Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy Page: [1]
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/27/2007 7:48:13 PM   
NakedOnMyChain


Posts: 2431
Joined: 11/29/2004
From: Indiana
Status: offline 		"There is something about moonlit nights that affects a number of people in strange ways.  The very word 'lunacy' suggests a direct connection between the moon and madness;  in fact this superstition is so widely believed that it once was even written into law.  Two hundred years ago a distinction was made in English law between those who were 'insane', meaning chronically and incurably psychotic, and those who were 'lunatic' and therefore susceptible only to aberrations produced by the moon.  Crimes committed at the full moon by those in the second category were considered more leniently by the courts.  Superintendents of asylums have always feared the influence of the moon on 'loony' inmates and canceled staff leave on nights when the moon was full.  In the eighteenth century, patients were even beaten the day before the full moon as a prophylactic against violence on their part the following night.  Official violence of this kind is now thankfully outlawed, but much of the old moon lore lingers on.  There could be something in it."

~ "Supernature" by Lyall Watson




Despite the fact that the book came out in the early 1970's, with much research done since then, and that it makes gross generalizations, it is possible that Lyall Watson was onto something.  And the author wouldn't be the first one.  Throughout history the 'myth' of the lunar effect has perpetuated despite avid, yet sometimes incorrect, debunking and harsh skepticism.  Perhaps there is, indeed, something to it.


Controversial research shows that crime rates, especially those that are violent or sexually related, spike on the full moon and the days immediately preceding it.  Of course, certain other studies disprove this very thing.  Either way, it's a theory worthy of not being dismissed out of hand.


After personally studying the actions of those in my acquaintance in correlation with the lunar phases I have noticed that the full moon brings about more arguments, more strife, more fighting, and, not oddly, more sexual tension.  During the full phase of the moon, the tides are at their peak, and humans revert to a more primal state of mind and passions run higher.  We are more likely to speak what is truly on our minds, and more likely to act on it.  In fact, the influence of the moon is so strong that the converse is also true.  Our energy wanes with the waning moon, and hits its nadir at the dark moon.  During the dark moon we are more introspective, introverted, calm, in opposition to the heightened energy of the full moon.  I have also noticed that the effects of the full moon are more noticeable in those in tune with the lunar phases.  It affects those with no knowledge thereof, as well, but makes a more marked appearance in those who pay attention to such things.


Aside from esoteric studies, I have felt and acted on the kind of tension that I speak of.  I have snapped at people, I have felt the tension thick in the air, the energy of the full moon at its peak.  If you have ever experienced it, it is undeniable.


What are your feelings on literal lunacy?  What are your experiences with it?  Do you feel it contains a kernel of truth, or is it just outdated superstition?  Why do you believe or disbelieve?

_____________________________

"Oh, it's torture, but I'm almost there."
~The Cure

"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
~The Labyrinth
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/27/2007 8:07:04 PM   
Sanity


Posts: 22039
Joined: 6/14/2006
From: Nampa, Idaho USA
Status: offline 		Fishing and hunting are directly affected by the phases of the moon because fish and game can feed under the full moon, so they're not as hungry in the daytime after feeding all night. This has been the case since life began on this planet, so it's entirely conceivable to me that we're programmed, that our moods and activities might somehow be programmed to be different at different phases for that reason, and possibly other reasons too.

I have little faith in the latest study, they're always reversing themselves on that sort of thing. I know that I've howled at the full moon myself, on some kick-ass hallucinogenic drugs no less (in my youth), and it was great fun. There's a certain feeling I get when perfectly clean and sober too, when looking at a huge red wavy full moon looming on the horizen. It catches my gaze, and holds it.

It does seems to have some power, and that's good enough for me...

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/27/2007 8:46:14 PM   
Marc2b


Posts: 6660
Joined: 8/7/2006
Status: offline 		Many studies do indeed refute the Lunar Madness myth and as a skeptic (more or less) I should accept them. But... I used to drive taxi and nights with a full moon were definitely stranger. People just seemed to be a bit meaner and/or a bit weirder and a bit more likely to go off the deep end.   The wildest nights would occur on what we called "full friday firsts."  meaning a full moon, on a friday night, on or near the first of the month (when government checks were cashed).

_____________________________

Do you know what the most awesome thing about being an Atheist is? You're not required to hate anybody!

(in reply to Sanity)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/27/2007 10:16:18 PM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		Here I am again with my own brand of lunacy :-)

Of course as the phiscist (can't even spell it) / engineer (can spell that) type my slant is from a bit different tangent.

I'll keep this short as possible. (lol) Moonlight is actually sunlight, but reflected off the moon. It arrives a few milliseconds later than the direct rays of the sun, and from the opposite direction.

