Urban myths

Urban myths - let's hear the best ones, especially the ones told to you by a friend as the real thing. I've had 2 related to me, in both cases it was supposed to have happened to a friend of a friend (don't they all?):

1. The friend of the friend was walking in a shopping centre when she saw someone drop their wallet. She picked it up and ran after the guy, who was of middle Eastern appearance. When she handed it to him, he thanked her for her kindness and warned her to avoid said shopping complex for the next week.
2. The friend of the friend worked in a hairsalon and was approached just before closing time by a well-dressed guy in his 30s, who begged her to stay open for another half an hour to cut his hair for an important dinner date. She agreed, sat him down and went out the back to get her hair-tools. When she looked back into the salon (from behind him), she could see his right arm moving rapidly up and down in his lap area. She freaked out and hit him over the head with one of the hairdryers, only to spot immediately afterwards his glasses and a cleaning rag in his lap. These are lame beyond belief, but people believe this shit! The only one I ever believed when I was little was the one about the middle of a golfball being filled with some poisonous substance. And while we're on the subject, what about some good ghost stories - no-one I know has ever had any interesting experiences, though I lived in an apartment once that was supposed to be haunted and my flatmate of the time swore that he felt something funny once while washing the dishes, like a sudden blast of cold air and a weird feeling that gave him goosebumps. Could've been an acid flashback, but I like to believe the more interesting version.

Well, my experiences are kind of ghost like. I suffer from sleep paralysis so things get to me bad. One night, I was lying on the couch and it was around 11pm, and I assume I fell asleep, well, I hope I did. Anyway, a few minutes later, I don't know, time was indefinite then, but I looked out through the kitchen as I lay there, and noticed an old woman standing right in front of the screen door. She gave off and eerie presence and immediately I grew spooked. She had a weird smile on her face, and then she started laughing, her shoulders hunched and bouncing in the moon light. That scared the hell out of me, and I saw something black floating above her head, and then she screamed, still with that smile, and I jumped up and ran into my own room. I didn't sleep the rest of the night and I threw all the lights on. Another incident I had was me sleeping in my room, and it was around 3 I had this, but I woke up to feel some pressure on my body and I couldnt move. Then I felt something put pressure on my neck and I started shaking, like someone was on top, trying to strangle me. That went on for about 30 seconds, and when it stopped, I was afraid to look out of the blanket, but I automatically sat up, eyes wide, searching for something in the dark. I was afraid to get out of bed to turn on the light, so I just layed under the blanket until the sun came up. When it did, I turned on the rest of the lights and walked out of my room. Those are my two incidents that were the scariest. I've had about 8 though. DOES ANY ONE ELSE SUFFER FROM THIS??? Please...tell me...I hate the feeling of being alone...:(:(Huntsman, say you have sleep paralysis, too.:(

Sleep paralysis - I assume this is where you're asleep, but a part of your mind wakes up enough to be aware, but not enough to be able to move your body? If this is what you mean, then yes I used to suffer from this quite badly - not so much these days though thank God. I used to "wake up" and sometimes I'd be lying in an awkward position where it felt like I wasn't getting enough air into my lungs and I'd try to wake myself up but couldn't - felt like I was slowly choking or something, really awful. Luckily I didn't have any weird experiences while in this state, and these days I manage more often than not to actually wake myself up a few moments later.

I've woken from dreams and been totally unable to move for about 10 seconds, which I've heard classifies as sleep paralysis of some sort. It's like a prolonging of the transition between sleep and waking. But at least be thankful that you don't have that sleep disorder where your body isn't paralysed during REM sleep, so you act out your dreams in reality, often violently.

Yeah, you guys know what I'm talking about. I suffer most of the time mildly, but those 8 times are really burned in my mind. What is that disorder you speak of, Pope?

Originally posted by Volo Recro Yeah, you guys know what I'm talking about. I suffer most of the time mildly, but those 8 times are really burned in my mind. What is that disorder you speak of, Pope?

