Paranormal experiences?

I wouldn't say I sense spirits or have seen anything but I definitely can sense an atmosphere  No in all seriousness, I've been to places and nkt liked certain parts kf rooms and then Ibget told a bad thing happened in that spot....

I do have what people might call premonitions but I thinknof them as mybbrain being extra good at predicting what might happen given the information I've had about something previously.  However I have had lots of weird preductions about things that I can't explain.  I also am very intuitive and can tell when people are unwell or even close to death which is very unnerving!  Again, not sure if that is paranormal  or me being highly observant .... but I remain open minded.

Similar. Have always thought that incredibly weird-- that I could be terrifically naive, have such a poor grasp of social signals and social situations...  but still have a really excellent radar for dangerous people, bad situations, and places I should leave immediately. Those things don't logically go together, but there it is. 

I do wonder if, somehow (with people at least ) it's a matter of picking up on actual intent *instead* of deliberate social signalling-- like, maybe you can only con people with fake niceness, if they can read the "niceness" signs you're deliberately telegraphing. Though since it involves places as well, the idea of just "feeling the energy" around people and places is the easiest way to explain it, but I really have no idea how that works. 

Similar. Have always thought that incredibly weird-- that I could be terrifically naive, have such a poor grasp of social signals and social situations...  but still have a really excellent radar for dangerous people, bad situations, and places I should leave immediately. Those things don't logically go together, but there it is. 

I do wonder if, somehow (with people at least ) it's a matter of picking up on actual intent *instead* of deliberate social signalling-- like, maybe you can only con people with fake niceness, if they can read the "niceness" signs you're deliberately telegraphing. Though since it involves places as well, the idea of just "feeling the energy" around people and places is the easiest way to explain it, but I really have no idea how that works. 

Nice!  It does work in the other direction too-- On meeting new people, I am very quick to file them into a few basic categories: 

1) Dangerous, stay away.

2) Not dangerous, but we have nothing in common and they won't like me. Business transactions only.

3) Good people. Won't understand you, but will be kind and helpful and/or treat you fairly.

4) Potential friends. Weird but not dangerous. 

5) Sweet young things. Darling over-trusting kids, teens and twenties who are fun to talk to, but whom I deliberately limit interactions with because they're quite normal and I don't want to hurt their social prospects...  but I try to be nice and help them out if they need anything. It's fun to play the dotty old auntie now and then :)

Some of these I use physical indicators to sort out. Especially category 2-- these are generally people who dress smartly. I can tell them by their expensive shoes and high-maintenance hair and makeup. These people care a lot about social status and signalling, and we're just fundamentally incompatible. 

There's a subset of category 3 that are androgynous straight women. For whatever reason, I gravitate toward them. They're not friends, but I find them easier to be around than either men or more feminine women, and I *love* having them as supervisors at work--  there's no sexual tension, I appreciate their blunt, straightforward approach and they make for a calm, low-anxiety work environment with clear expectations and fair treatment. Would follow to gates of hell and back like a loyal hound.  They're easy to spot, and I like them based on past experience with others. 

Beyond that...  I just don't know how I know.  I miss so many things that normal people find totally obvious, like indicators that someone is gay, or that I've overstayed my welcome, or knowing which person is the leader, in a group. Often, I can observe behavior over the long-term that confirms the initial assessment, but I have no idea how I arrived at the initial assessment, and the initial assessment is rarely wrong. Some of that may be personal bias-- maybe I never bothered to try to get to know someone because of their shoes, so I never found out they were an OK person after all. Not sure.  But generally...   accurate, and later behavior confirms. *Dangerous* is a thing that just leaps out-- internal klaxons blare, adrenaline hits, the works. Eeek! Run! 

So perhaps category 4 are just people who visibly *don't* care about social status, but also don't set off the danger alarms. Hi there. Maybe we could be friends. What's funny is sometimes these are people who are *trying* to signal dangerous-ness, but just obviously aren't actually dangerous-- hang about in all black and talk about burning things, or adopt a grumpy persona of loud complaining and snarky opinions. My favorite auntie when I was a kid was the gruff, outspoken, chain-smoking lady that all my cousins were sort of afraid of. She was terrific and I loved her to bits...  and she never minded me coming and hanging out in her kitchen after school.  She died nearly twenty years ago, and I still miss her. 

Me too......although pleasingly, most of my most notable "spotting" has been for the *good" where others only seem to see bad/dubious.  It means that I tend to give some souls an honest and trusting "chance" whereas other people would be more dismissive or prejudicial.  I seem to attract genuine loyalty and care from some of the least likely souls you can imagine because they are not used to being treated calmly and fairly from the outset.  I am always humbled by this.

Well done for spotting the "bad'un" at your church group.....I hope people take your "intuition" more seriously these days?  I am pleased (these days, in my 50's) to be acknowledged as being "a bit special" at this form of "intuition", whereas when I was younger, I was considered foolhardy or a risk-taker or a social idiot!  It is an extremely useful skill - but I can still get it wrong on occasion despite being hyper-vigilant  of everything most of the time = exhausting, but I can't help myself and it helps to keep me safe in potentially dangerous situations.

I seem to feel most nervous and suspicious of the MOST "normal" people I meet.  I find this fact interesting!

Good to meet you here Betony - I hope to see you around more.

Kind regards

Number.

As a child, I developed an intense fear/dislike of someone at my family's church.  It was super awkward, because the guy was the youth teacher, and all the grownups seemed to think he was OK. Worked in sales, was good at the smile-and-be-friends insta-charm act. I could not explain why I needed to stay away from the guy, I just knew he was dangerous and I wanted to be far far away from him at all times.  I got a lot of "why can't you just be nice?" from my mother about it. We did not find out until several *years* later that he was a thief and a heinous domestic abuser. Tried to murder his ex-wife. 

I have never doubted that sort of intuition again. It has served me very well in life, for all that it is awkward when you cannot explain it to others, and when you try you are not believed. 

Betony said:

it's a matter of picking up on actual intent *instead* of deliberate social signalling

I think you are right.  Some souls that most people would deem terrifying, pose no threat or concern to me.... whilst other "wholly pleasant" and apparently agreeable souls scare me witless.