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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Made a twat of myself last night, WIBU to leave?

155 replies

Humpfree · 01/11/2023 10:47

Last night DH and I had booked onto a ghost hunt at a “haunted castle”. It was just a bit of Halloween fun. I’m an open minded skeptic in that I want it all to be real but I really struggle to believe it. That being said I would never take the piss or insult anyone’s beliefs, I went with the intention on taking it seriously.

Anyway the whole thing started off on the wrong foot when the guide started talking about a ghost that - due to me being a history geek - I knew never existed in real life. Still I didn’t say anything and just went along with it but I was getting more skeptical by the minute. He turned off all the lights in the dungeon so we’re all stood in pitch black darkness whilst he called out to these random “historical figures”. My back was hurting, I was so cold and I was getting restless stood in one place for so long. Should also add that I have ADHD so standing still for long periods of time is difficult but I managed to stand there for an hour with only internal struggles.

Next bit is where I caved. We had to form a circle and everyone had to hold hands whilst one person was the “receiver” stood in the middle. Half hour of stood in this position and one bloke was quietly complaining (whispering) to his wife that his legs were hurting, she kept telling him to be quiet - the whispering went back and forth until suddenly he shook off the hands at either side of him and said loudly “I’m sorry I can’t stand like this any longer” but it was so dramatic I started laughing - then I couldn’t stop laughing - everything became funny - the image of DH stood there holding hands with a random bloke - the person in the centre of the circle rocking back and forth as she’s “pushed around by a spirit”, I remembered someone tripping up earlier in the dungeon and everyone thought a ghost had pushed her … even after she said she’d tripped up … the thought of a big group of adults stood in pitch black darkness in the middle of a freezing cold castle trying to talk to Alistair Crowley …. I tried to stop laughing and I couldn’t. I tried to disguise it as coughing and DH whispered to me that it all seemed a bit devil worshipy … that set me off again. To save face I let go of both hands either side of me and apologised saying I needed to go out and get some fresh air, the guide then said “don’t break the circle!” And everyone looked terrified which made me laugh further and I ended up just walking out leaving DH stood there not knowing whether to stay or follow.

I know IWBU to go “ghost hunting” in the first place but WIBU to leave in the way that I did? I feel so guilty and I tried so hard to stop laughing but the more.i tried the worse it got. DH says it was obvious that I was laughing. I do suffer with nervous laughter so I think this is what it turned into.

WIBU to have walked out? Was this worse than stood there trying not to laugh??

OP posts:
capabilityfrowns · 01/11/2023 13:45

I once got the giggles in the midst of a Buddhist mass.

I'd gone on a learn to meditate weekend. During the mass prayers were read out and among all the sad stories the guy said "and this prayer is dedicated to Bobby the dog who lost the use of his two front legs "

I lost it . I just couldn't help it . I had to cover my face with my scarf and pretend I was crying.
The woman next to me shoulders were going and I couldn't look at her

I feel your pain .

WoollyBat · 01/11/2023 13:47

Well the bloke disrupted things before you did - and quite reasonably. Whoever was running this needs to learn you don’t make people stand around for an hour/half an hour with nothing happening. The “contract” between the guide and the customers means you will go along with what they tell you to do but only up to a point - if you’re cold/bored/in pain then it will eventually break down. You took that further by laughing but also reasonably IMO.

Devilsmommy · 01/11/2023 13:54

Soubriquet · 01/11/2023 10:53

Alastair Crowley… 2 characters from Supernatural.

Would have laughed there and then

Alister Crowley did exist, but I'm doubting he was at this castle

Conkersinautumn · 01/11/2023 13:54

Sounds very funny.

Cnidarian · 01/11/2023 13:55

If youre at Chillingham Castle no need to leave just go and see the wild cows they're excellent!

Webex · 01/11/2023 13:56

Anyway the whole thing started off on the wrong foot when the guide started talking about a ghost that - due to me being a history geek - I knew never existed in real life

Who was this?

Conkersinautumn · 01/11/2023 13:56

My near neighbour has recently started work as a medium. I'm under orders from my husband to not attend any of her invites ..... he knows I'll crack up

TheShellBeach · 01/11/2023 13:57

.........................the guide started talking about a ghost that - due to me being a history geek - I knew never existed in real life

Can anyone tell me about a ghost which did actually exist in real life?

😂😂

IncompleteSenten · 01/11/2023 13:58

You did bloody well to last 3.5 hours.
I wouldn't have lasted 3.5 minutes without laughing at the ridiculousness of it.

Balloonhearts · 01/11/2023 13:59

Alastair Crowley… 2 characters from Supernatural.

