I would consider myself a sensible skeptic, in that I do not believe in the supernatural, but if I saw something that looked like a demonic possession or a hostile ghost or whatever I would immediately LEAVE.
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I think this is a characteristically Irish POV. Faeries aren't real. But also, you don't fuck with the faeries.
@astronomerritt I’m reading a book of Irish folktales rn and about a third of them are about two guys: one who said “hey don’t mess with that tree it’s full of faeries” and another who cut down the tree to make a wagon to get his stolen sheep to market or something and the faeries turned him into one of the sheep/made him poor/got his wife pregnant/all three
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@geonz Oh sure. A lot of seemingly paranormal stories have rational explanations or have played a useful role in society, and I think that's really interesting.
And also, I am not going to disturb a fairy ring.
@astronomerritt Nor I. Nor speak dismissively thereof.
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I would consider myself a sensible skeptic, in that I do not believe in the supernatural, but if I saw something that looked like a demonic possession or a hostile ghost or whatever I would immediately LEAVE.
Like, I can tell myself it was a hallucination AFTERWARDS. I'm not risking my shit on that 0.1% chance I'm wrong about demons.
"Told you ghosts aren't real, it was just carbon monoxide"
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@astronomerritt I’m reading a book of Irish folktales rn and about a third of them are about two guys: one who said “hey don’t mess with that tree it’s full of faeries” and another who cut down the tree to make a wagon to get his stolen sheep to market or something and the faeries turned him into one of the sheep/made him poor/got his wife pregnant/all three
@bucknam Yeah, that sounds about right. You don't mess with a fairy tree.
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I would consider myself a sensible skeptic, in that I do not believe in the supernatural, but if I saw something that looked like a demonic possession or a hostile ghost or whatever I would immediately LEAVE.
Like, I can tell myself it was a hallucination AFTERWARDS. I'm not risking my shit on that 0.1% chance I'm wrong about demons.
@astronomerritt "don't mess with somethin' you can't explain", a quote I heard on the TV show Castle that's stuck with me.
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"Told you ghosts aren't real, it was just carbon monoxide"
@gbargoud Exactly. Leaving is the correct choice for multiple reasons!
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@astronomerritt "don't mess with somethin' you can't explain", a quote I heard on the TV show Castle that's stuck with me.
@_aD I mean, as a former scientist and eternal pedant, I think we absolutely should mess with what we can't explain, I just make a personal exception for anything that could, like, turn me inside out, or whatever.
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@_aD I mean, as a former scientist and eternal pedant, I think we absolutely should mess with what we can't explain, I just make a personal exception for anything that could, like, turn me inside out, or whatever.
@astronomerritt I think that was the vibe he was going for. absolutely mess with neutrinos, don't poke an angry ghost with a stick.
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R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
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I would consider myself a sensible skeptic, in that I do not believe in the supernatural, but if I saw something that looked like a demonic possession or a hostile ghost or whatever I would immediately LEAVE.
Like, I can tell myself it was a hallucination AFTERWARDS. I'm not risking my shit on that 0.1% chance I'm wrong about demons.
@astronomerritt
But by staying you could answer the question once and for all! Or not, as the case may be. -
I think this is a characteristically Irish POV. Faeries aren't real. But also, you don't fuck with the faeries.
@astronomerritt
Well, the Little People are real and you can see them after you fix the limitations of your eyes with the correct medication...
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260121-the-mysterious-mushroom-that-makes-you-see-tiny-people
So why not faeries as well? -
I think this is a characteristically Irish POV. Faeries aren't real. But also, you don't fuck with the faeries.
@astronomerritt My friends and I had a tour guide in Iceland who, when the subject of the huldufólk came up, said that “I wouldn’t say that Icelandic people are superstitious, but we are stitious”
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I would consider myself a sensible skeptic, in that I do not believe in the supernatural, but if I saw something that looked like a demonic possession or a hostile ghost or whatever I would immediately LEAVE.
Like, I can tell myself it was a hallucination AFTERWARDS. I'm not risking my shit on that 0.1% chance I'm wrong about demons.
This seems sensible to me. As anything that could even imitate a ghost or demon might likewise be dangerous. Best skedaddle anyway and theorize from afar.
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@roknrol I mean, I'm more talking about "levitating little girl talking in the voice of legion", not "pipework making funny sounds"
@astronomerritt Speaking of supernatural encounters, I hope "sniff for the Stinky Ghost Risen from the Sewers" is on your house-hunting checklist.
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I think this is a characteristically Irish POV. Faeries aren't real. But also, you don't fuck with the faeries.
@astronomerritt The Irish Pascal's Wager!
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I think this is a characteristically Irish POV. Faeries aren't real. But also, you don't fuck with the faeries.
@astronomerritt Hello! And goodmorning (you are the first person I talk to this day) I'm a Dutch, sceptic thinking person. Do not believe in gods or any supernatural stuffs and I would totally not hassle the faeries. You know, just to be on the safe side. Also do not mess with the Witte Wieven when you are here. They will steal your cattle if you do. Now, I don't own any cattle at the moment but again, to avoid risk I'll just leave the wise women alone.
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@astronomerritt Hello! And goodmorning (you are the first person I talk to this day) I'm a Dutch, sceptic thinking person. Do not believe in gods or any supernatural stuffs and I would totally not hassle the faeries. You know, just to be on the safe side. Also do not mess with the Witte Wieven when you are here. They will steal your cattle if you do. Now, I don't own any cattle at the moment but again, to avoid risk I'll just leave the wise women alone.
@Branwen74 Good morning! Pleased and unsurprised to yet again find a kindred spirit in the Dutch. May you and your non-existent cattle remain safe.
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@astronomerritt The Irish Pascal's Wager!
@quidcumque Exactly!
My partner actually added that while they do not believe in God, neither would they ever disrespect a Christian site or object, for much the same reason. You just don't invite that sort of attention from anywhere. Even if you don't believe it exists.
(Also, basic respect, obviously.)
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@astronomerritt Speaking of supernatural encounters, I hope "sniff for the Stinky Ghost Risen from the Sewers" is on your house-hunting checklist.
@amenonsen @roknrol You better believe I'm sniffing every drain I see! Though knowing my luck, the stinky drain ghost will follow us.
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This seems sensible to me. As anything that could even imitate a ghost or demon might likewise be dangerous. Best skedaddle anyway and theorize from afar.
@springdiesel Exactly. Even logically, it makes sense. It could be carbon monoxide poisoning.
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@astronomerritt My friends and I had a tour guide in Iceland who, when the subject of the huldufólk came up, said that “I wouldn’t say that Icelandic people are superstitious, but we are stitious”
@tym Ha! Oh, I like that. I might take that on myself.
I think there's an aspect to it of simply respecting your culture's old and entrenched folklore. By not cutting down a fairy tree, you're taking part in something people have been doing (or not-doing) on this island for hundreds of years. I bet it's similar for the Icelandic.
