Cigarette Smoke in the Kitchen

Mr P · Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Staffordshire

This weekend (The afternoon of Saturday 5th Feb 2011 to be precise) there was very noticeable smell of Cigarette smoke in the kitchen of where I work.(I suppose I should note that none of the staff smoke, and it's an indoor children's play-centre, so obviously no smoking is permitted inside)

The actual area of the smell was very confined, literally 1 Square metre, about 3ft off the ground.

Upon a bit of research, the area that the play centre occupies used to be a small courtyard within a Cloth mill. It was used as a joinery/woodwork yard up until closure of the mill (1960's)

We (The staff) have noticed things like movement in our peripheral vision, but nothing that can undoubtedly prove or disprove any presence.

Can anyone offer any theories or possible ways to cause more noticeable phenomenon?

Thanks

:D

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 12:15 pm Post subject:

I think you should do a bit more research.
Maybe you and the others should document what you experience.
Starting with the cigarette smoke.

Looking forward to what you find.

Inn Spectre · Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 118

D B Sweeney · Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:54 am Post subject:

Hi Mr P,

Thanks for posting your odd experience. I'd agree with Inn Spectre and look to the rational explanations and their likelihood before considering irrational causes.
Strong, familiar smells can carry considerable distances or (as Inn has said) you may have been mistaken in what you assumed to be cigarette smoke could have been something else with a similar odour.
IMHO the previous history of the site is irrelevant and the sightings in peripheral vision are quite common for many people especially when belief bias creeps in and every bump, bang, shadow and smell become directly associated with the perceived paranormal phenomenon when in effect - the smoke smell, the peripheral visions and the fact that there used to be a Mill on the site are not linked in any way.
As Bitter has pointed out, I'd keep a record of anything 'strange' that happens but also thoroughly investigate everything, preferably as soon as possible after it's experienced, and with the knowledge that our senses are easily fooled and we're subject to both belief and confirmation biases.

But do please keep us informed Mr P.

DB

http://www.skepdic.com/confirmbias.html
http://www.skepdic.com/posthoc.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief_bias

Mr P · Joined: 07 Feb 2011 Posts: 3 Location: Staffordshire

Thanks Guys

I probably should have mentioned that we did check whether the smell wa coming from the the extractor fans, but there was not detectable link of draft or smell between that and the area of the smoke smell (and from what we can see, the extractor draws straight out onto the roof), we also checked inside cupboards near by, and checked that it wasn't an electrical fault with anything. We had to check all that as it's a children's play centre, and we didn't really want it to stink everything out with a cigarette smell.

In short, it was a very interesting thing to have witnessed (well, smelled) and the presence of that smell just seems practically impossible. I think the bit that confuses me the most is that it clearly had a definitive size and location, it didn't spread.

I'll try and do a proper study of the whole centre if we're quiet one day, and ask my boss if she'll let me in when it's closed to have a good wander around and see if there is any rational explanations.

Thanks

Mr P

EnigmaticStranger · Joined: 20 Feb 2011 Posts: 10 Location: The netherworld

Try...smoking the ghost out.