I'd have had to throw in a quote and see who reacted to it.

Maatandosiris · 01/11/2023 14:11

Balloonhearts · 01/11/2023 13:59

Alastair Crowley… 2 characters from Supernatural.

I'd have had to throw in a quote and see who reacted to it.

They would probably have reacted by saying “are you thick? Aleister Crowley was a real person”

Mariposista · 01/11/2023 14:16

Both my husband and I would be holding onto each other laughing at this.

Maatandosiris · 01/11/2023 14:23

Mariposista · 01/11/2023 14:16

Both my husband and I would be holding onto each other laughing at this.

But presumably you wouldn’t book onto a ghost hunt weekend?

Mariposista · 01/11/2023 14:27

No, absolutely not. Both think Halloween is a load of nonsense and would no way be able to take it seriously 🤣🤣🤣

CharlotteBog · 01/11/2023 14:31

IncompleteSenten · 01/11/2023 13:58

You did bloody well to last 3.5 hours.
I wouldn't have lasted 3.5 minutes without laughing at the ridiculousness of it.

Surely you wouldn't book onto something that you found ridiculous, would you?

Passepartoute · 01/11/2023 14:32

3.5 hours for an event like that was ridiculous. I wouldn't have lasted longer than an hour at most.

Topsyturvy78 · 01/11/2023 14:33

Sounds like something to off most haunted. I would have been pissing myself laughing as well.

LittleGlowingOblong · 01/11/2023 14:33

I laughed so hard reading this and I’m tough nut to crack with laughing, so thank for the hoot! :-)

FannyFifer · 01/11/2023 14:35

This sounds brilliant, myself & DP would have been properly crying laughing, honestly I'm giggling at the thought of us both going along to something like that.

Richardchamberlainrocks · 01/11/2023 14:49

The thing is once you’ve got the giggles it becomes uncontrollable no matter how much you want to stop. I was in the audience at a dance production and there was a section of ballet dancing accompanied by a solo violinist. Every time she was propelled into the air the violinist went into overdrive. I was absolutely shaking with laughter but I didn’t want be - if that makes sense. I couldn’t believe no one else found it funny. I was so relieved when they finished but it still makes me chuckle to this day - 30 years on!!!!

Humpfree · 01/11/2023 15:06

Ok just caught up with the thread, a few points …

I did not book onto it knowing it would be ridiculous, I WANT to believe! I watch paranormal investigations on YouTube multiple times a week, I’ve stayed in some of the most “haunted” places in the world … I booked onto it hoping it would give me a reason to believe. I didn’t expect to find it funny, and it wasn’t funny until it was … I certainly wasn’t laughing at the other people there, Christ I’ve laughed at funerals before now, and I never know why. It’s embarrassing because I genuinely can’t stop once I start, the more I try to stop the funnier it seems to get.

I know Alistair Crowley was real - I had Mr Crowley (Ozzy) stuck in my head everytime he was mentioned 😂 and I know he did visit the castle and held seances there but I’m pretty sure he was more active at Warwick castle.

The made up name was John Sage (yes, it’s Chillingham).

OP posts:
Humpfree · 01/11/2023 15:08

Richardchamberlainrocks · 01/11/2023 14:49

The thing is once you’ve got the giggles it becomes uncontrollable no matter how much you want to stop. I was in the audience at a dance production and there was a section of ballet dancing accompanied by a solo violinist. Every time she was propelled into the air the violinist went into overdrive. I was absolutely shaking with laughter but I didn’t want be - if that makes sense. I couldn’t believe no one else found it funny. I was so relieved when they finished but it still makes me chuckle to this day - 30 years on!!!!

I would have been in hysterics at this too 😂

OP posts:
tattygrl · 01/11/2023 15:10

On a related but different note, OP, have you listened to Danny Robins' podcast Uncanny? If not, you'd absolutely love it! He's also done a short TV series on BBC by the same name. Tbh you've probably heard of it already being that you're interested in this stuff but worth a recommend just in case. It's my absolute favourite.

Humpfree · 01/11/2023 15:13

Just to add - now that I’ve said where it was and what day it took place - the guide was lovely and it was definitely a me problem rather than anything he did wrong. He was doing what he was there to do. I just got the wrong idea of what the event would be like and reacted in a way I didn’t intend to. I certainly didn’t mean to cause a scene.

OP posts:
FictionalCharacter · 01/11/2023 15:18

It’s all laughable bollocks, so laughing at it is perfectly reasonable.
If the guide believes his own nonsense he’s an utter idiot for trying to invoke the vile Crowley, a cruel man who sexually abused his followers. I suspect the guide just chooses names of the few occultists that the average curious tourist would have heard of.