I've only had that sleep paralysis about 3 or 4 times before and only very briefly with no waking dream state. I have had all sorts of other strange dream-related things, such as brief lucid dreams and dreaming about dreams (most require lots of explanation, so I won't go into it).

As for the disorder, it's REM behavior disorder. There are lots of websites about it. Here's one that also mentions sleep paralysis: http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/rem/

Yeah, I've had lucid dreams and the other you mention, but they aren't scary...:(

Thanks for the site. :)

Vale.

Excellent array of commentary.

There are several revealing books on this subject (as you can imagine) which discuss in detail how the mind plays serious tricks on your own perception of reality shortly before falling to sleep, or indeed waking out of sleep.

Depending on your disposition towards reality and super-reality, a person will either succumb to the thought that they are experiencing something 'supernatural', or accept it is the mind concentrating focus to the real world, out of a dream state.

In short, (the books really do go into detail), the 'micro-sleep' state is the gap where the conscious mind falls into unconscious (or full sleep) - believe it or not for about 20 mins. a person is actually awake but asleep. i.e. you know your 'about' to fall asleep, but you can't really do anything but lay there and allow your mind to fuzz away. When you do drop your out for the count and you pretty much know your away with the pixies and Gandalf. The 'micro-sleep' state is the key, which is some hyper-sensitive people see their dreams in a semi real world situation. Thus the woman in the kitchen searching for snacks with a black hawk down on her head.

'But it seems so real' ... guess what, it is! ... remember that your mind tells you what's real in the real world (when you are fully awake), and notifies you when you are dreaming (when you are fully asleep). If the mind is a bit lazy one day (or you are always away with the pixies and Gandalf and sometimes Gollom) it just decides to opt for the easy option and not really assimilate real life from dreaming ... unfortunately your conscious mind can't work out what your bigger mind is doing ... so you end up seeing a ghost in the middle of your living room for a few seconds whilst your brain gets its act together.

The pressure on the head is the same gig - like falling down then waking up 'before' you hit the bottom and damage yourself, again its the mind drifting too slowly between reality and dream world (a bit like Whitney Houston).

Never rule out seeing a ghost (i.e. when a collection of people 'fully awake' witness a werewolf running through a brick wall) but be aware that this events are rare (there aren't any) - and if you experience it on your own, chances are (99.9%) its your brains electro activity going bonkers for a few seconds.

If anyone has got footage of a ghost on camera, contact James Randi and claim $1 million dollars ... the offer is still on.

:)

Thank you for elucidating me further. It is much appreciated. And is that your name? James Randi? :)

Ciao

No, my real name is too difficult to pronounce by the human tongue.

James Randi is an American, who rebuffs ghostly claims, and has done for many years. He is keen to see something odd though, so isn't entirely a sceptic with no hope, and has placed a bounty of $1 million.

http://www.randi.org/

His work is visible within the above parameters.

Ah, I see. Thank you for clearing that up. :) So, what is your real name? I won't take the above excuse.:(

Vale.

Jack Hawkins.

don't believe his lies. he is the one. kill him

Originally posted by Push Urban myths - let's hear the best ones, especially the ones told to you by a friend as the real thing. I've had 2 related to me, in both cases it was supposed to have happened to a friend of a friend (don't they all?):1. The friend of the friend was walking in a shopping centre when she saw someone drop their wallet. She picked it up and ran after the guy, who was of middle Eastern appearance. When she handed it to him, he thanked her for her kindness and warned her to avoid said shopping complex for the next week.

did anything happen to the shopping centre or was it just because it overcharged & they had a sale starting in eight days time?

