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Pretty sure that I have a ghost!

97 replies

awakeandasleep · 06/08/2025 01:24

Awake and changed my username for this one and sounds crazy.

Ok so couple of odd things happening lately in my house. At home alone until the weekend and it will be a long few nights.

OP posts:
Monty27 · 06/08/2025 02:40

You're just hearing normal noises because the house is so quiet.
I always unplug alexa at the back. It's those algorithms . They're not as smart as they think they are.
Do you like crosswords?

There's nothing to be afraid of. You're mind's just running riot.

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/08/2025 03:00

I have always been very non woo. But, fairly sure we have more than one presence in this house.

We talk to them. If you feel there is a presence, say hello. Welcome them. Make them part of your family.

It helps. And you may well find that the scary stuff stops, because they are being acknowledged.

I should add that I am the least woo person ever, but since I have lived here I have come to believe in energy or a presence left behind. Lived in many places but only had it here.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:01

I don't believe OP or anyone else is claiming in this thread that ghosts are a fact

The OP's title is "Pretty sure that I have a ghost!"

In order to "have" a ghost, ghosts would have to exist in the first place, therefore the statement argues the existence of ghosts, and is therefore positing ghosts as fact.

However, if someone is making an assertion to the contrary, that should also have some evidence

Err no.

Once again, the claim being made is that ghosts exist. There is no need for anyone to provide any sort of proof to the contrary, because the onus lies with those making the factual claim, not those questioning the lack of any evidence whatsoever to support the claim.

It's all subjective beliefs at this stage

It's really not. "Subjective" refers to matters of opinion or taste, matters which don't depend on fact, and therefore can never be either true or false.

Objectively, there is nothing at all which suggests the existence of ghosts, so it's entirely an objective, not subjective view, to conclude that they do not exist.

There was a time when those claiming the existence of micro-organisms like bacteria causing diseases were laughed at, without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

Indeed they were laughed at, from a position of ignorance as that turns out. However, in short order those making the claim that microorganisms existed were able to prove their hypothesis correct and entirely validate their theories. Human cultures have been proclaiming the existence of ghosts for thousands of years, and yet, despite being advanced to the point whereby we can detect things invisible to the naked eye, detect things outside of our own Galaxy even, we are still apparently incapable of quantifying something which has been speculated about since humans first came up with the concept eons ago, something which supposedly appears right in front of human beings, so is supposedly detectable with the human eyeball.

without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

That will be, again, because the onus to provide evidence does not lie with sceptics.

and their rational was similar to yours

It wasn't really, because at the time when microorganisms were unknown, there were still people proposing perfectly viable hypothesis purporting their existence. The technology required to prove their existence did not exist, hence the scepticism, but that technology soon followed, spurred on by the seeming plausibility of the hypothesis.

I'm still waiting on any sort of remotely credible hypothesis for the existence of ghosts.

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/08/2025 03:03

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:01

I don't believe OP or anyone else is claiming in this thread that ghosts are a fact

The OP's title is "Pretty sure that I have a ghost!"

In order to "have" a ghost, ghosts would have to exist in the first place, therefore the statement argues the existence of ghosts, and is therefore positing ghosts as fact.

However, if someone is making an assertion to the contrary, that should also have some evidence

Err no.

Once again, the claim being made is that ghosts exist. There is no need for anyone to provide any sort of proof to the contrary, because the onus lies with those making the factual claim, not those questioning the lack of any evidence whatsoever to support the claim.

It's all subjective beliefs at this stage

It's really not. "Subjective" refers to matters of opinion or taste, matters which don't depend on fact, and therefore can never be either true or false.

Objectively, there is nothing at all which suggests the existence of ghosts, so it's entirely an objective, not subjective view, to conclude that they do not exist.

There was a time when those claiming the existence of micro-organisms like bacteria causing diseases were laughed at, without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

Indeed they were laughed at, from a position of ignorance as that turns out. However, in short order those making the claim that microorganisms existed were able to prove their hypothesis correct and entirely validate their theories. Human cultures have been proclaiming the existence of ghosts for thousands of years, and yet, despite being advanced to the point whereby we can detect things invisible to the naked eye, detect things outside of our own Galaxy even, we are still apparently incapable of quantifying something which has been speculated about since humans first came up with the concept eons ago, something which supposedly appears right in front of human beings, so is supposedly detectable with the human eyeball.

without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

That will be, again, because the onus to provide evidence does not lie with sceptics.

and their rational was similar to yours

It wasn't really, because at the time when microorganisms were unknown, there were still people proposing perfectly viable hypothesis purporting their existence. The technology required to prove their existence did not exist, hence the scepticism, but that technology soon followed, spurred on by the seeming plausibility of the hypothesis.

I'm still waiting on any sort of remotely credible hypothesis for the existence of ghosts.

The OP is freaked out and wants some reassurance, not a Ted Talk ffs.

AInightingale · 06/08/2025 03:03

And you don't have a cat that could knock things over?

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:04

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/08/2025 03:03

The OP is freaked out and wants some reassurance, not a Ted Talk ffs.

That's as maybe, and my post was not a response to the OP.

