controll your dreams?

[mgdwcb]

I often dream I wake up and even walk around the bedroom. I soon realisie that I am `dreaming' when something unexpected happens, such as noticing an extra item of furniture or strange scene outside the window. Most odd. I don't attempt to explore further but `struggle' to wake up in bed. Perhaps I'm just a coward.

 

[Stitch]

Posts like this convince non-skeptics that skeptics are closed minded.

You just can't beat a bit of generalisation can ya?

I'll accept "Posts like this convince me that "Hand Bent Spoon" is closed minded"

I don't think you are in a position to speak for non-skeptics as a whole or to assume that other skeptics hold the same view as "Hend Bent Spoon" on this topic, especially when so far it would seem to me that "Hand Bent Spoon" is the only person that seems to be discounting it.

It is this kind of evidence bending through gneralisation that leads some skeptics to generalise that belivers are all talking twaddle.


Dreaming in colour or black and white?? No idea, I can very rarely remember my dreams and when I can there is no visual element to them.

 

[richardm]

Dreaming in colour or black and white?? No idea, I can very rarely remember my dreams and when I can there is no visual element to them.

Are you blind, by any chance?

 

[Stitch]

Are you blind, by any chance?

No, just odd I guess

 

[plindboe]

I have always been able to control my dreams. I was much better at it when I was a child though. Today I can wake myself from nightmares by comitting suicide. I always create a building, run up to the second floor and make a headdive. Well, I don't always wake, sometimes another dream will start instead, but if it turns into a nightmare too, I'll simply use the trick again.

When I dream I am also often aware that it is a dream, so I know I can do things that will have no real life consequences. In other words, I have alot of sex.

 

[rebecca]

You just can't beat a bit of generalisation can ya?

I'll accept "Posts like this convince me that "Hand Bent Spoon" is closed minded"

I don't think you are in a position to speak for non-skeptics as a whole or to assume that other skeptics hold the same view as "Hend Bent Spoon" on this topic, especially when so far it would seem to me that "Hand Bent Spoon" is the only person that seems to be discounting it.

I think I can place myself in the mindset of a believer for a moment and consider what I would think of a post like that, particularly when you see how many accuse us all of being close-minded. Seeing a skeptic dismiss something out of hand with no evidence or consideration can definitely reinforce a believer's stereotypes. That, of course, does not mean that that person is correct.

 

[Stitch]

I think I can place myself in the mindset of a believer for a moment and consider what I would think of a post like that, particularly when you see how many accuse us all of being close-minded. Seeing a skeptic dismiss something out of hand with no evidence or consideration can definitely reinforce a believer's stereotypes. That, of course, does not mean that that person is correct.

I would argue that if somebody dismisses something out of hand then they are not a skeptic (about that topic at least).

There also seems to be an opinion that if you are skeptical of one subject then you are skeptical of them all. I would generally consider myself a skeptic, I know very little about a few things and know nothing about the rest. I like to keep an open mind and as information and evidence become available on a given subject I am continually re-evaluating my view of it.

On some subjects I continue to remain skeptical (un-decided if your prefer, and seek further evidence). On other subjects I become a "beliver" based on the body of evidence; I cannot live without oxygen - on that topic I am a believer, and for a few others I have become somewhat dismissive; pink elephants exist and can fly. I won't go so far as to say it is impossible, just that I am pretty damn convinced that it is false. Should I be presented with contrary evidence then I will consider it, but I am not actively seeking further evidence on that topic.

The problem is there are stereotypes and generalisations the other way as well. I was just trying to suggest that we avoid them as much as possible, as it is all to easy to lump all "believers" in to the same, "well they accept any clap trap with no evidence" bucket.

 

[rebecca]

I would argue that if somebody dismisses something out of hand then they are not a skeptic (about that topic at least).

I agree. The problem lies in the fact that the person who does dismiss things out of hand believes himself, and presents himself, to be a skeptic. This reinforces negative stereotypes and should be discouraged on a skeptical board.

 

[Humphreys]

I often have the ability to control my dreams, but usually it's quite hard to stop yourself from waking up. I also sometimes dream that I wake up in bed, and it's really hard to tell the difference. For some odd reason, after reading this somewhere, I always look at my hand in a dream to check if I'm asleep or not. It's weird because in a dream my hand is always really, really strange looking, missing fingers and blurry.

What even more odd, and I don't understand this at all, the more out of my head I am when I go to sleep, the more vivid, clear, realistic and memorable my dreams are.

When I'm really drunk for example, my dreams are fantastic.

I'm quite fascinated by them to be honest. It's amazing how you can lucid dream and not know what is going to happen, your brain just sorta springs things on you, and I even have conversations with people who say interesting things I'd never have thought of myself!

Oh yeah, and I can sometimes read in a dream, but this is rare.

 

[drkitten]

I agree. The problem lies in the fact that the person who does dismiss things out of hand believes himself, and presents himself, to be a skeptic. This reinforces negative stereotypes and should be discouraged on a skeptical board.