Originally posted by Volo Recro Well, my experiences are kind of ghost like. I suffer from sleep paralysis so things get to me bad. Another incident I had was me sleeping in my room, and it was around 3 I had this, but I woke up to feel some pressure on my body and I couldnt move. Then I felt something put pressure on my neck and I started shaking, like someone was on top, trying to strangle me. That went on for about 30 seconds, and when it stopped, I was afraid to look out of the blanket, but I automatically sat up, eyes wide, searching for something in the dark. I was afraid to get out of bed to turn on the light, so I just layed under the blanket until the sun came up. When it did, I turned on the rest of the lights and walked out of my room. Those are my two incidents that were the scariest. I've had about 8 though. DOES ANY ONE ELSE SUFFER FROM THIS??? Please...tell me...I hate the feeling of being alone...:(:(Huntsman, say you have sleep paralysis, too.:(

So that's what it's called? And I'm not the only one who goes through this? Wow. Freaks me out when it happens. It's like I'm awake...sort of...but can't move, and there's this pressure that's holding me down, keeping me from moving, almost keeping me from breathing. And the weirdest part is I could swear that the sheets/blankets are billowing wildly above me while it's going on. "Like someone is on top of me, trying to strangle me." And I can't move. Makes me believe in the possibility of demons. Very terrifying.

So, Huntsman, what do you know about "sleep paralysis"?

PS- And what the feck does this have to do with "urban myths," anyway?

Originally posted by masaaki sakai don't believe his lies.he is the one.kill him

chortle chortle

Originally posted by bLuE oRdEr > Originally posted by Volo Recro> Well, my experiences are kind of ghost like. I suffer from sleep paralysis so things get to me bad. > > Another incident I had was me sleeping in my room, and it was around 3 I had this, but I woke up to feel some pressure on my body and I couldnt move. Then I felt something put pressure on my neck and I started shaking, like someone was on top, trying to strangle me. That went on for about 30 seconds, and when it stopped, I was afraid to look out of the blanket, but I automatically sat up, eyes wide, searching for something in the dark. I was afraid to get out of bed to turn on the light, so I just layed under the blanket until the sun came up. When it did, I turned on the rest of the lights and walked out of my room. Those are my two incidents that were the scariest. I've had about 8 though. DOES ANY ONE ELSE SUFFER FROM THIS??? Please...tell me...I hate the feeling of being alone...:(:(Huntsman, say you have sleep paralysis, too.:(

So that's what it's called? And I'm not the only one who goes through this? Wow. Freaks me out when it happens. It's like I'm awake...sort of...but can't move, and there's this pressure that's holding me down, keeping me from moving, almost keeping me from breathing. And the weirdest part is I could swear that the sheets/blankets are billowing wildly above me while it's going on. "Like someone is on top of me, trying to strangle me." And I can't move. Makes me believe in the possibility of demons. Very terrifying.

So, Huntsman, what do you know about "sleep paralysis"?

PS- And what the feck does this have to do with "urban myths," anyway?

This crap happens to me about once a month. It only happens when I end up on my stomach. It absolutely SUCKS. The feeling of suffocating is the worst. I think it's akin to sleep apnia (ap-nee-uh - I don't know what the spelling is). Anyway, it's all I can do to try and make a toe or a finger move to get the rest on my body going. I hate it......

OK, we've solved sleep paralysis, now how about some weird stories?

Originally posted by Push OK, we've solved sleep paralysis, now how about some weird stories?

Ok, one time I was in a bar and in walked a priest, a midget, and a 12-inch pianist. Stop me if you've heard this one...

Yeah, Blue..Order, That's what it is. Sorry you have it too.

AND IT IS A WEIRD ORDEAL, PUSH.

Anyway, I guess if you really wanted to go back to the topic at hand, I have a ghost story. I have many because I believe something's wrong with me. :(

