From: michael.huxley5@btinternet.com   
      
   "hermes"  wrote in message   
   news:1170085386.116343.43340@a75g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...   
   I decided to open a new thread of discussion because   
   "Hypnagogic Hallucinations" was growing huge.   
      
   Short answers first:   
      
   Cl.Masssé wrote:   
   > It's very easy to verify who is right: wake sooner.   
      
   I've done that several times, heard no suspect phone ring.   
   Unfortunately, this proves absolutely nothing.   
   Nobody said the bird must sing every morning.   
      
   Now the long answer:   
      
   David Mitchell wrote:   
   >It's a matter of record that birds _do_ imitate telephone rings   
      
   As I wrote in my previous message: it is true they are quite   
   versatile.   
      
   > occurring _at the time it normally happens_, is more likely than it being   
   > due to something which is anecdotal at best.   
      
   It is clear from your (many) posts that you do not believe   
   in ghosts. Good for you, brave lion. I envy you.   
   I used to be just like you, until a couple of years ago, when   
   certain events in my life made me lose part of my courage.   
   Now I am beginning to believe in ... certain things.   
   Including ghosts, in a sense. But this is not the topic of my post.   
      
   I am writing this because of your expression "anecdotal at best".   
      
   Perhaps I am a very naive person, perhaps I am not rational enough.   
   Or, let's face it, maybe I am plain stupid.   
   In this case, you should not waste your time in trying to   
   convince me.   
      
   But when you engage into a discussion with someone,   
   you accept implicitly that he or she has some mental faculties.   
      
   Within this context, I find the expression "anecdotal at best"   
   slightly offensive, and certainly not friendly at all.   
   Many of the users of alt.out-of-body believe in certain   
   phenomena that you would describe as impossible.   
   Clairvoyance is but an example. If you want to participate   
   in these discussions as a civilized and polite person,   
   maybe you should not label them as anecdotal, or worse,   
   just because they express their convictions.   
   I strongly believe in the possibility of expressing   
   opposite opinions in a polite and, why not, friendly manner.   
      
   I thoroughly agree. What we say is important, but the way we say it is more   
   so. When something is said in an aggressive manner, it is the person who is   
   attacked, not their point of view. Discussion becomes argument and any gains   
   that could be made are lost. Better a hand shake than a shaken fist.   
      
   MikeH   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)