The Cottingley Fairies

[Frank21]

Seeing as we're on the fairy/elf thing.. in 1917 in Cottingley, near Bradford, nine-year-old Frances Griffiths and her cousin encountered fairies at the bottom of their garden, and took photos to prove it. It was described by A.Conan Doyle as an "epoch-making event". It wasn't until sixty-six years later they admitted it was a trick. ie. cut-out cardboard figures.

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[gaver]

nice pic Frank. dreamy feel, a touch of sepia for the age. good work I think

[Frank21]

Thanks gaver. Fairies are usually not my thing.

[Legolas18]

I like this remake of famous pictures. Although, I am not sure fairies aren't real 🙂

[Frank21]

Legolas - Frances later said, "a rational person doesn't see fairies".
I don't believe in fairies.. but I'd like to.

[Charley]

@Frank22 great picture. I still can't believe that a man as clever as Doyle fell for the hoax.

It was plain to see that some of the ''fairies'' were fashion model sketches from magazines.

[Legolas18]

@Reinecarola he was a spiritist, so confirmation bias played a role in that 🙁

[ADAM]

Under the right circumstances you can see fairies

[Frank21]

Charley - we need to remember that in 1917, the year my father was born, it was a very different time than today. The spiritualist movement was in full swing with mediums and séances patronised by prominent individuals. There were a lot of people back then who wanted to believe in the supernatural and mythical beings, and some people still do.... [that's why I included a real fairy hiding in the pic]

[Charley]

@Frank22 I'll concede that. You saying that your dad was born in 1917 brings out the nostalgia in me. My own dad, who was many years older than my mum was born in 1929. He passed when I was ten years old.

Have you or @legolas18 ever heard of Eddie Linehan? That guy, despite a uni education in linguistics is a passonate believer in fairies.

[Frank21]

I hadn't heard of Eddie but I like the cut of his jib.... wonderful beard/hair.
I'm not so sure that one's education level and belief in spooky things are mutually exclusive. Religion being one example.

[Charley]

@frank22 You'd imagine, though, with that level of education one would not believe in the supernatural. He's a lot of fun to listen to; epic beard and always puts a smile on my face.

Once you hear his tale of a ''weasel funeral'' you'll never look at weasals in the same light again. lol

[Frank21]

"You'd imagine, though, with that level of education one would not believe in the supernatural."
The pope has a university degree, dismisses evolution, believes in miracles, and thinks the world was created in 6 days. Belief in fairies is a minor leap in faith compared to that bunkum.

[Fa0056]

62 years after the TV Show I still believe.https://youtu.be/A6IKaLF4Fqc?si=fiKm4Iseeq0iSOes&t=59

[Frank21]

Love that video clip! Hits the nail on the head. Way OT but it reminds me of quantum mechanics and the nature of reality. If Schrödinger's Cat can exist in two states at the same time until observed, why can't fairies exist (or not) based on who is observing/believing in them? Probably not but I like to keep an open mind.

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