Jamaican Boy "Attacked by Ghost"?

[SharpEye]

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj0gLiqb7QI&t=107s

This is an older news broadcast in Jamaica that claimed that a boy was being attacked by a malicious spirit, and there are rumors that the boy later passed away. Not sure what to make of this video, especially since the boys movements seem to be influenced by outside factors (even if not paranormal). For example, when he's drag against the wall by the "ghost" his left leg is raised while his right leg drags across the ground, which seems very hard to do especially without any support. What do you guys think?

 

[deirdre]

while his right leg drags across the ground,

but it doesnt. his foot never moves position aside from a normal twist one does when dancing etc.

Source: https://youtu.be/JQRRnAhmB58?t=31

 

[deirdre]

this kid really looks like a ghost pulls him up 00:57 and 2:26

Source: https://youtu.be/vvmpc83nv4A?t=56

 

[Rationalman]

I call this one debunked.

 

[FatPhil]

but it doesnt. his foot never moves position aside from a normal twist one does when dancing etc.

Agreed. And in the chair incident, his feet are clearly on the ground and his thighs tense up before his body moves - he's pushing himself backwards.

 

[SharpEye]

but it doesnt. his foot never moves position aside from a normal twist one does when dancing etc.

View attachment 71553


Source: https://youtu.be/JQRRnAhmB58?t=31

Interesting. I'm seeing his right foot shift slightly left (his left) at around 1:56-1:57.

 

[deirdre]

Interesting. I'm seeing his right foot shift slightly left (his left) at around 1:56-1:57.

well yea after he grabs his mom (or whoever that is). i could slide my feet all over if i was grasping you as support too. you can change the speed settings to .25 speed and its easier to see.

and for the record the ENTIRE episode is 1:56-1:57.

 

[deirdre]

this is the first frame where it slightly shifts "left". mom has a complete grasp of his right armpit and he left arm is now snake wrapped around her arm. (after you pause you can use your keyboard arrow keys to move frame by frame)

,

 

[NorCal Dave]

this kid really looks like a ghost pulls him up 00:57 and 2:26

Source: https://youtu.be/vvmpc83nv4A?t=56

That's a good one! Have seen it before. As you show an accomplished and/or talented person can contort their bodies in all kids of ways that seem just wrong.

I call this one debunked.

I think we should also note that "debunking" this as someone moving as if possessed, doesn't necessarily mean he's faking it. Many religious practices involve trans like states and communal participation in various acts depending on the particular beliefs.

Maybe more common here in the States is Glossolalia or Speaking in Tongues. Many members of Pentacostal churches believe speaking in either an actual language unknown to the speaker (Xenoglossy) or uttering some sort of Language of Angles is a sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit. People enter a trans-like state and begin uttering stuff out loud, often as the state of the congregation enters a highly fervent level. At least that was my experience.

It isn't merely performative, the speaker often "feels" as if the spirit is upon them and the participation can be affirming, even on a physical level:

A study done by the American Journal of Human Biology found that speaking in tongues is associated with both a reduction in circulatory cortisol, and enhancements in alpha-amylase enzyme activity – two common biomarkers of stress reduction that can be measured in saliva.[75]​ Several sociological studies report various social benefits of engaging in Pentecostal glossolalia,[76]​[77]​ such as an increase in self-confidence.[77]​

But it also seems to have nothing to do with actual speech and may be learned behavior:

Neuroimaging of brain activity during glossolalia does not show activity in the language areas of the brain.[69]​[70]​ In other words, it may be characterized by a specific brain activity[71]​[72]​ and it can be a learned behaviour.[73]​[71]​

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaking_in_tongues

Shamanistic practices as well as possession-like occurrences may fall into the same sort of behavior. The genuine display of a believed happening that may also be partially learned.

 

[deirdre]

That's a good one! Have seen it before. As you show an accomplished and/or talented person can contort their bodies in all kids of ways that seem just wrong.

yea. i dont see the kid contorting his body in any odd way.
i mostly just added them for new viewers who might not be familiar with some things a body can accomplish on it's own. so they can be a bit more skeptical in the future.

ps @NorCal Dave if i saw the kid at 1:23 walking down my street, (speaking of not debunking aliens) i would debunk it but i'd also admit it's weird.

 

[NorCal Dave]

yea. i dont see the kid contorting his body in any odd way.
i mostly just added them for new viewers who might not be familiar with some things a body can accomplish on it's own. so they can be a bit more skeptical in the future.

ps @NorCal Dave if i saw the kid at 1:23 walking down my street, (speaking of not debunking aliens) i would debunk it but i'd also admit it's weird.

The kid in the OP manages to throw his leg out in an awkward angle, but that's about it, and it all happens so fast there's really not that much to it.

As for the "kid at 1:23 walking down my street", from which video? As I said, that Remix video of Safety Dance is great! Will have to watch it again tonight. And Safety Dance was definitely up for a remix, a little bottom end Thump-Thump in there.

 

[deirdre]

from which video? As I said, that Remix video of Safety Dance is great!

the safety dance one

 

[SharpEye]

well yea after he grabs his mom (or whoever that is). i could slide my feet all over if i was grasping you as support too. you can change the speed settings to .25 speed and its easier to see.

and for the record the ENTIRE episode is 1:56-1:57.

Good point!
Another thing I'm confounded by is the fact that his right leg seemingly swings intensely fast and wide, like it was being pulled. Is that possible to do on your own physically?

