My problem with all this paranormal malarkey is not that I don't believe it, more that I don't believe people. I find it very hard to accept other people's reports of such events as fact. 
Things you bragged about at school but never did.. Page 10
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 25 2009, 10:56 AM GMTMy problem with all this paranormal malarkey is not that I don't believe it, more that I don't believe people. I find it very hard to accept other people's reports of such events as fact.
I'm the same Dolly. But try looking at this way. Say we took all the countless thousands of people that have seen ghosts, UFOs, experienced telepathy, ESP, past lives or whatever. Now let's say that every single one of them is a liar, or mistaken, or crazy...apart from one. Just one, out of all those thousands of people did actually see a ghost. Or was actually contacted by an alien. Just one. That's all it takes for the skeptics to be wrong. And that's why skeptics must retain a closed mind to such matters - because to admit the possibility that even one person was right is to send their safe world tumbling around them like a house of cards.
Quote: Lee Henman @ February 25 2009, 11:24 AM GMTI'm the same Dolly. But try looking at this way. Say we took all the countless thousands of people that have seen ghosts, UFOs, experienced telepathy, ESP, past lives or whatever. Now let's say that every single one of them is a liar, or mistaken, or crazy...apart from one. Just one, out of all those thousands of people did actually see a ghost. Or was actually contacted by an alien. Just one. That's all it takes for the skeptics to be wrong. And that's why skeptics must retain a closed mind to such matters - because to admit the possibility that even one person was right is to send their safe world tumbling around them like a house of cards.
And would you extend that same open-mindedness to religion? And the thousands of people who claim to have seen God or been spoken to by him?
I shared a room with my sister and she used to wake in the night see my grandmother sitting on the end of the bed. (She's got lost on her way to the loo.) Not really, my granny was dead. I never saw or 'felt' her but I know my sister has a very active imagination and was a sleepwalker, so though it seemed real to her I can only believe she was experiencing no more than an hallucination.
Though saying that I once went to look at an old property for sale with some very practical down to earth types. As soon as I entered the house I got a bad feeling. Nothing evil or sinister - the hosue was currently occupied by a single young man who kept it nicely and had some nice antiques. But there was a real depressive, heavy feeling of sadness in that house. No one said anything as we looked about but as soon as we got out it turned out that we all had the same bad feeling about the property. I later looked up the house on the 1881 and 1891 census and it appears a number of young children had died there....
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 25 2009, 11:33 AM GMTThough saying that I once went to look at an old property for sale with some very practical down to earth types. As soon as I entered the house I got a bad feeling. Nothing evil or sinister - the hosue was currently occupied by a single young man who kept it nicely and had some nice antiques. But there was a real depressive, heavy feeling of sadness in that house. No one said anything as we looked about but as soon as we got out it turned out that we all had the same bad feeling about the property. I later looked up the house on the 1881 and 1891 census and it appears a number of young children had died there....
They say the same thing about Aushcwitz...did anything bad happen there? History's not my strong point.
Quote: chipolata @ February 25 2009, 11:36 AM GMTThey say the same thing about Aushcwitz...
But I wonder what someone would feel who didn't know the history of the place?
Quote: Lee Henman @ February 25 2009, 10:47 AM GMTSo really what you're saying is there may well be life on other planets, but you doubt it would be as evolved as humans?
No, that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that we've pointed our radio telescopes at nearby stars and planets and haven't heard a peep. Only a fraction of stars has an orbiting planet. Only a fraction of planets can support life. Only a fraction of life forms can evolve into intelligent beings. Only a fraction of intelligent beings will be able to reach out to other worlds. They're almost certainly out there, but they are scattered around this immense universe and so far we have no evidence that they even exist.
Look at Earth. There are tens of millions of life forms, yet only one can (barely) send communications and spacecraft off the planet.
Quote: DaButt @ February 25 2009, 11:41 AM GMTLook at Earth. There are tens of millions of life forms, yet only one can (barely) send communications and spacecraft off the planet.
You say that but I'm suspicious about the badgers.
Quote: DaButt @ February 25 2009, 11:41 AM GMTLook at Earth. There are tens of millions of life forms, yet only one can (barely) send communications and spacecraft off the planet.
They are impressive, dolphins.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 25 2009, 11:43 AM GMTYou say that but I'm suspicious about the badgers.
You beat me to it. Damn you!
Quote: chipolata @ February 25 2009, 11:44 AM GMTYou beat me to it. Damn you!
You will never win.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 25 2009, 11:33 AM GMTThough saying that I once went to look at an old property for sale with some very practical down to earth types. As soon as I entered the house I got a bad feeling. Nothing evil or sinister - the hosue was currently occupied by a single young man who kept it nicely and had some nice antiques. But there was a real depressive, heavy feeling of sadness in that house. No one said anything as we looked about but as soon as we got out it turned out that we all had the same bad feeling about the property. I later looked up the house on the 1881 and 1891 census and it appears a number of young children had died there....
Pretty much any residential property of that age would have had young children die therein.
If there's one thing I've learnt from this thread, it's that science is far more arrogant than I'd even begun to imagine.
Quote: Aaron @ February 25 2009, 11:55 AM GMTPretty much any residential property of that age would have had young children die therein.
Likely, but this was about four children from the same family, around the same time. It may not have anything to do with it of course. There may have been other tragedy or unhappiness in that house, but it certainly had a very sad oppressive atmosphere.
Quote: Aaron @ February 25 2009, 11:57 AM GMTIf there's one thing I've learnt from this thread, it's that science is far more arrogant than I'd even begun to imagine.
Science has the right to be arrogant. It's actually pretty damned impressive what man can do nowadays.
Quote: Dolly Dagger @ February 25 2009, 11:58 AM GMTbut it certainly had a very sad oppressive atmosphere.
Bit like the BSG then? 
Quote: chipolata @ February 25 2009, 12:00 PM GMTBit like the BSG then?
I thought that was just me.
Quote: Aaron @ February 25 2009, 11:57 AM GMTIf there's one thing I've learnt from this thread, it's that science is far more arrogant than I'd even begun to imagine.
I don't think anyone on this thread can really be said to represent science! Just a few peoples opinions. And you could say the paranormal believers were just as arrogant. Anyone who firmly believes in something which opposes your own view could be seen as in some way arrogant.
Quote: chipolata @ February 25 2009, 12:00 PM GMTScience has the right to be arrogant.
If you've got the facts to back you up, then it's not even arrogance, is it!