Do you believe in Ghosts?

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

The two are completely unrelated. The concept of the soul supercedes the confines established by "western" religions.

I wasn't talking about a soul or any religion in particular, nor did I say they were related. My point was simply that you have two things, neither of which can have their existence proven or disproven, yet some people may believe in one but not the other.

[Aeneas]

I'll throw this one out there as I was indirectly involved. I have no reason to doubt the parts that I did not see, however I am sure there are other explanations for what occured. My sister and mother were shopping at Southcenter many years ago, at Willsons stationary I think it was called (ground floor near the Bay). My sister was in junior high and I in High school. Anyway they were in different aisles and suddenly my mom hears my sister scream. She had been grabbed by an old man, but not in an offensive way, he was having a stroke or attack of some kind. He fell to the floor pulling my sister with him, he wouldn't let go. She was horrified. My mother and others rushed over to help him. It seemed he wanted to say something but was unable, in one hand was his wallet, the other held tight to my sister. In some amount of time the paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital. My mom or someone else I don't remember, had gotten his name from his wallet in order to call someone I suppose. My sister was still very upset, she couldn't get over his eyes just staring at her as he held her.
That night I woke up in the middle of the night (I can't say 0300, as I have no clear recollection; but wouldn't that make it better?) to the sound of my sister screaming. Nothing wakes you better than that I assure you. I left my room to see my dad already on the way to her room. We rushed in and nothing was amiss, no intruder. My sister was sitting up in her bed, back to the wall, knees to her chest, soaking with tears and perspiration, shaking. When she finally could speak she said the old man was in her room, sitting in a chair. We saw nothing.
Sidenote: I am not a believer in the supernatural. I believe in humanity, that we must look to ourselves to find happiness and fulfillment in this life. That when we die, that is it, death nothing more. I think that is a terrible thing for many people and to believe in a higher being or afterlife is soothing. Perhaps all religion sprung from humankinds fear of death or the unknown. I can say that but here as I type about something that happened 25 years ago, I am shaking a little, hairs standing on end, and I have the urge to look behind me. A chemical reaction to a powerful memory? Or something else?
Anyway, my father sent me to my room and he and my mother stayed with my sister the rest of the night I was told. The next night, same screams, same result. She insisted when she awoke he was there in the same chair staring at her. My sister insisted that my mother call the hospital to find out if he was okay. My parents insisted she was having nightmares and to go to sleep. Third night same thing. My parents were losing patience along with sleep. We were both told to go back to sleep. I did but for only a while, then I went back to my sisters room. We always had a great connection, and she told me she wasn't dreaming it, that he really was there. She was so scared that I had to believe her. I stayed and niether of us slept. There was no way I could sleep I just watched the chair. I never saw anything nor did I feel anything. The fourth night was the last time. It happened again, but this time she said he did more than just stare, he started to get up, but that was when her screams had brought us all in. Again nothing to be seen other than a terrified girl. Finally that day my mother called the hospital, and afterwards told my sister and I that he survived and had been released. That night all went back to normal, no more screaming in the night.
Of course, I found out later from my mother that he died.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Here's something super scary for everyone to enjoy. This is based on my own first hand account. No, it's not the Heritage story, simply because it's been told already.

My grandmother is a very spiritual person. She would often stand by the chinese alters and repeat prayers. If you're chinese, you would be familiar with with parents keeping small shrines and alters in our houses.

In the past in malaysia, when a person passes away, the body would be laid out in the living room for viewing. Friends and relatives would pass the coffin to view the body one last time. We didn't have coroners, or anything like that. Everything was taken care of by the relatives. After my grandmother passed away, we brought her body to the living room for viewing. The living room is also the place where my grandmother keeps her shrines.


Typically what a chinese alter/shrine looks like (though not quite)

Here's the creepy part. My relatives had left the living room for a bit for supper, and one of my uncles, who was suppose to watch over the body probably went for a smoke break. My cousins and I were only in the next room, and we can hear everything coming from the living room. We heard what sounded like furniture moving around. At first it sounded like a chair had moved and smacked into something. Then, it sounded like other chairs moving. Finally, we heard something big and heavy move. The floor was uncarpeted (cement floor), so you can hear the noise of things being dragged around.

