Rusting Car Bumper

I love that first one!

I use two analogies and explanations.

First, we have experiences that will later admit do not match agreed reality. For example, (and borrowed from Dan Barker) I was walking in a forest and I almost stepped n a snake. I was walking I saw it as I was about to step on it and I almost panicked. Luckily I jumped over it and away. I turned to look at it. It wasn't a snake at all. It was a stick. However, nobody can deny that I had the experience of a snake in that instant.

Second, all sorts of things happen dreams that we don't think are real. I fly in dreams and win the lottery. Does that really mean I can fly at will? Does it really mean I will go out and buy a half million dollar home? Of course not.

So when they ask me, I simply use examples liek this and note that they aren't extended their admitted skepticism of these experience to other paranormal claims.

DC

crocodile deathroll

I knew of a few people who preferred to believe that those creaky timbers in their house was caused by a ghost rather than termites. That is surely a much more comfortable untruth to come to terms with that the far more uneasy truth to termites.
But it is far better to face up to that uneasy truth before the roof falls down on your head.