Imaginary Friends

[mooseypops]

I was listening to a Richard Dawkins audiobook this morning, but being half asleep, I forget which one. He was talking about imaginary friends, and talked about a woman who had contacted him and told him about her imaginary friend - a little purple man. He talked about how many people have imaginary friends, and they mostly are aware that their imaginary friends are just that - imaginary. But this woman who had written to him had felt that her little purple man was very real. By the time she entered kindergarten, he had come to her and told her he wouldn't be seeing her any more, as he had other children to go to, and she didn't need him anymore. The story went on to talk about how the little purple man visited her one more time in a dream, when she was much older and how she had interpreted this re-visitation.

This got me thinking about the imaginary friends we had/have. I say have, because even though I'm 26, I still "imagine" friends. I'm married and employed, but have never been particularly social, so I guess thats why I still do it. It's a way for me to think my thoughts out loud, and put a form to my arguments and opinions, and I'm very aware that if I'm having a conversation with myself, it's purely to clarify those opinions, and that it's not a "real" conversation thats taking place.

When I was little, though, the people I was talking to were very specific. All my favourite tv characters were there for me to play with and have fun with! :)

What were/are anyone else's experiences? Please be honest - I am! :)

[Gate2501]

I never had any imaginary friends, but my 2.5year old son has one named "Blah".

Sometimes I imagine that I am talking to someone in order to verbalize my thoughts, but usually I just imagine a particular person that I know. It is more a form of practicing what I am going to say so that it all comes out right when I do eventually say it (if ever I do).

I don't think that anyone short of schizophrenics would actually *see* or *hear* the friend.

[Apathia]

Welcome Mooseypops!

My dolls and teddies were my childhhod imaginary buds.
In my teens, I got religon and made that kind of imaginative projection.
But also during that time, I spoke to my favorite authors a lot, especially Mark Twain.
I still talk to the "Universe," when I have some emotional conflict to work through.

Oh. I had an imaginary enemy too in my childhood, named "Garfield."
(No not the cartoon cat. I'm from the Sylvester Era.)

[tracer]

I am sure that for many, many people, Jesus is their imaginary friend.

[Sasha]

When my daughter was about 5 she started talking about the "people inside her." I started asking her questions about them (wondering if she was hearing voices). She said they were just little people who lived inside her and made everything work right. I'd ask her how they got around and she had stories of elaborate ladder systems and lights, all sorts of things. I started to imagine with her, how they lived, what they ate, etc. It really was a lot of fun, nothing that seemed abnormal, just good imagination. She grew out of it eventually but we had a great time making up stories about them.

[godofpie]

Mine was named Sonny. He was a very bad imaginary friend. He was always getting in trouble, so my mom tells me. Anytime something broke or got messed up, I told her it was Sonny's fault. I might have to revitalize Sonny. I can always use a good scapegoat.

[Elizabeth I]

When my daughter was about 5 she started talking about the "people inside her." I started asking her questions about them (wondering if she was hearing voices). She said they were just little people who lived inside her and made everything work right. I'd ask her how they got around and she had stories of elaborate ladder systems and lights, all sorts of things. I started to imagine with her, how they lived, what they ate, etc. It really was a lot of fun, nothing that seemed abnormal, just good imagination. She grew out of it eventually but we had a great time making up stories about them.

When I was very small, I thought China - the whole country - was in my stomach. My mother was always telling my I should eat because "think of all the children starving in China" and I couldn't figure out how it made a damn bit of difference to them whether I ate or not unless they were in my stomach.

[Memento_mori]

I don't understand. I have lots of imaginary friends, mostly from work, but some are x-inlaws and some people from my past that have moved away. What's to say they have to be non-corporeal to be imaginary friends? Shoot. Some of my best friends are imaginary.

[AliasN]

Apparently I had imaginary friends when I was little, but all of them were animals. Most famously, Lassie. My Mom tells me she was constantly having to step over an imaginary dog until I was about four or five. I don't really remember it myself, though.

In university, in one of my psychology classes my professor asked people who had imaginary friends as children to raise their hands. About ten of us sheepishly raised our hands. He then told us that, generally, that is a sign of intelligence. Which made us all raise our hands quite a bit higher after that. I don't know if that is true or not, but obviously I've never really questioned it because it is to my advantage. :)

[Lensman]

I never had an imaginary friend :(

;) :D

[skeptigirl]

My stuffed animals had to be tucked in under my covers every night. But they never spoke.

Now I just talk to my dogs as if they understood.

I think people may have real false memories about their imaginary friends. I don't think there's any evidence kids have schizophrenic type hallucinations though, unless they had serious brain problems. But I could be wrong. There may just be some childhood hallucinations that are perfectly normal that we all forget by the time we are about 4 or 5.

I wouldn't worry too much about something like Sasha is describing. Kids do sometimes insist their fantasies are real but kids also lie as a normal behavior too.

[Ateius]

I didn't create imaginary friends out of whole cloth as a child, but I did frequently anthropomorphize my collection of action figures.

These days, I talk to my dog or myself to simulate a conversation when no-one's around - I find it helps in problem-solving, as Gate2501 and Apathia have touched on.

[mooseypops]

One of the nicest things coming across here is that it sounds like quite a lot of people have conversations with themselves too. That was something I tried to stop in my teen years, because between my mother and myself, I had myself convinced I was a crazy person and that if anyone ever caught me I'd be locked away. I'm a little more relaxed about it now though . . . right, guys? ;)

Has there ever been any serious research done about imaginary friends? I guess I just assumed everyone had them at one point or another. I saw something in wiki that suggested it was one of those things that was difficult to study, because people on the whole are too reluctant to talk about it.