Now I joked around a bit a second ago, but now I am not, because as I know the facts, they allow for the possibility that there really is a change in fields quantifiable in our environment under strong moonlight.

I am about one trey short of being an electronics engineer, and pay attention. Take a simple example like a radio, it uses hetrodyne detection. The incoming signal is mixed through a non-linear stage and sum and difference frequncies appear. This works for both AM and FM. The incoming sgnal is converted to what is called an intermediate frequency. It is in the IF stages where the they gain their selectvity and,,,,,,,,gain, that is sensitivity. The front end does it though, and should not be the weak link in the chain.

Now we know about neutrinos, and we can fairly assume that there are waves and particles of which we are unaware. Even the things of which we are aware are significant, or can be, you see the EMF (of which light, moonlight in this case) is a part, it is out of phase with the major source of all these waves/particles.

You see the normal turning of the Earth changes that phase constantly, and we are used to it, in fact it has a bearing on quite a few things. If allowed by work schedule most people would sleep at night and work during the day. As such we are used to the inverse phase of whatever undiscovered energies are passing through the planet from the other side when we sleep. We are used to that, it literally happens every day.

Now as an engineer I know if you mix two identical complex waves, with one displaced in time, even through a linear stage, it becomes distorted. Certain frequencies are nulled out and others are accentuated.

If we knew more about these waves we might be able to come up with an informed opinion, but we do not know much at all. The technology does not yet exist to test this theory, but I think it does have merit.

So we have waves coming up at us throught the Earth and we have waves reflected from the moon a short time later. And we have no idea of the "frequency response" of either the transmission through the Earth nor the reflection of the surface of the moon. There is no way to measure it.

As one poster pointed out, there is a tangible environmental impact of the cycles of the moon. I accept that, but what I am talking about is intangible, and I am not asking you to believe it. You shouldn't, there is no proof. By my own logic I can say I don't believe it, but the thing is, I believe it is possible, and maybe even probable. As technology advances, we might find out new things that explain old questions. Perhaps there never was anything supernatural.

I don't remember if I ever started a vampires thread on here, but that is another far fetched theory. It is far fetched, but it is fetched.

I believe that most mythology comes from some kind of truth, I mean when it comes to this. The word lunacy exists for a reason (shaddup). I am all for finding the reason, the root cause. Not the psychological effect of having light at night, which used to be a significant thing if you think about it, I mean the actual change in the environment. In fields which have a subtle effect on us, of which we are unaware. And tin hats don't work.

Told you I was insane, and here I am trying to explain lunacy. Go figure.

But really I do want to understand more about the development of our species, and as such, I appreciate the thread. I hope everybody is cool with this, I didn't hijack or nuthin.

Be well.

T

(in reply to Marc2b)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 12:21:30 AM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		I have experienced differences on human behavior that do seem
to correlate with the lunar cycle.  Have you tried charting the
behavior changes over a long period of time, say 6-8 months?

That would be interesting. 

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 12:45:12 AM   
spankmepink11


Posts: 1310
Joined: 9/28/2005
Status: offline 		I believe strongly in lunar effects.  When i worked in the mental health field we charted our clients behavior 24/7. It was always noted and expected,   for the full moon to be a time of heightened (in this case negative, even at times violent) behaviors. 

I think it affects us all to an extent.

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 12:55:31 AM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		That is very interesting, spankmepink.  I have heard similar stories
from medical personnel who work in Emergency Rooms.
 
Oh, by the way, we have a Blue Moon this month!
 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20070525/sc_space/thetruthbehindthismonthsbluemoon

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to spankmepink11)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 1:11:41 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		spank, and I bet they couldn't see the moon or a calendar at the time.

Thank you for supporting my whacked out theory, perhaps it isn't so whacked out.

T

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 9:03:17 AM   
spankmepink11


Posts: 1310
Joined: 9/28/2005
Status: offline 		Termyn8or, these people suffered from developmental disabilities and had no cognizant recognition of calenders.  The majority were not even verbal.

(in reply to Termyn8or)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 9:16:21 AM   
Aileen68


Posts: 6091
Joined: 8/2/2005
Status: offline 		HOOOOWL!!!!!!!

(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 11:51:40 AM   
Termyn8or


Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline 		Y'know, life is full of contradictions. Ya got me all fucked here now.

For a long time I dismissed astrology as a crackpot theory for a long time. I attributed whatever they did glean from human behavior that was correct, was attributable to the climate during people's first (most important) year of life. While this may be true, I have already contradicted myself, because you see the moon is indeed classified as a "heavenly body". And I have defined real physical effects possible due to it's position relative to the Earth on which we live. That BY DEFINITION is astrology.