Then we heard something that scared the hell out of us. We heard what sounded like my grandmother, praying. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but my cousins and I were pretty sure that sounded like grandma. Finally, my oldest cousin bravely opened the living room door and peaked in. No one was there. It was possible my uncle was playing tricks on us, but man...that's a pretty sick trick to play, and we're pretty sure my uncle isn't the joking type.

[troutman]

http://www.livescience.com/strangene...t_hunters.html

Ghosts are big business.

The whole idea of ghosts runs into trouble as soon as a little logic is applied.

There's not even agreement on what ghosts are-or might be.

If ghosts exist, why are we no closer to finding out what they really are, after so much research?

The evidence for ghosts is no better today than it was a year ago, a decade ago, or a century ago. Ultimately, ghost hunting is not about the evidence (if it was, the search would have been abandoned long ago). Instead, it's about having fun with friends, telling ghost stories, and the enjoyment of pretending you are searching the edge of the unknown. (It's also about making money selling "Ghost Hunters" T-shirts, books, and videos.) Ghost hunters may be spinning their wheels, but at least they are enjoying the ride.

[Superflyer]

I love ghost stories and am about 50\50 in believing in them. The only reason that I am 50\50 is that nothing has every happened to me. It is hard to completley believe in something that you cannot experience.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

It is hard to completley believe in something that you cannot experience.

So what about all the things in the universe that you cannot experience. Like the quantum or atomic world? Galaxies far away? Quasars and black holes? Do you believe in those?

That's one limitation of our minds that science overcomes. There are many things that are true that are not only beyond our experience, but likely behind our comprehension, but with science we can still "understand" them. By understand I mean have a set of rules, math, laws, whatever, that describe how things happen.

On the flip side, experience is subjective so it's not a good measurement of things that should and should not be believed. We experience the world around us as solid, but in reality it's empty space.

[evman150]

Classic pseudo-science.

Classic bull****.

[Bingo]

I haven't had any first person experiences, at least not really.

My mother died of cancer when I was 18, and I get the odd little thing once and a while, but nothing that leaves me sure of anything. She had a plant that she brought back to life. When my dad moved he gave it to me and I've kept it alive. The thing is ugly as hell, but has great sentimental value.

When my daughter was born we sort of named her after my mother. When we brought her home from the hospital this plant bloomed a flower for the first time in 14 years.

Proof?

No way ... but kind of cool.

I do know a first hander that is about as iron clad as they come however.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I do know a first hander that is about as iron clad as they come however.

Tell it!

[J pold]

Another story I remember…it happened to my sister when she was out visiting my cousin..

My uncle had just bought a piece of land just outside of Carstairs and was planned to building a brand new house on the plot but in the mean time they stayed in the house that already occupied it…now this was a creepy looking place I saw a few times but never stayed there

So one night my sister is sleeping over just a few days after they buy it she is restless and can’t sleep because as she put it there was just something not right about the place, when my cousin who is sleeping right beside her starts to talk…now this was strange enough because my sister had many sleepovers prior to this one and my cousin never spoke a word, at first she said it was low but than she could start to make out the words she was saying

“Jacob go to sleep Jacob” my sister said she constantly repeated it and she progressively got louder almost to point where she was yelling my sister didn’t know what to do because she thought you weren’t supposed to wake a person who is sleep walk/talking…my sister said it got to the point where she was almost screaming turned face up in the bed so my sister finally work her up she stopped but it was the same thing the next night…my sister woke her up again she went back to sleep and than my cousin got up out of bed walked up to the door my sister thought she was to the bathroom but she just stood in front of the door and started to say it again “Jacob go to sleep Jacob” my sister was terrified…than my cousin opened the door still repeating the verse over and over…still standing there in the doorway than out of no where she slammed it turned and walked back into bed

my cousin claims she never remembered any of this the talking, the getting out of bed, she said she didn’t even remember my sister waking her up to tell her to stop…days later they found from one of the next door neighbors that a child named Jacob lived there about 20 prior and him and his father moved when there mother was killed falling off of a horse…needless to say my sister never slept over again…until the new house was built

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Tell it!

Dated a girl from grade 11 to 1st year university. Her sister was killed (older sister) a few years earlier when she went through a windshield in a car accident.

her dad was a family man, but about as far from spiritual as one could be. The night she died he was coming home from work really late and when he got into the garage he heard voices telling him his daughter was allright. He wasn't even surprised when he went into the house to find his wife in a complete collapse over the loss of his daughter.