[captain koolaid]

Malcolm, the Invisible Bigfoot says that you are all crazy. He told me to tell you to seek help.

[RandomJSF]

One of the nicest things coming across here is that it sounds like quite a lot of people have conversations with themselves too. That was something I tried to stop in my teen years, because between my mother and myself, I had myself convinced I was a crazy person and that if anyone ever caught me I'd be locked away. I'm a little more relaxed about it now though . . . right, guys? ;)

My parents used to tell me that it wasn't a good idea to talk to myself. They seemed to have trouble with the idea that I never talked to myself just for the sake of doing so... There was always a purpose. Most often, it was to play out a train of thought, to allow myself to take two different sides in an argument so that I could logically debate whatever I was thinking about, and thus come to a conclusion.

Sometimes there'd be several "me's" involved, but there were all just me, not some imaginary person. It wasn't hearing voices in my head, or anything like that. I still do it to this day, though I keep it to my thoughts when in public. I still talk aloud to myself at home or in the car, though. :)

~~ RandomJSF

[-Fran-]

I can't remember having any, but my brother had. He was of the same evil kind as godofpie describes, that is to say, he did all the bad things my poor brother got accused of while my brother claimed eternal innocence :)

Anyone recall a film with Rik Mayall playing an extremely annoying imaginary friend? It's at the back of my mind somewhere...

ETA:
Found it!
Drop Dead Fred
http://imdb.com/title/tt0101775/

ETA2:
I do constantly talk to myself though, and always have, but I am reasonably sure that I am not imaginary :)

[CFLarsen]

My stuffed animals had to be tucked in under my covers every night. But they never spoke.

Now I just talk to my dogs as if they understood.

I think people may have real false memories about their imaginary friends. I don't think there's any evidence kids have schizophrenic type hallucinations though, unless they had serious brain problems. But I could be wrong. There may just be some childhood hallucinations that are perfectly normal that we all forget by the time we are about 4 or 5.

I wouldn't worry too much about something like Sasha is describing. Kids do sometimes insist their fantasies are real but kids also lie as a normal behavior too.

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?

[Cactus Wren]

Selma Fraiberg, in her book The Magic Years, writes about preschool-age children's imaginary friends who seem to exist to take all the blame for the child's misdeeds: it wasn't me, it was Binky who broke all the eggs. Binky pulled all the books out of the bookshelf. Or, Binky made me try to flush Teddy down the toilet.

Fraiberg suggests that at a certain early stage, this isn't merely trying to escape from punishment, but it's the first early stirrings of what might be called conscience. I don't want to be the bad person who did those things, who made a mess and made Mommy unhappy or angry. I don't want even to be the person who had those ideas. They didn't come from me, they came from someone else. From Binky.

The problem is that a lot of people in our society do hold onto exactly this concept of an imaginary friend all their lives: and if they can't blame their wrong actions on this playmate, they can at least blame their wrong impulses on him. Satan made me flush Teddy down the toilet, he made me have an affair with the church secretary, it was his idea to steal all that money. I didn't want to, but my imaginary friend made me.

For many people, Satan is at least as important an imaginary friend as God is.

[Small Town Jesus]

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?

People tend to grow out of their imaginary friends but they cling on to their imaginary gods with a delusional, self-justifying desperation.

[CFLarsen]

People tend to grow out of their imaginary friends but they cling on to their imaginary gods with a delusional, self-justifying desperation.

Ah, but I didn't ask what happened to people later in life.

I asked what the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god is.

[Professor Yaffle]

My 4 year old talks about his "pretend friend" all the time. Often just to try to blame the friend for something naughty he has done though...

[Sasha]

When I was very small, I thought China - the whole country - was in my stomach. My mother was always telling my I should eat because "think of all the children starving in China" and I couldn't figure out how it made a damn bit of difference to them whether I ate or not unless they were in my stomach.

:D When I was a kid it was "children in Korea are starving." I always thought they'd somehow be able to use the scraps I didn't eat so the statement didn't make sense to me.

[AliasN]

People tend to grow out of their imaginary friends but they cling on to their imaginary gods with a delusional, self-justifying desperation.
Also, generally no one tries to convince them that god doesn't exist.

[KateHW]

I had imaginary friends in the sense other people mentioned, in that I would imagine I had relationships with cartoon/television/literary characters and later authors in such a way that I would make up elaborate verbal exchanges with them. When I was very young I imagine I thought it was somehow 'real' though I did not see or hear them (I imagined the Thundercats a lot - ho!). The older I got the more I realized I was (and am) just a very ... internalized sort of person and this was my way of trying out ideas and conversation before the social stage. I still do this, in a way. I imagine exchanges with authors as I'm reading their work, usually in a daydreamy way as though we're at a dinner party and I'm making some killer witty quips or we're passionately debating some point I have contention with.

Going back to 'the devil made me do it' thing ... as a young child I thought that was a viable excuse and I used it liberally even though I didn't believe it. "No no no, wait, listen. The devil made me do it. See? It's cool. Put the belt down, please."

[DmKrispin]

One of the nicest things coming across here is that it sounds like quite a lot of people have conversations with themselves too. That was something I tried to stop in my teen years, because between my mother and myself, I had myself convinced I was a crazy person and that if anyone ever caught me I'd be locked away. I'm a little more relaxed about it now though . . . right, guys?

