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With Spooktober finally here and Halloween right around the corner, it’s officially time to start carving pumpkins, work on your costume, and, of course, brush up on your storytelling skills – some would argue that there is no better time for scary stories than this.

If you’re more fearful of not having enough stories to tell, rather than the stories themselves, you’re in luck, as today we’re shedding light on quite a few of them. Scroll down to find some terrifying tales, as shared by the ‘Scary Stories’ Instagram account, on the list below and expand your selection of chilling accounts to scare your friends and family with this spooky season.

Below you will also find Bored Panda’s interview with a behavioral scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University in Denmark and in the Psychology Department at Arizona State University, Dr. Coltan Scrivner, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about why people like scary stories.

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    Libstak
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's more intriguing than scary but you would have to play it with complete silence imo as your only other available sense is now hearing.

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    Just a boring person
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Really, hope whoever comes up with this stupid idea get arrested and fired. That is invasion to priorities.

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    Many people can’t wait for October to start. For them, few things feel better than a chilly fall breeze, a cup of cocoa or a pumpkin spice latte, and shades of yellow, brown, and red all around. But more than that, some people can’t wait for the spooky season’s activities, and it’s not hard to see why – whether it’s a visit to a pumpkin patch or a ghost hunt, we’re here for it. According to Statista, more than seven-in-ten people in the US are, too, as that’s how many are reportedly planning to take part in Halloween activities this year.

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    Libstak
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is an opportunity for an underwater breathing apparatus that does not require you to carry an oxygen tank imo, hope someone figures out how to synthetically create that net.

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    In October, an abundance of creative individuals start decorating their homes; and their family members, for that matter, putting them in all sorts of Halloween costumes. More of Statista’s data reveals that this year, US adults are planning to spend roughly $104 on Halloween-related items – a sum that was only higher last year (over the last two decades, at least).

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    John Nelson
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm old enough to remember the TV ads reminding people of the danger and to remove the doors from any old refrigerators they were disposing of.

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    Libstak
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Alot of care shown there. Must be great respect or a whole lot of love by the people applying that.

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    While some people love decorating their homes or working on their costumes the most, others get most excited about telling spooky stories; and there is arguably no better time to share them than Halloween.

    But those who do not belong to the latter category might not understand why one would want to listen to a bunch of terrifying tales. Discussing what in the world draws people to such content, Dr. Coltan Scrivner told Bored Panda that people are naturally drawn to information about threats – it’s a phenomenon called morbid curiosity. “Terrifying content by its nature provides a wealth of information about threats,” he noted.

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    Rachel Pelz
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The murders, a nazi terrorist group. The victims (except the last one, who was a policewoman) were all immirants, mostly from Turkey (one or two from Greece). They were shot in the middle of day in their self-owned shops. I am so truely ashamed to say that for YEARS, German police did not suspect rascist motivation, even when the families and immigrant communites got the message. Instead, police suspected the victims were part of organised d**g crimes and therefore assisinated by some mafia groups, and kept questioning the families about their dead father's criminal businesses. They killed a total of 10 people in 7 cities and only got caught after setting their camping van on fire. The two men died, the women survived and was convicted to life sentence. It is likely that not all supporters/criminals have been detected.

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    Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kathy Bates is really good at portraying characters that are just off. I expect in real life, she's a very nice person.

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    “Enjoying the feeling of fear is related to one's level of sensation-seeking, which is their predisposition to experience extreme sensations,” the expert continued. “However, many people enjoy fearful situations not just for the feeling of fear, but also for the learning experience that happens when you safely experience fear. Safely experiencing fearful situations allows one to learn about their own reactions to fear and how to better control those reactions.”

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    Savahax
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But now he runs a Chinese restaurant called City Wok. That's his "main" personality.

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    glowworm2
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If your mirror has a monster in it do not shout. This kind of situation does not call for freaking out. And do nothing that you would not like to see him do. Cause that monster in the mirror, he just might be you!

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He used to babysit the neighbours kids. Also may have had an accomplice. To dig up a grave in the middle of winter in one just one night would be near impossible with the frozen ground. Especially on your own.

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    In an interview with Bored Panda, Dr. Scrivner noted that the extent to which a person finds scary stories interesting depends on the degree of morbid curiosity that they have. And judging by the fact that the ‘Scary Stories’ Instagram account alone has close to 75k followers, it’s safe to assume that many people are plenty curious.

