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English author Neil Gaiman has said that life is always going to be stranger than fiction because fiction has to be convincing, and life doesn't. Well, if these words needed any proof, there's a TikTok trend that vividly illustrates their essence.
It was started by Ellery (@dentedmilk), who posted a video on Thanksgiving of herself and an old photo of her great-great-great-grandmother that she said died in 1923 during childbirth. 100 years later, Ellery is now around her age.
Throughout the video, a haunting, robotic-sounding voice sings "Well you don't know me, but I know you. And I've got a message," from Laurie Anderson's song 'O Superman.'
The clip has since amassed 6.2 million views and inspired other people to share their own eerie experiences using the tune as well.
@dentedmilk She’s my great great grandmother who died in 1923 during childbirth. I’m around her age, 100 years later. Her name is Jessie.
♬ You dont know me - ellery
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#1
The cashier thought we were crazy when we were trying to tell her why we were freaking out lmao what are the odds.
RELATED:
While the exact definition of what each of us considers eerie differs, the underlying cause is more or less the same.
"[Creepy is] about the uncertainty of threat. You’re feeling uneasy because you think there might be something to worry about here, but the signals are not clear enough to warrant your doing some sort of desperate, life-saving kind of thing,” Frank McAndrew, professor of psychology at Knox College in Illinois, United States, explained.
#4
I'm.Just.A.Girl 12 months ago
I'm not crying, you're crying!!! My daughter's dog crossed the rainbow bridge 4 days ago. So this makes me so happy to see
#5
I'm.Just.A.Girl 12 months ago
My grandma's CB name was ladybug 🐞 and I find them everywhere in my mom's house. All year round. It gives me so much hope that our souls and love live on.
Even the way our bodies respond to the triggers is similar.
In 2012, researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands found that when subjects felt creeped out, they felt colder and believed that the temperature in the room had actually dropped.
Chilling, indeed!
That physical response further heightens our senses.
"You don't know how to act but you’re really concerned about getting more information," McAndrew said.
"It kind of takes your attention and focuses it like a laser on this particular stimulus, whatever it is."
#10
#11
Gypsy Lee 12 months ago
My son is identical to my biological father who I had no visual memory of. When my son turned 28 I was given a photo of said father at the age of 28 by an aunt who lived on the other side of the country, and I thought it was a joke. Feature for feature they are identical. = Genetics. It also explains why my mother has treated my son like garbage his whole life. - She had divorced him very shortly after I was born. I also look like the female version of him, which explains a lot as well. Sometimes genetics aren't fantastic.
Bryn 12 months ago
No they don't. I don't resemble ANY of my grandparents but I do resemble my dad
Load More Replies... #12
I'm.Just.A.Girl 12 months ago
That gave me goosebumps! It's beautiful to know that he is there with you looking out for you! I love these stories because they remind me to have faith in things you can't see or touch but that you definitely feel 💕❤️
As we can see from the pictures, it can be a lot of things, situations, places and, of course, people.
"We're predisposed to see willful agents that mean us harm in situations that are ambiguous, but this was an adaptive thing to do,” McAndrew said.
Our ancestors saw saber-toothed tigers in every shadow and a slithering snake in the motion of the swaying grass because it was better to be safe than sorry.
#14
I'm.Just.A.Girl 12 months ago
That is like spooky amazing. Not exactly terrifying.. more like reassurance with goosebumps.
#15
I'm.Just.A.Girl 12 months ago
That's amazing. I love these stories so much, I choose to have faith in something much bigger than ourselves. It's beautiful!
McAndrew pointed out that truly creepy things and situations are not attractive. At all.
"We don't enjoy real creepy situations, and we will avoid them like the plague," he said. "Like if there's a person who creeps you out, you'll cross the street to get away.”
What we do enjoy is playacting, in the same way we enjoy the thrill of watching a horror movie.
#18
#19
Katy McMouse 12 months ago
This one is a bit creepy with the image of the future girlfriend staring out of the window, like a ghost.
#20
Irish Lassie 12 months ago
It took a minute to understand what she saw…center left in picture #2 is almost a perfect shadow of the dad in his baseball hat
McAndrew and other psychologists, anthropologists, and even author Stephen King agree that horror films are a safe place for us to explore our fears and rehearse what we would do if, say, zombies tore apart our town.
Maybe these TikToks are too?
#22
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What do you think ?
Maxigrod 12 months ago
Do people don't know about genetics? Yeah, you look slightly similar to a member of your family, who would have thought!
Ginger Ghost 12 months ago
but I look just like our postman, that's not genetics
Load More Replies...
Robert T 12 months ago
One mildly interesting story of coincidence in my family. My parents lived in a very small village quite some distance from where they were both born. When visiting the church, we noticed a sign showing the names of the previous vicars, and one of them was almost the same as our family name, with one letter different. Some years later a relative did some research on our family tree and I followed it up with a bit more detail. Turns out the vicar was in fact my great-great-great-great-grand-father (b. 1781). He married into a farming family, and several generations farmed somewhat nearer to where my parents were born, and those farms still exist along with headstones in the local churchyard.
