23 Nov 06
2 edits
Another thread was started on modern day mysteries such as dinosaurs in the bible. It got me thinking how many of you think there's mundane explanations for some of the more exotic creatures mentioned in literature? For example hypertrichosis is simply excess body hair or "werewolf syndrome": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrichosis. Or do you literally believe in a werewolf that turns into an wolf under the full moon? Etc. Do you:
1) Think there's probably a ration explanation for all mysteries out there. Just because we don't understand it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
2) Discount any data that doesn't fit in with your concept of reality
3) Believe that mystical creatures/demons/etc exist literally
23 Nov 06
Originally posted by DoctorDaraBut what would Paris have to say on this subject?
Another thread was started on modern day mysteries such as dinosaurs in the bible. It got me thinking how many of you think there's mundane explanations for some of the more exotic creatures mentioned in literature? For example hypertrichosis is simply excess body hair or "werewolf syndrome": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrichosis. Or do you literal ...[text shortened]... h your concept of reality
3) Believe that mystical creatures/demons/etc exist literally
25 Nov 06
Originally posted by DoctorDaraWho knows if monsters really exist. It is quite fun to see if any current scientific explaination fits these monsters, though. Another good example is vampires and rabies.
Another thread was started on modern day mysteries such as dinosaurs in the bible. It got me thinking how many of you think there's mundane explanations for some of the more exotic creatures mentioned in literature? For example hypertrichosis is simply excess body hair or "werewolf syndrome": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypertrichosis. Or do you literal ...[text shortened]... h your concept of reality
3) Believe that mystical creatures/demons/etc exist literally
26 Nov 06
Originally posted by DoctorDaraA major epizootic of rabies in dogs, wolves and other wild animals was recorded in Hungary around 1721-1728
Vampires and rabies? I haven't heard that one. Tell me! :-)
Rabies causes hpersensitivity to strong stimuli, so patients are often repelled by light and bright things (such as mirrors), and by strong odors such as garlic. Rabies victims may also vomit blood. As rabies affects the limbic system, people with rabies tend to be agressive and 25% attempt to bite others. They are also hypersexual. Rabies also affects the hypothalamus, which controls sleep. Therefore, they tend to have insomnia and are up and about in the middle of the night.
Considering that the vampire legend seems to hve started in Hungary around the same time as the canine rabies outbreak, perhaps the two are connected. There is a very interesting article on the subject:
Rabies, a possible explanation for the vampire legend
Neurology 1998; 51:856-859
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by whiteroseAwesome, how about ghosts?
A major epizootic of rabies in dogs, wolves and other wild animals was recorded in Hungary around 1721-1728
Rabies causes hpersensitivity to strong stimuli, so patients are often repelled by light and bright things (such as mirrors), and by strong odors such as garlic. Rabies victims may also vomit blood. As rabies affects the limbic system, people with r ...[text shortened]... he subject:
Rabies, a possible explanation for the vampire legend
Neurology 1998; 51:856-859
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by DoctorDaraDunno about ghosts. I tend to think that they come the closest to being true. My personal theory is that things like poltergeists actually exist, being a buildup of negative energy in a certain place. Have you ever noticed how being angry or upset seems to give you lots of energy (feel like punching something, etc.)? I think that it is perfectly possible for this type of energy to get concentrated in a particular place where a lot of people have felt pain or anger, to such a degree that it can destroy things in that place, and people entering the place can feel it. However, I don't think that makes them supernatural, as this seems a perfectly natural phenomenon to me (although I think it would be very hard to prove scientifically). I'm a bit more skeptical of people seeing their dead relatives, and tend to believe that it has something to do with their brain as opposed to the world around them.
Awesome, how about ghosts?
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by whiteroseNegative energy?
Dunno about ghosts. I tend to think that they come the closest to being true. My personal theory is that things like poltergeists actually exist, being a buildup of negative energy in a certain place. Have you ever noticed how being angry or upset seems to give you lots of energy (feel like punching something, etc.)? I think that it is perfectly possible f ...[text shortened]... d to believe that it has something to do with their brain as opposed to the world around them.
You've got to be a bit more precise than that. What would this negative energy actually be? How would it collect anywhere externally to the people that exhibited it? How could it effect material objects?
Any sort of hyper emotional response produces that feeling of extra energy. Happy people can have the same feeling. Would we call this positive energy? Would it counteract negative energy?
