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Jim's Disbeliever Hideaway
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Subject Topic: A disbelieving paranormal investigator?
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JJLatBI
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Posted: 06/July/2009 at 5:46pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

For years now, I've been a self-proclaimed "close-minded, disbelieving, professional paranormal investigator". Trust me when I say that I feel very comfortable with every aspect of that term, and I've had several opportunities to debate it and defend it. I have even come to realize that the "close-minded" part is sort of an ironic contradiction.

Now, I've met, and so probably have you, people who consider themselves "disbelievers". Usually they call themselves, "skeptics". I think the term "paranormal skeptic" is a politically correct and waffling way of saying, "while I accept that ghosts might be possible, I have never seen any evidence that supports their existence". In no uncertain terms, I do not believe in ghosts and I do not believe they're even possible. To me, the very concept of ghosts is a violation of the parameters of our universe. All ghost evidence ever presented has an explanation that is unrelated to the concept of ghosts. Gaffiganesque aside: Wow! This jerk really is a disbeliever.

The difference between a "skeptic" and a "disbeliever" is huge and I don't want anyone to be confused. A skeptic has doubts. To have a doubt, by definition, implies that you think the claim is possible. In the realm of the paranormal and the supernatural, I don't suffer from doubts about their impossibility.

This leaves the "close-minded" part of my label and the irony therein. I say my mind is closed, but only to paranormal or supernatural explanations for so-called, anomalies. Because my mind rejects the possibility that some event or evidence is paranormal, my mind is actually free and open to find a reasoned explanation. I can NEVER dismiss something as paranormal. When I hear someone even hint that there may be a haunting, a ghost, or something paranormal, to ME, they've given up and have allowed themselves to stop thinking. Thus the irony is that it is the believers who have closed their minds.

This is just my short introduction. Over the course of time, I'll write in more detail about my beliefs. For now, you probably have one question for me: If you don't believe, why do you investigate paranormal activity?

I am a paranormal investigator because I'm interested in the psychology of these beliefs, belief in general and, to some degree, faith. I've actually experienced some of the same things that many other paranormal believers have. I've seen, heard, smelled, and felt many of the same things. Without that experience, I'm just another person whom believers can dismiss as a callow observer at best. With each investigation, I continue to gain experiences and apply my closed mind to finding the truth. And hopefully my closed mind will prevent hasty and sloppy conclusions and speculations so common in this field of endeavor.
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DisbelieverToo
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Posted: 09/July/2009 at 1:17pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

I love this article! I always feel like I'm the only person on earth that has a complete disbelief in paranormal activity. Just happened to read your article and it has restored my hope that maybe there are a few people out there that don't believe, won't EVER be changed to believe, and can honestly view situations with an analytical mind.

Thank you!

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Posted: 12/July/2009 at 3:28pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

Jim,

You remind me of that famous song from Blood Sweat and Tears.

"I swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell.



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JJLatBI
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Posted: 13/July/2009 at 12:53pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

Guests wrote:
Jim,

You remind me of that famous song from Blood Sweat and Tears.

"I swear there ain't no heaven but I pray there ain't no hell.


I understand where you're coming from, but that underestimates how certain I am that the supernatural does not exist. I know it's common to hold a perverse pessimistic view for a supreme being. I recall George Costanza's response to his therapist's question, "I thought you didn't believe in God?". George said, "I do for the bad things!"

I don't fear eternal damnation or reprisals from a supreme being or cosmic force. I don't believe in ghosts and I haven't reserved a small corner of my mind exclusively for those ghosts and demons looking to do me harm. Good or bad, they don't exist.
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Brian
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Posted: 18/September/2009 at 7:30pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

Yea, your friggin part of the forum always seems to work.
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JJLatBI
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Posted: 22/September/2009 at 2:23pm | IP Logged ***Hi Spider***

Brian wrote:
Yea, your friggin part of the forum always seems to work.


Could someone get some cheese over here to go with this whine?
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