DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '02 I => Topic started by: Philippe Cordier on March 28, 2002, 04:36:29 AM
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All of these old interviews we've been lucky enough to read made me think that, in all of the interviews with DS personnel I've read over the years, the only person connected with the series I know of who has expressed a belief in the supernatural is Diana Millay. Specifically, Frid, Edmonds, and Parker and perhaps others have disavowed any belief in it.
That might surprise some fans of the series, even though we know - hopefully [goofg] - that they are actors playing a part in a fictional drama. [roll3] Still, it is a bit surprising , given the reputation of actors for being superstitious, that more of the DS actors were not believers in the supernatural. I wonder if that's true of the writers as well.
On the other hand, I'll bet the fan base is quite different from the actors in this regard. [sconf] Any thoughts?
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. Specifically, Frid, Edmonds, and Parker and perhaps others have disavowed any belief in it.
Looks like I am in good company! ;)
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Looks like I am in good company! ;)
ME too!
but I do believe in Greg the Bunny!
We sing, we dance .... and we don't need pants!!
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Uncle Miltie - 1908 - Infinity :'(
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I don't believe in the supernatural either.
P.S. Sad about Uncle Miltie. I saw him in person in 1978 when he came to the Philadelphia area. He was very funny . . . . My father watched him on TV and that's how I got hooked.
Nancy
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I was mainly drawn to DS because of my interest in the paranormal. Now I don't decorate my room with garlic, but I would someday like to investigate ghost sightings and psychic abilities.
I wouldn't necessarily expect the DS actors to feel the same way. As I see it, they would be more attracted by the possibility of work than by the subject matter of the show. It would be interesting to know whether workng on DS changed their perceptions of the supernatural in any way--if it had made them just a little more open-minded, or shut their minds completely to the possibilities for example.
ProfStokes
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When I watched the original run of DS, I was able to separate fact from fiction. It was a spooky soap opera with actors. Spirits from beyond was hocus pocus.
Now that I'm older and have had strange experiences[shckd] involving my deceased parents and an uncle[angl2], I have a tendency to believe in paranormal occurances[ghost] more often than not.
My daughter seems to have a connection with my deceased uncle for some reason. He's appeared to her in her dreams. She says they are always good dreams and that she feels happy when he's made an appearance[ghost].
You may think I'm [nuts] but truth is sometimes stranger than fiction.
Carol
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Yeah, I'm not a believer in the supernatural either. There are far more scary things out there. Did you ever go into Walmart just to buy some toothpaste on December 24th? Now that's scary. I'm still in therapy over it.
Gerard
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Sometimes things have to be believed to be seen! I believe for the most part. I also think there are so many scams out there it is hard to know what is real and what isn't.
ProfStokes, I would love to go ghost hunting with you someday. I prefer houses from the civil war era. Don't want to go hunting any axe murderes who may be hanging around some house.
Teresa
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I am one of the non-believers. I think there are too many really scary things out there. Horrid illnesses, maniacs who choose violence, natural disasters, I don't think that the super natural has a chance against these things. True evil.
Birdie
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Well, don't know that I believe in vampires or zombies, but I do think there are ghosts. Standing in a cold spot or experiencing a frisson or two changed my mind.
Luciaphil
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I'm a non-believer too but there have been just a few experiences in the past that I can't shake off.
Back in 1975 I made a visit to my dad up in Juneau, Alaska for a few months. While I was up there my cousin passed away. I had a dream that same night and saw how he died. I got a phone call the next morning from my mom saying what happened. To this day I can't get that out of my mind.
Then there was another time, not long after that I was with a gal friend on our way to classes. We saw a man up on platform changing letters on a sign....my said to my friend "wouldn't that be awful if he fell from there." It was just minutes afterwards and he did fall!! :(
Then, Christmas of 1984 I was sitting in our front room watching televison and ..........one of my musical teddy bears started playing .....no one was in the other room....it played the few songs then shut off. This happened not long after my grandmother passed away.
I know I don't believe in the supernatural but these incidences almost make me think twice. [eek]
DONNA
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I know I don't believe in the supernatural but these incidences almost make me think twice. [eek]
DONNA
Sounds like you are clairvoyant-another Pansey or Letitia Faye! ;)
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Sounds like you are clairvoyant-another Pansey or Letitia Faye! ;)
There are a lot of unexplained things in the world but don't really believe in the supernatural but a few times I have sensed things that were going to happen It was a weird feeling and my family members just say
I'm "sensitive to things" try to keep an open mind!
jennifer
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My own experience is very similar to Donna's.
I tend to be a skeptic, especially when it comes to TV psychics, faith healers, etc. An early hero of mine was Houdini, who effectively debunked the "mediums" of his day (showing how they secreted "ectoplasm" in various body cavities, for example, that the "spirits" then produced). I am especially angered by those who prey on the grieving, though in some ways I think the "victims" get what they want.
