NationStates Jolt Archive


Who ya gonna call?

German Nightmare
18-02-2008, 17:12
That's right... Ghostbusters!

Guess the city council was also "ready to believe" the tenants upon witnessing some stuff happen themselves.

Council paid for Ghostbuster
By Fiona Thompson

A council which paid a psychic to expel a poltergeist from a family home spent the taxpayers' cash well, say the terrified tenants.
District of Easington Council paid £60 towards the ghostbuster's fee after the Fallon family asked for her help.
Mum Sabrina Fallon called in medium Suzanne Hadwin after hearing banging from the loft, seeing items fly across rooms and having doors slammed in the family's faces.
The council, which has admitted the action was unusual, agreed to pay half of the £120 bill because the Fallons were unwilling to stay in the house at Basingstoke Road, Peterlee.
While the decision to used taxpayers' money has been criticised, Sabrina, 23, who has lived in the house with husband Martin, 24, and daughters Shannon, nine, and Amie, 16 months, since June, says they now love their home and have had no further trouble.
She added: "It's not a waste of money because the council were in there and witnessed what happened.
"It was like ice even with the heating on. It was dull no matter how bright the lights were and there was a horrid smell.
"It was like living in a mortuary."
Sabrina first called in police when the banging began in the loft.
Although sceptical, she contacted the house-cleansing ghosthunter for help.
Ms Hadwin said she sent her Russian spirit guide Romanoff to neutralise the energy in the house before visiting herself and using angels to help rid it of evil.
She believes the bad spirit was connected to the murder of a woman killed with a poker and says the family is now happy to stay in the house, which is rented from East Durham Homes.
The 35-year-old, previously of Seaham and Witherwack, Sunderland, said council staff agreed there was a bad atmosphere at the property and were there as she worked.
She defended the use of public funds to pay for her services and said: "They could get me in or be homeless. They weren't going to go in that house any more.
"In some cases, people don't believe it until they've been in that atmosphere and had a poltergeist on top of them, and that's why the council brought me in."
Other incidents before Ms Hadwin's visit included a dressing gown flying down the stairs at a family member who was checking on the house while the Fallons were on holiday.
Sabrina also reported feeling like someone was trying to take her child from her as she walked down the steps.
Mark Wallace, campaign director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, described the move to use public cash as a "ridiculous waste of money".
He added: "People don't pay their council tax for i
t to be spent on psychic mumbo-jumbo.
"What next, will the council be investing in magic beans next year?"
A council spokeswoman said the authority would have faced a £40 charge per night in emergency accommodation for the family if issue had not been resolved.
She added: "This is the first time we have had to take such a measure, however, the tenants were extremely distressed at the time and we therefore believed it was the most appropriate course of action.
"The family were pleased with the outcome and the advice and assistance they received from the council and are now happy to remain in their home.
"The council is committed to preventing homelessness, no matter what the cause.
"Last year we helped more than 130 people avoid the distress and financial costs of losing their homes through a range of interventions, albeit none of them quite as unusual as this."

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/Council-paid-for-ghostbuster.3766882.jp
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,535161,00.html

But what's even funnier, it seems to have worked!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y223/GermanNightmare/ghostbusters_icon.gif

So, NSG, what's your stance on this story? Ready to believe them? Would you hire a ghostbuster? Have you already hired a ghostbuster? Or maybe, do you own a ghostbusters franchise?

Let's hear it!

(And... I wanted to make the poll multiple choice and messed up but already asked in moderation - be patient, hopefully that'll change soon enough for you guys to be able to pick more than just one answer!)
Dalmatia Cisalpina
18-02-2008, 17:18
Hey, if nothing else had worked, why not give it a shot? Worst thing that happens is you feel foolish, and it could work.
Mad hatters in jeans
18-02-2008, 17:27
I dressed as a Ghostbuster for a gala day with my mates, it was brilliant.
I'm guessing the people in the house only needed some social support then they were happy, more a psychological fear of the house than a rational one.
German Nightmare
18-02-2008, 17:32
Hey, if nothing else had worked, why not give it a shot? Worst thing that happens is you feel foolish, and it could work.
That's pretty much how I'd feel about it - but still, it would take pretty much for me to even think into hiring a ghostbuster.
I dressed as a Ghostbuster for a gala day with my mates, it was brilliant.
Did you wreck the ballroom?
I'm guessing the people in the house only needed some social support then they were happy, more a psychological fear of the house than a rational one.
Maybe their fears manifested themselves as a Poltergeist?
[NS]I BEFRIEND CHESTNUTS
18-02-2008, 17:33
Even though I don't believe in ghosts, if it's cheaper to hire a ghostbuster than move them to a different house then it makes sense. Might as well humour them.
Dododecapod
18-02-2008, 17:40
The council should be sued for misuse of funds. A fraud just got away with money for nothing.
Rotovia-
18-02-2008, 17:41
Or you could stop eating the brownies you find in your son's room.
Mad hatters in jeans
18-02-2008, 17:43
That's pretty much how I'd feel about it - but still, it would take pretty much for me to even think into hiring a ghostbuster.

