Are Ghosts Real? (a poll)

[Morrus]

So majority of the polling so far says no ghosts .

Are we also saying those who communicate with the dead (mediums)are all frauds? Technically a spirit is a ghost. It’s basically fraud so shouldn’t they be sued?

Yes. Unless they are clear that their performance is for entertainment only. It’s also gross… profiting off peoples’ grief by pretending to talk to their loved ones. If anybody was stupid enough to offer to charge me to talk to my late mum, I would not be pleasant with my response.

I suppose some might actually believe they have superpowers.

 

[Umbran]

Yes. Unless they are clear that their performance is for entertainment only. It’s also gross… profiting off peoples’ grief by pretending to talk to their loved ones. If anybody was stupid enough to offer to charge me to talk to my late mum, I would not be pleasant with my response.

Oh, well, then there's the ones who offer to help you talk to your dog - and the dog being alive is... optional.

 

[Ryujin]

There's a whole lot of "for entertainment only" language in the background...

And if they are acting on a firmly held belief, it's not fraud. Intent is important.

 

[Morrus]

Oh, well, then there's the ones who offer to help you talk to your dog - and the dog being alive is... optional.

I can talk to my dog right now.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

I have had one very bizarre experience that I cannot explain. At the time I was terrified but generally have looked for natural explanations including things related to air temperature, wind and the like. Natural events could explain what I saw but the events in isolation seemed improbable. Understanding statistics I know this was only one event among many I did not observe.

All of that said, I can only say I don’t have a reason to believe in ghosts…no convincing evidence.

I don’t understand exactly what consciousness is—-and am not alone. With quantum mechanics and other such things, I cannot say that I have a lock on reality, only reality as I have experienced it.

Similarly, time is not something I feel a firm grasp theoretically on other than my individual experience.

I do not know if consciousness has a special significance for the universe.

I think skepticism is the path to understanding but humility is important too. If you said one day our understanding of consciousness and mind and time and the interface of those things with the observed universe would contradict some currently held beliefs I would say “show me” instead of “impossible.”

Right now I don’t have any reason to believe in ghosts but almost any of my conclusions are subject to change.

Do I believe in ghosts? I haven’t seen them.

 

[CleverNickName]

Do I believe in ghosts? I haven’t seen them.

Q: "Hey CleverNick, do you believe in ghosts?"
A: "Should I?"

That's my stock answer for ghosts, aliens, North Dakotans, angels, sasquatch, and other cryptids.

 

[Umbran]

That's my stock answer for ghosts, aliens, North Dakotans, angels, sasquatch, and other cryptids.

North Dakotans are fine. It is the Wyomingians that may not actually exist.

 

[MoonSong]

Yes. Unless they are clear that their performance is for entertainment only. It’s also gross… profiting off peoples’ grief by pretending to talk to their loved ones. If anybody was stupid enough to offer to charge me to talk to my late mum, I would not be pleasant with my response.

I suppose some might actually believe they have superpowers.

Word on my area is that the genuine won't charge for their services. Nothing yells "I'm a fraud" louder than an invoice.

 

[CleverNickName]

North Dakotans are fine. It is the Wyomingians that may not actually exist.

I've been to both places, and I didn't see a single person there. Sure there were roads and houses and stuff, but no actual people.

It was spooky.

 

[Deset Gled]

Word on my area is that the genuine won't charge for their services. Nothing yells "I'm a fraud" louder than an invoice.

That should be a huge red flag for "fraud with extra steps".