On the other hand, I've had a handful of experiences (usually accompanied by a "weird" feeling, like Jennifer mentioned) that made me feel that there is more to our life experience than meets the eye. (I would describe the "feeling" as similar to what you feel in a deja vu experience.) I later read about hypnogogic hallucinations (apparently not uncommon; waking up paralyzed, with an awareness of a spirit presence in the room), which matched one of my experiences to a "T"; so I can't discount psychological explanations entirely even for my own experiences.
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I tend to be skeptical when it comes to things beyond the mundane; however, I cannot rule out the possibility of things preternatural (not to be confused with supernatural). One cannot address the issue of the supernatural without bringing into it a lifetime of experience and fundamental beliefs. Certainly, those who are deeply religious generally approach the issue from a completely different angle than the atheist or agnostic. Being one who was brought up in a (moderate) religious environment, my world-view was shaped early on by many of its tenets.
There is a sense of awe or wonder that accompanies the supernatural, which is why I think it has its appeal both in real life and in fiction. The supernatural need not be frightening; but at the same time it might actually represent the ultimate fear (especially for those who believe in the concepts of Heaven and Hell).
Real-life, human evil, even on a grand scale, begins in the minds of mortals; therefore it's basically comprehensible to all of us. Each of us is in some fashion capable of being as depraved, perverted, violent, pathetic, morbid, murderous, twisted, and vile as any other, given the right set of conditions. (Cheery, n'est-ce pas?) Roger Collins himself said, to paraphrase, "Nothing a human being does can be shocking." I think that's largely true. The thing about human evil is that, to me, it's ugly, depressing, frustrating, infuriating, sickening, and all that. But is it frightening? Certainly on some levels it is--because of the tangible personal threat it represents. On the other hand, no other human being is any more or less mortal than I. On a one-to-one scale, it is difficult to be frightened on more than a physical level of another human; in the right set of circumstances, tables may even be turned. On a larger scale, such as war, the threat is amplified but is never any less comprehensible.
When a supernatural element is introduced into an equation, we add the possibility of something far greater (or worse) than ourselves. We add the possibility of the incomprehensible. In addition to possible fear, we now have a sense of awe that cannot be induced by any mere human threat--whether that threat be a knife in the back, a jetliner being used as a bomb, or a nuclear holocaust. Our views of the supernatural may be shaped by the matter of probabilties; in our lives we're far more likely to encounter evil at the hands of other humans than we are to deal with an extradimensional entity that might or might not mean us harm. The supernatural opens the way for a whole new arena of speculation, thus engaging our imaginations on a different level. In comparison, human evil is simply depressing.
Thus the appeal of supernatural in fiction, and when applicable, in real life. I tend to believe that there are certainly things in the universe that we cannot explain, and perhaps never will explain; they may be awesome or horrifying or glorious. Who can tell? As a writer, I find a greater and more enjoyable challenge in searching the realms of lesser probability and presenting them (hopefully) in such a way that, at least for a time, yeah, you believe it.
Just my two-pence worth. Or perhaps three.
Mark
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I have had too many experiences to not be a believer, and have known people who have had experiences too, one of whom was actually with me at the time when something happened and heard it too, nobody else in the room. There is a spirit world. I believe there are good and bad spirits, not all demons, like I was taught in the church I was raised in. I was once told that "visitations" usually happen to people who are more emotional and sensitive. Somebody here mentioned "weird feelings". Recently, fairly often I have been sensing a warm feeling surrounding me, that comes out of the blue, lingers for a few moments, then goes away. I don't know what to make of it. I don't mind it. It's rather a nice feeling, comforting. My family and I saw actual photographs a couple of weeks ago, that had visible apparitions. While my daughter, her father, and I went out to dinner, there was a car club, old car show going on in a big lot near the restaurant we were going to. There were lots of neat old cars. We saw a 1969 Hearse with a coffin, and my little girl's father took pictures of us standing next to it. The coffin was open and propped up against the back of the hearse, which was open. Amusingly, my daughter and I were both wearing Dark Shadows t-shirts. I don't know if the pics will come out because they were taken at night. Anyway, we found out something really interesting. The couple that owned the hearse, showed us some pics that were sent to them by some people like ourselves who had pics taken with the hearse. The people were standing by the hearse almost exactly like my daughter and I had been, and there in the photos, you can plainly see some apparitions that could not have been added in there. You can see a torso and a face. I never saw anything like it. There must have been some left over energy there, from the hearse. We haven't got our pics developed yet. What a trip if something like that comes out in our photos! I really think though when something like that happens, it is meant for a certain person or persons. I have heard of it happening to other people, apparitions appearing in photos. Never thought I would get a first hand look at such photos. That was a neat experience.