Oh, jeez, I talk to myself all the time and I am definitely not crazy. I find "thinking out loud" to be constructive and even soothing, at times.

My 6-year-old has an imaginary 8-year-old twin brother, Tom, who is just one of his eleven imaginary brothers. Tom goes to Invisi-School and lives in the desert. I don't remember ever having any imaginary friends; the closest I came to that was anthropomorphizing my stuffed animals. I grew out of that and now I'm satisfied with anthropomorphizing my cats. Fortunately, they don't seem to mind.

[DeVega]

A famous imaginary friend - 'Binker' - written by the wonderful, AA Milne...




Binker---

Binker-what I call him-is a secret of my own,
And Binker is the reason why I never feel alone.
Playing in the nursery, sitting on the stair,
Whatever I am busy at, Binker will be there.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he's a clever sort of man,
And Mummy is the best since the world began,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan-

But they can't See Binker.

Binker's always talking, 'cos I'm teaching him to speak
He sometimes likes to do it in a funny sort of squeak,
And he sometimes likes to do it in a hoodling sort of roar...
And I have to do it for him COs his throat is rather sore.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he's a clever sort of man,
And Mummy knows all that anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan-

But they don't Know Binker.

Binker's brave as lions when we're running in the park;
Binker's brave as tigers when we're lying in the dark;
Binker's brave as elephants. He never, never cries...
Except (like other people) when the soap gets in his eyes.

Oh, Daddy is Daddy, he's a Daddy sort of man,
And Mummy is as Mummy as anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny,and I call her Nan...

But they're not Like Binker.

Binker isn't greedy, but he does like things to eat,
So I have to say to people when they're giving me a sweet,
"Oh, Binker wants a chocolate, so could you give me two?"
And then I eat it for him, COs his teeth are rather new.

Well, I'm very fond of Daddy, but he hasn't time to play,
And I'm very fond of Mummy, but she sometimes goes away,
And I'm often cross with Nanny when she wants to brush my hair...

But Binker's always Binker, and is certain to be there.

[CFLarsen]

Oh, jeez, I talk to myself all the time and I am definitely not crazy.

That's what they all say...

I grew out of that and now I'm satisfied with anthropomorphizing my cats. Fortunately, they don't seem to mind.

That's because you are really being felinomorphized. I don't talk to my cats, I miaow to them. Otherwise, they won't listen.

[Jimcalagon]

I never had any imaginary friends. Or real ones, come to think of it.

[KateHW]

I never had any imaginary friends. Or real ones, come to think of it.
I'd invite you over for dinner but I have a prior engagement with Richard Dawkins and the ghost of Bertrand Russell. I'm sure you understand.

[sackett]

You wanna hear wierd? When I was a little boy, I had an imaginary friend -- and she was a girl! Her name was Clea, and she had breasts. I don't think I have to go into much more detail, do I? Cuz I'm blushing red.

[DmKrispin]

I don't talk to my cats, I miaow to them. Otherwise, they won't listen.

I assure you that if I utter the phrase, "Are you guys hungry?" or "Pig, pig, pig!" they not only listen, they actually respond quite enthusiastically!

I would have evidence of this, but it got et. :o

[CFLarsen]

I assure you that if I utter the phrase, "Are you guys hungry?" or "Pig, pig, pig!" they not only listen, they actually respond quite enthusiastically!

I would have evidence of this, but it got et. :o

That's what they all say...

[SusanB-M1]

One of my granddaughters had an imaginary friend called Jimit. We reminded her about this a few years ago, but she had no recollection of it at all.

[Nihilus]

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?
An imaginary god gets you into the VIP sections of imaginary celebrity parties.

It's all about the contacts.

[RSLancastr]

I do constantly talk to myself though, and always have, but I am reasonably sure that I am not imaginary :)I talk to myself too.

As do I.

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?One is straight fiction, the other is fantasy?

it wasn't me, it was Binky who broke all the eggs. Binky pulled all the books out of the bookshelf. Or, Binky made me try to flush Teddy down the toilet.When my son was in pre-school, he used to blame everything on one of his friends from school. This friend had never been to our house, and yet was somehow always responsible for the mess in my son's room. I remember asking him how his friend had gotten into our house during the night to leave toys all over my son's room. After a brief pause, he said "Through the chimney."

Ah, the Santa Claus gambit...

[Babylon Sister]

My neice had imaginary friends she called The Guys. They were very small and there seemed to be a lot of them. When she would see rainbows, or the rainbows cast by the crystals that hung in the window, she would point them out and say "Look! The Guys are dancing!"

I still think of that when I see rainbows and it makes me smile.

[Olowkow]

When I was very small, I thought China - the whole country - was in my stomach. My mother was always telling my I should eat because "think of all the children starving in China" and I couldn't figure out how it made a damn bit of difference to them whether I ate or not unless they were in my stomach.

I got a good laugh from this story. We were always told the same thing, but only a very creative child could come up with this interpretation.

I had a lot of Chinese friends in grad school and mentioned the thing about "children starving in China" to several. It turns out that they all had a good laugh, because as children, they were told the same story...but about the starving children in America! :)

[AliasN]

It's great to hear all these stories. I, too, worried as a kid that I was crazy because of my propensity to talk to myself (it's still something I do).

But I'm wondering now if there is a little something to that whole "sign of intelligence" thing. Not that you're automatically smart if you talk to yourself, obviously, but as others here have said, it's a very good way to think out a scenario, to look at more than one side of something, anticipate obstacles, etc.