ConstantlyJon 12 months ago
I want it to be my job to randomly text people "I love you" or "I miss you" or "I'm proud of you" from dead people's numbers. Is that a job someone can have? Seems like it'd be helpful to people.
neytjie 12 months ago
Maybe not. What if you are finally dealing with the loss of a loved one and get that message? Would rly f with your emotional well-being
Load More Replies...
Tamra 12 months ago
I, personally, don't believe that the spirits of loved ones watch over us or communicate with us, but many do, and if I'm being honest, I sometimes wish that I did. I imagine those beliefs bring people comfort, but I just don't have them. I honestly don't know if that makes me better off, or worse. But I don't suppose it matters much.
censorshipsucks 12 months ago
yeah I feel sad for some of these people because they will spend the rest of their lives waiting for their phone or tshirt or bottle cap to send them another random message from their dearly departed. Really sad.
Load More Replies...
Lost Penny 12 months ago
My cousin & I. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, and the only coincidence we were aware of was that our kids were born on the same date (Jan 23) 12 years apart. Then we finally got together & started talking just to find out: My first car was a white Ford Focus that I later traded in for a golden Toyota Corolla; Her first car was a white Ford Focus that she later traded in for a golden Toyota Corolla. I had a German Shepherd named Vincent; She had a GS named Vincent. I moved into my house in May 2004; She moved into her apartment in May 2004. There were more 'coincidences' that I will not delve into. I do not have an explanation for that 🤷♂️
Ace 12 months ago
I find it quite disturbing how many of these seem to actually believe that there's something more than coincidence at play. Nom that butterfly/deer is not the spirit of your departed loved one.
Shannimal 12 months ago
It helps people cope and brings them happiness. Nothing wrong with that.
Load More Replies...
A B C the Third 12 months ago
WHY, for fùck's sake, is there a tikfuck video trying to open at the very start of the page? I've neve noticed that before, but what the eff, BP?
Bernd Herbert 12 months ago
I'm going to use tikfuck from on too! Thanks for that one!
Load More Replies...
BookFanatic 12 months ago
Meh. Most of these are stretching it a bit...but there were just enough goosebump-poppers to keep me reading. My only coincidental story is that my parents were in an antique mall on the other side of the state and bought the most horrible picture just for the frame. They got it home, Dad popped the frame, and the address of their house was written across the back of the picture. We reframed it and hung it in our dining room. Just in case.
brittany 12 months ago
i have a pic of me and my dad wearing the same white t-shirt, the same plaid jacket, and the same shade of blue jeans and black sneakers. we showed up for a surprise visit bc he was back early from a long haul (hes a truck driver) he didnt know we were coming and neither of us knew what the other was wearing. momma (step mom, but she momma to me) snapped a picture. theres no doubt we are dad and daughter. we have the same face shape, same smile, same hair color and eye color. i love that picture
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 12 months ago
Managed to find a cookbook printed in the 1980s. One of the recipes was contributed by the friend's mom, she died in 2000. His copy of the cookbook got lost (or I think stolen by a family member). Made an awesome and sentimental Christmas present 🙂
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 12 months ago
My brother had intended to take Mom to the opening of the Lake Placid Olympics, but he passed a few years earlier. Mom and her cat were in the living room to watch the opening on TV, when the cat went to the door, hissing and spitting. She mildly freaked out during the entire opening, which was several hours. The minute the opening was over, the cat started acting normally again. Mom said my brother came to watch with her.
Xenon 12 months ago
I'm convinced cats and other animals see more than we realize.
Load More Replies...
Angie Falzarano 2 months ago
My bff and I only figured out sbout14 yrs ago (bffs since we were 15, so 50 yrs) that his aunts house that he spent all summers at was behind my house my house on the next block when we were around 8-9 till 13. We even went to the same candy store at the end of both blocks. And then my family moved to the town he lived in (we did know about this we didn't know about the other) and both ran for student council in junior high. We didn't met till high school. We've been crossing paths since we were 8. That's when you know a person is suppose to br part of your life. 50 yrs later and he's still my bff. He was even the gentleman of honor at my wedding.
Quinn 12 months ago (edited)
For many of these, I think, people are not *finding* meaning in them so much as they are being reminded and reassured of meaning. It's serendipity; that is, not a *supernatural* coincidence, but the wonderful ability of human beings to spot a freak occurrence and to see very real meaning in it.
Maxigrod 12 months ago
Do people don't know about genetics? Yeah, you look slightly similar to a member of your family, who would have thought!
