Why (sort of) Seeing a Ghost/ Ghoul / Thing didn't make me any less Sceptical about their Existence
Posted: Tuesday, October 20, 2009
by Connor Davidson
My Books and Articles (under construction)
I am a Sceptic when it comes to anything supernatural and as a scientist I find it frustrating sometimes that I can't just say everything supernatural is a load of old rope. Belief leads me to that conclusion but it is not a scientist place to believe it is a scientist's job to prove. I follow the evidence and as the evidence goes it leads me to scepticism – but not quite total denial. This morning something very peculiar happened. It made me think and I mean think incredibly big style. Think yes, but reconsider no.
I stopped at the end of the drive. Staring. There was what looked like a little ‘creature' with pointed ears. If we note the time it was pretty dark so it could have just been me. So the sceptic in me led me forward towards this thing. I walked very slowly with my gaze transfixed on it.
Then suddenly a motion activated light turned on and I was confronted by this hideous, indescribable and above all remarkable hoover. A bloody Dyson hoover wrapped in a bin bag. That was what all the fuss was about.
There is a moral to this story. Imagine for one moment if I were to have run away without a second glance? Would I have lived my life believing I had seen something
Perhaps but I know that the human brain, in all its complexity, does not always give an accurate representation of the world. It runs a sort of simulation: if the eye picks up recognisable points that have a correlation to facial features then it can generate an image of a face based on its calculations.
This, I believe, is what happened this morning. Possibly due to the low light levels and the way the back puffed out in the wind my brain wrongly interpreted this as a face.
Rational thinking is a wonderful thing. I wish to refer back to the 9/11 (or 11/9 as we in the UK say) attacks and the satins face episode. Now I can't speak for you, but I don't think Mr Satan and I have ever met. How would I know what the hell he looks like?
There may have been real encounters but how would I know? Simply because someone said it happened is not in any way conclusive evidence and photographs can be edited. The makers of Dr Who or Star Trek or StarGate or Star Wars or any Sci-fi for that matter; don't travel the world in search of aliens or weird creatures to use as characters. They cheat and make their own – be it a rubber suit or a computer animation.
What I want to show with this story is that many of these ghost stories may be just the brain misinterpreting data. I can't say with total certainty that every story is bogus but I'm sorry but science is against you at the moment.
(Note: this article does not relate to God)
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More commentsHi, Connor. Your story does provide pause for thought. I must admit that things that go bump in the night are not always related to ghost and goblins. I once heard a loud noise coming up, or thought it came up, from my kitchen. Scared out of my wits, I tip-toed down the stairs to the kitchen to find out a dog on my back porch had knocked the garbage can over. On the other hand, however, I can tell you from first hand experience that real ghost stories do exist.It would have served no purpose for you to go through life thinking you'd seen a creature with pointed ears. This was a good story to remind each of us to research our stories before deciding that they are true.Please log in to respond to this comment.Some good points. It is interesting how you say experience and story together.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
My bag is neither atheism, mysticism, or speculative theology. Having been cured of alcoholism by turning to God, asking His help and strength and guidance, I try to walk by the spirit rather than by the flesh.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
It's interesting that you suggest you have a rational mind but then mention 9/11 without critical analysis (I've never heard of the 'Satan's face version). No one with a rational, inquiring mind could accept the official version of that atrocity - although that seems to go under the radar screen of this author.Please log in to respond to this comment.The article had very little relevance to 9/11 it was only a supplementary point used to solidify previous ideas.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Many times the mind does play tricks on you there is no doubt about that. People that deal with the Paranormal will be the first to tell you that. Your article was very well written and I liked reading another opinion.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
If you were to believe in God, your whole outlook might change.Please log in to respond to this comment.Possibly. However, I strugle with the word believe.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
An excellent article. Concepts that I believe in :)Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
An excellent article. Concepts that I believe in :)Please log in to respond to this comment.Ditto (up)Please log in to respond to this comment.
This was great reading, thanks for sharing it with us, i really belive in what you are saying.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
This was great reading, thanks for sharing it with us, i really belive in what you are saying.Please log in to respond to this comment.Ditto (up)Please log in to respond to this comment.
There are many coincidences in the world that people try to find meaning in. Thanks for the article.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for the comment.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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