Halloween is nearing. There are make believe haunted houses, but when I was a kid, we thought they existed and were real. One such house was on the end of town. It had been abandoned for many years and looked like it. The yard was overgrown, there were broken windows where any wind would stir some old drapes, and the siding was weather beaten. It had all the trappings of a haunted house and especially to kids. One night we grew enough courage to walk inside; into one room any way. We didn't last long and were scared witless, which is why I still remember it to this day.
Haunted Houses
- Thread starter Chet
- Start date
dobielvr
Well-known Member
- Location
- California
I've only heard about 1 haunted house they're setting up here in town.
In the past, there's been at least 2 or 3.
In a paranormal class I was taking years ago, we went and visited an old sanitarium (that's what they called it back then) that was said to be haunted. It had been closed for years.
Later on some guy turned it in to a haunted house for Halloween. It was the perfect use for it too.
In the past, there's been at least 2 or 3.
In a paranormal class I was taking years ago, we went and visited an old sanitarium (that's what they called it back then) that was said to be haunted. It had been closed for years.
Later on some guy turned it in to a haunted house for Halloween. It was the perfect use for it too.
Murrmurr
SF VIP
- Location
- Sacramento, California
Here's our nearest and best...
I don't get all this elaborate fuss over Halloween. It's becoming ridiculous. Neighbors have fake spiders the size of an entire side of their house hanging there and I gasp every time I see one. 
There are stuffed dummies hanging from the branches of the trees and the cemetery is obscene with fake graves on top of real ones. I remember when Halloween was all about giving kids candy on Oct. 31. Now it's ridiculous.
There are stuffed dummies hanging from the branches of the trees and the cemetery is obscene with fake graves on top of real ones. I remember when Halloween was all about giving kids candy on Oct. 31. Now it's ridiculous.
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Laurie
Senior Member
- Location
- Kingdom of Fife
When we were newly married we lived in a cottage in Cornwall.
There was a small inglenook at the bottom of the stairs and our son who was just able to crawl would frequently crawl over then sit smiling and chatting as babies do to a totally blank wall. The dog would often join him wagging its tail.
When we mentioned this in the village the older folks said oh that'll be the old people, that used to be an almshouse.
My wife and I never felt any presence there though she was fey and very prone to feel such disturbances.
There was a small inglenook at the bottom of the stairs and our son who was just able to crawl would frequently crawl over then sit smiling and chatting as babies do to a totally blank wall. The dog would often join him wagging its tail.
When we mentioned this in the village the older folks said oh that'll be the old people, that used to be an almshouse.
My wife and I never felt any presence there though she was fey and very prone to feel such disturbances.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
1) In USA most holidays, but especially the 'last quarter' ones Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas are elaborated in part due to commercial aspects of selling decorations, and foods associated with them. It's been building up for decades. If significant numbers of people stopped buying the stuff--they'd scale back production.I don't get all this elaborate fuss over Halloween. It's becoming ridiculous. Neighbors have fake spiders the size of an entire side of their house hanging there and I gasp every time I see one.
2) There are probably some complex, overlapping social and psychological reasons some (many) people overdo it. But it would take a massive study to get a reliable idea of what they are (i have some guesses, but--oh, shoot--now my brain is wanting to sit down and think of what kind questions one would need to ask in such a study...dang!)
3) i've never liked the look of those fake webs outdoors. (i've seen truly huge webs on isolated barrier islands in Gulf of Mexico when i was a kid--much prettier.) The fake ones often look more like a piece of shredded linen than like a web. But there's something more important: They are not safe for small living things, from bees to humming birds. See the article below.
https://www.gardenexperiments.com/its-halloween-the-dangers-of-fake-spider-webs/
I agree Christmas and Thanksgiving have been exploited since before I was born, but the Halloween extravaganza is much more recent, within the last twenty years or so. I never saw fake furry spiders consuming houses or life like corpses hanging from trees. The first time I saw one of those tree corpses, I nearly called the police because a friend of mine did that to himself.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
People like being 'scared' (the adrenaline rush is invigorating) but knowing they're really safe. That's why horror movies so popular. Also why fear inducing 'amusement' rides are popular. It is possible that for those who don't lucid dream they are helpful in feeling mastery over one's fears. Studies show lucid dreamers often confront waking fears in their dreams--taking control of the dream helps them find ways to cope/deal with those fears instead of being overwhelmed by them.
The pretend 'haunted houses' hold no appeal for me. i've lived (am currently living) in haunted houses, i've also 'cleansed' a couple. Most spirits are no where near as startling or disruptive as books/TV/movies make them out to be. Unless of course just the concept of consciousness continuing post mortem is frightening to you.
The pretend 'haunted houses' hold no appeal for me. i've lived (am currently living) in haunted houses, i've also 'cleansed' a couple. Most spirits are no where near as startling or disruptive as books/TV/movies make them out to be. Unless of course just the concept of consciousness continuing post mortem is frightening to you.
feywon
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rural North Central NM
That might have something to do with
1) The various socio-political issues that have been raised about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whereas people may feel that as with cartoons--everyone will see it's 'not real', so no one will object. Tho i would not be surprised for practicing witches , or those claiming to be to overcome their usual 'if it harms none, let it be' attitudes to complain at some point)
Which ties into 2) As frightening as the world is these days, perhaps some people need to 'play' up fake scares?