPS is very unlikely to even reply to your e-mail. Google shows a bunch of local (to TN) paranormal societies that would probably be very interested. I’ve dealt with local societies before and they are usually more likely to debunk than prove. > > I’ve been on a ghost hunts with these guys ([http://www.theprodigygroup.org/](http://www.theprodigygroup.org/)). They are a good group with a nice mix of believers and skeptics. Thanks. I am still working on the email. I want to make sure I include as much detail as possible, and am trying to remember names of people who would remember their experiences in the houses in which I have lived. As for local groups, I could give them a call, but the board is looking for documentation, if TAPS wants to come out, fun fun, if not, well, there it is. I don’t want a bunch of believers to come out looking for something, I promise you, they will find something. I want a bunch of non-believers to come out and prove me (and my family and everyone else that has been there when “Bob” acted up) insane. Seriously. I would love for someone to come out and spend enough time to experience the fullness of Bob and then give me hard evidence of it being something explainable. I would accept that, as would my family. The thing is, we can all tell you which things are easily explained and which are not – I would love someone to find better reasons than “meh, must be Bob.” For us, it is mostly an in-joke. We don’t pay it much attention unless someone else is over and happens to witness it. Like I have said before, it’s just like living with an invisible, mute 2 year old – most of the time, you just ignore it and go on with your life, sometimes, it can be annoying, but it’s not scary or dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Rev.Bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@Rev.Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rev.Bear)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/110 "2008-10-02T17:23:56Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Thanks. I am still working on the email. I want to make sure I include as much detail as possible, and am trying to remember names of people who would remember their experiences in the houses in which I have lived. As for local groups, I could give them a call, but the board is looking for documentation, if TAPS wants to come out, fun fun, if not, well, there it is. I don’t want a bunch of believers to come out looking for something, I promise you, they will find something. I want a bunch of non-believers to come out and prove me (and my family and everyone else that has been there when “Bob” acted up) insane. Seriously. I would love for someone to come out and spend enough time to experience the fullness of Bob and then give me hard evidence of it being something explainable. I would accept that, as would my family. The thing is, we can all tell you which things are easily explained and which are not – I would love someone to find better reasons than “meh, must be Bob.” > > For us, it is mostly an in-joke. We don’t pay it much attention unless someone else is over and happens to witness it. Like I have said before, it’s just like living with an invisible, mute 2 year old – most of the time, you just ignore it and go on with your life, sometimes, it can be annoying, but it’s not scary or dangerous. He’s your Bob and you certainly should do what you think is right. It seems to me, however, that TAPS has jumped the shark. They are famous now and are willing to give thier audience, TV and client, what they want. Last night’s epi was proof of that. “Well that ironing board wasn’t heavy enough to push that door open so we can’t explain it”. I call bullshit. Good luck with whatever you decide. It’s obvious that Bob isn’t a bad thing to happen to you and yours. If nothing else, it’s given everyone something to talk about. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/111 "2008-10-14T19:22:42Z")
I haven’t been to this thread for awhile, a shame since i started it. But to answer Princhester…I can’t tell you what a ghost is. Thats kind of the purpose of asking. Is it something that we can explain in any scientific means? i don’t know…I believe so. But just because you or I cannot explain it doesn’t mean that its all a crock. I don’t believe evry ghost or haunting story i hear…but i think theres room for the stuff we can’t explain. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/112 "2008-10-14T19:34:53Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > But to answer Princhester…I can’t tell you what a ghost is. Thats kind of the purpose of asking. Is it something that we can explain in any scientific means? i don’t know…I believe so. But just because you or I cannot explain it doesn’t mean that its all a crock. I’m pretty sure that there is a giant mushroom farm on the dark side of the moon that teleports psychedelic spores into my brain every night. We can’t explain it. Is it a crock? > [@](#): > > I don’t believe evry ghost or haunting story i hear…but i think theres room for the stuff we can’t explain. Of course there is. And once it is explained, we can feel confident that it exists. But just because something is unexplained is no reason to believe in it. Are ghosts physical? That is, do they occupy space/time? Do they effect space/time? If so, how? By exerting a force? Can it be measured? If so, how? If not, why not? Does this force correspond to physical laws as we understand them? ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/113 "2008-10-14T20:09:29Z")