Did you wreck the ballroom?

Maybe their fears manifested themselves as a Poltergeist?

Nah, it was a hot day and the boiler suits were roasting, quite tiring really, but good fun.

Yes perhaps their fears forced them to think of a poltergeist, possibly a cry for attention. No such thing as ghosts.
[NS]I BEFRIEND CHESTNUTS
18-02-2008, 17:58
The council should be sued for misuse of funds. A fraud just got away with money for nothing.
I don't think so, the people who thought they were being haunted had no financial incentive to do this. Even though I don't believe in ghosts, I believe that people can jump to pretty irrational conclusions. If it's cheaper than the alternative then I don't see the problem.
East Rodan
18-02-2008, 18:09
I'm thinking about making a Ghostbusters III movie, where Ghostbusters is a governmental agency. It will not be affiliated with the the original movies at all. I am looking for untalented actors. Who isn't afraid of being sued?
Marrakech II
18-02-2008, 18:10
Although I like to see proof of things happening before I believe I don't think they spent the money unwisely. These people have a piece of mind now that they did not before and now they don't need to move. As for the UK in general it seems to be one of the most haunted places on the planet. Why is that?
Mad hatters in jeans
18-02-2008, 18:16
Heheh and you know that how?

I've killed them all. Hence no ghosts.
Peepelonia
18-02-2008, 18:17
No such thing as ghosts.


Heheh and you know that how?
King Arthur the Great
18-02-2008, 18:17
Eh, I've actually got a nuclear accelerator with the proton beam, though I've never tried crossing one beam with another. It might "be bad."
Peepelonia
18-02-2008, 18:26
I've killed them all. Hence no ghosts.

Shit, then I think you missed some!
Mad hatters in jeans
18-02-2008, 18:31
Shit, then I think you missed some!

Nah...If that was a real ghost then there'd be blood everywhere, as the folks scrabble for a knife and cut themselves in fear, then bam! they jump off the roof to escape the ghost.
Well i hope i haven't missed any, one thing they don't like is logic, they don't get it, and they think Jesus was an attention whore (you know the whole coming back to life thing, like a celebrity who didn't deserve it).:)
Damn why's my PKE metre moving like that? oh no not again.
Alfegos
18-02-2008, 18:56
You saying about ghosts reminds me about my feelings of them: most of it is really paranoia.

However, when you say about UFOs, I must say you have me there. They are either experimental government aircraft, or something outta this world, but I am not able to comment on either.

As for the ghostbuster squad... I could lend you a hand with the armoury department. If only I wasn't in the UK.
Sumamba Buwhan
18-02-2008, 19:19
I lived in a house where heavy items (ex. pumpkin) would get thrown across the room without the help of any physical body.

I saw shadows that weren't attached to anything run away from me.

One room in the house was very cold and negative. It was hard to be in that room without feeling absolute dread for no particular reason.

Whenever we took photos out in the yard, the pictures were filled with orbs.

Once just before grabbing the handle to the front door to walk inside the handle rattled violently for a second. That was a bit unnerving.

Another time I walked into the house and the television was turned on and it was all fuzz. I picked up a remote and pressed power and it turned the tv off. The weird part? I realized just then that it wasn't the remote for the tv! Then I found the tv remote and turned the tv back on and it was on a valid channel with no fuzz.

That house was exciting to live at. I wouldn't have wanted a ghost buster get rid of my invisible friends.
Pure Metal
18-02-2008, 20:03
http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/stay_puft_bobblehead_L.jpg


i think we should wait and see what this guy has to say on the issue ;)
Vojvodina-Nihon
18-02-2008, 20:28
That house was exciting to live at. I wouldn't have wanted a ghost buster get rid of my invisible friends.

