A Skeptical Stroke: The Confabulating Skeptic 2

[RSLancastr]

There were many other times when the TV or radio woked into a dream, which later became a confabulation.

BarAk Lancaster?
tstand, so
On the day tye presidential election returns were broadcast, a nurse placed my TV on my nightstand, so I spent the whole day listening in my sleep. That afternoon I woke up firmly convinced that I had been elected president. not long after I awoke, my eldest daughter Rosamund dropped in for a visit. he didn't feel any differently.One of the first things I asked her was "So, how does it feel to be The First Daughter?"

he assumed that I meant the first daughterd in the family, which she had been all her life, so she said she felt the same

[RSLancastr]

this was the first confab I reasoned myself out of. nobody else knew about it until after I had already decided it was a fantasy

[JoeTheJuggler]

It was in the context of the question, "Would you ever be desperate enough to look for help from a psychic?" (as in cases of a lost child), but a great man once said that having a skeptical mindset can sort of immunize a person from falling into the trap of that kind of thinking even in times when it's not easy to do.

Oh yeah--that great man was one RSLancastr!

ETA: I found the post I was thinking of. I had to generalize it a bit to fit this set of circumstances!

I would like to think that most of the people who frequent this board have been "innoculated" against turning to a psychic during desperate times.

But I don't think any of us can say for certain that we would not, given tragic enough circumstances.

Once, one of my children was missing, and - the evidence indicated - was quite likely dead.

This was only for a twelve hour period, and everything turned out okay, but it gave me a small taste of the panic that people such as Shawn Hornbeck's parents go through.

But during that period - talking with police, following the police search dog down streets and into hils, watching the helicopter overhead - at no time did I think "Maybe a psychic could help." Nor did I ever even consider praying.

Had this lasted longer than it did, would I have ever gotten to that point? I seriously doubt it, but who can say?

But whether I would or not, whether you would or not, I think we have no cause to judge those who would under such circumstances.

[gerdbonk]

this was the first confab I reasoned myself out of. nobody else knew about it until after I had already decided it was a fantasy

I think it would be interesting to hear how you arrived at the conclusion it was fantasy, if you can remember.

I think these anecdotes are fascinating as they remind me of John Nash deflating his delusions through a reasoned examination of them.

[RSL's better half]

I think it would be interesting to hear how you arrived at the conclusion it was fantasy, if you can remember.

part of it was how unexcited my daughter seemed to be. another part was the fact that there were no media camped outside my room.

also, I remember thinking "if I had run for president, I wuld have memories of the campaign, not just winning."

I think these anecdotes are fascinating as they remind me of John Nash deflating his delusions through a reasoned examination of them.[/QUOTE]

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

I often have the same feelings when I wake up from a regular dream. It takes me seemingly forever after I have woken up to realize I had a dream and whatever I thought happened actually didn't. Even when I'm wide awake and walking about, it might take me a few hours to realize that this and that didn't really happen and that it was part of a dream.

Your stories worry me a little. I mean, I haven't even had a stroke and I often have the same thing (though on a much smaller scale).

Thanks for sharing!

[Hokulele]

part of it was how unexcited my daughter seemed to be. another part was the fact that there were no media camped outside my room.


Have you ever had the delusion that you were your wife?

;)

[RSLancastr]

we haxe been cross=posting a lot lately