2006-07-06 13:00:56 · 13 answers · asked by Ajatshatru 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
HI Ajatshatru
The reason "weird and spooky" things happen to people is because we are very good at making patterns out of data. One of the key capabilities that set us apart from most other animals is our ability to create patterns out of events and use the pattern to our advantage. One of the unfortunate by products of this capability is that, unfiltered by critically analysis, this pattern making capability can lead us astray.
Example:
* a person answers the telephone. Prior to answering the phone they get the feeling that this may be their mother calling. They answer the phone and lo and behold it is actually a telemarketer trying to get them to change banks. The person thinks nothing of this again. The next day, prior to answering the phone, they again get the feeling that it will be their mother, and this time it is their mother. This is a significant event, and so it gets remembered. This connection between thinking about who will call and having them call might happen a number of time, and the person then starts to make a pattern out of this data. They look for an explanation for the string of connections, and that explanation might be that they think they're psychic, or that somkething "weird and spooky" is going on.
The problem is that the data is now being analysed out of context. For a start, the hundreds of times when there has been *no* connection between feeling and caller have been ignored, because these aren't significant events. This error is called "selective data sampling". Secondly causes which make the connection more likely have been ignored, for example your mother might be your most frequent caller, hence you're most likely to guess she will call.
This is why scientific experimentation has such rigorous standards around the collection and analysis of data: sample sizes and spaces need to be sufficiently large, sampling needs to be uniform, blips need to be statistically significant, controls should be used, all influences should be captured for analysis. This is also why "weird and spooky" things rarely stand up to scientific analysis - the only real weird and spooky thing going on is the inability to accurately analyse data.
Hope this helps!
The Chicken
2006-07-06 14:18:43 · answer #1 · answered by Magic Chicken 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because life is weird and spooky. We know nothing of the other dimensions that intermittently interact with ours.
Its great when it does happen.
2006-07-06 20:05:16 · answer #2 · answered by PsiKnight9 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weird and spooky don't exist.
2006-07-06 20:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by will 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a spirit that has not yet crossed over to the other world (a ghost, pretty much) attempting to get their attention or the attention of some one around them.
2006-07-06 20:06:39 · answer #4 · answered by Janette 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because our existence consists of more than we can detect with our senses.
2006-07-06 20:03:23 · answer #5 · answered by Tomas E 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely cause theyre on DRUGS
2006-07-06 20:02:42 · answer #6 · answered by celine8388 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drugs and the CIA
2006-07-06 20:05:20 · answer #7 · answered by chairbinder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they want them to.
2006-07-06 20:03:01 · answer #8 · answered by Finnegan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz people are weird
2006-07-06 20:04:51 · answer #9 · answered by Krish_Cat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just lucky, I guess.
2006-07-06 20:03:59 · answer #10 · answered by 1derous1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