Or perhaps "intelligence" isn't the word so much as "imagination". Maybe having an under-developed imagination makes it easier to think things like "I can't imagine what could have caused that, it must have been a ghost."

[JoeEllison]

I've never done that sort of thing. I was always a much more literal person, even as a very young child.

[godofpie]

Going back to 'the devil made me do it' thing ... as a young child I thought that was a viable excuse and I used it liberally even though I didn't believe it. "No no no, wait, listen. The devil made me do it. See? It's cool. Put the belt down, please."

I had a t shirt that said "the devil made me do it!" I think that was Flip Wilson's mantra.

[godofpie]

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?
That's a great question. Maybe we could start a new thread if anyone is interested in discussing it. I found this earlier thread that touches on the topic.
http://forums.randi.org/archive/index.php/t-98216.html

[RSLancastr]

I had a t shirt that said "the devil made me do it!" I think that was Flip Wilson's mantra.Actually, it was Geraldine's. :)

[Steven Howard]

Growing up, I never had any imaginary friends. All the imaginary kids in my neighborhood were much older than I was.

[Autolite]

I must really be screwed up. All I ever had were imaginary enemies...

[padego]

I'd like to be an imaginary friend.

[godofpie]

Actually, it was Geraldine's. :)
Nice. "Here comes the judge, here comes the judge. Order in the courtroom, here comes the judge!"

[Apathia]

I must really be screwed up. All I ever had were imaginary enemies...

Was one of them named "Garfield?"

[autumn1971]

Not only did I have the stuffed animals that I talked to until a disturbingly advanced age, I had a black panther (the cat, not the revoloutionary) named Shadow to whom I talked quite often, only ending the conversations as he leapt over me and through my window to go off on his nightly hunts.

[RSLancastr]

Nice. "Here comes the judge, here comes the judge. Order in the courtroom, here comes the judge!"That was Sammy's. :)

[TX50]

Is this imaginary friend thing more common with only-children? I had a wee
brother I could frame up for all my "crimes" and pin stuff on - no need for an
imaginary friend/enemy when you have a sibling.

[plumjam]

Funny that. I have a little purple friend who is real but seems to control the whole realm of my imagination.

If I did have an imaginary friend I'd love to call him/her Mooseypops (with your permission, of course)

[AliasN]

Is this imaginary friend thing more common with only-children? I had a wee
brother I could frame up for all my "crimes" and pin stuff on - no need for an
imaginary friend/enemy when you have a sibling.
That's a good question. I don't know. For my own situation, I wasn't an only child, but I was five and seven years younger than my older siblings and spent a lot of time alone keeping myself amused (until I started school at least).

That may have something to do with it.

[Old Bob]

Yer, ever heard of a guardian angle, we all have them and some are lucky enough to hear them. The angle is most likely to be a family member or a passed over friend who has taken on the job to try and guide you. Listen as they will help. Thought's are solid. We have been lied to about everthing. We live die rot but our life goes on to another new family body. Many of us have a light(e-lite) that lets us reincarnate. We drink from the waters of forgetfullness and have trouble remembering our past lives.

[aggle-rithm]

When our dog was in board-and-train a few years ago, we were given a "loaner dog" that was already trained and we could use to practice giving commands. This dog was totally deaf, so giving him commands consisted entirely of flashing different hand signals.

Despite the dog's deafness, not to mention his poor command of English, I spent quite a lot of time talking to him.

Not quite the same as having an imaginary friend, I know, but my behavior was just as irrational. I think it demonstrates how fundamental communication is to being human; we need to do it even when there's no one to communicate with.

[-Fran-]

Yer, ever heard of a guardian angle, we all have them and some are lucky enough to hear them. The angle is most likely to be a family member or a passed over friend who has taken on the job to try and guide you. Listen as they will help. Thought's are solid. We have been lied to about everthing. We live die rot but our life goes on to another new family body. Many of us have a light(e-lite) that lets us reincarnate. We drink from the waters of forgetfullness and have trouble remembering our past lives.

And you know this... how?

[Sasha]

Yer, ever heard of a guardian angle, we all have them and some are lucky enough to hear them. The angle is most likely to be a family member or a passed over friend who has taken on the job to try and guide you. Listen as they will help. Thought's are solid. We have been lied to about everthing. We live die rot but our life goes on to another new family body. Many of us have a light(e-lite) that lets us reincarnate. We drink from the waters of forgetfullness and have trouble remembering our past lives.

Old Bob, welcome to the forum. I have a gentle suggestion: lurk a little more and find out what Randi's website and this forum are all about. If you're going to post about guardian "angles," someone is eventually going to ask you to provide evidence that the whole life-after-death thing exists at all, not to mention reincarnation, etc.

There is quite a lot to learn here, not the least of which is to examine your way of looking at the world.

Sasha

[Steven Howard]

Yer, ever heard of a guardian angle, we all have them and some are lucky enough to hear them. The angle is most likely to be a family member or a passed over friend who has taken on the job to try and guide you.

I have a guardian angle. Unfortunately, it's very obtuse.

[Showmeproof]

I have a guardian angle. Unfortunately, it's very obtuse.

LOL!!! Good one :)

[Olowkow]

I have a guardian angle. Unfortunately, it's very obtuse.

Mine is acute one, don't yer know :)

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I do constantly talk to myself though, and always have, but I am reasonably sure that I am not imaginary :)

Me too. :o Gets me alot of stares at work.

