Halloween Discussion Forums, Costumes, Horror!

Over the weekend, my older brother and I were having a debate about the existence of ghosts. I was being my usual smug, arrogant, pseudo-intellectual self, arguing that ghosts don't exist, and that the reason people think they do is blah blah blah and yadda yadda yadda. So here's the interesting bit; my brother says "Oh yeah, smart-@ss? I'll tell you what. There's a haunted hotel in Gettysburg where the ghost of a soldier with half his face blown off haunts the room, and they rent the room, and I bet you can't spend a night there alone!!" So, cheap b@stard that I am, I say "I absolutely could, provided you pay for the room!!" He agreed; the bet is on! And since the Horrorfind convention is in August, we may plan it for then.

So here's me, the big atheist, the skeptic, who don't believe in nowt, agreeing to spend a night in a haunted room in Gettysburg. I'll of course bring a video and still camera to record everything that happens (like me brushing my teeth) and to help find answers to our most profound and pressing questions (like, do I snore when I sleep?). Any tips or advice any of you have for surviving a night in a "haunted" room? Anyone have any interesting stories of being haunted? Anybody read any stories about smart-@ssed skeptics who accepted a similar dare and didn't survive to tell about it?

I have read stories where flaming children wake up people when they are sleeping in a haunted room and tell them they will die in a number of years. Or less, like a month.

Bring a digital audio recorder...gotta love those EVP's, even if they turn out to be you snoring.

Rising Dead Man wrote:I have read stories where flaming children wake up people when they are sleeping in a haunted room and tell them they will die in a number of years. Or less, like a month.

Who needs a flaming kid? My doctor tells me I should have died ten years ago!!!

Spookymufu wrote:see Mac, subconsciously you think there might be a ghost there because you want to bring all the cameras fully knowing ghosts dont show up when cameras are around

Oh, is THAT how it works.......

Andybev01 wrote:Bring a digital audio recorder...gotta love those EVP's, even if they turn out to be you snoring.

...or other nighttime noises.....

witchy wrote:I'd bring a friend!! Hint, hint!!

Bring the popcorn and a bottle of something tasty and you're invited!!

MacPhantom wrote:Anybody read any stories about smart-@ssed skeptics who accepted a similar dare and didn't survive to tell about it?

Depends on the ghost and haunting... there's a local Tucson story about a night watchman who was reduced to tears by an oppressive force that's been described simply as a black, formless cloud. He was found scared sh... silly, cowering and babbling in a corner of the hotel ballroom. The other night watchman fell down a flight of stairs on his way to get the first watchman-- the first man had called the second watchman for assistance on his walkie-talkie. The other was responding to the call when he fell down the stairs. He claimed he was pushed.... but there was no one there. It was no dare. He was just doing his job.

Gettysburg is full of fun. Chances of seeing something "not quite right" are unusually high. Though, I doubt you'll see the soldier with his face blown off. I've been to Gettysburg twice and haven't heard of that story, though I have heard of countless others, and I even have my own, puzzling experience out at Devil's Den. To which hotel was your brother referring to? I can look in my Ghosts of Gettysburg books and see if he's full of bologna....

I don't know which hotel it was... He didn't remember, but I think it was in one of the Ghosts of Gettysburg books where he read about it. I'll keep bugging him till he finds out which it is... I want to read the legends, even if I don't believe in them.

I love Gettysburg. I'm lucky that I live only 40 minutes away, so I've been up there more times than I can count, but I've never spent the night there. Never seen anything "odd", either, other than the shiny gold nose of Paddy O'Rorke up on Little Round Top.

I'd love to hear about your experience at Devil's Den!

I do believe that there are spirits. Definitely. If you have never experienced it, then of course you would be skeptical.

MacPhantom wrote:I'd love to hear about your experience at Devil's Den!

You can find it already posted, here:
http://halloween.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1699

Thanks Jadewik!!

ilovemichaelmyers wrote:I do believe that there are spirits. Definitely. If you have never experienced it, then of course you would be skeptical.

Am I skeptical because I have never experienced it, or have I never experienced it because I'm skeptical.....?

Because you have never experienced it, you would know if you just open your mind (not literally Mac, don't be a smart a$$)

ilovemichaelmyers wrote:Because you have never experienced it, you would know if you just open your mind (not literally Mac, don't be a smart a$$)

I have a crowbar, may I help?

Spookymufu wrote:the problem with overly skeptical people is, they can come up with a hundred things it could be and never see it for what it really is.....and of course that works in reverse too

Ever watch the Ricky Gervais movie, Ghost Town,? I got a kick out of the scene when the dead figure out tat he can see them!!