Human Invisibility Phenomena

[prander]

Really? Well I hope I haven't done this, but please point out where I have. I'll be the first to apologize if this is the case.

... you're quite happy to throw science out of the window in order to make yourself feel special.

There are two distinct accusations / assumptions in that one sentance, both are incorrect.


For the record, AGAIN, I'm not claiming I can do anything. I'm not claiming that I have some "power" or "ability". I'm not claiming that I can reproduce whatever may have happened. I don't know why some of you keep insisting and making jokes and whatnot that seem to go on that assumption.

I suspect this person is pulling our leg.

Hey, as far as I'm concerned, suspect all you want.

I haven't solidly come to any conclusion, yet. I have gotten to the point where I can't seem to find any other conclusion that would explain for this. I have previously considered everything that was mentioned here and none of them do the trick.

You can't expect to win a million by telling a story. Not this million at least.

I'm not trying for the million and I don't claim to be able to do anything in which I could get the million. A story is the best I can do.

All sarcasm aside, you really haven't done a lot of critical thinking on this. With very little data, none of it apparently repeatable, you've leaped to the most mind-bogglingly far-fetched "explanation" that defies all known science ... when there are other reasons that don't break the laws of physics, that you refuse to acknowledge because you don't think they sound credible. Human interaction, perception, attention, motives are very complex ... and just having one person's personal experience go contrary to expectations is not a reason suddenly believe in spontaneous human invisibility.

I agree wholeheartedly, and that's all I've been previously willing to allow myself to believe as an explanation. But, I've used up all these things, I just can't explain it to through any other way.


For the record, I'm not putting myself with Donna Higbee or anyone else or anything else on any website related to any of this. I have nothing to do with any of that. I've definitely looked into it and I can feel some relation to the stories she's presented, but that's as far as I go.


Gr8wight: I was definitely awake, but I don't think it's a silly question, I felt it necessary to entertain that question myself.

 

[Rasmus]

For the record, AGAIN, I'm not claiming I can do anything. I'm not claiming that I have some "power" or "ability". I'm not claiming that I can reproduce whatever may have happened. I don't know why some of you keep insisting and making jokes and whatnot that seem to go on that assumption.

Because, if you aren't, then at least your story is asking for it.

I haven't solidly come to any conclusion, yet. I have gotten to the point where I can't seem to find any other conclusion that would explain for this.

How about "despite to your belief to the contrary, at the particular time when you entered the room, nobody that was in it felt inclined to approach and talk to you."

The people there failed to behave in a way that you apparently were expecting: Pay you a noticeable amount of attention.

That by no means suggest that they couldn't or didn't see you. You cannot even be sure if they noticed you. All you apparently have is the word of one person there that didn't notice you.

I cannot understand why this would not be a satisfactory explanation to you?

I have previously considered everything that was mentioned here and none of them do the trick.

Why not? Other than that you think people should have reacted somehow when you entered the room and then didn't.

All this needs is the one person you talked to about this later to look "right through you" when you entered the room.

Rasmus.

 

[Ducky]

What a great excersize in evasion and circular logic on the part of our invisibility-gifted friend.

Too bad invisibility doesn't happen on internet forums.

 

[sf108]

Well, I have seen this done a couple of times and I KNOW I've done it once

For the record, AGAIN, I'm not claiming I can do anything. I'm not claiming that I have some "power" or "ability".

ok...does that define contradiction?

If turning invisible isn't a power, then what is it? I'm sure many people here wouldn't mind being invisible anytime of the day. Beats working all day...

Okay, I have to say, in all honesty: It sounds like these people were playing a little joke on you, and you bit. Hard.
[/B]

Exactly. Ever heard of that prank where a group of friends start laughing at the TV screen of a toilet cam scene, when one of their unsuspecting friends, the victim, just came out of the toilet?

Same principle, you've been done.

Either way, are you willing to accept some of the other rational and possible scenarios that other people have posted?

 

[SpaceFluffer]

There are two distinct accusations / assumptions in that one sentance, both are incorrect.