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/08/2025 03:10

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:04

That's as maybe, and my post was not a response to the OP.

Doesnt alter the fact that you have managed to totally derail her thread and answered a question that no one asked.

EasternEcho · 06/08/2025 03:12

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:01

I don't believe OP or anyone else is claiming in this thread that ghosts are a fact

The OP's title is "Pretty sure that I have a ghost!"

In order to "have" a ghost, ghosts would have to exist in the first place, therefore the statement argues the existence of ghosts, and is therefore positing ghosts as fact.

However, if someone is making an assertion to the contrary, that should also have some evidence

Err no.

Once again, the claim being made is that ghosts exist. There is no need for anyone to provide any sort of proof to the contrary, because the onus lies with those making the factual claim, not those questioning the lack of any evidence whatsoever to support the claim.

It's all subjective beliefs at this stage

It's really not. "Subjective" refers to matters of opinion or taste, matters which don't depend on fact, and therefore can never be either true or false.

Objectively, there is nothing at all which suggests the existence of ghosts, so it's entirely an objective, not subjective view, to conclude that they do not exist.

There was a time when those claiming the existence of micro-organisms like bacteria causing diseases were laughed at, without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

Indeed they were laughed at, from a position of ignorance as that turns out. However, in short order those making the claim that microorganisms existed were able to prove their hypothesis correct and entirely validate their theories. Human cultures have been proclaiming the existence of ghosts for thousands of years, and yet, despite being advanced to the point whereby we can detect things invisible to the naked eye, detect things outside of our own Galaxy even, we are still apparently incapable of quantifying something which has been speculated about since humans first came up with the concept eons ago, something which supposedly appears right in front of human beings, so is supposedly detectable with the human eyeball.

without presenting any evidence to back their dismissal

That will be, again, because the onus to provide evidence does not lie with sceptics.

and their rational was similar to yours

It wasn't really, because at the time when microorganisms were unknown, there were still people proposing perfectly viable hypothesis purporting their existence. The technology required to prove their existence did not exist, hence the scepticism, but that technology soon followed, spurred on by the seeming plausibility of the hypothesis.

I'm still waiting on any sort of remotely credible hypothesis for the existence of ghosts.

"Pretty sure" is hardly a scientific assertion of fact. Your argument just starts on a ridiculous note and goes on from there. What is "credible" to you or anyone else is also subjective. And err...yes. You are not required to prove the absence of something. But simply because there is no absolute requirement to do so, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. As was the case with micro-organisms. I can claim as you do, that I haven't seen any credible evidence that ghosts don't exist. We'll agree to disagree and move on. For the record, I don't believe in ghosts. But I am aware enough to understand that there is a lot we don't know and hasn't been proven either way yet. And claiming something as a "scientific fact" is a very high bar that science hasn't cleared when it comes to ghosts and supernatural beings, spirits or whatever we may call them.

MoneyTaIks · 06/08/2025 03:14

I'm pretty sure you don't! 😂

MoneyTaIks · 06/08/2025 03:17

I think vampires are more credible. It wouldn't take an enormous genetic diversion to be able to consume raw blood like many animals can.

Aznavour · 06/08/2025 03:17

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:04

That's as maybe, and my post was not a response to the OP.

Actually, I think your post could be very reassuring to the OP. It's a rational explanation just like people describing their experiences with apps playing music on the wrong speaker which the OP seemed reassured by.

@awakeandasleepI hope you're feeling less freaked out and maybe you've even managed to fall asleep.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 06/08/2025 03:19

PyongyangKipperbang · 06/08/2025 03:10

Doesnt alter the fact that you have managed to totally derail her thread and answered a question that no one asked.

"Derail"?

OP asked for reassurance. My first response was "ghosts don't exist, go bakc to sleep"

a question that no one asked

That's right, I completely invented the post I responded to, and @EasternEcho only exists on my special version of Mumsnet, not yours.🙄

FrogFrogFrog · 06/08/2025 03:31

No, your first response was a snide comment picking at her grammar.

ThorsRaven · 06/08/2025 03:44

EasternEcho · 06/08/2025 02:26

You sound ignorant. It doesn't work that way. In science if you make an assertion that something doesn't exist, that requires proof too. By your theory, there was never any need to prove that the sun didn't revolve around the earth. It makes no sense.

If something doesn't exist, it is impossible to 'prove' it that it is not present.

For example...

Imagine that you have a room that is completely empty apart from 1g of gold. You can prove that there is gold in that room because we know what gold is: we know what it looks like, and we know it's properties are, from it's atomic number to it's mass, it's density and it's magnetic properties, etc etc etc. We have a range of tests (besides observation) we can use to prove whether there is gold in that room, and how much and how pure it is.

We could also prove that there is no gold in that room, because we know what gold is and can test for it's presence.

Now imagine the same empty room - but this time you are asked to prove that there is no 'fizzwizzer' in it.'

'Fizzwizzer' doesn't exist. This means it has no properties or characteristics - no specific gravity, no hardness, no mass, no resistivity, no structure, no chemical constituents, no boiling point, no melting point, etc etc etc. 'Fizzwizzer' cannot be observed, tasted, smelt or touched because it doesn't exist. There are no tests for 'fizzwizzer' because it doesn't exist and to conduct a test you need something to test for.

