For what reason do you post your paranormal experiences in the parapsychology section?

Question

I'm always hoping that there are parapsychologists on here who can answer my questions based on their research and experiences. ..since parapsychology is supposed to be the study of paranormal phenomenon. I don't post experiences on here just to share them..but to get better answers. What's YOUR reason?

Answer 1

Well I want to have a paranormal experience but it's been kind of a bummer since nothing seems to happen. I'd post it here if I had one so others can comment on it. So instead I hang out here and read what others have to say,  but it's disappointing so far because not much of it seem believable to me.

Answer 2

Actually, I mostly post links to the scientific research literature (when I know of any) on different phenomena. I also try to offer some ideas and thoughts to ponder.

When I do post my personal experiences it is usually to let people know that their experience doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with them and that they are not alone in having such experiences.

Psi

Answer 3

It is true that there are more questions than answers about the kinds of experiences which are posted here, and that the asking of questions in itself makes people, including myself, think about these matters in different ways.

While there have been some scientific institutes that have experimented on some things in laboratories, I think that what we are dealing with here is really on the frontiers of science, for which no really viable methodology has been developed.

There are those who say that anecdotal information proves nothing, but I don't agree with that.   We have had many thousands of years of such anecdotal reports from a great many people.  Most of what I read here (other than the jokes and that sort of thing)  needs to be taken seriously.  The skeptics are good, too, because they point out the possibly mundane explanations.  If only more would consider that the explanation does not necessarily have to be the logical one.

There are people in the past who have challenged the culturally accepted rational explantions.  For example, a journalist named Charles Fort in 1920 wrote a book entitled The Book of the Damned in which he listed many events which defied rational explantion -- including scientifically documented rains of frogs.

Answer 4

I never had a paranormal experience but my friend did. I think this is a good place to talk about stuff like that because people here know about that stuff. They will have stuff to say about it and that's good for everybody.

Answer 5

If I had what I thought was a paranormal experience, I might post it here if I thought that someone could help identify what it was or what caused it. The very first thing I'd be looking for is a natural explanation (else how could I be sure it was a truly paranormal experience?), so the skeptical opinion would be of primary value. Then, if at some point I was convinced my experience was truly paranormal, the believers' opinions would then be of interest.

EDIT: Deenie, if a natural explanation fits the data, there's little need to look to extraordinary explanations. But to correct some strange claims, no skeptic I know says that all UFOs are weather balloons, that all ghost appearances are mental hallucinations, etc. It's certainly not true of skeptics in general. You're just making that up to justify your preferred beliefs. Also, admitting to seeing an unidentified flying object only means you've seen something you can't identify. That doesn't mean its an alien. Ufo photos and videos? The ones that are known legit don't show you much or have other explanations, and there are plenty of faked ones out there. Millions of people believing in life after death? Fallacy of reasoning. There was a time when millions of people believed in a flat earth, or that the earth was the center of the universe. Look how that panned out.

EDIT: Drat -- we almost had a question where both believers and skeptics participated and there were no thumbs down. Oh well. It wasn't me.

Answer 6

They're only seen as useless explanations to spiritual fan boys/girls because science takes time to understand whereas with the paranormal you can make up anything and it's truth.  Look at religion.  Just because you don't accept a scientific explanation doesn't mean it really is actual paranormal phenomena.

Answer 7

To find out more. This is a great site; more access and feedback than other sites. It would seem there's more questions than answers, but all of our input adds up to more perspective. Life is amazing!