Well, if you're opting to believe that you ACTUALLY BECAME INVISIBLE, your conclusion has to be that science is badly, badly wrong. I don't see how it can be any other way. If you are correct, this changes the world drastically.

I did guess that you're doing this to make yourself feel special, and that may well be wrong. But I don't understand why you would choose to make such an outlandish, far-fetched conclusion to a faulty, year-old piece of data, when a mundane one would work just as well. I guess you prefer to live in a delusion, but you have your own reasons for doing that.

 

[prander]

ok...does that define contradiction?

No. It doesn't. Believing you did something once does not mean that you claim you can repeat it. There have been many times where I've done something once, whether it be making an insane basketball shot or anything else, that I would never think that I could do again. When that happens, I ususally follow it up with "I couldn't have done that if I tried".

The first quote refers to something that happened once. The second is oriented around making the claim that I can do it over and over again, 'at will'.

Because, if you aren't, then at least your story is asking for it.

Well, I was hoping this thread wouldn't degrade down this far or the people so easily turn to mindless and childish behavior.

Of course, this is a skeptical forum, and I expect skepticism, which I have NO problem with. I expect no less and I would show no less to anyone who made the same claim.

Statements like this:

Too bad invisibility doesn't happen on internet forums.

are just sad.

Actually, I'm surprised I haven't gotten more of these types of remarks.

Either way, are you willing to accept some of the other rational and possible scenarios that other people have posted?

Yes, of course... To that I answer with:

I haven't solidly come to any conclusion, yet. I have gotten to the point where I can't seem to find any other conclusion that would explain for this. I have previously considered everything that was mentioned here and none of them do the trick.

The thing is, this just didn't happen yesterday. This happened about a year ago and I've already been through everything that's been brought up here. I'm always willing to consider a more 'normal' idea, but I'm already aware of and already thought about most of them.

 

[Ririon]

I'm not trying for the million and I don't claim to be able to do anything in which I could get the million. A story is the best I can do.

What about the person who "demonstrated" this to you? That at least implies being able to become invisible at will.

Being temporarily overlooked and ignored happens to everybody in life (including myself). Having people look blankly straight at you ("through you") without noticing you is quite common. Yet, very few people see the need to suspend the laws of physics or believe that they are actually invisible. It sucks (unless you are trying to sneak in/out of somewhere, and it rarely happens then) but it is far from supernatural.

Edited just for the heck of it

 

[Ducky]

My jokes about this is sad?

Get a sense of humor.

How can you not expect some ribbing over claims that would completely undermine every thing known about science?

Especially since it very closely resembles a plot device from a movie.

But I digress.

You have made fantastical claims. This requires fantastic proof. The rest of this is moot.

 

[prander]

What about the person who "demonstrated" this to you? That at least implies being able to become invisible at will.

Yes, I know it implies it. That is what seems to have happened, what I witnessed.

It's been a good while since I had any contact with this person and I assume that if he wanted anything to do with the million, if indeed he really did what I think he did, he would've come forward by now.

Especially since it very closely resembles a plot device from a movie.

I perfectly understand how this sounds. I don't expect anyone to agree with me or to even come close. But, I do enjoy discussing it. (All the while remembering that the original purpose of the original post was to ask whether it would fit in as an acceptable testable phenomena.)

You have made fantastical claims. This requires fantastic proof. The rest of this is moot.

I'm just reacting to questions, comments, etc. people are making. If it's moot, then there's no need to continue talking about it at all. I'm aware of the evidence that this would require. I don't have it.

Being temporarily overlooked and ignored happens to everybody in life (including myself). Having people look blankly straight at you ("through you") without noticing you is quite common. Yet, very few people see the need to suspend the laws of physics or believe that they are actually invisible. It sucks (unless you are trying to sneak in/out of somewhere, and it rarely happens then) but it is far from supernatural.

Yes, these have happened to me before as well and I've never considered myself to actually be invisible when they happen.

 

[Rasmus]

The first quote refers to something that happened once. The second is oriented around making the claim that I can do it over and over again, 'at will'.

I am with you on this one.

If you think you might have the physical ability to turn invisible - have you been pracitising or trying to duplicate the effect somehow?

This is clearly a trait that would in come useful, after all.