And so because 'fizzwizzer' has no properties, cannot be seen and cannot be tested for, it is impossible to 'prove' that there is no 'fizzwizzer' in that empty room. You cannot test for something that doesn't exist because there is nothing to measure.

Logically, this means that when it comes to ghosts or god, the onus is on those who claim that ghosts/god exists to prove their existence. Because if ghosts/god don't exist, it is impossible to prove that scientifically - because there is nothing to test for. You cannot prove that something that doesn't exist isn't there because there is nothing to measure.

PringlesTube · 06/08/2025 03:44

The Alexa thing isn’t spooky, mine does it occasionally too (stupid thing). The ornament moving on its own, that’s spooky.

workingitout1234 · 06/08/2025 04:31

awakeandasleep · 06/08/2025 02:19

Has anyone else had an alexa wake them up with music in the middle of the night?

yes and played very loud music. Terrified we went downstairs only to find it had been triggered by our gorgeous kittens at the time

Inyournewdress · 06/08/2025 04:31

It’s just because you’re not used to being home alone OP. It’s so easy to freak yourself out. It’s like when you have just watched something really scary and go up to bed, everything feels so spooky and ominous…but if you’d not watched it you’d be going up feeling fine. There is nothing to worry about honestly.

MoneyTaIks · 06/08/2025 04:38

I mean, if there was an afterlife would you really spend it rattling bedposts and sneakily playing songs on people Alexa's. Sounds a bit boring.

SpamBeansAndWaffles · 06/08/2025 05:15

OP, has gone back to sleep.

MoneyTaIks · 06/08/2025 05:19

....or been murdered by the malevolent entity.

MenopauseSucks · 06/08/2025 05:37

I don’t know about creepy Alexa’s but check out GravelMan on TikTok if you can as it’s hilarious…
His neighbours are right pains in the butt & he’s in a terrace house, modern or old I know not, but the walls are thin so he hears a lot of their noise.
At varying times, day or night, he manages to connect to their Bluetooth speakers & blast out songs in the middle of the night - he takes requests from his followers.
Now I know this could be him connecting to a Bluetooth speaker in his own house, his neighbour could be in on it & pre-warned or even why don’t they turn the bloody speaker off at night but I just take it as I see it & enjoy the ridiculousness of it all.
So the moral of this story is always turn all Bluetooth connected devices off at night…

Oh & I believe in different energies. I can smell my Mum’s perfume in her/my house yet she was last there in 2017. She moved into a care home & due to dementia & her decline she hadn’t worn it for years previously. It was her signature scent, one I remember from my childhood,
Others smell it & we’ve sniffed all the furniture in the area & there is no smell. It’s like walking through a cloud of it, not linked to any scented furniture, the scent just hangs in the air. It doesn’t transfer onto your clothes. I’d lived there for 5 years & never smelt it before.
It started in 2022 nightly after she died & is in a really specific place. It was a bit strange to begin with as it was every day/night, now it only happens when I’m upset.
I live mostly alone & although I still have some of this perfume, I can’t think why friends, if they stay which is rarely, would rummage around in my cupboards & spray the perfume everywhere as it’s not linked to a surface.
So we chat & I let her know my problems & it gives me comfort. I always say hello as I walk past even if there’s no smell.
Again, just because there’s no proof doesn’t mean something doesn’t exist.

violetcuriosity · 06/08/2025 07:12

Op my Alexa went through a phase of turning on in the middle of the night playing a random Justin beiber song 😂 when I checked my app it actually had the voice command logged too. Was always about 2am. Still have no idea what that was about but we used to get creeped out too!

awakeandasleep · 06/08/2025 10:17

workingitout1234 · 06/08/2025 04:31

yes and played very loud music. Terrified we went downstairs only to find it had been triggered by our gorgeous kittens at the time

I eventually fell asleep around 4:30am my phone ran out of charge. I have had about 4 hours sleep.

Thank you all so much for the company last night it really did help I was really quite disturbed by it haha. I am going to unplug all devices tonight. Hopefully I won't need your help again this evening.

I will update if any other things occur today! If an ornament moves again
I will have to put the house on the market before DH gets home. Grin

OP posts:
awakeandasleep · 06/08/2025 18:37

violetcuriosity · 06/08/2025 07:12

Op my Alexa went through a phase of turning on in the middle of the night playing a random Justin beiber song 😂 when I checked my app it actually had the voice command logged too. Was always about 2am. Still have no idea what that was about but we used to get creeped out too!

Yes I will unplug it tonight! I asked my DC and DH and nobody tried to link up to Amazon music last night! Confused

Guess I'm going to camp out in the living room again tonight.

OP posts:
iseethembloom · 06/08/2025 21:24

Overandoveradnauseum · 06/08/2025 01:41

@merrymelody

It's not an assumption. It's rational thought and common sense.

There are seven television (not podcast) episodes of ‘Uncanny’ on BBC iPlayer . Watching them might make you think again about dismissing ghosts so easily.

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