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Oh well said, Mr. Rainey....well said indeed.
And speaking of supernatural fiction, I tried very hard to have an encounter with yours today...only to be thwarted in my efforts by the nitwits at my local Borders Books.
Their computer swore to me that they had "Dreams of the Dark" Available In Store....said so right there on the screen. So I looked where it told me to look. And then I looked in places it didn't tell me to look. And then I asked for help from the Information Desk (a greater misnomer I have never encountered, except, of course, for their Customer Service Department) but none was forthcoming.
I considered demanding the attention of the store manager, but that gentleman and I have had our differences before and I didn't think it would be helpful to drag him out of his hiding place back behind the washrooms....so I came home with NO copy of your book.
Never mind, there is always the local Barnes and Noble and when all else fails, the online options. The book was written by a Rainey, and I would feel remiss in family obligations if I didn't get my hands on the thing...not to mention feeling I was missing out on the fun!!
Raineypark
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Oh I definetely believe in the supernatural, I've had too many things happen in my life not to. I've had dreams that people I know were going to die, and as bad as it sounds, they always do. One time I dreamt that the lady across the street from me died. She was a young woman and pretty healthy so my family couldn't understand why I would dream this. Sure enough, 4 months later, she was in a bad car accident and unfortunately passed away. I really hate when this happens too, because it's pretty sad knowing who you know will pass away. I also believe in Guardian angels as well and I do believe that I have one watching over me. When I was in my early twenties, my sister had her own apartment and I would go and stay with her from time to time. One night, she went out with some friends and I was there alone in the apartment. I had planned on spending the night there, but for some unknown reason that I can't explain, I just didn't feel like I wanted to be there that night. I never felt like this before so I couldn't explain it to even myself, I just knew somehow that I did not want to stay there and wanted to go home. So, I called a cab and went home. Well around 1am my sister calls up and tells me that her apartment had been broken into! All I could think of was that I probably would have been fast asleep and God knows what could have happened if I had been in that place when these thieves got in. Another strange thing that happens concerns my grandmother who passed away some years ago. She always used Ben-gay and everytime I visited her, the whole house would smell of it. Every so often, when Im in my mom's house, all of a sudden the place will smell of Ben-gay, and then something always falls off the wall, a picture, the clock, a glass on the shelf, its so strange, but my mom always says, "thats your grandmother again!" One night my mom and I were driving home in an awful rain storm and suddenly we smelled the Ben-gay in the car. As we were exiting the parkway, my car suddenly skitted off the road and we stopped! Thankfully, there were no other cars around and I could only think that's the reason why my grandmother was visiting us again, to protect us from harm. I do agree with Birdie though, that they're are so many things to fear amongst the living. My dad always said to me, "It's not the dead you have to be afraid of, it's the living!!"
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I wish I did believe in the supernatural. I'd bring a Ouija board into the recording booth and have Grayson redub her lines from the great beyond! ;D
Or, at least ask her where the trims and outs are! ::)
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I wish I did believe in the supernatural. I'd bring a Ouija board into the recording booth and have Grayson redub her lines from the great beyond!
Or, at least ask her where the trims and outs are!
Darren -- <thump> to the head!
;D
--Mark
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I'd bring a Ouija board into the recording booth and have Grayson redub her lines from the great beyond! ;D
Or, at least ask her where the trims and outs are! ::)
[smash][smash] TWO thumps to the head [rollb]
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And interesting topic. . i am in the middle. . not too skeptical but not a whole-hearted believer either. I do believe in ghosts, particularly after my recent stay in a 15th century house in Belgium. . .those dreams were **too** real. . :o And while after reading the Vampire Lestate in college, I wanted there to be vampires. . i just don't think there really are any. . .not like Barney anyway.
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::)
I really have no idea how anyone could take anything as regards the supernatural seriously.
I had an "experience" when I was 5. I thought I saw a ghost. Now, older and wiser, I realize it was nothing more than the overactive imagination of a child who was otherwise bored at that particular moment, a child who desperately wanted to see something supernatural.
To me personally and to most people the idea of the supernatural is mind-bogglingly childlish rot. If I did believe in te supernatural, which I certainly don't, I certainly would not say so in public or to any of my friends.
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My mother also said that as a baby I sometimes levitated to turn myself in the crib. Yeah, wahtever... She later admitted to just being her typical lying self.
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After my great grandfather died, I sometimes felt a presence. Turns out upon mature consideration of this I was merely frightened I would see a presence. I never did of course.
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Not the supernatural per se, but I do believe the soul never dies. Where it goes from here, I don't know...
Nancy