If my sister and I had imaginary friends, I certainly don't remember it. We had stuffed animals that we infused with complete personalities but I hadn't even heard of imaginary friends before I started watching "Arthur". :o

[-Fran-]

Me too. :o Gets me alot of stares at work.


:D Yeah, since I started working at home I have developed this bad? habit even more, and sometimes when I get out among people again, I forget myself... I am sure I come off as a total nut :blush:

[Tricky]

Funny that. I have a little purple friend who is real but seems to control the whole realm of my imagination.
Well stop it. You'll go blind.

[-Fran-]

Well stop it. You'll go blind.

And get hairy palms!!

[AliasN]

When our dog was in board-and-train a few years ago, we were given a "loaner dog"
Heh, I've never heard of this before. Cool idea, though. Do they call it "Rent-a-Rex"? :)

[Piscivore]

When I was a child I blamed all of my misdeeds on Gilligan. My parents thought it was cute that I named my imaginary friend that, I thought he was a plausible scapegoat because he was constantly screwing up.

I can't talk to my imaginary friends, because I'm never awake when they are around. My firends and family have talked to them them though.

[Lilith]

When our dog was in board-and-train a few years ago, we were given a "loaner dog" that was already trained and we could use to practice giving commands. This dog was totally deaf, so giving him commands consisted entirely of flashing different hand signals.


Awww! Poor deaf doggie. I wonder what it thought about being loaned out - maybe fit its personality just fine. I hope so. My beautiful dog just died yesterday, so I'm all "doggie-blue" today. She was a great listener! Quite interactive - I think she had that need to communicate as well. Few dogs I've known have seemed as communicative as she was.

[RSLancastr]

Sorry to hear that, Lilith. My condolences.

[HawaiiBigSis]

I talk to myself also.

I find that sometimes hearing something causes it to make more sense (or less). I guess the auditory portion of my brain provides some stimulus that the rest of it doesn't possess or something.

(Or that's what I tell people when they think I'm nuts!)

[Lilith]

Thanks RSLancastr - it's weird that when she first was sick, a few weeks ago, and today just after she died, I log on here and post a few things. I guess I'm trying to stay distracted. She was one of those dogs that seemed quite intelligent - we think she was a Munsterlander (offshoot of a german pointer).

HawaiiBigSis - I also find that talking to myself ... well, reading aloud to myself really ... helps me to comprehend better. If I find myself reading the same paragraph again and again because I can't concentrate, I'll read it aloud and take more of it in. Once I get going, I can switch the vocal cords off again.

But I never really talk to myself (with dogs, there's little need ;) ) and never had an imaginary friend. I used to wish my brothers were imaginary, though. hehehe

[Erhard Schmits]

I don't know how many of you are familiare with the Edgar Cayce phenomena. He, as a child played with fairies and here is an excerpt of one of his readings mentioning fairies.

"16. Before this the entity was in the Scotch land. The entity began its activity as a prodigy, as one already versed in its associations with the unseen - or the elemental forces; the fairies and those of every form that do not give expression in a material way and are only seen by those who are attuned to the infinite."

Of couse, I realize that this is only of value to the believer.

[-Fran-]

I talk to myself also.

[FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=blue]I find that sometimes hearing something causes it to make more sense (or less). I guess the auditory portion of my brain provides some stimulus that the rest of it doesn't possess or something

HawaiiBigSis - I also find that talking to myself ... well, reading aloud to myself really ... helps me to comprehend better. If I find myself reading the same paragraph again and again because I can't concentrate, I'll read it aloud and take more of it in. Once I get going, I can switch the vocal cords off again.

I've noticed this too... I work with all sorts of texts: writing articles, helping other writers with proof reading and research, translations, and also write privately, and I read things aloud ALL the time, to concentrate, to make sure I did comprahend a text correctly, to make the text "flow" better, it helps especially when writing dialogue.

No matter how many times I read it through silently, once I read it through a few times aloud, I get another perspective of it and discover a lot of new mistakes and things I want to change.

Well, that's work... On here I'm often quite a bit sloppier :o

[HawaiiBigSis]

I've noticed this too... I work with all sorts of texts: writing articles, helping other writers with proof reading and research, translations, and also write privately, and I read things aloud ALL the time, to concentrate, to make sure I did comprahend a text correctly, to make the text "flow" better, it helps especially when writing dialogue.

No matter how many times I read it through silently, once I read it through a few times aloud, I get another perspective of it and discover a lot of new mistakes and things I want to change.

Well, that's work... On here I'm often quite a bit sloppier :o
Oh, when I'm proofreading, I absolutely read it aloud. It slows you down, and forces you to look a little bit harder at the words as they really are, not as your brain expects them to be.

And yes, when I'm having difficulty comprehending, that's when I turn to reading out loud especially. Again, with difficult instructions, hearing them seems to help, which I always find amusing, since I'm not a particularly auditory person: if I want to remember something, writing it is the best way for me. I can't do books on tape, because I can't remember to focus on listening long enough. :blush:

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I've noticed this too... I work with all sorts of texts: writing articles, helping other writers with proof reading and research, translations, and also write privately, and I read things aloud ALL the time, to concentrate, to make sure I did comprahend a text correctly, to make the text "flow" better, it helps especially when writing dialogue.

No matter how many times I read it through silently, once I read it through a few times aloud, I get another perspective of it and discover a lot of new mistakes and things I want to change.

Well, that's work... On here I'm often quite a bit sloppier :o

Ah, so you're a proof reader? Or an an editor? That makes perfect sense, then.