How do you distinguish between "dismisses stuff out of hand" and "dismisses stuff because the arguments presented are older than dirt, and were first refuted back when Christ was an altar boy, and are no more correct today than they were in the 12th century"?

For example, I had someone earlier today try to tell me that he had squared the circle. The ancient Greeks knew that this was impossible. How do you recommend that I react?

 

[Stitch]

How do you distinguish between "dismisses stuff out of hand" and "dismisses stuff because the arguments presented are older than dirt, and were first refuted back when Christ was an altar boy, and are no more correct today than they were in the 12th century"?

For example, I had someone earlier today try to tell me that he had squared the circle. The ancient Greeks knew that this was impossible. How do you recommend that I react?

I do appreciate the fustration of hearing the same old arguments time and time again, however, if you can't stand by your principals and at least say "yes, this has been debated before here" rather than just say "that's crap" then why bother to respond at all and potentially damage the cause??

Dunno who it was, can't be bothered to look it up (but no doubt somebody will come back with the answer) but somebody said "if you can't say something useful, don't say anything at all", think this may apply here

 

[plindboe]

For example, I had someone earlier today try to tell me that he had squared the circle. The ancient Greeks knew that this was impossible. How do you recommend that I react?

Use these words: "Show me".

 

[Kitty Chan]

Back in the ole school days it was like this

True dreams were after one attained the REM sleep. then waked up after and wrote down the dream before it was forgotten.

Any dreams before were not classified as actual dreams as they had inflences such as a movie or conversations during the day.

They were viewed as your brain organizing thoughts. Although both do seem similar. Ive had nights where Im thinking all night cause Im too stressed and feel Ive had no sleep. Which makes sense bacause in that situation I did not reach REM sleep. And thats where the actual rest comes in.

I also find it interesting about bad dreams that generally no one can control them.

 

[rebecca]

How do you distinguish between "dismisses stuff out of hand" and "dismisses stuff because the arguments presented are older than dirt, and were first refuted back when Christ was an altar boy, and are no more correct today than they were in the 12th century"?

For example, I had someone earlier today try to tell me that he had squared the circle. The ancient Greeks knew that this was impossible. How do you recommend that I react?

I define "dismissing something out of hand" as dismissing before examining the evidence.

I also find it interesting about bad dreams that generally no one can control them.

I haven't found this to be true at all. The only dreams I control these days are the bad ones, as in stopping them before they get too bad.

 

[Stitch]

I define "dismissing something out of hand" as dismissing before examining the evidence.

The trouble is, do you know if the person has examined the evidence (as it may well have been presented many times before)?

 

[rebecca]

The trouble is, do you know if the person has examined the evidence (as it may well have been presented many times before)?

Give me a break. Reread this thread, do five minutes of research, and make your own decision.

 

[Stitch]

Give me a break. Reread this thread, do five minutes of research, and make your own decision.

Originally posted by Hand Bent Spoon
I don't believe there is any such thing as lucid dreaming.

My emphasis

1 person, quoted above has suggested that they do not "belive" that this phenomena is genuine. The haven't exactly dismissed it out of hand.

You then moved the conversation on to dismissing things out of hand:

Originally posted by rebecca
Seeing a skeptic dismiss something out of hand with no evidence or consideration can definitely reinforce a believer's stereotypes

My decision - you change the direction of the discussion, then complain that others have wandered off topic when they follow you. So be it.

 

[Esther]

OK, I'm pretty skeptical (obviously) about whether this could actually work

One can describe "japanization" as the process of turning ]old ideasinto simple machines.

 

[Kitty Chan]

I haven't found this to be true at all. The only dreams I control these days are the bad ones, as in stopping them before they get too bad.

Thats why I said "generally" I knew someone said they did stop them.

When these dreams are stopped are you in the Deep sleep (REM) or is it before you wake or just as you go asleep? And if you dont mind (if you do thats fine) but how do you manage to stop them.

I have a method myself (which is probably not popular here) but I was curious how you do it.

 

[rebecca]

My emphasis

1 person, quoted above has suggested that they do not "belive" that this phenomena is genuine. The haven't exactly dismissed it out of hand.

You then moved the conversation on to dismissing things out of hand:


My decision - you change the direction of the discussion, then complain that others have wandered off topic when they follow you. So be it.

OK, I can see you're just interested in a fight, since you're now twisting my words. I did not change the direction of the discussion, and I did not complain that others have wandered off-topic. Either you're delusional or argumentative, and I'm guessing the latter. And a little smiley at the end of your post? Nice touch. Here's one for you: Go trolling elsewhere.

Thats why I said "generally" I knew someone said they did stop them.

When these dreams are stopped are you in the Deep sleep (REM) or is it before you wake or just as you go asleep? And if you dont mind (if you do thats fine) but how do you manage to stop them.

I have a method myself (which is probably not popular here) but I was curious how you do it.

Hi Kitty,

If you're curious, whenever I have a bad dream, I would either just change it to a good dream using the same technique of dreaming in which I change good dreams, or failing that, I would simply wake myself up.