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I think my apartment may be haunted

post #1 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:14pm
Thread Starter 
First, the setup. In my bedroom I have a large framed Simpsons poster. This guy right here:



So, for about a month and a half now, every time I go to bed, once I get settled in - about ten minutes after I lay down - I start to hear this tap-tap-tapping, like someone is drumming their fingernails on the glass. And it happens INCESSANTLY until I fall asleep.

At first I thought it was just the glass or the thing on which it's hung creaking, but that poster is way too heavy for my ceiling fan (which is on low) to move. Plus, my ceiling fan runs 24/7 and the only time I EVER hear this noise is when I go to bed at night. If I lay down on the bed in the evening or afternoon to read a book or talk on the phone or go through mail or whatever - nothing. But as soon as I lay down to go to bed - tap-tap-tap-tap.

And it's not always consistent. Sometimes it's slow, others fast, sometimes it's kind of quiet, sometimes it's pretty damn loud loud and almost sounds kind of frantic. Almost like whatever is making the noise is trying to get my attention and is getting pissed off because I refuse to directly acknowledge it. But it's always the same SOUND - someone (or something) drumming their fingernails on the glass of that poster. I've stared directly at it when the sound was happening and it didn't move an inch - so I KNOW it's not the fan (or the vent) blowing it. For as loud as this gets, if it was something blowing it around it would be moving very visibly.

I happen to believe whole-heartedly in ghosts and have seen (what I believe to be) visible proof of such, but I'm still a little hesitant to say for sure that this is a ghost.

But I'm running out of other ideas.
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post #2 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:17pm
Have you tried taking the poster down at all? Maybe move it to the other side of the room to see if the noise is still happening? I had the same type of experience, but with my tv. It would randomly turn on and off through out the night for years until I moved.

Also, this sounds like a case for
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post #3 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:18pm
I would recommend rat poison but then you might have to contend with ghost rats.
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post #4 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:18pm
Have you actually heard the sound while near the picture? My guess would be that there is some sort of plumbing underneath your bed that is making the tapping noise (expansion of pipes causes them to rub against beams and cause a noise).
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post #5 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:21pm
Taking for granted that you blame the poster for the disturbance: Try out a Futurama Poster instead for a while and check out if the same still occurs. (Or any other poster for that matter. Or get rid of anything remotely connected to that alltogether).

Or check your personal life if there is something not boding well for you that will keep you up as soon as you get some rest and haunts you on a psychological level.
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post #6 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:24pm
Have you turned the fan off completely and still heard it? Also, is that wall a shared wall (with another apartment)?
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post #7 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:24pm
Have you tried yelling at the ghost to cut that shit out?
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post #8 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 
When I first started hearing it I immediately thought it was rats - but I've heard first-hand what rats (or mice) chewing and clawing their way through a wall sounds like and this just isn't it.

The plumbing thing sounds plausible and I think I may move the poster just to see what happens. For the record, it's facing my bed and is about...maybe two feet away from my head. Basically the only thing between me and that wall is a nightstand.

And it really doesn't keep me up. It doesn't scare me or make me nervous or anything, I just hear it, refuse to acknowledge it (just in case - the whole "ghosts can feed off of your fear" theories and all of that).
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post #9 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:29pm
Send me the poster and I'll let you know if it happens to me.
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post #10 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:31pm
Maybe the ghost just has a problem with The Simpsons. A ghost with bad taste, perhaps?
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post #11 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:34pm
Tappa-tappa-tappa.
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post #12 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:37pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Miller View Post
Have you turned the fan off completely and still heard it? Also, is that wall a shared wall (with another apartment)?
No but I'll try that too. And no - my apartment is the odd end-cap of the building. It runs perpendicular to the parallel apartments they take up the width of the building.

And Eileen - I happen to know that you have a pretty fancy poster on your wall. Perhaps we should trade. haha
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post #13 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:41pm
Just in the interest of ruling out all other possibilities, what kind of heat do you use? If you have gas heat, could that be the heat coming on and the pilot light clicking?
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post #14 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:41pm
Move. It's the only real solution.
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post #15 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:44pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Miller View Post
Just in the interest of ruling out all other possibilities, what kind of heat do you use? If you have gas heat, could that be the heat coming on and the pilot light clicking?
Everything's electric - no gas in the complex at all. And Tati? After almost a year and a half, this little annoyance is the ONLY problem I've had. Great neighborhood, awesome rent - really nice place: I'll deal with the ghost.
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post #16 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:48pm
Get something to tap along with it and have a jam session.
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post #17 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:49pm
You live in Texas, maybe it's mad it's not a King of the Hill poster, or it's just tapping the Fox logo in anger for canceling the show.

Who knows how many KOTH fan ghosts are wandering around that state.
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post #18 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:50pm
Theory 1 - It's ghosts of Maude Flanders and/or Bleeding Gums Murphy.

Theory 2 - Death Watch Beetles.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wikipedia
To attract mates, these woodborers create a tapping or ticking sound that can be heard in old building rafters during quiet summer nights. They are therefore associated with quiet, sleepless nights and are named for the vigil (watch) kept beside the dying or dead, and by extension the superstitious have seen the death watch as an omen of impending death.
Call an exterminator. Or Jay and Grant.
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post #19 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:54pm
Thread Starter 
The beetle thing sounds plausible too. I'm not entirely sure how old the complex is but I know it's not brand new or anything. Wouldn't surprise me if there were some creepy-crawlies living in the nooks and crannies.