I don’t know. I can’t expalin UFO’s or Angels or whatever else people claim to experience. I just don’t tend to disbelieve in in things because I can’t expalin them. Do Ghosts, UFOs, Angels, Fairies or what have you exist? In my mind, maybe. I believe my aunt when she said she saw my great grandfather. I believe my friend when she said she saw the ghsot woman in her home. I believe my comrade when he said he had a poltergiest experience. I can’t prove it and if these people were part of the SMDB I’m sure they wouldn’t be able to convince anyone that doubted their stories. That doesn’t mean they didn’t happen, though. Was it a natural occurence? Was it just rampant imagination? Was it something else? Thats the point. I don’t know. If you don’t believe it, thats fine, I respect that. That does not however mean that skeptics are right. ---
**Author:** ![kenner116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@kenner116](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenner116)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/114 "2008-10-14T20:36:42Z")
I think most of us have had surreal dreams that seem real. These dreams become part of our memories and can be indistinguishable from real events. There are some events from my childhood I’m not sure that happened, and may have just been dreams. When I hear fantastic stories about poltergeists and angels I just attribute it to people’s dreams or imaginations. If you believe these things are real then get some scientific evidence of it. There have probably been neuroscience studies that show what the brain is doing when people are having these “paranormal” experiences. I have a feeling that most neuroscientists do not believe in these paranormal claims. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/115 "2008-10-15T03:11:48Z")
Sorry I got distracted and forgot about this thread, till I saw it when it was bumped. > [@Jragon](#): > > Alright, I’m not very succinct though, so it may turn into more of an essay than a definition. > > Ghost - A being, either intelligent, or looping (i.e. does the same thing every time it appears), that manifests itself in one of several ways - > [ul] > [li]Apparition - takes on a human, or humanlike form (i.e. a shadow). Can be recognized by all 5 senses. They are distinguished from a real human in one or more of the following ways[/li][list] > [li] A slight glow - often accompanied by a monochromatic image (usually blue or white). Alternatively, very shadowy, a LACK of light instead of an unusual source of it[/li][li] Signs of certain death (i.e. gutted, in tact head trauma etc.)[/li][li] Transparency/Evanescence (ranging from slight to almost clear)[/li][li] Distortion of the image/vague image, such as wavy or smoky (the figure itself, not the foreground)[/li][li] Unusually cold air in the vicinity, and cold to the touch[/li][li] In cases where the image appears fully human, it may be distinguished by disappearing, moving through solid matter, or detachment from the world around them (this last one only really works if other signs are present)[/li][li] Voice often sounds distant, or takes on an unusual echo[/li][/ul][/list] All five senses? You can touch and taste them? Are all these necessary or sufficient, or some combination and if so what? > [@](#): > > [ul][li] Poltergeist - Does not manifest in any form except noise (voice or otherwise). It may affect real world objects, such as moving books, opening cupboards, pushing people etc.[/ul][/li] So any noise or action with no explanation is a poltergeist? Or is more required? > [@](#): > > [ul][li] Manifestation - Does not take on a fully human appearance, but has a visual and audio component like the apparition. This may be just a face (though one could fairly put that in the apparition category), a glowing “cloud”, or anything else that doesn’t take on an obvious form. It feels cold to the touch as well, and may appear in non-3D space like showing up in reflective surfaces.[/li][/ul] This seems too vague to be useful. Is any sort of optical illusion combined with cold a “manifestation”? > [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > I haven’t been to this thread for awhile, a shame since i started it. > > But to answer Princhester…I can’t tell you what a ghost is. Thats kind of the purpose of asking. From the OP: > [@Jolly Roger](#): > > Have you ever seen a ghost or do you know someone that is not a fruitcake that has? Would you want to see a ghost, if they exist? I asked what a ghost was in the sense of how you would recognise one and distinguish one from other things I might experience and you say you don’t know! But you ask if someone has seen one and would they want to. How the heck would you even know if someone had seen one or whether you would want to see one when you don’t even know what one is? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/116 "2008-10-15T09:33:01Z")