I once fancied becoming a journalist and for a very long time was very sure that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. :o I was on the school paper in high school and often when I was writing an submission I'd talk it out loud to myself.

Especially whenever I thought I had a great point or a really good sentence or a great way of putting something. It's always good to form something in your mind and polish it when you're turning it around inside your head. And when you have a brainstorm or a brainwave and there's no one to share it with or no way to put it on paper...and yeah, I've done it in public, such as when walking down the street, too. :D

I still do it when I'm writing school papers, assignments or even planning a diary entry or blog entry or working on a translation- writing or planning to write anything. And it happens when you're very bored or alone or have no one to talk to for long periods of time.

Even when I have a big point to argue and express about politics or current events and have no one to debate it with at the moment, I do it. :o

[godofpie]

I don't know how many of you are familiare with the Edgar Cayce phenomena. He, as a child played with fairies and here is an excerpt of one of his readings mentioning fairies.

"16. Before this the entity was in the Scotch land. The entity began its activity as a prodigy, as one already versed in its associations with the unseen - or the elemental forces; the fairies and those of every form that do not give expression in a material way and are only seen by those who are attuned to the infinite."

Of couse, I realize that this is only of value to the believer.
http://skepdic.com/cayce.html

[-Fran-]

Ah, so you're a proof reader? Or an an editor? That makes perfect sense, then.

I'm a little bit of all sorts of things :) I have my own little one woman business and I'm taking all sorts of assignments in that vein. I meant for the business to include art as well, and occasionally it does, but unfortunately I have no studio these days, and haven't been doing any art to speak of in several years now.

I once fancied becoming a journalist and for a very long time was very sure that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. :o I was on the school paper in high school and often when I was writing an submission I'd talk it out loud to myself.

It's funny, I never really wanted to be a journalist, but these days I work rather close with a few anyway, assisting them in writing their articles. There are quite a few articles out there where I did part of the work, but you almost never see my name under it :) I kind of prefer, in many cases, to work in the background, so to speak. The few times I do see my name under a published work, it's a weird, but nice feeling, but strange enough I still haven't got the urge to pursue it actively.

What happened to your journalism dreams, what did you end up doing instead?

Especially whenever I thought I had a great point or a really good sentence or a great way of putting something.

:D Yeah, I do that too sometimes. Reading stuff out aloud several times that I thought turned out well in a "damn I'm good" kind of way :o It doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like though :o


It's always good to form something in your mind and polish it when you're turning it around inside your head. And when you have a brainstorm or a brainwave and there's no one to share it with or no way to put it on paper...and yeah, I've done it in public, such as when walking down the street, too. :D

:D Yeah, me too. If people look at me weird, I try to look like I have one of those hands-free cell phones or something, and wasn't really talking to myself at all, oh no :blush:


I still do it when I'm writing school papers, assignments or even planning a diary entry or blog entry or working on a translation- writing or planning to write anything. And it happens when you're very bored or alone or have no one to talk to for long periods of time.

Even when I have a big point to argue and express about politics or current events and have no one to debate it with at the moment, I do it. :o

Yeah, the conversations I carry with myself here at home... I hope the neighbors can't hear me as well as I can hear their kids :o

And yes, when I'm having difficulty comprehending, that's when I turn to reading out loud especially. Again, with difficult instructions, hearing them seems to help, which I always find amusing, since I'm not a particularly auditory person: if I want to remember something, writing it is the best way for me. I can't do books on tape, because I can't remember to focus on listening long enough.

Yeah, there's a difference, I've noticed that too! I think it may not be actually hearing things that helps, since, as you say, it doesn't always help when you are listening to others. I recognize losing concentration when listening to an audio tape, and I remember falling asleep in school as the teacher blabbered on somewhere in the distance :) But maybe it is that speaking the words it activates other areas in your brain than when you are just thinking the words, and that, in its turn, creates these good effects as you read things out loud? I don't know, I don't really know enough of these things. :confused:

[Steven Howard]

I don't know how many of you are familiare with the Edgar Cayce phenomena.

You'll want to meet Rodney. Now that the words "Edgar Cayce" have appeared three times, he should be along shortly.

[CFLarsen]

You'll want to meet Rodney. Now that the words "Edgar Cayce" have appeared three times, he should be along shortly.

Meet Rodney (http://www.jokefrog.com/flash/dear-penis.shtml). (NSFW in the US)

[Chimera]

This video by comedian and skeptic, Brandon Muller, seemed appropriate...
Keep imaginary friends alive!

WGmRlWLm74U

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

What happened to your journalism dreams, what did you end up doing instead?

...

Yeah, the conversations I carry with myself here at home... I hope the neighbors can't hear me as well as I can hear their kids :o

...

Yeah, there's a difference, I've noticed that too! I think it may not be actually hearing things that helps, since, as you say, it doesn't always help when you are listening to others. I recognize losing concentration when listening to an audio tape, and I remember falling asleep in school as the teacher blabbered on somewhere in the distance :) But maybe it is that speaking the words it activates other areas in your brain than when you are just thinking the words, and that, in its turn, creates these good effects as you read things out loud? I don't know, I don't really know enough of these things. :confused:

I decided I really didn't have what it took and I realized that if I pursued it, I'd be likely to spend my days ambulance-chasing accidents and harrassing cops and firefighters at the scenes of every fire and shooting in downtown Manhattan. So I am now studying Political Science instead and am a (as of recently) unemployed property management agency temp.