 

[deirdre]

Good point!
Another thing I'm confounded by is the fact that his right leg seemingly swings intensely fast and wide, like it was being pulled. Is that possible to do on your own physically?

his left leg? i didnt notice anything particularly odd about it.

 

[Hevach]

The difference between him and those dancers is that without somebody there to catch him, he's about to eat pavement. It looks less graceful because it is less graceful.

Watching it happen, he throws his left leg behind him with his right leg planted. He rotates his right leg (his foot is off camera but you can see the change in orientation in his knee) and then starts falling towards his outstretched left leg. He appears to skip his right leg backwards as he falls but his foot is still off screen and he's caught before he completes his fall.

To reproduce the movements kick back with your leg, unbalance yourself towards it, and kick slightly with your planted foot to scoot into the fall. Also have somebody on hand because you're apt to get wishboned if you can't scoot fast enough to escape the fall.

 

[deirdre]

To reproduce the movements kick back with your leg, unbalance yourself towards it, and kick slightly with your planted foot to scoot into the fall.

what?

(you do know initially his foot is against the wall and he leans back onto his foot slightly. he doesnt "fall back" to any extent until his mom has his arm and armpit.)

 

[FatPhil]

... and he's caught ...

You've just reminded me what I intended to post yesterday.

My analysis of the video and story told within is that this is attention-seeking behaviour being rewarded with attention. Expect it to continue.

 

[SharpEye]

his left leg? i didnt notice anything particularly odd about it.

Sorry I meant after he was caught by his mom. His right leg appears to swing around quickly followed by his left leg. I was just wondering if that could be achieved through flexibility alone.

 

[deirdre]

Sorry I meant after he was caught by his mom. His right leg appears to swing around quickly followed by his left leg. I was just wondering if that could be achieved through flexibility alone.

i see. flexibility looks normal, to me. the left leg looked "weirder" to me. not supernatural weirder, just 'weirder"than the right.

i dont want to google "squirmy kid pitching a fit" to look for non-demon examples.

 

[SharpEye]

i see. flexibility looks normal, to me. the left leg looked "weirder" to me. not supernatural weirder, just 'weirder"than the right.

i dont want to google "squirmy kid pitching a fit" to look for non-demon examples.

I see! I think the kid's stillness while being carried confuses me. I also saw his thighs twitch before the chair moved backwards, but I'm also confused on how he was able to launch himself with a lot of force, despite his legs not really moving before the chair slid back, which I'd expect if he kicked his chair back. Would his chair still kick back even with minimal leg movement?

 

[JMartJr]

Would his chair still kick back even with minimal leg movement?

Mick already took one for the team researching hair drier burns. Who wants to take "kicking your chair over?"

 

[NorCal Dave]

I see! I think the kid's stillness while being carried confuses me. I also saw his thighs twitch before the chair moved backwards, but I'm also confused on how he was able to launch himself with a lot of force, despite his legs not really moving before the chair slid back, which I'd expect if he kicked his chair back. Would his chair still kick back even with minimal leg movement?

Go watch it again. When the chair scene starts, we only see his legs from the knee up, so we don't know what his feet are doing. Likely preparing to push off. As the chair moves back his legs kick up and out a bit as if the chair is being pulled backwards:

Which is also exactly how his legs would look if he had just pushed off and made the chair slide backwards. Sure, he may make it look like the chair was "pulled" back as opposed to "pushed" back, but that's part of it.

Then seriously go and watch the Safety Dance video @deirdre posted above. Just watch what some of these people can do and how much it looks like they're being pulled or pushed or walking backwards or otherwise creating illusions simple by the way they move. Note also in the Safety Dance video there is no blurry moving camera that goes in and out of focus or rapid transitions to help with the illusions. I mean just look at the thumbnail here, the guy on the right should be falling over and breaking many bones in his body:


Source: https://youtu.be/vvmpc83nv4A?t=56

 

[deirdre]

Mick already took one for the team researching hair drier burns. Who wants to take "kicking your chair over?"

actually my mom has those exact chairs (hers might be a tad bit heavier and the kids legs longer, but i can totally do that next time i visit if i remember. he has a wall behind him and to the side so its not real dangerous. once his butt is all the way back in the chair he has the advantage of a full foot on the floor but i think i would still have enough toe reach to get the rocky movement at end. (im crazy short). <strike: watched again, it doesnt actually rock at end only he does.
but he goes back with his butt forward, feet on floor and his back pushing the chair. ive done that a few times by accident in those chairs!

unless the chair thing already has debunk videos..its kinda a classic with kids and usually they are in heavy kitchen chairs. that thing is one of those cheap plastic things that weigh next to nothing.

there is no blurry moving camera that goes in and out of focus or rapid transitions to help with the illusions.

thats a major part of it. esp if people are maybe watching on phones. 360p is the highest resolution it goes! the first section i watched with the wall his leg practically disappears a few times in slo mo due to resolution.

 

[deirdre]

I mean just look at the thumbnail here, the guy on the right should be falling over and breaking many bones in his body:

lol he's slinky. i used to be slinky, its easier to do that stuff without alot of weight working against ya. he's the same guy on the stage with 3 and the girl in camo pants. a few stage dances he does i was thinking of broken ankles

add: i should add i'm not implying i could do either of my examples i gave. they involve core body strength i never came close to.