posted
I came across this while looking for ghost stories online. There's supposedly a tape out there of one of there sessions. I'm going to see if I can find it on Youtube but in the meantime, check this out.
ETA: Youtube has nothing on it.
Posts: 835 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:In any case, the experiments proved that paranormal phenomena are quite real.
What exactly out of rapping, scatching, moving a table and lights dimming could be classed as paranormal phenomena? They all sound pretty normal to me.
posted
You're being a bit unfair, stalker. According to the article, when they "dimmed" the room's lights during a seance they produced:
quote:a range of phenomena that could not be explained scientifically.
For example they knew it was Philip because they simply asked him, and the table moved despite the floor being carpeted. Explain that if you can.
-------------------- "You learn something new every day if you're not careful" - Wilf Lunn Posts: 893 | From: Durham City, England | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
It would be more accurate to say "a range of phenomena that they lacked the background, education, ability and intelligence to explain scientifically."
-------------------- Come on, come on - spin a little tighter Come on, come on - and the world's a little brighter Posts: 5595 | From: Columbus, OH : The Soccer Capital of America | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
Interesting idea, but I'd like to see more information about this Philip Experiment, actual documentation, tapes, etc. It would be an easy story to fabricate. The idea of ghosts being nothing but some sort of physical manifestation of our own subconscious minds is very interesting though.
-------------------- "That would be really dangerous, you know. Indiscriminately extricating someone from the petrified corpse of a supernatural creature." - My Husband Posts: 4308 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Jun 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Stoneage Dinosaur: You're being a bit unfair, stalker. According to the article, when they "dimmed" the room's lights during a seance they produced:
quote:a range of phenomena that could not be explained scientifically.
For example they knew it was Philip because they simply asked him, and the table moved despite the floor being carpeted. Explain that if you can.
The phenomena only starting when the lights were dimmed should maybe help shed some light on the whole incident.
Bad jokes aside, I obviously wasn't there and haven't seen the footage. I don't know the weight of the table. I don't know how difficult it would be to move the table in their situation, and they don't actually say that. All they say is that is was a thick carpet. Did they try to see how difficult it would be to move the table? I could probably safely say that there was more than enough manpower there to be able to slide it. Of course, they're not all there leaning on the table to move it. They mentioned subconscious thought, there is also the phenomena of involuntary muscle movement which is put forward as explanation on Ouija Boards. All these hands on the table, all involuntarily moving or getting into a rhythm at the same time could be an explanation.
posted
More on the The Philip Experiment and the subsequent Australian "Skippy Experiment" (not what I thought it would be - they contacted Skippy Cartman (!) rather than a kangaroo).
-------------------- "You learn something new every day if you're not careful" - Wilf Lunn Posts: 893 | From: Durham City, England | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
I never understood why ghosts don't go into the furniture-moving business. There's a dollar to be made there.
-------------------- "No hard feelin's and HOPpy New Year!"--Walt Kelly Hear what you're missing: ARTC podcasts! http://artcpodcast.org/ Posts: 7581 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
It reminds me of Ambrose Bierce who noted that ghosts went around wearing the clothes to which they had been accustomed to wearing in life, yet no one had ever seen a deceased suit walking about on its own.
Didn't Houdini spend the latter part of his life showing how this stuff was faked. He had audiences too.
-------------------- Blinded by the lite Posts: 89 | From: West Virginia | Registered: Jan 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Brad from Georgia: I never understood why ghosts don't go into the furniture-moving business. There's a dollar to be made there.
I don't know about that. I'd be afraid of them spiriting my furniture away. Plus, they would have to scare up the starting capital.
posted
I have a book somewhere - not a deep, insight kind of book, mind you - that mentions the Philip story. It might be another book, but I recall someone saying that friends of the author of The Shadow novels would see a stange person walking about the author's house, and thier description of the stranger turns out to be Lamont Cranston (AKA The Shadow).
-------------------- I would prefer not to. My blog Posts: 4789 | From: Rhode Island | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Amigone201: James Randi has a million dollars saying this didn't happen.
Just a slight nitpic here. James Randi has a million dollars for any one who can prove they have supernatural powers. It is not up to him to disprove anything. Possibly you meant that, but it is a significant difference. The woo woo crowd always expect the skeptics to disprove something, rather than acknowledging that the requirement of proof is with the person making the claim.
-------------------- I like free speech. It lets me know who the idiots are. Posts: 407 | From: Ireland | Registered: Jul 2005
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quote:Most astonishing, the group reported that the table would sometimes be so animated that it would rush over to meet latecomers to the session, or even trap members in the corner of the room.
Yet when the room is being video taped, the most Philip could manage was a measly half inch off the floor.
Philip's shy.
-------------------- "We don't keep a certified whale-vomit expert on staff." - Larry Penny, Director, Natural Resources Department, Town of East Hampton Posts: 377 | From: New Zealand | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
Video tape and photos can't be used as proof anymore. Anyone watching "X-Testers" can see how easily these things can be faked.
I do not believe in ghosts. It is not incumbent on me to support my beliefs. The burden of proof lies with the "believers".
Having said that, the most likely way that this seance could have been faked, is that the whole story is made up.
-------------------- "I always tell the truth. Even when I lie." - Tony Montana Posts: 890 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Apr 2005
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