Hmm, I am a Leo and believe me if you met me and didn't know it, you would figure it out. Perhaps you don't realize what this does to me, it shakes my entire knowledge base, to the point where I have doubts about my core beliefs. I think I'll go back to bed.

Thanks alot.

T

(in reply to Aileen68)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 12:17:49 PM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		Aren't we supposed to have a "Blue Moon" this week?

(in reply to Termyn8or)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 1:09:13 PM   
philosophy


Posts: 5284
Joined: 2/15/2004
Status: offline 		yup Popeye.....a blue moon is a second full moon in a calendar month.......round here its june 30

(in reply to popeye1250)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 1:17:43 PM   
KeirasSecret


Posts: 415
Joined: 8/17/2006
From: central NH
Status: offline 		I am thinking energies, perhaps the full moon effects people more, because we are fully exposed to its energies at that time.

k

(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 1:32:27 PM   
Vendaval


Posts: 10297
Joined: 1/15/2005
Status: offline 		One theory I have heard is that the moon affects the tides and our bodies contain a great deal of water,
something over 80% if memory serves correct.

_____________________________

"Beware, the woods at night, beware the lunar light.
So in this gray haze we'll be meating again, and on that
great day, I will tease you all the same."
"WOLF MOON", OCTOBER RUST, TYPE O NEGATIVE


http://KinkMeet.co.uk

(in reply to KeirasSecret)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 2:36:04 PM   
KeirasSecret


Posts: 415
Joined: 8/17/2006
From: central NH
Status: offline 		That certainly could be part of it, I wonder if it has to anything to do with magnetic pull/push.

k

(in reply to Vendaval)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/28/2007 2:56:58 PM   
Sinergy


Posts: 9383
Joined: 4/26/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NakedOnMyChain


Despite the fact that the book came out in the early 1970's, with much research done since then, and that it makes gross generalizations, it is possible that Lyall Watson was onto something.  And the author wouldn't be the first one.  Throughout history the 'myth' of the lunar effect has perpetuated despite avid, yet sometimes incorrect, debunking and harsh skepticism.  Perhaps there is, indeed, something to it.



I read something in this regard, but it made the point that in the pre-industrial world, cities and forests and the like were poorly lit, making it easier to commit crimes at night when the moon was full.

As far as the rest of your post.  I am not sure.  While gravitational factors are often cited, people live on a huge chunk of gravity producing mass called the Earth.  Gravitational fields caused by changes in the lunar cycle, as well as solar gravity, etc., seem to me would pale in comparison to the unending gravitational field of the Earth.

On the other hand, I suspect that it has never been empirically studied to determine lunar phases on sexual desire, sexual tension, emotional tension, etc.  I am one of those weird people that I see things that should be studied, and I think they should be studied.  The really big jumps in scientific knowledge are generally the result of pure research (like trying to figure out how interstate truckers contribute to the HIV epidemic) as opposed to applied (such as how to build a better mousetrap) research.

Sinergy

_____________________________

"There is a fine line between clever and stupid"
David St. Hubbins "This Is Spinal Tap"

"Every so often you let a word or phrase out and you want to catch it and bring it back. You cant do that, it is gone, gone forever." J. Danforth Quayle


(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy - 5/29/2007 7:06:42 AM   
NakedOnMyChain


Posts: 2431
Joined: 11/29/2004
From: Indiana
Status: offline 		Thanks to everyone for jumping in with your thoughts.  You've all brought up some great points to consider.

Termyn8or, you had said, "Perhaps there never was anything supernatural."  I'm of the same school of thought.  (Yes, me... with all my ghost hunting and paranormal psychobabble.)  It's not "paranormal".  It's just unexplained.  The only reason anything is supernatural is because we don't understand it.  By its very essence, everything can be comprehended.  Not necessarily from a scientific standpoint, because I do believe there are things you have to take on trust in this life, and I believe that life is less worthwhile without its mysteries, but you know what I'm saying.  We continue to advance and, not so much disprove as find a reason for our paranormal phenomena.  It doesn't make it less spectacular or less bizzare, it just means we know why.  I also believe that as soon as we find an explanation for one old myth, legend, or bit of supernature, it will replace itself with something more inexplicable.  Kind of like the Hitchhiker's Guide theory about knowing the question and the answer all at the same time.  It's odd, but there's truth there.

_____________________________

"Oh, it's torture, but I'm almost there."
~The Cure

"I ask for so little. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."
~The Labyrinth

(in reply to NakedOnMyChain)
Profile   Post #: 18
Page:   [1]
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> The Moon in the Man: Literal Lunacy Page: [1]
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.078