Felt Presence in Outdoor Activities Survey

[Fulk]

DFC:

As a full bore scientist, I think this is all a load of rubbish.

 

 

[ZombieCake]

Very interesting survey.  Could I ask if you used Bristol Online Surveys to build it?

 

[2xw]

If you're a full bore scientist and you think felt presence is rubbish then you are ignorant and haven't read enough.

It's well documented in schizophrenics and epileptics as well as mountaineers and polar explorers. It's a psychological phenomenon caused by disruptions not just in the integration of external and internal sensations in the temporoparietal junction and insula, but also signals related to movement. Goes a long way to explain people's "ghostly experiences" as just artefacts of an imperfect brain in my opinion.

 

[Fulk]

Well, 2xw, I stand corrected; but I suspect that what DFC meant was not that the experience wasn?t real for those who have felt it, but rather that any suggestion of a supernatural explanation was rubbish . . . . which is what I was agreeing with.

Haven't we been here before ? but I'm not convinced that bandying insults on a public forum is a particularly bright idea.

 

[2xw]

Not sure I insulted anyone, unless they take unbridge at "ignorant" in which case please replace with "uninformed" or "unwilling to Google it"


I like this sort of stuff as an explanation for the paranormal - especially when I have to frequently remind myself about paraidolia when I'm on my own 

 

[ZombieCake]

I think perhaps pareidolia is a more common phenomena than people think: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia for more info.  I've certainly referred to it before in caving stuff I've looked at.

 

[ZombieCake]

Possibly relevant story on the BBC re: hallucinations etc.: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42909586