Unless you want this to be considered anything other than mumbo jumbo you need to provide some sort of rational mechanism for the existence of the phenomenon.
The trouble is, you've provided an account - with no mechanism - for a phenomenon that may not even exist. In other words, you're attempting to explain what may not actually exist.
Very strange ...
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by amannionThis phenomenon may or may not actually exist. I personally have never experienced a poltergeist. However, I have entered a place that I found to be very negative, a similar feeling to when you feel anger from a person. I think this is, to a lesser extent, the same phenomenon.
Negative energy?
You've got to be a bit more precise than that. What would this negative energy actually be? How would it collect anywhere externally to the people that exhibited it? How could it effect material objects?
Any sort of hyper emotional response produces that feeling of extra energy. Happy people can have the same feeling. Would we call this ...[text shortened]... In other words, you're attempting to explain what may not actually exist.
Very strange ...
Unfortunately, I have never been very good at physics, but as I see it energy is everywhere. It is the basis of all natural phenomena. Humans have and use energy, and I see no reason why, if there is energy in everything, a person should only be able to use energy within their body. The current going theory to explain poltergeists is that they are phenomena caused by the person who is experiencing them unconsciously releasing unbearable stress/tension. This would seem to indicate that it is possible to use energy outside of your body.
Positive and negative energy is a different topic alltogether, and is much more subjective. I would say that different emotions produce different energy states, not just positive and negative, as I have oversimplified it. When I said negative, I meant energy formed from extreme negative events. I suppose that if extremely positive events were to happen in the same place, then there would be even more energy there, just in two (or maybe 5,6,7, etc)different states.
It seems that people usually notice something strange in a place where, say, lots of people have been tortured, creating an excess of one type of energy. I suppose you could say the same for a place where lots of people have been happy, but I cannot think of a happy event experienced by lots of people on the same scale as torture.
I would love to give you a specific account of how different energy states work, but I am still working on the "when will these two trains collide" high school physics problem. Theoretically, though, this phenomenon should be testable by recreation of events and measuring of energy. Unfortunately, ethical issues abound.
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by whiteroseHmmm.
This phenomenon may or may not actually exist. I personally have never experienced a poltergeist. However, I have entered a place that I found to be very negative, a similar feeling to when you feel anger from a person. I think this is, to a lesser extent, the same phenomenon.
Unfortunately, I have never been very good at physics, but as I see it energy ...[text shortened]... estable by recreation of events and measuring of energy. Unfortunately, ethical issues abound.
It sounds like you need some further work on your understanding of energy - but perhaps that's coming.
I think you make the classic mistake of confusing feelings with energy.
When you enter a place that you 'find to be negative', what you really mean is that you 'feel' negative (sad, angry, whatever.). When you feel anger from a person you're actually sensing all of the cues that we don't even always consciously look for - voice, facial expression, body language, and so on. I can feel when someone's mad at me, but this is not the same as some mysterious energy flowing out of them and into me.
At least, if it was, it's a brand new form of energy that no one's ever been able to detect or record before (unless you live in Monstropolis.)
There's also a difference between having energy in us and being able to use that energy. I have energy in me, and I need to constantly fill my body with more, right up until the day I die. But using this energy is a bit more problematic. I have very limited control over its use. In fact, I have to rely on my body converting the energy into useful form for me before I can even think about using it.
And when I finally get access to it, I can lift my arm, curl my fingers, kick my legs, turn my head, think deep thoughts about ghosts and things, and so on.
Your notion of energy seems to head towards the realm of ESP and Telekinesis - that is a form of energy that we could somehow project. It makes for nice science fiction and fantasy stories but has no basis in reality.
27 Nov 06
Originally posted by amannionBut when people are angry, their blood pressures elevate, their faces go red, sweating increases etc..they are consuming a lot of energy inside as well as disipating?
Hmmm.
It sounds like you need some further work on your understanding of energy - but perhaps that's coming.
I think you make the classic mistake of confusing feelings with energy.
When you enter a place that you 'find to be negative', what you really mean is that you 'feel' negative (sad, angry, whatever.). When you feel anger from a person you're act ...[text shortened]... e, but this is not the same as some mysterious energy flowing out of them and into me.
I think "the feeling of negative energy" is a sense derived by the psychological empathy as you described, and also by biochemical reactions towards a potential immediate danger by smelling the sweat, in our animal-like instinctive nature..