Fear of the dark

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adriatikfan

Full Member
May 23, 2010
265
10
North Yorkshire
The word god is not germanic, like you said in Gemanic the word is Gudan, not god. Gudan means to call, but God is not gudan. God only exists in English.

Not strictly true.

The modern German word for 'God' is 'Gott' - the German and English languages are littered with examples of words where the letters 'd' and 't' are interchangeable. The history of the two languages can, amongst other things, be traced to the dead language 'Sanskrit'

So yes, 'God' in the written language is a reasonably modern construct but the word as 'idea' in the spoken languag eis considerably older.

Best Wishes
David
 

Dormouse

Tenderfoot
Jul 15, 2010
96
0
UK
I've never had anything inexplicable happen. Been startled on occasion but a moments listening has usually made it plain what's lurking. So far it's always been of the animal variety and in this country there's little danger in that quarter unless in the area where there may be ABCs, as crypto-zoologists call them. (Alien big cats - that's alien as in non-indigenous rather than extra-terrestrial!)

Not done a lot of solo camping, usually go with a mate for nights out. To be honest it does feel safer (I'm female and small and so's my mate). It's people who can put you in a dodgy situation.

We had one occasion that was freaky and creepy - we'd picked a spot to camp and were just about to set up when we heard some strange noises a little distance off. We went to check it out (quietly, because we thought it may be a badger sett) and saw a bloke scampering about in a crouch, stripped to the waist and barefoot. He had longish grubby hair and his skin looked pretty filthy and he was snuffling and making woofy noises and letting out the odd bark! :yikes:

As you can imagine we were out of there like a shot! We didn't stop for the night until we'd walked, pretty damned briskly, for nearly two hours, and only then because it was so dark.

Some intriguing dits told here. I suspect it's people behind these weird doings - there are some very odd folk here and there as evidenced by my "Dog Bloke".

I'm particularly interested to hear of any further info on JonathonD's weird lurker.
 
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ikesdad

Member
Oct 29, 2009
20
0
Colorado
Although I realize its not an option there but I carry a firearm, pistol at very least, to ensure I stay at the top of the food chain and that includes humans. There's some real nuts out there.

However, most with prior military time will say "the darkness is my friend".
 
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Bushwhacker

Banned
Jun 26, 2008
3,882
8
Dorset
That sounds like a plan. Or a mini man hunt. Hopefully I will get more answers on Thursday when I go out, I'm quite looking forward to it, a real tracking test.

Come to think of it, are you sure it wasn't Gazza bringing you a dressing gown, chicken dinner, fishing rod and a can of lager? :lmao:
 

pango

Nomad
Feb 10, 2009
380
6
70
Fife
Bijaisus, Ikesdad, most Brits would see someone going armed -just in case- as being a real threat! :surrender:

Kind of brings to mind the British army officer shortly after WWI popping rounds at a Brocken Spectre on Ben Macdhui. He probably scared the tripes out of some bloke out for a walk. :lmao:
 

mattweasel

Tenderfoot
Jul 7, 2010
79
0
hertfordshire england
I was quite happy walking and sleeping in the woods, until I started to read all these stories. Now I thinking that the rustling in the leaflitter I heard the other night wasn't a badger after all.:eek:
 

Laurentius

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 13, 2009
2,433
629
Knowhere
Although I realize its not an option there but I carry a firearm, pistol at very least, to ensure I stay at the top of the food chain and that includes humans. There's some real nuts out there.

However, most with prior military time will say "the darkness is my friend".

Ah but do you have a silver bullet?
 

ikesdad

Member
Oct 29, 2009
20
0
Colorado
Well, I do reload so it wouldnt be a big deal to cast 1 or 20 but with the price of silver, a couple of wooden stakes will have to suffice.

Pango, that officer type sounds like he was suffering from PTSD. Never ever just start shooting at sounds but why run from some wacko howling like a dog when an insurance policy is readily at hand?

And no offense or sarcasm intended towards any who have come across such an individual.
 
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cappi

Life Member
Nov 15, 2008
194
0
hautes pyrenees,france
Welcome Taws6

Social Anthropologists have debated for a long time whether there is an inherent fear of things likley to put us at risk and that these are somehow genetically built in, for example there is a universal fear of snakes across the world even in regions where snakes do not exist. Fear of the dark is similar.

The reality is that yes there are things that go bump in the dark but you need some knowledge and common sense to make a realistic assessment of what it "probably" is until you have the knowledge and skills to id the noise. The trick is to know whether it is animal or human. If it's animal you have no fear at all, if it's human, be very aware.
But realistically how reasonable is it to assume a person is going to be bumping around your well hidden camp at 3am? Very very small unless you are near lots of people. So if I were you I'd go out with a very big torch and that will give you the confidence to see what makes any noises and that will reassure you that everything is ok.