Changed his life completely after that event.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

I remain a skeptic, but there are moments where I think I am almost pursaded to believe. I recall watching this documentary on the Discovery Channel or Sci-Fi Channel or something like that, and it was about people having contact with the etheral plane. They talked with several people who had claimed to have seen a ghost. They talked with a few who had reportedly recorded ghostly sightings, both with video and sound equipment. They even had a few people that had claimed to have physical contact wth a ghost. I thought the program would be able to go no further than that, but they ended up taking with a East Indian gentleman who claimed to have had sex with a ghost! I was amazed and thought this was something that could only be dreamed up on movies like Ghostbusters, but was intrigued that this scene could have been based on some shred of fact. The interviewers were very persistent, certain that this transendentalist had bridged the gap between living and not so dead. The interview came to an abrupt halt when the yogi interjected, "Oh my goodness, there has been a dreadful error in communication! I thought you said goat!" It was at this point that my skepticism was re-established on the subject.

[Bobblehead]

I don't believe in ghosts, but I almost feel like I want to, if that makes any sense. I've always been fascinated by ghosts.

Great stories folks. There aren't many movies or books that scare me, but some of those stories gave me the heebie geebies. Good stuff.

[Tower]

Snot boy is a good creepy story!

The ectoplasm running from his nasal cavities were profound!!!!



I had experiences - mind you I was just separated and truely not the happiest person in the world. It's true whqat they say. I went through all the stages.....


I woke up from a profound dream and saw my great grandfather in the mirror... In the dream I believe I was fighting an "evil spirit" (not my Great Grandfather)...

The second was about 6 months after... I woke up to find a transparent cat curled up (spooning if you will) the back of my legs... No ,there was no cat hair but it was warm where it was and it left the back of my leg sweaty/sultry....

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

I'm still not sure I believe in ghosts, but I have had a couple of incidents that makes me wonder.

I went to a murder mystery night at the Deane House in Calgary. This house has a history and reported hauntings. Dinner is served on the main floor of the house, but most of the murder mystery is acted out in the upper floor of the house. While on the second floor, we were watching the actors do their thing and giving the clues that the guests would need to solve the mystery. Being tall, I allowed the shorter people to stand in front of me so they could enjoy the production more. I was watching the action unfold and felt a tap on my left shoulder. I shuffled aside a bit, as if to give someone a better view. I felt a second tap and shuffled a little more, almost standing on the feet of the person beside me. I felt a third tap, and turned to give the person a dirty look and tell them I couldn't move any further. When I turned, I came face to face with a wall. There was no way anyone could have tapped me on the left should as I had been worked into a corner. That didn't really scare me, but it has stuck with me for the past six or seven years since the event happened.

The second happened when my wife and I lived in Florida. My wife had always complained about an feeling of unease, and not like being at home alone. I thought she was just paranoid, because we lived in a pretty nice neighborhood and there was not a crime problem in that art of the city. One night we were watching TV in bed, and I heard our dog growling. He doesn't growl without reason, and was sounding surprisingly aggressive. My wife sent me out to see what the dog was growling at. I went out in the living room and found him staring at a point in space about 7-8 feet in the air, growling with his fur up. I stood next to him and tried talking to him to calm him down. He wouldn't stop staring or growling. I finally gave him a push to break his stare and get him moving. He circled around a pillar we had in the foyer and began staring at the same spot and growling just as aggressively. This freaked me out quite a bit, because dogs aren't supposed to conceptualize three dimensions, so something HAD to have been there to have him behave in that fashion. As I said, I was disturbed by this, but it was only to get worse. When I went back to bed and told my wife of what was going on, she said it was not a surprise to her. She said she had heard her name called many times from the other end of the house and had felt many cold spots in the house (as had I, but thought was just poor HVAC design). She was certain our house was haunted.

What is really strange about this house was that our yard had a tick infestation that we unable to get rid of. We had our yard treated multiple times, but the ticks would never go away. Our dogs were continually covered in the nasty little arachnids no matter what we did. What really sent me for a spin was that our neighbor, who also had dogs, said he never had any problems with ticks on his dogs. The problem only seemed to be in our yard. He also told me that no one had lived in the house for more than a year, and most people moved out suddenly (the last owners actually just left one night and never returned). The creep factor went through the roof there.