:rolleyes: Oh for fucks sake, Prinny. You seem determined to shit all over the thread - again. Look, there’s many different movies telling ghost stories. If you see 100 movies you’ll get 100 different ideas of what a ghost actually is. The ghosts in \*Ghostbusters \*are very different from the ghosts in _A Christmas Carol_ and both are different to Patrick Swayze. Perhaps YOU would care to come up with a definition of “ghost” that would define what you see in a ghost movie. Or perhaps you can just see the thing without bethering about niggling petty definitions. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/117 "2008-10-15T09:45:13Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I asked what a ghost was in the sense of how you would recognise one and distinguish one from other things I might experience and you say you don’t know! But you ask if someone has seen one and would they want to. How the heck would you even know if someone had seen one or whether you would want to see one when you don’t even know what one is? You are asking some very specific questions which I don’t think anyone has the capacity to answer based on our current knowledge. Even people who experience ghosts on a daily basis rarely bother to explain them in concrete scientific terms, they are more enamored with the experience itself. There is no consensus at all, even among paranormalists, regarding exactly what ghosts are or how to tell them apart from non-ghosts. Are some ghosts completely imaginary? Probably. But ghost sightings are extremely pervasive, even in our skeptical 21st century society, so they are worth examining. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/118 "2008-10-15T09:58:53Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Sorry I got distracted and forgot about this thread, till I saw it when it was bumped. > > All five senses? You can touch and taste them? > > Are all these necessary or sufficient, or some combination and if so what? > > So any noise or action with no explanation is a poltergeist? Or is more required? > > This seems too vague to be useful. Is any sort of optical illusion combined with cold a “manifestation”? > > From the OP: > > I asked what a ghost was in the sense of how you would recognise one and distinguish one from other things I might experience and you say you don’t know! But you ask if someone has seen one and would they want to. How the heck would you even know if someone had seen one or whether you would want to see one when you don’t even know what one is? Since the thread is asking what experiences people have had, and nothing I say is going to satisfy you, we’re done here. You’re free to have your opinions, I’m just not interested in trying to find a definition you’ll accept. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/119 "2008-10-15T11:39:10Z")
I really enjoy reading these threads, please don’t stop now. I am an atheist and scientifically minded. As far as I can tell I’ve never had a paranormal experience, in fact I seem to be oblivious to them when they occur. I have been on ghost watches/walks and seances and never seen or felt anything, not through lack of trying as one of my philosophies is to try and challenge my non belief whenever possible. To date I have had no luck in proving myself wrong but I will keep trying. The only cold draughts I have been able to feel were easily explained by the foot gap under an old wooden door on one occasion. My wife and eldest daughter had an experience, which I completely failed to detect. We were holidaying on the Isle of Wight in the UK and I insisted we visit a place called Knighton Gorges, the site of an old Manor house that has been torn down but the site is still allegedly haunted. We parked the car a distance away and walked over fields and down pathways towards the site, eventually becoming a little lost. We persevered and after while both my wife and daughter began to claim to feel afraid and cold, as we progressed it turned out that we were walking adjacent to the site and it was just obscured by a hedge. I can’t explain what, if anything they felt, but I felt nothing myself. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984/120 "2008-10-15T11:53:09Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > Since the thread is asking what experiences people have had, and nothing I say is going to satisfy you, we’re done here. You’re free to have your opinions, I’m just not interested in trying to find a definition you’ll accept. What experiences people have had of _what_? You just said you can’t even define what it is that you’re asking people to say what they have had experience _of_. You’re position is silly beyond words. And \*\*Peter \*\*your position is no better. You tell me first that if “you see 100 movies you’ll get 100 different ideas of what a ghost actually is” which is (a) kind of my point and (b) have we admitted ghosts are fictional now? Then you say I should just “see the thing”? See _what_? Fer cryin’ out loud, is it actually so hard to understand the idea that if one is talking about whether one has experienced something, a clear idea of what one would have to experience in order to be able to answer in the positive would be pretty much essential? KGS, your post is flabbergasting. You say “Even people \*\*who experience ghosts \*\*on a daily basis rarely bother to explain them in concrete scientific terms, they are more enamored with the experience itself. **There is no consensus at all, even among paranormalists, regarding exactly what ghosts are or how to tell them apart from non-ghosts.** ” [My emphasis] They don’t know how to tell what they see apart from non-ghosts but they experience them “on a daily basis”. How on earth do they know they experience ghosts if they don’t know how to tell them apart from things that aren’t ghosts? What universe do you live in where this makes sense? Not only that but you again say they “experience” ghosts, but when I ask for a simply answer about _what_ it is that they experience, _you can’t tell me_! Carry on. I haven’t had such a good laugh in ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supernatural-experiences/464984.md?page=7)