1/16: Ghost Lantern

Undertoad · 01-16-2002, 10:39 AM

One of those eerie ones. The caption: "Volunteers move a burning lantern out into the sea as far as they can at Patoutze fish harbor in Keelung, Taiwan, during 'Ghost Month' activities on Sept. 2. Local people believe the lanterns can comfort ghosts and bring good luck if they join the annual activities."

Yeah, just what we all need: comfortable ghosts. Wouldn't want the undead to be unhappy with their surroundings. Perhaps a nice easy chair would be better than a simple light? But where would we be without colorful, local traditions and stories.

01-16-2002, 10:44 AM

Tony's just jealous 'cause he didn't get hypothermia taking a stupid lantern out into the water. :P

jeni · 01-16-2002, 01:43 PM

seriously, i was wondering why they don't just take it on a boat or something. how far out do those things have to go?

jennofay · 01-16-2002, 02:42 PM

"bring good luck"

if they dont drown, or get sick, they are lucky...
if they do, its obviously just some damn pissed off ghosts.

religion and superstition are so strange.

01-16-2002, 03:44 PM

speaking of...

http://www.religioustolerance.org is supposed to be cool.

warch · 01-16-2002, 04:03 PM

Everyone needs a little ritual, a little special. And I like the whole house-a-fire-water thing. Looks like the ghosts/ancestors get some incense and maybe a bit of food lovingly presented as well.

Fire is cool. I confess, I can understand pyromania.

jennofay · 01-16-2002, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhamsaic
speaking of...

http://www.religioustolerance.org is supposed to be cool.

it is one of the few sites that can keep my interest for hours.

jennofay · 01-16-2002, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by warch
Looks like the ghosts/ancestors get some incense and maybe a bit of food lovingly presented as well.

and a plant. what better way to keep the undead happy then with foliage.

01-16-2002, 04:24 PM

Probably a "go back to life free" card

MaggieL · 01-16-2002, 04:47 PM

Waitaminute....I thought the "undead" were zombies. Ghosts had to be actually dead, last I heard.

Undertoad · 01-16-2002, 04:50 PM

Well that's probably true, as my concept of "undead" is roughly based on what category it fell into in nethack.

jennofay · 01-16-2002, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MaggieL
Waitaminute....I thought the "undead" were zombies. Ghosts had to be actually dead, last I heard.

thats an interesting point. i guess i consider the dead as being conscious of nothing. ones that once were living and now very clearly are not. the living as...well...you and i... and ghosts and spooks and whatnot, if you believe in such things as being a third category. conscious beings, but not quite alive like you and i. "undead" just seemed like a simple way to categorize them.

this is, of course, if you believe in life after death. which i dont, so i guess im really just kind of goofing around.

i dont know though. ive never been dead.

01-16-2002, 10:39 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	1/16: Ghost Lantern One of those eerie ones. The caption: "Volunteers move a burning lantern out into the sea as far as they can at Patoutze fish harbor in Keelung, Taiwan, during 'Ghost Month' activities on Sept. 2. Local people believe the lanterns can comfort ghosts and bring good luck if they join the annual activities." Yeah, just what we all need: comfortable ghosts. Wouldn't want the undead to be unhappy with their surroundings. Perhaps a nice easy chair would be better than a simple light? But where would we be without colorful, local traditions and stories.

01-16-2002, 02:42 PM	#4
jennofay ..the small and meek. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: virginia Posts: 176	"bring good luck" if they dont drown, or get sick, they are lucky... if they do, its obviously just some damn pissed off ghosts. religion and superstition are so strange. __________________ i sneak up and hit you like a fuckin' tornado

01-16-2002, 04:47 PM	#10
MaggieL in the Hour of Scampering Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia) Posts: 4,060	Waitaminute....I thought the "undead" were zombies. Ghosts had to be actually dead, last I heard. __________________ "Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

01-16-2002, 10:44 AM	#2
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Tony's just jealous 'cause he didn't get hypothermia taking a stupid lantern out into the water. :P

01-16-2002, 01:43 PM	#3
jeni is stuck on altair-4 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: santa cruz, california Posts: 514	seriously, i was wondering why they don't just take it on a boat or something. how far out do those things have to go?

01-16-2002, 03:44 PM	#5
dave Guest Posts: n/a	speaking of... http://www.religioustolerance.org is supposed to be cool.

01-16-2002, 04:03 PM	#6
warch lurkin old school Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,796	Everyone needs a little ritual, a little special. And I like the whole house-a-fire-water thing. Looks like the ghosts/ancestors get some incense and maybe a bit of food lovingly presented as well. Fire is cool. I confess, I can understand pyromania.

01-16-2002, 04:24 PM	#9
dave Guest Posts: n/a	Probably a "go back to life free" card

01-16-2002, 04:50 PM	#11
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Well that's probably true, as my concept of "undead" is roughly based on what category it fell into in nethack.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)