I'm still skeptical, but these events really have made me wonder.

There is a house in the NW of Calgary that behaves in a similar fashion. My friend used to live in this house and pretty much recounted almost the same story as you did. Except his backyard isn't infested by ticks, but instead is infested with weeds. He has tried everything to get rid of it, but no luck. Just like your story, suprisingly, his neighbor's yard is free from weeds.

[Jagger]

You can put me in the believer catagory. I have a first hand account and one other weird occurance.

When I was about 15 we were hanging around outside the local church when I just happened to sneak a peak through the keyhole of one of the large side doors. I saw a choirboy, in a blue cassock, standing by the doors to the main chapel, seemingly waiting to go inside. I was a choirboy at the time and we wore red cassocks. I shouted for the others to come and look but, of course, when they did they didn't see the boy. I know what I saw though. It was entirely clear. I asked the vicar about this and he said that the choir used to wear blue cassocks but changed to red in the 60's! There was a story, he said about a choirboy tripping on his cassock and falling down the stairs just by where he was standing and breaking his neck!

The other occurance was also very strange. I was sleeping one night at my wife's parents place and was having a vivid dream, I think. In it, my mother and grandmother who had both recently passed away where pleading with me to wake up RIGHT NOW. They were incredibly insistant and urgent in their demands. I woke up and somehow I had jammed my hand against a metal desk beside the bed and the edge of the metal was cutting into my wrist very badly. If I hadn't woken up who knows what would have happened.

I can fully understand why some people might be non-beleivers but once you see something that changes very quickly.

[feartheflames]

did anyone else go to Balmoral Jr high, the clock tower is supposed to be haunted.

I've been in there and its immensly creepy, there is the clock from the titanic in there, and a true story about a student who commited suicide there, I remember doing an article on it for a project.

[Dion]

Back in the late 80's a realtor showed me this house that was listed $30,000 below market value. I asked why it was listed so low and was told there was a death in the family and they wanted a quick sale. Anyway I made my way down to the basement to check out the games room. As I entered the room I suddenly felt a cold chill pass through me as the room suddenly got very cold. I heard a scream and my hair stood on end. I decided I had had enough and raced upstairs.

I asked the realtor if he had heard the scream and he said no. I pressed him further as to why the house was listed too low. I said I wanted the truth and no BS! He begrudgingly told me that the families son had comitted suicide in the games room by shooting himself. That was enough for me and I said I was no longer interested.

As we were leaving another couple had come to view the house. I over heard the other realtor telling the couple of the suicide. The wife immediately lost her cookies on the front lawn.

Never did find out if the house sold.

[Not really]

Originally Posted by feartheflames

did anyone else go to Balmoral Jr high, the clock tower is supposed to be haunted.

I've been in there and its immensly creepy, there is the clock from the titanic in there, and a true story about a student who commited suicide there, I remember doing an article on it for a project.

I went to Balmoral, early 80's. The story about the suicide is correct, however i never seen, felt, or saw anything remotely scary about that school, what so ever.

You seem to have fell for the old "clock went down with the titanic" theory. When in fact - The tower clock, initially delayed by wartime shortages, was never purchased. For a time around 1917, a clock face with hands pointing to 4 p.m. was painted on the tower in place of the missing clock. Among the many wild stories surrounding the empty clock tower was one that claimed that the clock sank with the Titanic in April 1912.

lolz true story. Dont believe that crap.. i was there.

[nieuwy-89]

I've posted a few good ghost stories before. No first-hand accounts, unfortunately. Here's a fairly recent one from January.

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

The other night I had a conversation with an administrator from Edmonton Public Schools. The topic of school closures came up and he mentioned a few stories about some of the oldest school buildings in Edmonton. Keep in mind, these are schools that are abandoned and sit empty 99% of the time.

In one school, maintenance crews have reported hearing music start playing spontaneously. They have tried to find the source of the music but never can...it just kind of permeates the school and then stops.

In another school, one of the third floor (top floor) windows has a knack for opening itself. The maintenance guys have to check it in the winter to make sure it's closed, but on a regular basis they have to go into the abandoned building and close it because it has opened again.