I don't know how many live in a multi-story story house, or...whateva,even if you have an attic, which I'm sure the majority of you do, but you hear little noises and squeaks? Well, I was home alone one night and I heard this large bang up on the second floor. So, I stood up and grew a bit alarmed because it sounded like some one was up there, walking hurredly back and forth. I know for a fact no one was there, yet I kept hearing the heavy footsteps, clear as day, and I kept hearing the bathroom door shut. When the footsteps got over my head, they stopped and the floor just creaked, it wasn't footsteps, just a creak. I stood still, trying not to breath too loudly for some reason, and then the footsteps walked away. I didn't hear them the rest of the night and I haven't since. It was just very, very horrific. That was a major one, but there are other's that my brother has encountered, and a few friends. One friend said he was staying at his dad's house, and he's an insomniac, so he was up late in the night (or early in the morning), when he went down to the kitchen to get something to eat. When he turned on the lights, he saw all the cupboards open and the pantry door, etc, etc... He said he froze, but gathered his wits to close all of the open doors. He went back upstairs, and didn't come down for a few more hours. He went to get something to drink, so he turned the light back on and the cupboards and door were opened once again. He said he shat in his pants and ran to his dad's room. He woke him up and asked who else was in the house, because he thought maybe his brother was staying there as well, but the father said there was only them two. He said he never stays the night at his dad's house anymore, and he rarely visits. I know a lot more, but I'm tired. :)

Valete.

urban myths explained

Blue Order of the Day, Sleep Paralysis is a self-contained explanation for the discussions above, the variations your probably after drift a bit into supernatural, thus they don't really count (as many people just make up their own definitions and slang terms).

On the ghost thing, I have spent countless hours in pursuit of such things (especially about 10 years ago when I could practically call myself a ghost hunter, or ghost huntsman - in fact, that is where the nickname emanates). Aka Han Solo; I have been from one end of the galaxy to the other and I've seen some fairly bizarre biscuits, but I have never seen any one, all powerful force controlling everything - to paraphrase, I've never seen anything weird enough to make me believe whole heartedly in ghosts (as in, spectres from another dimension). But as we all know, the force does exist otherwise Luke wouldn't have blown up the Death Star.

I've got so many stories its peculiar. They're pretty boring to retell as some of them are quite fantastic thus the belief isn't there to hold any real interest. Its always quite exciting to read shit though so this thread is graham.

One thing to put to the new Velcro character, this house with the opening cupboards and flying Corn Flakes, was their a teenager involved?

Rocket worked 23 years in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY...FACT stranger than fiction.No wonder all the DOT.COMs went belly up!

Then i caught a VIRUS!

Huntsman, what do you mean, "teenager involved"? As in the one telling me what happened or what? If so, yes, at the time it happened he said he was 14, and now he's 17. I know he's not one to exaggerate, he doesnt like to let his mind wander, so I took him seriously. And he said everyone else saw it, its just that they are Catholic and their religion doesnt call on the belief in ghosts, so his dad and everyone else ignored it and said it was just large bugs. :(

Is that what you meant? Sorry about the delayed reply...I was out for a bit...:(

Vale.:)

Your story appeared to fall into one of the ghost story parameters I'd set for myself a while ago.

Poltergeist activity described in your story, where objects move seemingly on their own, is almost always caused by 'teenage' mental power. i.e. the months where a person develops from child to adult, sees a brain power overload. Unbeknown to the kid in question, their extra sensory brain can sometimes transmit powerful instructions to shift gear around when dreaming.

Plenty of evidence in many books.

Not saying its true, but you've just become another positive piece of evidence. How would I know a teenager was involved? - I just presented the most common facts and it proved likely.

Please send me 50 pounds.

or watch The Fury :)

Well, right on, Hawkeye, but I don't have 50 pounds. I don't even know what 50 pounds equates to in U.S. dollars. Still... I have none of those, either. :(

So, you're saying about the teenager, is that his mind, as he was growing into adolescence, is very strong mentally, and with that, it set something off to ... and that is where I lost you. :(

I LOVE YOU.:(

The woman who sued McDonald's is not an urban myth- it happened. Everybody made fun of her story, implying it was a "frivolous" lawsuit, but the woman sustained 3rd degree burns to her pelvic area. 3rs degree burns. Ouch. She won, because McD's has (or had) a corporate policy in place to overheat the coffee so that it would stay hot longer (and thus allow them to brew less coffee), even though there was an increased risk that customers would sustain serious burns. McDonald's made a choice to accept more customer injuries, and that is why they lost in court.

Too lazy to check the first page but has anyone mentioned the one about the family who go on a picnic and find their elderly relative dead in the car? I believe this one was in the first "National Lampoon's Vacation" film.