Actually, that sounds sort of fun..... unless of course you believe "ghosts" to be hazardous to your physical health. (Personally, I'm not sure: they could probably throw a dresser or a big rock at me if they got really mad, but I doubt there would be any of the "dismemberment with sharp pointy claws" from your average house ghost. Those darn faceless horrors from beyond the stars, on the other hand: )
Gryphonsgard
18-02-2008, 22:09
I dressed as a Ghostbuster for the Halloween Day at the summer camp I worked at last year. Went down so well the other counsellors made me wear it for the last night party at the local bar! Was a good conversation starter with the locals I can tell you! :p
Glitziness
18-02-2008, 23:32
Doesn't the Ghostbuster theme tune rock?? Have it on my mp3 player and it always brings a smile to my face! :D
*dances*
Pure Metal
18-02-2008, 23:48
Doesn't the Ghostbuster theme tune rock?? Have it on my mp3 player and it always brings a smile to my face! :D
*dances*

bow dana bownow bownow, banananabownownow, banananana-na-na, banananana-na-na-now, GHOSTBUSTERS!!

(for a better version, see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztTVWvtG9Ec) ;)
Gauthier
18-02-2008, 23:51
I'm thinking about making a Ghostbusters III movie, where Ghostbusters is a governmental agency. It will not be affiliated with the the original movies at all. I am looking for untalented actors. Who isn't afraid of being sued?

http://www.ghostbustersgame.com/

In a Game Informer interview, Dan Ackroyd was so impressed with the game he said it would practically be the Third Movie.
German Nightmare
18-02-2008, 23:56
Or you could stop eating the brownies you find in your son's room.
I'd rather eat them before they spoil - but just one at a time... :p
However, when you say about UFOs, I must say you have me there.
Any object that flies and cannot be identified by you should be filed under unidentified.
I lived in a house where heavy items (ex. pumpkin) would get thrown across the room without the help of any physical body.

I saw shadows that weren't attached to anything run away from me.

One room in the house was very cold and negative. It was hard to be in that room without feeling absolute dread for no particular reason.

Whenever we took photos out in the yard, the pictures were filled with orbs.

Once just before grabbing the handle to the front door to walk inside the handle rattled violently for a second. That was a bit unnerving.

Another time I walked into the house and the television was turned on and it was all fuzz. I picked up a remote and pressed power and it turned the tv off. The weird part? I realized just then that it wasn't the remote for the tv! Then I found the tv remote and turned the tv back on and it was on a valid channel with no fuzz.

That house was exciting to live at. I wouldn't have wanted a ghost buster get rid of my invisible friends.
*hums twilight zone theme* They'd be welcome as long as they don't break my stuff or spoil my food.
i think we should wait and see what this guy has to say on the issue ;)
It just popped in there.
What? *What* "just popped in there?"
I... I... I tried to think...
LOOK!
No! It CAN'T be!
What is it?
It CAN'T be!
What did you DO, Ray?
Oh, sh!t!
It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

He's more than welcome - I could use a sugar high.
http://images.neopets.com/template_images/nimmo_marshmallow_roasting.gif
Doesn't the Ghostbuster theme tune rock?? Have it on my mp3 player and it always brings a smile to my face! :D
*dances*
It does! http://www.smilies-smilies.de/smilies/tanzII_smilies/dancing5.gif
German Nightmare
19-02-2008, 00:01
bow dana bownow bownow, banananabownownow, banananana-na-na, banananana-na-na-now, GHOSTBUSTERS!!

(for a better version, see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztTVWvtG9Ec) ;)
Hehe. http://www.studip.uni-goettingen.de/pictures/smile/ghostbuster.gif

Reminds me of the C64 game. Oh, the hours spent ghostbusting! Bustin' makes me fee-hee-heel good!
http://www.ghostbustersgame.com/

In a Game Informer interview, Dan Ackroyd was so impressed with the game he said it would practically be the Third Movie.
I thought he was involved in the project?
Gauthier
19-02-2008, 00:09
I thought he was involved in the project?

Doing voicework along with the original cast, and is also cowriting the game's storyscript with Harold Ramis.
Chandelier
19-02-2008, 00:21
I don't particularly believe in ghosts, I don't think.
Pure Metal
19-02-2008, 00:41
It just popped in there.
What? *What* "just popped in there?"
I... I... I tried to think...
LOOK!
No! It CAN'T be!
What is it?
It CAN'T be!
What did you DO, Ray?
Oh, sh!t!
It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
*must go watch the movies this weekend... *is all starry-eyed at the thought** ;)

He's more than welcome - I could use a sugar high.
http://images.neopets.com/template_images/nimmo_marshmallow_roasting.gif

hehehe i have valentine's Haribo! :D