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AIBU?

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Original poster

Was my DDs imaginary friend a ghost?

247 replies

MrsDylanThomas · 12/10/2014 11:12

The time of year for such a thread but anyway...!

My DD is now 6 but when she was just 2.5/under age 3 she had an imaginary friend called William. Very young to have an imaginary friend IMO. For a period of about 3 weeks she spoke to William, 'read' books to him and if we were in the park she would stop and say 'C'mon William! Hurry up' whereas she was talking to thin air.

All very normal imaginary friend behaviour.

But one evening around this time, I asked her where was William? I was kind of joking. I remember we were sitting together on the couch before bedtime and she said 'William has gone to college where he lives'.

Turns out my husband's grandfather was called William (they called him Billy) and he worked in the accounts department of a university.

I asked her about him the other day as was thinking about it and she said she often talks to him at bedtime of if she's worried about anything. She's a happy, sociable and clever child so don't think it's anything to worry about.

But I just think William is a name she didn't hear in crèche, or in stories and I didn't think she knew the word 'college' at that age.

Her other imaginary friend was called Alice. I thought it was from Alice in wonderland but (chillingly) my husband's granny was called Alice! Shock

Sorry to spoke you out mumsnetters. Am I filling in gaps or AIBU? Love to hear your thoughts!

OP posts:
Humansatnav · 12/10/2014 18:10

Something exists. It would be highly arrogant to believe that this is all there is.
Its not always benign though.

noblegiraffe · 12/10/2014 18:11

Vermillion, there has been masses of research into psychic ability. You can win a vast sum of money if you can show you have a psychic ability. All the research has shown up nothing except the willingness of people to believe. If you go with the evidence and experience that shows there's no Santa, why are you dismissing the evidence and experience about psychics?

And of course Derren Brown isn't psychic, fgs he's a conjuror. A stage magician. Of course you don't know how he can do the things he does, that's the whole point. Do you ever think that Paul Daniels can actually do magic? Actually, do you believe that it's possible that people can do magic?

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:14

raltheraffe

If you think about it, how would you rather be known? As probably one of the most intelligent (verging on genius), astute, aware individuals in modern times - or as just another psychic, hawking the 'impossible'?

For anyone that did have genuine psychic ability, DB's persona is absolute genius and a guaranteed way to gain credibility.

raltheraffe · 12/10/2014 18:15

noblegiraffe is right. A guy (think he is called James Rand?) has offered £1mill to any psychic who can demonstrate their ability in scientific test conditions. Lots of people have tried but as of yet no-one has taken the prize.

raltheraffe · 12/10/2014 18:16

very clever theory vermillion. Perhaps he is. Either way he in incredibly entertaining.

raltheraffe · 12/10/2014 18:18

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi

Here it is. He is actually called James Randi and the prize is 1 mill usd not £.

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:19

Evidence based on who?

If...go with this...someone genuinely, really, did have true psychic ability. Like the stuff that exists in films and TV. Do you really, really think they would submit themselves to clinical trials? Would you?

If we had absolute, 100% proof than an individual was psychic they'd be hounded. It would be like the second bloody coming of Jesus.

I'm not saying that I 'believe' in psychics btw...or ghosts/God etc. But nor do I have proof against them. And nor does anyone.

raltheraffe · 12/10/2014 18:20

If I could get a quick 1 mill usd for demonstrating my "true psychic ability" I would be in there like a shot

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:21

And further...if you genuinely had astounding psychic ability, why would you want a measly £1m prize? You could realistically have anything you wanted that you put your mind to...no need to take part in competitions.

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:22

Really raltheraffe?

Wouldn't you just pick the winning lottery numbers instead? That's what i'd do.

noblegiraffe · 12/10/2014 18:22

If you're willing to believe that a stage magician who shows that standard psychic feats can be achieved through magic tricks and mundane methods rather than supernatural ability is actually instead a person with supernatural powers pretending to be a stage magician then there's really no helping you,

raltheraffe · 12/10/2014 18:23

that is a better idea.

