In the bin right in front of me I saw the likeness of a BMW 5-series. Not the whole car of course, just the front. It was a perfect image of the front of the car.
The image was the reflection of the two legs of the table next to the bin and clearly the angle at which the reflection of the table legs made its way to my line of sight had created this striking image.I could see the grille and the lights and it looked like a kind of gold or beige coloured car. A lot like this in fact.
So I got to thinking about how the brain works and how it can be tricked by the light. When we were younger my mother used to freak me out be telling stories about ghost-like figures that she saw crossing the garden at night.
I am a super-skeptic and used to tell her right out that it was all a bunch of crap. She was convinced she saw stuff in the garden.
So clearly one's disposition towards the supernatural has some significance. If you tend to believe in this stuff then you're surely more likely to "experience" something, since you are more open to the possibility.
I on the other hand think all that stuff is tripe so I don't think I'm likely to have such an experience.
So this bin thing was rationalised by me as being the result of a trick of the light. But what of this notion of apparitional experiences?
The moving statues of Ballinspittle
In Ireland back in 1985 the country was gripped by a story about some locals in the village of Ballinspittle in county Cork. They claimed to have witnessed some statues in the village move. They were convinced but of course as people flocked to the village to witness the "miracle" nothing subsequently was seen. There were piles of people all staring at these statues, all waiting to see them move and unfortunately for them nothing did move. The church distanced itself and refused to take a position on the claims. Since the original claim nothing happened to substantiate the claims of the few who "saw" the statues move.
So what do you make of this? A couple of people reckon they saw a statue move. True? Not true? Hard to decide for sure. In my view it depends on your pre-disposition to the concept of apparitions and similar experiences.
There is a good article over at Wikipedia about apparitional experiences. Here's a good excerpt to support my own view on this:
"Apparitional experiences ... represent a form of quasi-perceptual experience in which the role of external stimuli is minimal or possibly non-existent, while the experience nevertheless continues to be phenomenologically indistinguishable from normal perception, at least in some cases."
Check out the full article here.
And what then of the BMW 5-Series?
The model I "saw" is referred to as the E60 model of the BMW and is the 5th generation model of this car, first manufactured in 1972. The E number refers to the chassis type used to manufacture the car. The car was designed by American designer Chris Bangle, and was rejected by BMW purists as being an ugly car. Bangle was also responsible for the BMW 7-series, also rejected by fans as ugly. Some fans even went so far as to start an online petition to get BMW to fire Bangle. Both series were known for having the "Bangle butt", the characteristic rear-end design that BMW fans consider to be unattractive and poorly designed.
Bangle is no longer the main designer for BMW models, being "moved upstairs" and replaced by Dutch designer Adrian van Hooydonk. He is now the chief designer for the entire BMW group including brands such as Mini and Rolls Royce.
Those who know me will know that I am not a big fan of BMW cars. I have no desire to own one. I do think it's amusing that in 1959 BMW almost was sold to Mercedes-Benz only for a last-minute change of heart by BMW. The rest is history as far as BMW is concerned.
So, my mother is sure she saw "something" hovering around in the garden at night. Anyone else ever "seen" anything or know someone who claims to have "seen" something?
3 comments:
Interesting post - as a scientist I am by nature a skeptic. A person's perceptions are simply a series of neurons firing; as such, your brain suspended in fluid could technically experience all that you are experiencing in life by manipulating the same series of neurons. So - apparitions? Near-death experiences? Just your neurons firing. Synapses communicating. Neurotransmitters being transmitted.
That said, I saw a ghost. I was at a friend's house in college on New Year's Eve, getting all dolled up in the bathroom. The house was empty save for me, and this bathroom was at the terminus of a long, dark hallway. All the lights were off except for the light in the bathroom. I stood with the door open , fixing my stockings, when I had the distinct impression of a man leaning against the door frame.
I say impression because I never claim to have seen this "man," but his impression was burned into my brain.
Anyway, he was middle-aged, wearing khaki shorts, a button-down shirt, and a vest, and some kind of cowboy-esque hat. He reminded me, in a way, of Crodocile Dundee. So this "man" I saw, I felt he was leering at me. I felt threatened and unsafe. It was a very distinct, specific feeling of being ogled and it made me nervous.
All of a sudden I felt that I was being crowded in the bathroom, almost as though this "man" rushed in to get his hands on me. I took off down the hallway and was out the door faster than I thought possible for a woman wearing a dress and heels.
I met my friend at the club and told her I saw a ghost at her house. She told me that yes, in fact her house was haunted and proceeded to describe to me the exact same character.
Even through my scientific misgivings about the supernatural, I remain convinced that I saw the spirit inhabiting her home.
Of course, I don't believe anyone else has seen a ghost! But that's the skeptic in me.
Never seen a ghost, because they don't exist.
whoah! that's kinda weird alright M. And sounds vivid enough, especially since it has stayed with you.
My mum used to say the same thing, and recently when I asked her about it she told me that my kid brother used to say to her "I saw the lady again last night" or "the lady came to my room". He said this so many times over a period of years as a young child that it just wasn't funny. It was sinister I tell you.
Me, I never saw anything so for now I'd still be with Scubes on this one. But there's always the possibility that something could happen. I just tend to think my brain is mitigating against that likelihood by being super skeptical.
Chased by a ghost in a hat. That is creepy.
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