Well, I was hoping this thread wouldn't degrade down this far or the people so easily turn to mindless and childish behavior.

[...]

Actually, I'm surprised I haven't gotten more of these types of remarks.

Well...?

I'm always willing to consider a more 'normal' idea, but I'm already aware of and already thought about most of them.

And what reasons do you have to reject them in favour of an explanation that involves your ability to defy the laws of the universe?

Would it not be infinitely more likely that you are in need of medical treatment than that you really can become invisible to the human eye?

I am by no means trying to suggest that his is the case. I think the most likley explanation is that you are simply mistaken about what your friends were seeing or paying attention to at the time. But personally, I would worry about my mental condition before I'd think I could become invisible, or foresee the future or speak with the dead or any such thing.

Rasmus.

 

[prander]

I am by no means trying to suggest that his is the case. I think the most likley explanation is that you are simply mistaken about what your friends were seeing or paying attention to at the time. But personally, I would worry about my mental condition before I'd think I could become invisible, or foresee the future or speak with the dead or any such thing.

To repeat myself again, they weren't my friends, they were my family and a few (elderly) family friends. My family consists of fairly devout Catholics, they do not play tricks like this on people.

They're not the type of people to overlook someone who's a part of the family, either. As I've said, I was expected to join them and they were looking forward to hearing of stuff I've been doing. They just didn't seem to see me out there at all.

If you think you might have the physical ability to turn invisible - have you been pracitising or trying to duplicate the effect somehow?

I don't think I have the physical ability to turn invisible, I only state that I can't seem to explain this one incident as anything other than some sort of physical invisibility. No, I don't practice it, I don't know if I even think I could if I wanted to or not.

 

[Ririon]

Yes, these have happened to me before as well and I've never considered myself to actually be invisible when they happen.

Then what is the difference between an instance where everybody completely ignores you and you think it's perfectly normal, and another instance when everybody completely ignores you and you somehow get the idea that you're invisible?

 

[prander]

Then what is the difference between an instance where everybody completely ignores you and you think it's perfectly normal, and another instance when everybody completely ignores you and you somehow get the idea that you're invisible?

This instance, I was expected to be there. They knew I would be there, they were expecting me to be there and I was expected to be the center of attention and present stuff for them, for a little while, anyway.

I went out there and stood where they all could see and hear me. They didn't look up and they didn't aknowledge me in any way, shape or form. I started talking and they didn't seem to hear me. They just continued on talking as if I was not there, even though they'd been waiting on me.

I'm a calm and skeptical person by nature and it really didn't hit me too hard, even though it seemed strange. I just kind of stood there wondering what was going on. Since no one seemed to be paying attention to me, I just decided to leave for a minute and come back. When I came back, everything seemed normal again. They looked up, greeted me and things went on as normal.

Again, I know how it sounds. Believe it if you want, don't if you don't want to.

 

[Ririon]

It must have been a strange experience, I believe that. If this was a prank it sounds too perfectly executed, but memory isn't perfect, either. And I would not believe that I was actually physically transparent even if something like that happened to me, but people are different. I guess this is one of those "You'd have to be there" situations. If this messes with your head so much, maybe you should have another talk with your invisible (ex)friend and get another demonstration? To try to get to the bottom of it? Since you are unable to recreate the effect and he apparently is, I mean.

 

[prander]

It was definitely 'out of the ordinary' and I have to totally agree that it was a 'you'd have to be there' experience. I haven't said anything in regards to that as I imagine I would've gotten jumped on fairly quickly.

But, yeah, it was weird. *Something* seems to have happened.

I didn't believe that I was physically invisible, at least not at first. I've only recently started entertaining that idea and it seems, despite how irrational it is, to be the best explanation.

Well, it hasn't been messing with my head a lot, but it's more of something I want to figure out. I don't feel like I have to, but I do really want to.


If I may, as for the science... I'm not trying to go against science. I don't say this with the intent of even having science in mind. I'm mainly going on what happened and how I (and others) experienced it (or didn't).

