> Jed wrote: >>[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> I have no idea if what my mother was seeing really existed >> or not. Doesn't really matter. However, the fact that >> western influenced scientific rationale would simply >> proclaim that my mother was experiencing nothing more >> than a "hallucination" is, in my view, a cop out.
> That is an odd statement. If you, your father and other > people could not see them then of course they were > hallucinations. What other hypothesis fits? I suspect you and my dad would have gotten along nicely! He was a Professor of Food Science at the University of Wisconsin. Earlier in his career he was employed as a production manager for an international dairy plant (FOREMOST Dairies) stationed near Kokura, Japan. We lived in Japan for about three years during the mid 50s. I like kelp. > The only other hypothesis I can imagine would be that > these things really did exist, your mother developed > some extraordinary new ability to see them because of > the disease, and there might be some sort of special > camera or other instrument which could detect them. > Sort of like the movie "Phenomenon." Also we have > to postulate that people and creatures can > mysteriously float in air. All of that strikes me as > exceedingly unlikely. I am sure that if I experienced > this myself, and I had any marbles left at all, I > would instantly dismiss that hypothesis, just as my > mother did in similar circumstances. Another hypothesis might be: As some of us approach death perhaps the brain chemistry begins to alter in uncharted ways causing their perceptual filtering systems to no longer function in the normal way. Perhaps this might in some cases cause extraneous external stimulus to filter back into the conscious awareness. This filtering system might have been put in place as an evolutionary process to help "filter out" extraneous environmental stimulus that if noticed could be detrimental (if not deadly) to the survival of the organism, particularly if they spent too much time focusing on the external stimulus. In other words: Forget about the strange looking floating creature hovering next to the cliff that seems to be defying the laws of gravity, the one you can't catch nor eat. Focus on that hungry looking Saber-tooth tiger crouched on top of the cliff. Yeah, THAT ONE! The one that seems to be considering you for lunch. > Of course the disease might also affect my judgement > and objectivity, like being drunk. In that case I > *would* believe in floating people, UFOs in the room, > or what have you. It did that to my mother, but only > momentarily. You think you would see these things? Can I have some of what you got? > If you are a good scientist, you spent a lifetime > training yourself *not* to believe your own > impressions, and not to take anything for granted. > You demand objective proof for everything. People > who do that are not likely to change in the last > months of life, or to relax their standards even > under extreme duress. I have seen many people die > and I have never seen an atheist undergo a > "deathbed conversion," or suddenly start believing > in things that he formerly would have dismissed. > I suppose it happens about as often as religious > people lose their faith in the last months. Regarding "conversion" stories, or the lack of them as you claim, I suspect others might care to differ with you. But more to the point, Jed, you sound to me like you are trying to make sure you won't end up behaving in some yet-to-be perceived foolish way when you finally get reeeeeealy OLD and fear you may be loosing your mental facilities. It's as if one is religiously repeating the mantra: ...If I continue to think the right thoughts. ...If I can just manage to hold onto the right mental concepts, maybe I just might be able to protect my mental facilities from succumbing to the onset of these ridiculous hallucinations during the last moments of my life. Maybe I'll be able to save face and not look ridiculous or tragic to my family or to myself. Perhaps it's best to simply cross the bridge when we get to it. We all eventually will. As for me, I just hope I'll have enough money to tip the boatman. > By the way, your response to these events was > exactly right. Based on what the nurses told me, > I would definitely recommend against telling the > patient "that is a hallucination," or getting > upset about it. At best you will only confuse > the patient or embarrass her. It may have been the right response but not for the reasons you site. I find the comments attributed to the nurses you speak of to be typical from those who have never experienced "hallucinations". They do not speak from experience. > I knew another patient who was completely aware > that she was seeing hallucinations. She enjoyed > them. She said they were the most interesting > thing she saw all day. > > - Jed Once it was clear to my mother that I couldn't see her "hallucinations", nor that her "hallucinations" bothered or upset me, we were able to spend good quality time occasionally observing and commenting on her experiences. She was an artist after all, and so am I. "You see flowers sprouting out of the ceiling? And that school of fish swimming past your bed, are they the salt or fresh water variety?" Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
