Do you believe in Ghosts?

[amicus]

Heard a blurb on MSNBC news today, followed it up, found the article and pasted the link.

Wondered if I could/should create a 'poll', to see how Litsters would answer.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21477704/

“…Put Conrad, a homemaker from Hampton, Va., firmly in the camp of the 34 percent of people who say they believe in ghosts, according to a pre-Halloween poll by The Associated Press and Ipsos. That's the same proportion who believe in unidentified flying objects — exceeding the 19 percent who accept the existence of spells or witchcraft.

Forty-eight percent believe in extrasensory perception, or ESP. But nearly half of you knew we were about to tell you that, right?…”

As a proper stipulation, I must state that personally have no beliefs at all; none.

But to keep the question and the poll from being a trivial pursuit, I thought perhaps that 'belief', in supernatural events might well color the writing of those inhabitants of the AH, and if so, to what degree?

Amicus...

 

[Belegon]

My position can best be summed up as being unwilling to rule out their existence...

 

[impressive]

In the sense that I believe our psychic energy can remain active after the body dies? Sure.

 

[amicus]

The original post should have included that you may vote for as many or few as you wish and that the votes are anonymous, your SN will not be public.

Amicus...

 

[Liar]

I don't believe in anything that defies the laws of nature.

If by UFO's you mean alien life in spaceships coming to earth, that doesn't defy the laws of nature, so I believe in the possibility of it. Are they here? Not likely.

There's also the possibility that the laws of nature, as we know them, are wrong. In which case a bunch of things that seems weird, like ESP, telekinetics, ghosts, vampires (really, what are they other than a humanoid spieces with a funky metabolism?) might be possible.

The only thing I don't buy at all is mysticism. Witches (the magic kind), demons and angels, Tarots, Horoscopes, excorsism, prayer, Santa Claus, curses and whatnot. Because they are not derived from an alternative notion of science, but from tales and rituals.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I am quite willing to rule out the existance of ghosts, goblins, invisible flying spaghetti monsters, teacups floating in a solar orbit halfway between Jupiter and Neptune, talking mice, and any other phenomena for which there not only is no evidence whatsoever, but whose existance would contradict a lifetime of evidence regarding the nature of existance as it actually exists.

 

[cloudy]

In the sense that I believe our psychic energy can remain active after the body dies? Sure.

Ditto this.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I have heard ghosts in my house, walking through things. My brother and mother have seen ghosts in the house.

I don't know why space aliens wouldn't exist, but I doubt they have ever been here yet.

 

[Liar]

I am quite willing to rule out the existance of ghosts, goblins, invisible flying spaghetti monsters, teacups floating in a solar orbit halfway between Jupiter and Neptune, talking mice, and any other phenomena for which there not only is no evidence whatsoever, but whose existance would contradict a lifetime of evidence regarding the nature of existance as it actually exists.

How would those things you listed do that?

Ghosts - ok, you're on target there. Ghosts would counter basic physics.

Goblins - a small, disfigured humanoid spieces with a nasty disposition. Ulikely, but not impossible.

Invisible flying spaghetti monsters - Not physically impossible. Except the invisible part, maybe.

Teacups floating in a solar orbit halfway between Jupiter and Neptune - gimmie the right budget and a cpouple of years and I'll give ya teacups. Right where you want them.

Talking mice - might need bigger brains and a more versatile tongue. But who knows?

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

How would those things you listed do that?

Ghosts - ok, you're on target there. Ghosts would counter basic physics.

Goblins - a small, disfigured humanoid spieces with a nasty disposition. Ulikely, but not impossible.

Invisible flying spaghetti monsters - Not physically impossible. Except the invisible part, maybe.

Teacups floating in a solar orbit halfway between Jupiter and Neptune - gimmie the right budget and a cpouple of years and I'll give ya teacups. Right where you want them.

Talking mice - might need bigger brains and a more versatile tongue. But who knows?

Well, OK on the last two, because you're talking science and technology. (Um - talking mice is pushing the envelope a bit, but give us a few thousand years and who knows. )

 

[amicus]

View Poll Results: Do you believe in:


Ghosts 4 100.00%
ESP 3 75.00%
UFO's 3 75.00%
Demons 2 50.00%
Devils 2 50.00%
Witches 3 75.00%
Vampires 2 50.00%
Any Supernatural critter 1 25.00%

Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 4.


Only four voted, so it doesn't mean anything but still curious....


Amicus...

 

[slyc_willie]

Ghosts: I don't see any reason why not to believe that ghosts are real. They're just a form of energy, like everything else that exists, based upon a previous template of a living being. So, ghosts, definitely. I think they do exist.

ESP: This one's tricky. Following the (admittedly shifty) logic that all human brains operate on some sort of shared electro-magnetic frequency, I could concede that real ESP exists. However, I believe that most instances in which 'ESP' is displayed are more likely to be cases of extreme, and very sharp, insight, based on experience and conjecture. Still, having observed practicioners of remote viewing, I remain open to the idea.

