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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask why people believe in ghosts and other supernatural nonsense?

291 replies

BowieFan · 23/10/2016 14:25

I just don't get it, I really don't.

There has been no scientific evidence of any genuine psychics or people who can contact the dead (and trust me, people have poured millions into trying to find genuine ones) and yet people still believe this rubbish. How do mediums still make money when it's obvious all they're doing is cold reading?

There's never been a single clear sighting of a ghost or any photographic proof of one.

I really feel sorry for the people who believe this nonsense - they must be lacking something that they feel they have to rely on something that doesn't exist to get answers in their life.

OP posts:
Hamiltoes · 23/10/2016 15:01

And in response to OP, everything red said.

Really can't be arsed with people who force their beliefs on other people, or look down on other people who believe differently to them. If its not harming you or anyone else, or being enforced on you why do you care?

RoonilWaslibb · 23/10/2016 15:03

How is this any different to people who believe in God/s?

I'm not disagreeing with you, OP, just think its an interesting comparison.

deblet · 23/10/2016 15:04

To be honest if we use our logical brains we realise their are no gods, ghosts, spirits, santa claus, easter bunny or zombies. But the human race likes a bit of mystery, excitement and to have a common cause so we invent those things. At least ghosties and ghoulies are harmless people kill for some of the other things

Original poster
BowieFan · 23/10/2016 15:04

redannie118

No, love doesn't scientifically exist but there is plenty of science behind what makes us attracted to people, why we like them and the release of endorphins that creates pleasure. All these combined create the concept of "love".

There is not a single scrap of any evidence of supernatural activity.

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 23/10/2016 15:05

Thing is most of us feel sorry fir the victims of fraudulent "psychics"

Same way I'd feel sorry for anyone duped out if money whether it is a medium or a cowboy builder or a lousy nanny etc

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 23/10/2016 15:06

I don't believe in psychics. I hate horror and scary stories. That doesn't mean I didn't experience what I did.

Original poster
BowieFan · 23/10/2016 15:06

RoonilWaslibb

Exactly, which is why I'm an atheist. I feel religion is just as bad but sadly it's acceptable because it's been around so long. At least most religions have a nice community aspect to them. Most "mediums" and "psychics" are frauds and they know it. If there were someone who actually genuinely believed they were psychic and did the readings for free, I'd have less of a problem. If they want to use their "gift" for good, why do they have to profit from it? Surely that would be enough for any person to think there was something fishy going on, but yet people hand over their money willingly.

OP posts:
Original poster
BowieFan · 23/10/2016 15:09

ThroughThickAndThin01

And I don't want to put you down, but I just can't see what you experienced as being actually supernatural. There will have been other factors at play. I have experienced things that felt supernatural at the time, and yet when you look at the facts in the cold light of day with a bit of rational thinking, it's obvious what really happened.

OP posts:
londonrach · 23/10/2016 15:10

I didnt until i saw something my science brain couldnt explain. When youve discounted the possible you left with...... there are things we dont know but as ive said what i saw i knew meant me no harm.

Gileswithachainsaw · 23/10/2016 15:11

Sometimes the combination of natural events that have to have occurred at the precise moment in the precise order to explain the situation sounds more far fetched than the paranormal explanation.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 23/10/2016 15:11

My experience was in the cold light of day. It was unmistakable.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 23/10/2016 15:23

I think it is human nature to seek out mystery and to fill in gaps in knowledge with supernatural explanations, and I agree that it is a comfort to think that when you die, you don't cease to exist. I do think it is all a load of bollocks though Grin

And anyone claiming that the conservation of energy is valid proof that ghosts/an afterlife exists clearly wasn't paying attention in school...

Ifailed · 23/10/2016 15:31

but why do people believe in science and the scientific method? Ultimately it's because they trust the authority of their teachers in school, university professors, mainstream media, the government, the establishment etc.

Sorry, but that is so wrong! The scientific method is all about repeatability, predictability and demonstration that some thing may be right, the whole point is you can run an experiment yourself to check; and if you find something new you'd be welcomed with open arms by the scientific community.