Oh yeah, I have conversations, too. As a matter of fact, I have had some great conversations with myself. :D It could make for a sequel to My Dinner With Andre : My Dinner with Me. :D

I'm not a communications expert but my explanation as to that is that when you're just listening to someone without participating, such as at a lecture, you are not interacting with them and not really communicating...whereas even saying a statement aloud is a form of what psychologists call "active listening".

[AshB]

As a young child, i never had an imaginary friend, as my parents bought a lovely natured border collie for me to play with before i reached my school years.
But as for other people that have had imaginary friends, this has always interested me. How you can trust and 'love' something that is not there does not make sense to me.
This however is because I am a very science based mind (I generally dont believe it unless there is proof).
An imaginary friend does seem to be very closely related to religeon though.
How strange that a childish thing such as an imaginary friend can grow to mass beliefs and then again into wars where millions of lives are lost.

[CFLarsen]

What is the difference between an imaginary friend and an imaginary god?

Skeptigirl,

any chance of you answering this?

[NoZed Avenger]

You know, this is kind of a painful subject.

My "imaginary friends" were all claimed as dependents last year, and are no help at all now that I am being audited.

So they're now my imaginary SO-CALLED friends.

[SusanB-M1]

Skeptigirl,

any chance of you answering this?


I'm not answering for Skeptigirl, but I have just finished Sam Harris's 'Letter to a Christian Nation' an, as Richard Dawkins also says, it is very obvious that God is an imaginary friend. it is very difficult to see how anyone, once they have been given this comparison, can any longer still believe in a supernatural deity.

[-Fran-]

I decided I really didn't have what it took and I realized that if I pursued it, I'd be likely to spend my days ambulance-chasing accidents and harrassing cops and firefighters at the scenes of every fire and shooting in downtown Manhattan. So I am now studying Political Science instead and am a (as of recently) unemployed property management agency temp.

Ahh, OK, I see what you mean :) The few articles that I have written, or co-written was not exactly the most cool stuff either, such as articles about wood for a union magazine :) Interesting by all means, but exciting... no. Then fires and shootings seems funnier ;)

Political Science sounds interesting!!


Oh yeah, I have conversations, too. As a matter of fact, I have had some great conversations with myself. :D It could make for a sequel to My Dinner With Andre : My Dinner with Me. :D

:D


I'm not a communications expert but my explanation as to that is that when you're just listening to someone without participating, such as at a lecture, you are not interacting with them and not really communicating...whereas even saying a statement aloud is a form of what psychologists call "active listening".

Could be part of it too, yeah.

[slingblade]

I had two: a little green poodle with antennae, from Mars, and a tiny white flying horse, with hot-pink mane, tail, and hooves. I knew they were imaginary. I deliberately made them up. I was lonely. No one ever knew about them. They were my friends. And I never blamed them for any of my misdeeds. Cuz they were made-up, duhhh. ;)

I talk to myself all the time, always have, and these days I talk to my late mother. A lot. I pretend we're really talking, because I miss her so damned much, and to not talk to mom just feels so wrong. We spoke every day. I knew her so well, I can even imagine what she'd likely reply. But I do know she's not around, can't hear me, can't respond. I know. I'm just not ready to break this habit, yet.

[TheAnachronism]

I have conversation "with myself," but they seem a little different than what many people here have mentioned. These conversation are never verbal, just in my head, and I will usually be addressing people I know -- the conversations themselves will be completely normal. It's like I'm telling them what's really on my mind or imagining our relationship differently without actually doing it.

But that's quite off topic for the imaginary friends post. ^_^

[Lithrael]

Heheh. As a small kid, I totally misunderstood what imaginary friends were supposed to be, and I was kind of disappointed that I didn't have one. When I realised they were 'pretend friends' just like 'pretend tea', I was again disappointed. What a rip! All this time I'd thought other kids had full-on hallucinations to play with.

And so I concentrated my efforts toward getting more Legos and Transformers.

[Hamradioguy]

Apparently when I was pre-school I had an imaginary friend, "Mr. Beedeeba" (Where that name came from I'll never know!) He went wherever imaginary friends go long before Santa Claus.

But I can't help but wonder if sometimes imaginary friends return when we get old and senile. In my grandmother's later years, as she became forgetful, she'd blame "That Man" for anything she'd misplaced and couldn't find. When I'd ask her just WHO "That Man" was, she'd reply, "You know...That Man. The one who sometimes hangs around here and takes my things."

[dahduh]

I have lots of imaginary friends. All my friends tell me so.

[godofpie]

I have conversation "with myself," but they seem a little different than what many people here have mentioned. These conversation are never verbal, just in my head, and I will usually be addressing people I know -- the conversations themselves will be completely normal. It's like I'm telling them what's really on my mind or imagining our relationship differently without actually doing it.

But that's quite off topic for the imaginary friends post. ^_^

You are not alone. I have those same conversations daily. When my employees start looking at me funny I know I am doing it out loud.

My 5 year old nephew kept telling me stories about this friend of his that could do all kinds of amazing things. Fly, beat up bad guys, jump over tall buildings, you name it, his friend can do it. I humored him thinking it was an imaginary friend and my sister overheard our conversation and said his friend was real. I couldn't believe it! And apparently this kid tells his family the same kind of stories about my nephew. Kind of a mutual delusional admiration society. He is so sincere when he is telling me these stories. What an awesome imagination these kids have.

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I have conversation "with myself," but they seem a little different than what many people here have mentioned. These conversation are never verbal, just in my head, and I will usually be addressing people I know -- the conversations themselves will be completely normal. It's like I'm telling them what's really on my mind or imagining our relationship differently without actually doing it.