Ginger Ghost 12 months ago
but I look just like our postman, that's not genetics
Load More Replies... Robert T 12 months ago
One mildly interesting story of coincidence in my family. My parents lived in a very small village quite some distance from where they were both born. When visiting the church, we noticed a sign showing the names of the previous vicars, and one of them was almost the same as our family name, with one letter different. Some years later a relative did some research on our family tree and I followed it up with a bit more detail. Turns out the vicar was in fact my great-great-great-great-grand-father (b. 1781). He married into a farming family, and several generations farmed somewhat nearer to where my parents were born, and those farms still exist along with headstones in the local churchyard.
ConstantlyJon 12 months ago
I want it to be my job to randomly text people "I love you" or "I miss you" or "I'm proud of you" from dead people's numbers. Is that a job someone can have? Seems like it'd be helpful to people.
neytjie 12 months ago
Maybe not. What if you are finally dealing with the loss of a loved one and get that message? Would rly f with your emotional well-being
Load More Replies... Tamra 12 months ago
I, personally, don't believe that the spirits of loved ones watch over us or communicate with us, but many do, and if I'm being honest, I sometimes wish that I did. I imagine those beliefs bring people comfort, but I just don't have them. I honestly don't know if that makes me better off, or worse. But I don't suppose it matters much.
censorshipsucks 12 months ago
yeah I feel sad for some of these people because they will spend the rest of their lives waiting for their phone or tshirt or bottle cap to send them another random message from their dearly departed. Really sad.
Load More Replies... Lost Penny 12 months ago
My cousin & I. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, and the only coincidence we were aware of was that our kids were born on the same date (Jan 23) 12 years apart. Then we finally got together & started talking just to find out: My first car was a white Ford Focus that I later traded in for a golden Toyota Corolla; Her first car was a white Ford Focus that she later traded in for a golden Toyota Corolla. I had a German Shepherd named Vincent; She had a GS named Vincent. I moved into my house in May 2004; She moved into her apartment in May 2004. There were more 'coincidences' that I will not delve into. I do not have an explanation for that 🤷♂️
Ace 12 months ago
I find it quite disturbing how many of these seem to actually believe that there's something more than coincidence at play. Nom that butterfly/deer is not the spirit of your departed loved one.
Shannimal 12 months ago
It helps people cope and brings them happiness. Nothing wrong with that.
Load More Replies... A B C the Third 12 months ago
WHY, for fùck's sake, is there a tikfuck video trying to open at the very start of the page? I've neve noticed that before, but what the eff, BP?
Bernd Herbert 12 months ago
I'm going to use tikfuck from on too! Thanks for that one!
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 12 months ago
Meh. Most of these are stretching it a bit...but there were just enough goosebump-poppers to keep me reading. My only coincidental story is that my parents were in an antique mall on the other side of the state and bought the most horrible picture just for the frame. They got it home, Dad popped the frame, and the address of their house was written across the back of the picture. We reframed it and hung it in our dining room. Just in case.
brittany 12 months ago
i have a pic of me and my dad wearing the same white t-shirt, the same plaid jacket, and the same shade of blue jeans and black sneakers. we showed up for a surprise visit bc he was back early from a long haul (hes a truck driver) he didnt know we were coming and neither of us knew what the other was wearing. momma (step mom, but she momma to me) snapped a picture. theres no doubt we are dad and daughter. we have the same face shape, same smile, same hair color and eye color. i love that picture
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 12 months ago
Managed to find a cookbook printed in the 1980s. One of the recipes was contributed by the friend's mom, she died in 2000. His copy of the cookbook got lost (or I think stolen by a family member). Made an awesome and sentimental Christmas present 🙂
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 12 months ago
My brother had intended to take Mom to the opening of the Lake Placid Olympics, but he passed a few years earlier. Mom and her cat were in the living room to watch the opening on TV, when the cat went to the door, hissing and spitting. She mildly freaked out during the entire opening, which was several hours. The minute the opening was over, the cat started acting normally again. Mom said my brother came to watch with her.
Xenon 12 months ago
I'm convinced cats and other animals see more than we realize.
Load More Replies... Angie Falzarano 2 months ago
My bff and I only figured out sbout14 yrs ago (bffs since we were 15, so 50 yrs) that his aunts house that he spent all summers at was behind my house my house on the next block when we were around 8-9 till 13. We even went to the same candy store at the end of both blocks. And then my family moved to the town he lived in (we did know about this we didn't know about the other) and both ran for student council in junior high. We didn't met till high school. We've been crossing paths since we were 8. That's when you know a person is suppose to br part of your life. 50 yrs later and he's still my bff. He was even the gentleman of honor at my wedding.
Quinn 12 months ago (edited)
For many of these, I think, people are not *finding* meaning in them so much as they are being reminded and reassured of meaning. It's serendipity; that is, not a *supernatural* coincidence, but the wonderful ability of human beings to spot a freak occurrence and to see very real meaning in it.
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