Woo stuff is all about being told what is the truth; and having to blindly accept it without any proof.

HeroOfFerelden · 23/10/2016 15:33

Not sure what the conservation of energy has to do with ghosts. The human body releases it's energy as heat upon death.

EnoughAlready43 · 23/10/2016 15:34

I've seen a ghost, so I believe.
It came out of the wall and screamed in my face. There is no way it could have been anything but a ghost.

Gileswithachainsaw · 23/10/2016 15:35

Omg enough Shock

That sounds terrifying.

I have also seen a ghost fortunately there was no screaming. From me or them

Boundaries · 23/10/2016 15:36

I have no idea OP.

It's utter bunkum.

BertrandRussell · 23/10/2016 15:38

"There is no way it could have been anything but a ghost."

It was a dream, or a hallucination. Or just possibly some kind of trick. The one thing it wasn't was a ghost.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 23/10/2016 15:39

I remain open minded and try not to dismiss what others say they have seen or experienced.

I really feel sorry for the people who believe this nonsense - they must be lacking something that they feel they have to rely on something that doesn't exist to get answers in their life, I think your statement is really fucking patronising.

bikerlou · 23/10/2016 15:40

To try and inject some meaning into our sad, empty lives? Because being born, suffering and dying isn't enough. Wanting something to look forward to, seeing our loved ones again. There is no limit to the human imagination and for some of us the thought that this is it is not enough.

Zaphodsotherhead · 23/10/2016 15:42

I don't care what people believe in, as long as it brings them comfort and doesn't harm anyone else. If they want to believe that the squirrels are watching them, that's fine, as long as they don't try to convert others to squirrel-hating ways, but find reassurance in the fact that the squirrels care enough to peer through their windows.

YuckYuckEwwww · 23/10/2016 15:43

other explanations: delirium probably most likely

its all about pure human arrogance, if it was just about "conservation of energy" then where's all the aparitions of dead pigeons and spiders and cats and fish and oh dead plants - anyone seen any ghostly apparitions of plants? no didn't think so. Plants have "energy" too

sometimes ghost dogs are "allowed" purely based on there association with humans.. cause we're so special, our "energy" resonates.. somehow more than all the other living things that have ever existed on earth????

we're just so special us humans huh

IMO the human race struggle to accept that we're just animals

YuckYuckEwwww · 23/10/2016 15:44

I don't care what people believe in, as long as it brings them comfort and doesn't harm anyone else.

I think psychics and religion do a lot of damage actually

Gileswithachainsaw · 23/10/2016 15:48

Actually I used to be convinced as a child I would see bugs crawling on my door frame.

And I'd "see" mice or rats scurry across the floor only to disappear when I turned the lights on...

Was to young to really think it was strange or understand what was happening and why id "see" these things...

Probably my imagination I guess I had no concept of ghosts at the time. Why I'd imagine bugs I don't know i mean I liked bugs they weren't some childhood fear Grin And mice?

I think I was a strange child

myownprivateidaho · 23/10/2016 15:50

Sorry, but that is so wrong! The scientific method is all about repeatability, predictability and demonstration that some thing may be right, the whole point is you can run an experiment yourself to check; and if you find something new you'd be welcomed with open arms by the scientific community.

Yes, obviously I am familiar with what the scientific method is (having brought it up myself). I'm not saying the scientific method is correct because experts say it is. I'm saying most people believe the scientific method is correct because experts say it is.

I am well-educated (Oxbridge, PhD) but have no experience of science beyond GCSE. I believe in quantum physics, evolution, climate change purely because of authority. I don't think that universities and scientific journals are part of a grand conspiracy, I think that they are well-run by intelligent people using experimental methods that can be used to prove hypotheses to a reasonable level. I think that if I trained in science I could run such experiments myself. However, why do I think that way? Because I'm familiar with academic life and have done well personally within a society which also validates those things. Nothing to do with anything having been "proved" to me personally.

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