Do you believe in ghosts?

Freebase Dali · 05-10-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I think if a person is open enough to the possibility of something being other-worldly then they would be open to other possibilities and conclusions for why such things are occurring. I don't feel like the two are mutually exclusive.

Being open to a possibility is, from what I've witnessed, a functional difference from acceptance. It's easy to say "I'm open to whatever", but it's harder to convince yourself to give up a belief you've held for years, even in the face of evidence. The tendency is to challenge the evidence rather than the belief. People like to hold on to what they've been holding on to if for no other reason than they're used to believing something.

From my experience, people that believe in the most fantastical things are usually the first to reject any rational explanation for it. People in the middle are usually more open to rationality. Again, this is just my experience, and I know I'm generalizing.

djchameleon · 05-10-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

From my experience, people that believe in the most fantastical things are usually the first to reject any rational explanation for it. People in the middle are usually more open to rationality. Again, this is just my experience, and I know I'm generalizing.

I have to agree with you on this. Conspiracy Theorists are a group that tends to throw away or laugh off rational explanations frequently.

Freebase Dali · 05-10-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I have to agree with you on this. Conspiracy Theorists are a group that tends to throw away or laugh off rational explanations frequently.

Precisely. You wouldn't believe how flabbergasted I was the other day when an ex-f*ck on my Facebook called me ignorant when I tried to explain to her what contrails (condensation trails) were.

Apparently she doesn't even believe in clouds either. Apparently the only thing that can float is man-made toxin sprayed by evil corporate puppeteers of the government, and water vapor does not exist.

P A N · 05-10-2013, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Precisely. You wouldn't believe how flabbergasted I was the other day when an ex-f*ck on my Facebook called me ignorant when I tried to explain to her what contrails (condensation trails) were.

Apparently she doesn't even believe in clouds. Apparently the only thing that can float is man-made toxin, and water vapor does not exist.

in defense of conspiracy theorists, i used to think chem trails were a thing. i thought this because i couldn't understand the complexity of why the condensation would stay sometimes and other times would not, and why quite often i see them forming grid patterns in the sky. i brought it up with my cousin out of curiosity and he - a pilot - explained it in such a way that i could understand, and i changed my mind. just sayin, cuz yeah, i believe there's some conspiracies, but it doesn't mean i think everything is one, and that if i happen to believe one, it doesn't mean my mind can't be changed. anyway. end random interjection.

Freebase Dali · 05-10-2013, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P A N

in defense of conspiracy theorists, i used to think chem trails were a thing. i thought this because i couldn't understand the complexity of why the condensation would stay sometimes and other times would not, and why quite often i see them forming grid patterns in the sky. i brought it up with my cousin out of curiosity and he - a pilot - explained it in such a way that i could understand, and i changed my mind. just sayin, cuz yeah, i believe there's some conspiracies, but it doesn't mean i think everything is one, and that if i happen to believe one, it doesn't mean my mind can't be changed. anyway. end random interjection.

Then you're not crazy like some of the others out there. Most of these people view the rational explanations as part of the conspiracy.

Personally, just knowing how inept the government is on pretty much every level, much less keeping a secret, I think most of the crap that spawns in the conspiracy theorist camp is probably more outrageous due to the credit they give to the government in the first place.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 05-10-2013, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Precisely. You wouldn't believe how flabbergasted I was the other day when an ex-f*ck on my Facebook called me ignorant when I tried to explain to her what contrails (condensation trails) were.

Apparently she doesn't even believe in clouds either. Apparently the only thing that can float is man-made toxin sprayed by evil corporate puppeteers of the government, and water vapor does not exist.

As an environmental science major I find that utterly ridiculous.

P A N · 05-10-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Most of these people view the rational explanations as part of the conspiracy.

as much as i wish that weren't true, it is. it was seeing this in others which got me out of a similar mindset, and for that i am very thankful. again, i still think conspiracies exist, but i'm tired of trying to figure out which ones are legit or vice versa. it's too much work to no end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Personally, just knowing how inept the government is on pretty much every level, much less keeping a secret, I think most of the crap that spawns in the conspiracy theorist camp is probably more outrageous due to the credit they give to the government in the first place.

lol. that's something i'm going to keep in my argumentative arsenal.

CanwllCorfe · 05-10-2013, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

Although I do think it's evidence of something, considering so many people have similar experiences, however I think it might be evidence of something more normal and less paranormal.

Indeed. I think there's something behind it all, and I'm sure we'll find out what in due time. I, for one, am not desperate to know. Not that I care about ghosts or whatever being disproved, but the unknown (to me anyway) is so much more interesting. Sitting in a house having freaky stuff happen would seem more entertaining to me without knowledge of an explanation. I'm sure that finding that explanation is what's fun for some people. BUT NOT ME MAN. NOT ME.

Freebase Dali · 05-10-2013, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

Indeed. I think there's something behind it all, and I'm sure we'll find out what in due time. I, for one, am not desperate to know. Not that I care about ghosts or whatever being disproved, but the unknown (to me anyway) is so much more interesting. Sitting in a house having freaky stuff happen would seem more entertaining to me without knowledge of an explanation. I'm sure that finding that explanation is what's fun for some people. BUT NOT ME MAN. NOT ME.

You don't sound like someone who is convinced either way.

CanwllCorfe · 05-11-2013, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

You don't sound like someone who is convinced either way.

Yeah I'm kind of in the middle. I don't believe that's what's happening is caused by any sort of personal spirit. On the other hand, what has put forth from the other side seems to be scattershot. It puts forth various possibilities, but considering how similar all of the experiences are, it seems to me that there would be some singular or more narrow explanation. Maybe not though. Maybe it's always a combination of factors.