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    Beak Hookage
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just call it "the hot hole challenge" or something equally stupid and people will be falling all over themselves to do it for internet clout.

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    Dzessa Golden
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kid’s first name was Tyler. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tyler-hadley-who-killed-his-parents-at-17-then-threw-party-sentenced-to-life/

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    If you’re wondering who are the most morbidly curious people out there, we took a closer look at that, too, and found that Mexico is the place where horror seems to rule the most; when it comes to people’s screens, at least. According to Statista’s data, close to six-in-ten people there watch or stream horror movies, TV series, or videos. Second on the list is Spain, followed by the US, South Africa, Germany, and Poland respectively.

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    If you’re a big fan of horror stories and similar horrifying content yourself, you’re in luck as we have quite a few spine-chilling topics covered here at Bored Panda. After reading through this list, continue to one featuring stories that wouldn’t be as scary if they weren’t 100% real or browse one of our previous editions on spooky stories.

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    Weasel Wise
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I get to deal with sleep paralysis as a symptom of my ptsd. It super sucks being trapped in a nightmare, unable to move, while hearing and feeling my husband trying to wake me. It's terrifying.

    Tempest
    Community Member
    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to suffer in my teens too. Even after learning about it, going through the experience was always terrifying each time. The earliest episode I remember was the feeling of someone massaging my head. My dad would do so when I was sick with headaches so I assumed it was him but the only problem is I could hear him snoring away in his room at the time. Also I slept with my head at the foot of the bed then so I had the intense fear of someone being at my head but not being able to check or scream for help. The last several episodes were of someone choking me with a pillow. I would scream and try to break free but to no avail as neither sound or any body movement could be elicited. Luckily I haven’t experienced any sleep paralysis episodes in several years now. But instead they’ve been replaced with vivid nightmares related to my childhood trauma where I would scream, cry, and trash so loudly that I end up waking myself up :((

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the explanation behind the succbus and incubus demons visiting people.

    Kalikima
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've only had one episode of sleep paralysis, and it was a throughly enjoyable experience.. I woke up unable to move, but also without any of the pain I usual feel when first waking up in the morning. All my fibromyalgia pain was gone, and I remember just laying there thinking what a wonderful feeling it was, and how I didn't want to ruin it. It lasted about 5-10 minutes, then slowly the feeling came back, and so did the pain. I didn't even know what it was then, it wasn't until I was telling my ex about it that he explained what it was. I kinda wish it would happen again..

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wish that had happened to me. Instead I thought there was someone in my room watching me and I tried to move because of the pain but I couldn't. The last time though, I was lucid enough to recognise what was happening and talk my brain out of it.

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    Craig Boddys
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Happened to me, but only when I was at my brothers old place. Would have a loud Metallic ringing and grinding noise in my head, then the shadow man would be on my bed, and I would get pinned to the bed. Twice, at my girlfriends place, I've woken her up by shouting "help me" as I'm getting dragged out of bed. Now I get bad headaches and see things behind me when I turn my head slightly. Explained these to the hospital when i went in with pains behind my right eye. Got brain scans booked for 3 weeks time, the hospital want to rule out a tumour.

    SkyBlueandBlack
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to see a man shaped shadow moving around the room, and I'd try like hell to scream but couldn't. It was terrifying.

    pebs
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The bad thing is also to keep trying to turn on the light, having the feeling of doing it, and not being able to. Luckily it doesn't last long...

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    bElLa sTairZz
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    heaps of people i know say that theyve seen ghosts while sleep paralised

    AllRightyNowThen
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to get this, often.... Eventually discovered it I was laying with my neck turned a certain way it would happen, if not, it wouldn't. I've adjusted my normal position and it's been gone since.

    Apatheist Account2
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My wife used to get this. Adjustment to pillows and the angle of the bed, plus trying to avoid sleeping on her back, has removed it for a long time now. Apparently one is also more likely to have happier dreams if lying on one's right side rather than one's left.

    Montanavanna
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I lived in a haunted house for 5 years. Every single night I slept in that house I experienced sleep paralysis. Every night! It was exhausting and scary. I even developed a way to pull myself out of it. I had only experienced it once before and never again since I moved. I don't have any neurological or behavior disorders. So the theory it is just your brain tricking you doesn't align with my experiences. Interesting for sure.

    G A
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Happened to me maybe twice-felt like someone slowly pulling the bedclothes off me...