It's quite funny this topic as last week I was out fishing late one evening in a fairly remote area and there was a guy trying to hide from me about 800meters away on the other side of the loch. Then as I watched him through bino's he started howling like a wolf woooo oooooooooooooooooo eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee oooooooo
I kid you not and this jkept going for some time. It was quite unnerving. I packed up and started walking back and I had to walk past his side of the loch, anyway as soon as he saw me moving he stopped howling and ran like the devil up a forestry track and I heard a car driving away. I had seen a car on my way in and took a photo just incase...

Anway that's been my freakiest experience in a wee while, my only precaution was to pick up a cricket ball sized rock and put it in my smocj just incase he needed to get close to some geology pmsl.

How correct you are .IT IS VERY important to know exactly what is in the enviroment you are going to be a "GUEST" in for many reasons ,SAFETY ANTI HES etc but as the reply is about fear of the DARK all other reasons before will arrive to one thing if you lay down at night in the woods on your own without knowing what is around you you will crap yourself and not sleep a wink .One night not a problem two nights plus it becomes a problem.I live high up in the Pyrenees mtns now and spend many nights up alone and sometimes with the dog whilst i am happy with the enviroment i have had to ajust a lot as wild boar and BEARS habit here one time i was in the tipi and for 3hrs a bear circled the tent in the night nothing i could do but remain carm i new they ere here i have spray,so it was a waiting game eventually he went on to somewhere else.Be prepared know the enviroment and sleep well or the Wooooooooooods are not for you [WHO`S THAT I KNOW SOMEONE IS OUT THERE].......
 

JonathanD

Ophiological Genius
Sep 3, 2004
12,809
1,481
Stourton,UK
Just an update for those interested. We had torrential rain here today so I didn't get out. Most likely wiped all sign from the last two weeks or so, but the good news is that all new sign will now be easier to follow as the slate has been wiped clean.
 

Miyagi

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 6, 2008
2,298
5
South Queensferry
Just an update for those interested. We had torrential rain here today so I didn't get out. Most likely wiped all sign from the last two weeks or so, but the good news is that all new sign will now be easier to follow as the slate has been wiped clean.

True, true.

Was Springheeled Jack known for snorkeling?

I'm as intrigued as everyone else and glad to see the thread back on track - no pun intended.
 

JonathanD

Ophiological Genius
Sep 3, 2004
12,809
1,481
Stourton,UK
True, true.

Was Springheeled Jack known for snorkeling?

I'm as intrigued as everyone else and glad to see the thread back on track - no pun intended.

Springheel Jack would make a noise upon landing. I ruled him out some time ago. It's too dirty around there for him.
 

Miyagi

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 6, 2008
2,298
5
South Queensferry
Springheel Jack would make a noise upon landing. I ruled him out some time ago. It's too dirty around there for him.

WD40 works wonders.

Harking back to childhood... he was a rooftop scoundrel wasn't he? Billy the Cat (from the Dandy?) was a modern take I think?

Sorry, I digress.

We meet folk all the time and there are moments/occasions when you just don't feel comfortable in someone's presence - although they may have done nothing to elicit such a feeling.

We have to work with folk we wouldn't socialise with, nor introduce them to family etc., but something doesn't ring true. We can't put our finger on "why", but our sixth sense tells us something is amiss.

9/10 your sixth sense will serve you well. You can always apologise for the other tenth...

These days Society tells us that such "feelings" are our fault, and is due to our own insecurities etc.

Hmmm...

I'm with you on this JD, I'd love to see a rational outcome only for the bragging/pelting rights/ammo, but some things can't be explained and our gut feeling was right.

Keep us posted.

Liam
 

rommy

Forager
Jun 4, 2010
122
0
Hull, East Yorkshire.
Hmmm...

I'm with you on this JD, I'd love to see a rational outcome only for the bragging/pelting rights/ammo, but some things can't be explained and our gut feeling was right.

Keep us posted.

Liam

I am inclined towards this situation turning out to be a werewolf type character as has been witnessed elsewhere. BUT the stealth of the bloke seems to add creedance to the Tom Brown pupil theory.

JDs account of the walking on all fours intrigued me. I see two possibilities - as the only tracks JD observed walking on all fours where when he crossed the stream. This would suggest the TB pupil keeping low to the earth so as not to silhouette against the sky in an area of less dense vegetation. But the walking on the balls of his feet all the rest of the time and the scratching on the tent suggests the werewolf character. Either way I feel this situation deserves a friend with NV to act as stag as I do fear that as he grows more confident that his activities will escalate.
 

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