I don't have any advanced training any of the (theoretical) sciences to even feel confident to attempt to explain this. So, my making these statements are not an attempt to contradict what science may say, they're just an attempt on my part alone to present why I have to come to the conclusion that I did.

That says nothing about my position in regards to how the sciences may or may not go against this.


Thanks again to all and Ririon for humoring me a bit more.

 

[jimmygun]

Prander...I just had an incredible, unbelievable, undescribable, unrepeatable experience happen to me. I cannot do it again, I cannot explain it if I ignore the scientific facts surrounding it!

Did it happen? You tell me.

If you need more information than that which I have already supplied, then I will deem you to be sarcastic, closed minded, bullying and farcical.

 

[Ririon]

Well, keeping science in mind, let me tell you what science says about solid objects, especially large living mammals, turning invisible for no apparent reason: It doesn't happen.

So, either

A) physics and biology as we know it is complete crap,

B) there are good psychological explanations for this, or

C) you are making it all up.

Trust me when I say that A is NOT the most likely explanation.

Since I'm in a relatively good mood, B seems the most likely to me.

-Similar and un-paranormal things happen all the time.

-You seem unable to reproduce the effect under controlled conditions.

-In the year that has passed you are leaning more and more towards the weirder explanations, suggesting that your memory of the incident is not accurate. (Don't take it personally, it happens to everybody.) Your apparent fascination with being invisible makes the memory fit that more and more. People remember things that are physically impossible and just not true all the time.

I'm not a psychologist, but in my limited understanding of how the brain works, this all seems perfectly plausible.

I am however a physicist, and light passing through a human body undistorted is not plausible at all.

Edited for perfection

 

[SmooveK]

Have you ever seen "The Invisible Man", "Hollow Man", or other such movies? Simply seeing such paranormal feats seemingly given rationality can tick your brain into creating that rationality as an option in your memories.

Maybe everyone was just playing a joke on you? This and thousands of other explanations are more reasonable than what you suggest.

 

[rjh01]

Simple experiment to do to see if you can be invisible.

Go to a public place where you get many people walking in one direction, maybe in a corridor or something. Put yourself in a position so that people have to either change directions or bump into you. If the majority of people bump into you then it would be reasonable they cannot see you. Note also reaction of people who do bump into you. If they alter course then you are a perfectly normal human being and you can discard the fantasy that you are invisible.

Safety notes. Do not do this in the same place twice or for more then a few minutes. Somebody may call the police and you will have hard questions to answer. If someone does alter course let them through.

Advantages – No friendly observers to play jokes on you.

 

[metamorphium]

Paranormal

Well, I am not a frequent poster, but let me offer one story, which could look paranormal too although it's far from it.

We live in a complex world. It's somewhat in human nature to try to explain things, which are really complex to explain, through obscure means since they usually sound way easier to laymen. Lots of people believe in crystal harmonization which will cure you because it's easier to believe that there are some unknown forces at work than that there are fairly complicated explanations including placebo why it can work in certain cases (+ it gets you more money to claim you are healing through crystals than to claim that it's the fabulous regeneration ability of our own body) etc. etc.

When I was a few years younger I had very strange experience. I needed to get into some place but my friend forgot the key to padlock there. It was over 100 miles away so we thought what to do. I took that really massive padlock in hand and suddenly it made click and opened all by itself. My friend was staring at me in awe and he immediately thought that I wield some kind of special energy. LOL I was amazed too because the padlock was really sturdy, but then I asked myself a questions how it could have been possible using some rational explanation. I found a solution (the lock was improperly shut and when I was later on fooling with it a lot, since I have an inquisitive mind, I found out, that you can sort of half close it so similar behavior is possible to achieve).

Okay, now you can ask why I am talking about this completely unrelated story? Because if you percieve the world as a complex system, you'll find out, that it takes incredible ammount of variables for each simple process to happen. This can really lead to lots of mysterious things happening around you. I can already think about quite a few possible explanations for your invisibility. It can be room lighting, it can be psychical condition of observer (tired persons etc.)

My main gripe with your story is the part "as I've seen someone doing it but I am no longer in contact with him and I was able to make it once too". It reminds me of those stories "my friend knows friend who can do that." But I can be wrong of course.