Mysterious booms over Pennsylvania cities

Discussion in 'UFOs, Ghosts and Monsters' started by Magical Realist, May 29, 2018.

  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    It's a fortean phenomenon if it's anomalous and has no explanation. If you don't like it posted here and treated as a fortean phenomenon, then stay out of this thread. Vote it away by not contributing to it. You're not a moderator.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2018
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  3. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    Interestingly enough, Google brings back this:

    Dictionary

    Fort·e·an
    ˈfôrdēən/
    adjective
    1. relating to or denoting paranormal phenomena.

    Also interesting - the word doesn't appear in Merrian-Webster at all.

    According to Oxford:

    https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fortean

    Definition of Fortean in English:
    Fortean

    ADJECTIVE
    • Relating to or denoting paranormal phenomena.

      ‘Fortean phenomena like spontaneous combustion’

      More example sentences
    Origin
    1970s: from the name of Charles H. Fort (1874–1932), American student of paranormal phenomena.


    So, it would appear that, by default, Fortean does, in fact, imply something is paranormal.
     
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  5. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Here's a definition of paranormal:

    paranormal
    [par-uh-nawr-muh l]
    ExamplesWord Origin
    See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
    adjective
    1. of or relating to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, as psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paranormal

    I personally dislike using the word paranormal to describe fortean phenomena. Paranormal has come to be identified with supernatural. And a fortean phenomenon may not be supernaturally caused in the end. It may be entirely natural, albeit a process we haven't discovered yet. Examples: earth lights, spontaneous human combustion, fish rains, etc.
     
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  7. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    So, you agree, then, that Fortean implies something is Paranormal (per its definition)?

    Except...

    So, in one breath you say that just because you call something Fortean, it doesn't mean you are saying it is Paranormal... and then in the next you admit that it does mean just that?

    I'm just trying to make sure everyone is on the same page here.
     
  8. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    It could mean something paranormal in the sense of supernatural, but not necessarily. It could be a natural process we haven't discovered yet.
     
  9. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    Except the very definition you provided contradicts that:

    That implies that the previously listed items are also supernatural phenomena.
     
  10. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Sigh...whatever..
     
  11. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    *shrug* I'm just saying, if you are going to use a word, may as well use it correctly. Attempting to redefine words really hampers ones arguments...
     
  12. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Seems like spitting hairs to me. Words always have 2 or 3 definitions depending on their context and useage.
     
  13. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    Incorrect - words often do, but not always. Be very careful when working in absolutes - it will almost certainly end poorly.

    Generally, if a word does have multiple definitions, they are listed in a dictionary:

    https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/paranormal

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranormal
    http://www.dictionary.com/browse/paranormal
    All these sites, including two from sources that are arguably authorities on words, provide a singular definition, all of which agree with one another. This makes sense - paranormal is a compound word:
    Word Origin and History for paranormal
    adj.
    1905, from para- (1) + normal. Related: Paranormally.

    Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
     
  14. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Yeah..just as I said. Spitting hairs...

    Do you not have enough to do at work?
     
  15. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    I like to think of it as being factually correct, but you may call it whatever you wish. As you were.
     
  16. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    You admit to attempting to lower the tone of the forum, that's a start.
     
  17. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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  18. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    Therefore aliens...
     
  19. Michael 345 New year. PRESENT is 72 years oldl Valued Senior Member

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    He does not know how to play Humpty Dumpty

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