UFO's: This one's tricky. Like others, I do accept that alien beings from some other planet could arrive here to investigate. Common logic seems to dictate that they are not . . . but then, who are we to guess at the motives of non-humans?

Demons
Devils
Witches
Vampires: With all four of these, I hold to a shared thesis, that such beings are based on ideas, fears, wonderings, and ancient folk-tales based in ridiculously exaggerated fact. Werewolves, fairies, elves and dwarves also belong here. The modern idea of these creatures do not, and never did, exist. Yet they have their basis in simple fears and prejudice, in the dark forms we have collectively given them to account for the 'bumps in the night' that we cannot explain.

 

[elsol]

I don't actually believe most of you exist. I mean really, you could all be figments of my insane mind.

I'm cool on aliens, just not the UFO thing. I think we can ask the Indians, Aztecs, and Incas what the most likely thing more technologically advanced civilizations do... since we haven't been invaded, made to give up our wealth, and had species-cide attempted on us, I'm going to have to go with 'no visitors... yet'.

 

[slyc_willie]

I don't actually believe most of you exist. I mean really, you could all be figments of my insane mind.

I'm cool on aliens, just not the UFO thing. I think we can ask the Indians, Aztecs, and Incas what the most likely thing more technologically advanced civilizations do... since we haven't been invaded, made to give up our wealth, and had species-cide attempted on us, I'm going to have to go with 'no visitors... yet'.

Hmm . . . not been invaded, haven't given up wealth, no 'species-cide' . . . .

What planet do you live on?

Oh, sorry . . . that sounds like the beginning of a political thread.

 

[starrkers]

Ghosts: yep, definitely
ESP: I believe it's possible, hell even probable, that it exists, especially in times of great need. The staged antics of "professional" psychics leaves me cold.
UFOs: Of course they exist - Unidentified Flying Objects are real. Doesn't mean their extraterrestrial, just unidentified by those watching them.
Demons: there's some creepy evil shit out there and I'll classify it as "demonic" until I find a better descriptor.
Devils, Witches, Vampires, etc are products of superstition used to classify some of the creepy shit I call "demon". So, no, I don't believe in them.

 

[scheherazade_79]

I want to believe

It used to be that the contents of my bookcase came as a shock to most people - books on music, literature, linguistics... and the supernatural.

I've thinned out my supernatural reference shelf these days, but the interest is still there. If I hear a story about a ghost sighting or similar, I'll go out to the location on my own to check it out for myself, often in the dark if I can.

There's only one occasion when I saw something slightly odd. Put it down to tiredness at the time, but I saw a person through a computer lab window. Even now I can give a damn good description of him. It was real enough at the time for me to plan on sitting next to the panic button, as it was 3-5am and there was no one else around. But when I opened the door two seconds later, the room was empty

I'm with Willie on the stuff about folk stories and exaggeration.

With ghosts... Ever noticed how they're always based around some awful event? Or are really, really sad? If you punch a piece of paper, you can make a hole in it. What if strong emotions had a similar effect on time and the environment around us? So that when they happen they turn into a kind of movie on loop play that can only be witnessed if you're tuned in to that kind of thing? You've heard of ghosts walking through walls, and then people discovering that there used to be a door in that place. It's possible...

UFOs... it would be pretty arrogant of us to assume that in the great vastness of space, we're the only intelligent beings. My piano teacher and her husband worked in the RAF at the end of the Second World War. She worked in radars, and he was a pilot. He saw plenty of UFOs, and I had a vivid description from her about the way they used to dart all over the radar screen. These people weren't nuts. They were quintessentially English, middle class and educated - which is why my jaw dropped when one day they started talking about extraterrestrial stuff.

Have we made contact? I don't know. Maybe one day, when governments choose to stop lying to their people, we'll find out lots of things that'll amaze us, including the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence. If our relationships with each other on this planet are anything to go by, though, don't expect the honeymoon period between us and Them to last that long.

ESP - definitely. There are a lot of crocks out there, but there are several with genuine psychic abilities, who aren't just called on by the police from time to time, but are given full employment and a regular wage to exercise their skills. Next year I'm going to go to a spiritualist church to find out more.

Witches - yes.

Demons and devils - no.

Demons, devils,

 

[Lisa Denton]

Wondered if I could/should create a 'poll', to see how Litsters would answer.

Do you believe in:
Ghosts
ESP
UFO's
Demons
Devils
Witches
Vampires
Any Supernatural critter

As a proper stipulation, I must state that personally have no beliefs at all; none.

Amicus...

I don't believe that Bubba got abducted by a flyin saucer and got subjected to anal probes from a triple breasted martian. Unidentified Flying Objects have been seen and documented, whatthefuck they are I have no idea.

ESP, again, documented.

Demons and devils, many people qualify, and evil exists, call it what you want.

Vampires, naw, but some nut might think he's a vampire and try to bite you.

Witches, I've met a few, they were "good" or "white" witches, very nice and not as out there as you might think.