Okay, so tonight, I turn the fan off and see what happens. Moving the poster is gonna be a pain in the ass so if I hear the noise tonight with no fan on I'll move it tomorrow and we'll go from there.
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post #20 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:57pm
Tell us what happens when you move the poster! I'm curious now.
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post #21 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:59pm
Thread Starter 
You and me both, honey.
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post #22 of 55
11/14/08 at 11:59pm
Also, if you hear the tapping, apply gentle pressure to the poster glass; if it's rattling to a subtle vibration that will stop it.
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post #23 of 55
11/15/08 at 12:05am
Thread Starter 
Another good idea - I'll do that as well.

I dunno - it's weird, I almost don't WANT to disprove the whole thing. I kinda like the idea of having a little rhythmic poltergeist of my very own. But at the same time it can be a little disconcerting - so we'll see what happens.
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post #24 of 55
11/15/08 at 12:12am
"A year later, JGButler's last entry in this thread was found."
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post #25 of 55
11/15/08 at 12:25am
I think we're all making light of a fairly serious situation. Run, my friend. And pray.
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post #26 of 55
11/15/08 at 12:42am
Is it wrong that I'm hoping this does turn out to be a ghost?
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post #27 of 55
11/15/08 at 1:38am
Tapping a poster? No big deal. When they crawl under the covers with you... that's when you need to worry.

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post #28 of 55
11/15/08 at 1:45am
Put your penis on the poster where the ghost is tapping.


Should make for a thrilling experience.
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post #29 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:20am
It could be that the ghost is just trying to count how many characters there actually are in that poster. Just give it the answer and maybe it'll leave you alone.

Maybe...
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post #30 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:28am
Fire at the wall with a shotty loaded with rock salt. It should help for now.
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post #31 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:34am
My advice.

Call either these guys:



or these guys:



Or call both and have yourself the crossover shitty fanfics are made of.
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post #32 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:46am









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post #33 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:50am
Holy shit. Holy shit the amount of win, it's beautiful...
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post #34 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:56am
Thread Starter 
Wow. Thumbs the fuck up to you, sir.
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post #35 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:57am
Get out now. Don't think, just do it. Leave before the ghost has a chance to touch you in your bathing suit area. I'm speaking from experience here.

(This has been a semi-true story.)
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post #36 of 55
11/15/08 at 2:59am
If there were a message board equivalent of Oscars, A&P just won I think.
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post #37 of 55
11/15/08 at 3:16am
1: A&P, you're the king of this thread.

2: JGB, try putting a pillow between your mattress and your headboard.
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post #38 of 55
11/15/08 at 3:38am
Just cuz it deserves more praise, that was awesome, A&P.
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post #39 of 55
11/15/08 at 3:46am
A&P, you're an internet GOD amongst internet insects. Don't let anyone tell you different.
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post #40 of 55
11/15/08 at 4:21am
Also... I think we all have to appreciate the tv/movie "enhance" A&P did.

Blurry zoomed out picture straight to crystal clear zoom in... CSI style, bitches!
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post #41 of 55
11/15/08 at 10:38am
THAT was beautiful!
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post #42 of 55
11/15/08 at 11:29am
Phib (A&P), that was fucking awesome.

And JG, I think I'd rather it was ghosts than rats or mice.
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post #43 of 55
11/15/08 at 11:35am
Nicely done, Phib.

My house has a ghost woodpecker. Also, a ghost that only shows up when I'm stoned and eats everything crunchy in the kitchen.
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post #44 of 55
11/15/08 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Cordo View Post
Tappa-tappa-tappa.
Try this one: Poochie, Poochie, Poochie.
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post #45 of 55
11/15/08 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 
So I turned the ceiling fan off last night and didn't hear a sound. A mixture of relief and a little bit of disappointment.

Until this morning when I woke up and there it was - tap-tap-tap. That's new.
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post #46 of 55
11/15/08 at 4:21pm
I don't want to be a party pooper, but maybe you have a tumor.
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post #47 of 55
11/15/08 at 9:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abbott & Prospero View Post
This is the last thing I flashed on before I fell asleep last night. Thanks, A&P - who doesn't want to go to sleep with a smile?
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post #48 of 55
11/16/08 at 2:19am
Glad you liked it. The Simpsonized Nicholson needed a little more work, though, so just pretend I posted this one last night.

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post #49 of 55
11/16/08 at 12:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JGButler View Post
I dunno - it's weird, I almost don't WANT to disprove the whole thing.
And thus the reason that people still believe in ghosts in the 21st century is revealed.

(not trying to be a party-pooper, just sayin'...)
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post #50 of 55
11/16/08 at 12:52pm
I don't think that this is anything to worry about. The entity is probably just trying to get your attention. Ghosts are like houseplants--they thrive if you spend a little time every day talking to them. Also put out a saucer of blood every morning. Any higher mammal will do.
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