Welcome to Gaia! ::

I've been wondering something I don't see brought up or asked very much, but I think it's important enough to start a discussion with.

Whether you're a skeptic, a believer, or just in between, when you are confronted with any kind of evidence or someone's personal story what makes you believe them and what makes you doubt them?

Say an investigating team put evidence on the table, ignoring the evidence and judging the team, what about them would make you doubt or believe in their findings?

Same with hearing someone's personal experience, judging them, would it change your mind even if the story was detailed and they seemed genuine? Or would that not matter?

This isn't just for ghosts but any kind of paranormal event. I also am not really looking to hear "I would ignore them and judge the evidence" because where the evidence is coming from is just as important. Credibility is a huge issue when dealing with the paranormal.

I'm also not wanting to hear anything regarding race, religion, gender and so on.

For me age plays a major part in whether I believe someone or not. There are exceptions though. Online, chat speak and constant misspelling usually count against someone.

I have a harder time believing stories that lack a level of detail that people who are telling the truth often include.

Examples:


VS





With teams, if they don't carry themselves in a polite way, or they seem too eager to find something I have a harder time looking at the evidence.

Examples:


VS




So what other things do you think affects the belief in another? It could be personal or not.

Age?
History (if you are aware of it)?
Whether you are related to or know the person?
Their admitted personal beliefs?
Education?
Lifestyle?
Their willingness to believe or not?

Any other factors?

I really do try to look beyond certain things, and I'm not really saying that someone who maybe types poorly has a story any less important than someone who types properly. In my mind though it shows that they aren't very serious or they don't really care how they're presenting themselves when explaining their findings or experiences. To me if I was presenting something I'd want it to be taken seriously, or at least to save myself some harassment. That and I factor in age because I've seen a lot of immaturity in certain age groups and younger people are often easily influenced by media or others around their age. Like I said though, there are exceptions.

In a helping approach it's different though, because the person is in a way admitting that they lack an understanding or the proper information (if there is any).

I mean my questions above as bringing evidence to a debate/serious discussion. You're gathering evidence and experiences and people present you with their findings and or experiences.

I've noticed in the Supernatural forum that a lot of people are starting to become regulars, and many of those who have shown signs of or admitted to being believers are either being harassed by skeptics and even other people who tend to be believers because of it. It's like if you admit you're a believer suddenly nothing you say matters in a discussion or debate. There have been other times when even someone just asking if it's something paranormal they seem to get a hefty amount of negative replies. This is why I'm wondering what exactly makes people take you seriously or not. .-.

Just mentioning paranormal? Showing you have an interest in it, even if you're not saying you necessarily believe? What makes someone credible and what doesn't. I was just curious about what others made someone credible and what they counted against people.

Now see I really hate that it has that kind of a stigma about it. That if you're interested at all, even from a skeptical view you're a nut. :<

How long ago the even took place, I think, is a factor. Confabulation is the product of gaps in a persons memory after an event takes place where they can't entirely remember or explain what happened. The brain fills in gaps with what they think may have happened. over time, that gap begins to become more and more convincing to that person. To the point they might even swear it as truth. It can become more and more extravagant. (Classic example is the old fisherman's tails, where a large fish told in a story suddenly becomes a great man-eating monster.)

Age is an interesting factor. Supposedly Teenagers (particularly young girls) report more occurrences of paranormal activity (so I've read.) However, most people believe that children are not only the most objective observers but also the most susceptible to drawing the paranormal.

I'm a believer, for sure, but I don't always believe people's experiences. I don't outright through their experiences back in their faces. I acknowledge that they experienced something or that they had a reason for sharing it with me. I might ask questions or give them feedback, but in the end their experience is their own.

I get a lot of crap from my boyfriend for my fascinations and beliefs in the paranormal. We've had heated debates about it. He is a stalwart skeptic, particularly of the things presented in the media and I think of believers in general. I think he has the idea that I'm a blind believer in what people say about ghosts. I've been working hard to present to him the idea of being objective and unbiased when approaching the unknown; that there is a scientific process to understanding anything, but he refuses to believe that we are capable of understanding it in our lifetime. Its disheartening, but we've agreed that if and when he has his on personal experience, he'll stop teasing and harassing me whenever I watch Ghost Hunters on TV.

But I think it'll be a little bit more difficult than him simply having his own personal experience. Ever since I started dating him, all communication, contact, dreams I've had, etc. have stopped! I seriously think he's ghost repellant!

Dog: That's a really good point. I totally forgot about that.

With children though I think it's a little different. Far too many have admittedly played with an 'imaginary' friend that led to paranormal activity. I think children, especially if they're young enough, are usually slightly more honest because of their innocence and at times their lack of understanding. It's been said though that that's exactly why they draw paranormal activity.

Teenagers... The reason they are one of the highest age groups for paranormal events is because of the hormonal change. That and the more 'angsty' teenagers provide negative energy that could cause a change in their surroundings, paranormal or not. Though by that theory, wouldn't menopausal women also be higher? I don't think I've heard anyone report on that.

Personally, 10-15 is where I have the hardest time believing them.

Haha aw, the thing about kids. I think it's cute.

10-15 is usually the attention seeking ages as well, and it can go younger or older depending on the persons development.

Other high paranormal events happen during a traumatic event, and accidents. I know a lot of people won't believe someone if they claim to have an event after a death, or some kind of loss. But if we're talking about the high negative/emotional energy theory it could lead to poltergeist activity. Though, not all experiences are negative when it comes to an accident. Some claim the activity saved them, or protected them. Skeptics usually dismiss it as the person trying to latch onto a passed loved one, unwilling to deal with a loss.

Yeah even some false paranormal happenings can actually help someone in their life.

There's a guy who found in a picture of him in it, a "demon" over his shoulder with a crazed look on it's face. He saw it as a sign and stopped doing drugs because of it.
So sometimes it does help.

Wait, I got the pic somewhere *rummages through photobucket*





=.=; it's obviously a dog.