But that's quite off topic for the imaginary friends post. ^_^

Oh yeah, I do that too. :o When I have an axe to grind or a bone to pick to my friends or relatives and they happen not to be around at that moment, I have it out with "them". :D

[Old Bob]

My wife can hear and we recieve help on health danger and many other things. Also my daughter has a constant flow of of info. We have had many things explained to us, making this spirit in a body greatfull and awed. A passed over friend made the break through and now we know our place in our family tree. Sasha said someone my ask, well they have. hope I am not out of place talking so much, but kids can see and hear and as they age most lose the ability.

[Erhard Schmits]

Bravo for your insight. On this forum you will not be appreciated. They will surely scorn and ridicule you and your families development. Keep in mind you cannot convince a disbeliever. Only a karmic shock treatment may make them see a little clearer. Go join the psychic development forum there you will be appreciated.

[Peacock]

You need a bit of
Ooooh...Shock Treatment
Gets you jumping like a real live wire
Need a bit of

Ooooh...Shock Treatment
So look out Mister, don't you blow your last resistor
For a sister that'll certify ya, fy ya, fy ya

[Gevaudan]

I had imaginary friends from a young age, which I don't recall very well. My mom remembers, though - apparently I acted out their end of the conversation with my fingers and it freaked her out because it reminded her of the kid from "The Shining". Heh. I consider being able to imagine both halves of a conversation a handy skill for a writer.

As for research, I beleive Ronald Siegel had a chapter about imaginary friends in "Fire in the Brain". He mentioned an EEG that showed an evoked response when the child claimed to see the imaginary friend. I've never seen any more research about it. I would imagine that children routinely having harmless low-level hallucinations isn't entirely beyond the the realm of possibility. An immature brain would be more susceptible to misinterpreting data, wouldn't it?

Then there's the whole bicameral mind idea, which is fun to read but probably *******.

[dudalb]

Why does this thread remind me that Turner Classic Movies is showing "Harvey" with James Stewert next Month?

[juniper_ann]

Oh yeah, I do that too. :o When I have an axe to grind or a bone to pick to my friends or relatives and they happen not to be around at that moment, I have it out with "them". :D

Oh, yeah, this is me. I tell people off, out loud, when I’m alone. These people may be people I know, people who live in other centuries, or even fictional characters. Sometimes I stop reading a book and mid-page and pace my bedroom, giving one of the characters what-for, or explaining what they ought to do next. Sometimes, I re-imagine conversations that happened years earlier. In these monologues, I’m rude, to-the-point, and often obscene. In real life, though, I am none of these things.

I also occasionally imagine that an admired historical personality has “returned”, and I bring them up to date on some of the developments in their field of interest since their death.

When I lived at home, I would occasionally get a tap on my door.

“Juniper, is anyone in there with you?”
“Uhhh…no.”
“Oh…okay.”

When I was little, I didn’t have imaginary friends, but I would tell my parents that so-and-so was coming to visit. I would leave, then return to introduce myself as so-and-so.

[Calee]

When I was a child I was my own imaginary friend.

[SusanB-M1]

Oh, yeah, this is me. I tell people off, out loud, when I’m alone. These people may be people I know, people who live in other centuries, or even fictional characters. Sometimes I stop reading a book and mid-page and pace my bedroom, giving one of the characters what-for, or explaining what they ought to do next. Sometimes, I re-imagine conversations that happened years earlier. In these monologues, I’m rude, to-the-point, and often obscene. In real life, though, I am none of these things.

I also occasionally imagine that an admired historical personality has “returned”, and I bring them up to date on some of the developments in their field of interest since their death.
----

When I was little, I didn’t have imaginary friends, but I would tell my parents that so-and-so was coming to visit. I would leave, then return to introduce myself as so-and-so.

I would happily pay to come and listen to you - I think it sounds most entertaining. Perhaps you could make a half-hour radio show (for BBC Radio 4) which could provide a lively replacement for some of the, to me, totally unfunny 6:30-7:0 p.m. slots we have. Or maybe you could make a you tube?

[NoZed Avenger]

When I was a child I was my own imaginary friend.


Actually, you just called me and aksed me to pass along that you never really liked you.

Sorry. You just didn't want to hurt your feelings.

[juniper_ann]

I would happily pay to come and listen to you - I think it sounds most entertaining. Perhaps you could make a half-hour radio show (for BBC Radio 4) which could provide a lively replacement for some of the, to me, totally unfunny 6:30-7:0 p.m. slots we have. Or maybe you could make a you tube?

Hahaha!

"On tonight's episode of Juniper Tells People Off, we have 'Torquemada, Just Who the **** Do You Think You Are?', 'Jane, Mr. Rochester is Showing All the Warning Signs of a Potentially Abusive Partner, so You Get Your Sorry Little *** Out of that Gothic House Now', and 'Dad, I am an Adult and I Don't Have to Justify Not Taking your Advice'. Next week, we'll have the very special radio essay, "So, Ben Franklin, Positrons Were the Wrong Guess, But We Love You Anyway."

If I ever do put together such a thing, you'll be the first to know.

[bob_dezon]

I have an imaginary Randi, poking me in the back of the head and telling me to check everything at least twice ;)


My daughter had an imaginary friend, he seemed to visit infrequently via a door in the wall. He would read her stories etc. Kids have wonderful imaginations, and do not understand (usually) what is socially acceptable. I would however be highly disturbed if she reached adulthood, and still had an imaginary friend.