Ghosts, again, I don't know what they are, but as for the "casper the friendly ghost" type, I believe there is something, but on that, its more of a personal observation of my own experiences in life, and I don't push it.

 

[keeblercrumb]

Heard a blurb on MSNBC news today, followed it up, found the article and pasted the link.

Wondered if I could/should create a 'poll', to see how Litsters would answer.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21477704/


But to keep the question and the poll from being a trivial pursuit, I thought perhaps that 'belief', in supernatural events might well color the writing of those inhabitants of the AH, and if so, to what degree?

Amicus...

Not that I necessarily would..... but how does one vote for "none of the above"?

Actually I would..... but there is no apparent way to do so.... This could skew your results somewhat.

-KC

 

[amicus]

View Poll Results: Do you believe in:
Ghosts 8 80.00%
ESP 6 60.00%
UFO's 6 60.00%

~~~

With just ten people voting, it is still perhaps not reflective of a general trend on the forum, but again, curious...

Eighty percent believe in ghosts...sixty percent in Extra-sensory perception and Unidentified Flying Objects...and I find that very curious as there is no rational evidence for the existence of any of the three.

And, aside from some assertions, there is no documentation for any of the three mentioned, none.

Still just curious...


amicus....

 

[impressive]

... I hold to a shared thesis, that such beings are based on ideas, fears, wonderings, and ancient folk-tales based in ridiculously exaggerated fact. .... Yet they have their basis in simple fears and prejudice, in the ... forms we have collectively given them to account for ... that we cannot explain.

Sounds a helluva lot like religion to me.

 

[keeblercrumb]

~~~
With just ten people voting, it is still perhaps not reflective of a general trend on the forum, but again, curious...

Eighty percent believe in ghosts...sixty percent in Extra-sensory perception and Unidentified Flying Objects...and I find that very curious as there is no rational evidence for the existence of any of the three.

And, aside from some assertions, there is no documentation for any of the three mentioned, none.

Still just curious...
amicus....

Am I missing something? If one does not believe in any of the items listed, you cannot vote?

So we have established that 8 of the people who believe in some unusual or perhaps something which is not scientifically accepted generally........ well 8 of 10 of those people believe in ghosts.....

If the point is you simply want to pick an argument with someone who believes in ghosts or UFO's ... have at it.....

Just curious.

-KC

 

[amicus]

CookieCrum are you stalking me, thread to thread, ya want me bod or wat?

As I mentioned, I saw the blurb on a newscast, found the source, linked it here and wondered that so many people 'seem' to believe in 'Ghosts' and yes, I think it is silly, myself, personally.

But then, a huge majority of people in the US, profess a belief in God, which I also find to be the ultimate silliness for a rational person.

Thus, I thought, with the intellects here on the AH, I might find an anomaly, fewer who had irrational beliefs...

such is not the case, from the tidbit of what has been exposed...but then...who knows why a person or those who voted, did as they did, it could be totally bogus and most likely is...but then again...maybe not?

Ahem...

amicus...

 

[keeblercrumb]

CookieCrum are you stalking me, thread to thread, ya want me bod or wat?

As I mentioned, I saw the blurb on a newscast, found the source, linked it here and wondered that so many people 'seem' to believe in 'Ghosts' and yes, I think it is silly, myself, personally.

But then, a huge majority of people in the US, profess a belief in God, which I also find to be the ultimate silliness for a rational person.

Thus, I thought, with the intellects here on the AH, I might find an anomaly, fewer who had irrational beliefs...

such is not the case, from the tidbit of what has been exposed...but then...who knows why a person or those who voted, did as they did, it could be totally bogus and most likely is...but then again...maybe not?

Ahem...

amicus...

Uhhhh no. Not stalking you, don't flatter yourself. Primarily, I suppose it is just that we are awake at the same time of day perhaps or when I see something that I want to comment on.... welllll You are so "commentable..."

I really was not attacking you... or anything...here. I was just wanted to vote "none of the above" as you would, I presume.... which led me to question your reasons for polling....

Carry On....


-KC

 

[X_fallenangel_X]

beliefs

I believe in ghosts, because I have seen them all my life. I believe in vampires because...i can't explain it, but I have known and been close to them since before I even knew what they truly were(true, I dressed up as a vampire when I was maybe 5 i think, still really young).

I believe in demons, devils, and angels, because of various reasons, altho i am not at all a religious person. If anybody wants to know these reasons, and wants to debate, pm me. I always enjoy a good debate and convo.

 

[oggbashan]

I don't believe in any of them.

I can understand that witches believe in themselves. Most of what they believe has only been codified/invented since I was born so I remain unconvinced that they have genuine powers except for self-delusion and convincing the credulous - sometimes for good, sometimes for evil.

I might believe in ghosts in a dark churchyard after I've drunk 18 pints of Newcastle Brown but then I'd be likely to go chasing them to put salt on their tails.

After 18 pints of Newcastle Brown I'd have no chance of catching them.

Og

PS. Apparently some people used to believe I had the "evil eye". If I have, it doesn't work on politicians...