I would just win the lottery EVERY SINGLE WEEK

I would be a billionaire in no time.

DiaDuit · 12/10/2014 18:24

If we had absolute, 100% proof than an individual was psychic they'd be hounded. It would be like the second bloody coming of Jesus.

Anonymity contract.

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:25

Mundane methods?

Have you seen DB in action? If he's not psychic then he's a genius, with more accessible brain power than any of us could ever hope to achieve.

I know you're determined to argue with me but really, read my posts. I've not said that that's what I actually believe about DB...I've said that it's a very interesting conspiracy theory about him. Which no one (including you despite your attempts Wink can actually disprove)

noblegiraffe · 12/10/2014 18:26

vermillion there are loads of people out there that lots of people do believe are psychic.

Do you think they are not real psychics then, and the real psychics are in hiding somewhere?

londonrach · 12/10/2014 18:28

Dont laugh my sister aged 3 mentioned various people and draw pictures of them. I dont think she remember now if i reminded her as its over 30 years (im older) but i remember her talking about them. The one unknkwn i saw at uni scared the living daylights out of me and i refused to sleep alone after that.

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:28

Actually if I was psychic I don't think I would win the lottery.

I'd start on the stock market with £100 and work my way up to millions, making everyone think I was a genius Grin

VermillionPorcupine · 12/10/2014 18:29

Who knows noble? I've never given it that much thought until this thread.

I do find it fascinating but it's not something I've spent a deal of time considering.

needyoumorethanwantyou · 12/10/2014 18:30

Derren Brown uses simple techniques and he demonstrates that. That's the whole point of his act! That it looks remarkable but is actually not remarkable at all.

workhouse · 12/10/2014 18:32

I had two imaginary friends when I was two. They disappeared, according to my mother, when my sister was born, when I was three. They became quite part of the family, places laid for them at the table etc. I can remember them quite clearly. One was a small, boyish and pixie like, and called Pingin, and the other was an old man with a long white beard called Meadow.

I have a very warm feeling when I remember them and often wonder who exactly they were. I have never been very fanciful or into woo, not religious either, but I have a very strong conviction that they were not just my imagination. I don't believe in ghosts either.

WidowWadman · 12/10/2014 18:35

There are no ghosts. My 3 year old doesn't have an imaginary friend, but an imaginary foe who apparently is a turtle called Keith and often guards our front gate. No idea why and how she came up with him, but I assume her brain is the only place Keith inhabits.

noblegiraffe · 12/10/2014 18:36

Vermillion, yes, I've seen DB in action. He's very impressive. He has clearly mastered a lot of techniques such as memorising vast swathes of information very quickly. He's a skilled pickpocket. He's an excellent magician. He also knows a lot of psychology and hypnosis. He is also a liar. It's part of his act to make you think he is doing one thing when actually he is doing another. Misdirection. He will make you think that he has achieved an effect using one method, when in fact it was another. Like he could make you think someone picked a card at random and he read their mind to find out what it was, but in fact he forced the card on them and knew in advance which they'd picked, but at a much higher level. He is an excellent showman. Very clever. Not psychic, I think he would be insulted at the suggestion.

sashh · 12/10/2014 18:37

So round about the time prince William gets married your dd has an imaginary friend called William?

Humansatnav · 12/10/2014 18:39

Widowwadman , there are no ghosts? Really ?

bringbacksideburns · 12/10/2014 18:40

When my dd was the same age as yours OP, she started talking to me about her friend Stuart. She told me he was very naughty and would wait until i went out of the room, then jump on the table and dance about. He also sometimes slept at the end of the bed and would pull her hair.

This went on for a few days and was starting to freak me out. Eventually one night i asked her where Stuart went when he wasn't here and she said
he lived in a very tiny narrow house between two houses and was a very small mouse.

Yes, it was Stuart fecking Little. The Relief!