    Zoe's Mom
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've been able to talk myself into waking up but agree that it's terrifying when it first starts to happen.

    Captive
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As a Lucid dreamer I give my sleep paralysis demon a tough time

    Tabitha
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    2 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Same here, and I am very happy to be able to do so, as nightmares have been very few and very far between my whole life. I don’t have any recollection of ever experiencing sleep paralysis, because I can change the whole feel of my dreams in midstream, like changing the TV channel from a horror movie to a comedy. So if I was ever paralyzed in my sleep, it had to have been such a brief episode I maybe thought it was part of a dream and just “changed the channel”. I don’t know.

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    Sentina in the swamp
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But, what if there are monsters too? Always have thought how sad it would be if "psycho" people were not psycho at all but merely on another level and were just open vessels to the potential horrors that lurk in other planes or dimensions or whatever. I mean what IF. How horrifying to not be believed or to be locked away with them.

    Jan Moore
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to dream that someone had come in the room and that I knew they were there but I couldn't move or talk to them.

    Kaeda
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mine used to happen more often in college (attributed to lack of sleep) but I still have sleep paralysis occasionally. It's always accompanied by a shadow monster lurking in the corners, or an overwhelming feeling that someone is watching you and is going to kill you. It is f*****g terrifying and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

    Ray Carrillo
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kind of a wide discrepancy if it is between 8% and 50% - did they lose count?

    Dee Tag
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I had this. It felt like a monster was sitting on my bed near my feet but I couldn't move. I just felt the weight of the bed go down. Not sure if I was asleep or just drunk.

    Happy Jack
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I try to wake myself by attempting to fight against it by thrashing about. When I came out of anesthesia I fought so hard they had to strap me down.

    gijeff58
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I experience this often but I have the ability to tell myself its a dream and let it play out.

    Princess Potato
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    when i was i kid, my dad once woke me up asking "who wants to go jogging today!" I said yes, but i didn't hear my voice, i said yes several times before i screamed yes! and still didn't hear my voice, it was frigging scary at that age, it was gone in few minutes however

    Toothless Feline
    Community Member
    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You’d think they could pin down the incidence rate to something a little narrower than a 42-point spread.

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    #25

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    SkyBlueandBlack
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Which is why it's believed that syphilis is a New World disease. The conquistadors brought smallpox and measles, and returned with syphilis.

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    Tempest
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like those £2000 per month apartment units that get advertised now.

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    Beak Hookage
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I read a book about her and the whole thing was just appalling from beginning to end. The kid was being subjected to horrendous abuse at home. Then she murdered those two little boys and afterwards smilingly asked one of the bereaved mothers if she could please see the victim in his coffin. She was also aided by another young girl who seems to have been drawn in by her and who after their arrest acted like you'd expect a child that age to act, crying and terrified. Mary, on the other hand, was eerily calm and told all sorts of elaborate lies to try and get herself off the hook. She was eventually set free as an adult and even had a child of her own.

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    Bec
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No. They were more concerned about overdosing little babies than managing their pain.

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    Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My!
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The guillotine was meant to be merciful. Before its invention, people were beheaded by axes that weren't always the sharpest. Sometimes it would take several minutes of hacking by the executioner. With the guillotine, one slice and you're done.

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Sawney Bean stories are probably made up. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawney_Bean#Sources_and_veracity

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    Nikole
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pretty good movie. Make sure to watch it in Spanish with subtitles (if needed).

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    roddy
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Statistics like this rarely mean anything. I'm reminded of a news report stating that prisoners with surnames beginning with M were more likely to reoffend. Guess where the survey was taken? Scotland.

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    Hugh Crawford
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So the film she used up during the day, some how got an extra photo on them, taken at night, after it was taken out of the camera...? Maybe update this scary story with a digital camera. Would make more sense

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    G A
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, who is it then? What have the photos got to do with anything?

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    Geoffrey Scott
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it has never happened before or since, ok. My daughter used to sleepwalk when she was younger. She and her husband were staying over once, she crawled into bed with me(wife sleeps in other room), she still sleepwalks apparently, at 36. Had no recollection.

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    2 months ago

    This comment has been deleted.

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    #52

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    Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ouija boards are toys, they were first used in hospitals, given to catatonic patients hoping they could communicate.

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    G A
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you try and retell a well known story, at least get the basic facts straight.

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    Sunsfever83
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    2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So you take a 3 year old outside and leave them? And because you didn't see anyone trying to take him, all is good?

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