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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

People who believe in ghosts

173 replies

Sheandhercat · 29/07/2026 09:27

MIL came back from a trip to Edinburgh and told us of a “really spooky” thing that happened that MUST have been a ghost because there’s no other explanation. She was walking in a field, no other people around, and she got a whiff of strong rose perfume. That’s it. She said that plus another occasion where her cat was looking at something on the wall when there wasn’t anything there have her convinced that ghosts are real.

I try not to engage in these conversations with my opinion really because people can believe in whatever they want to and it’s pointless getting into a debate about it, because if someone’s already made up their mind it’s hard to convince them otherwise. But she asked me if I’d ever had anything happen and I said no I don’t believe in ghosts. This lead to a conversation where she just kept saying “well go on then, give me one possible explanation for the perfume if it’s not a ghost!” And I was giving explanations that she just wouldn’t accept. How does someone think it’s impossible that someone was around wearing perfume and the wind was just wafting the smell over, but it’s perfectly plausible and OBVIOUS that perfume has transcended into the afterlife and a ghost is the only possible option?!

even if there was no possible explanation I could think of, I still wouldn’t jump to “it must be a ghost” I’d just accept that I don’t know the answer. I don’t understand why it HAS to be a ghost when it just makes no sense. I’m just curious, how many people actually believe in ghosts and why?

OP posts:
Sheandhercat · Yesterday 18:30

HenLen · Yesterday 02:21

"I try not to engage in these conversations with my opinion really because people can believe in whatever they want to and it’s pointless getting into a debate about it, because if someone’s already made up their mind it’s hard to convince them otherwise"

And yet, here you are starting a conversation with the hope of insinuating that you're superior to those who do believe in the supernatural, starting a debate, and with your mind entirely made up and no hope at all of shifting your beliefs, which are set in stone.

Oh well, maybe you were bored :)

I said I TRY not to, not that I’m always successful 🤣

OP posts:
Sueandthegoldfish · Yesterday 19:48

I had one very disturbing experience maybe 40 years ago - the hairs on my arms are standing up as I write.
I don’t believe in your traditional white and wafty ghosts but do believe that there’s a huge amount that we don’t understand and can’t explain. Maybe we will one day and I’d love to be around for that.
however if wafty white ghosts do exist I’d be up for meeting one 😁

HarrietHedgehog · Yesterday 19:52

Tell your MiL to Google olfactory hallucinations. That should give her something to think about.

keepswimming38 · Yesterday 19:52

Quantum entanglement is the most woo theory you will ever read and yet it’s supported by science. I think some people are too inflexible in their thoughts.

Middleagedspreadisreal · Yesterday 20:17

Sheandhercat · Yesterday 18:26

But this is actually my point really. No one can possibly know for certain. Thats why I don’t understand how people are CONVINCED that what they experienced was a ghost. I also have experienced things that I can’t explain. I believe that there probably is more out there that we don’t know. But I would rather admit that I don’t know. I’d rather say “yes that’s creepy and weird and I can’t explain it, I don’t know what the answer is” rather than “my brain can’t come up with an answer right now, therefore this is proof that ghosts exist”

I'm convinced they exist because I absolutely, definitely saw one. Didn't imagine it, wasn't dreaming. I saw it.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · Yesterday 20:25

HenLen · Yesterday 03:03

Indeed.

People who would love to believe that anything outwith their understanding can be understood and dismissed by our limited brains, bodies and senses come across as genuinely quite thoughtless. And often, frankly, a bit thick.

There are plenty of reasons why we don't question every single atom of the fabric of the universe, generally. We know we can't fly, as anyone who's attempted to walk out of a window instead of a door could testify, if they survived the attempt. It isn't practical to debate every nuance of our material existence, we just accept our own physical limitations for example, because to do otherwise is to risk harming ourselves and others.

But to attempt to shut down any debate about the unknowable nature of the supernatural and unseen is about self comfort, not being practical.

I don't bother engaging with them because their beliefs are set in stone and they can't be budged.

It's actually so simple to just say (and truly mean) "I don't know if ghosts exist" "I don't know if there's than that which we can experience with our limited vision and senses" and it's fine to add "And I have no real interest in the discussiont hanks". But OP instead wants to be patted on her back for refusing that logical, fair and uncontroversial stance.

Unless someone's charging you 50 quid to run a seance or otherwise interfering in your safety or day to day life the fair, reasonable and logical thing to do is just accept that the universe is vast, our knowledge is tiny and truly accept that the words "I don't know" are the only rational ones relating to the supernatural.

There is a huge amount of anecdotal evidence, all throughout history, that there are more things in heaven and earth than dreamt of in our philosophy, to paraphrase the Bard.

Anecdotal evidence, by the way, is exactly and precisely how all knowledge was passed down to us until very recently. Without the acceptance of it we'd have no history at all, and prior to the written word, we'd have had to re-learn how to invent the wheel, quite literally, each new generation.

People telling people their experiences has always counted as evidence. And, like all evidence, it can be weighed against their character and other factors and either accepted or dismissed.

But according to the "We just call a spade a spade" bumpkins, we know everything there is to know about the supernatural, right here and right now, and that's that.

Some people prefer the shelter of their limited knowledge of the universe. They're the ones who'd have calling the earth flat and shaking their heads sadly and laughing at all the round earthers a few hundred years ago.

As for me, I prefer the thoughtful, intelligent stance. When it comes to ghosts I know what I think, but really "I don't know".

Bravo.

And to add my personal bugbear, people dismiss anecdata, but the ONLY reason we have acquired data is because of anecdata. Those slow, System 2 deep pattern recognition processes in our brain that went, "toothache feels better if you chew on a stick, but a LOT better if it's a willow stick".

NoisyUmberBalonz · Yesterday 20:46

I'm a scientist and rationalist, not religious at all (though I respect those who are, and don't look down on them at all - indeed I am often rather jealous I can't find comfort and community in religion).

But we clearly can't explain all natural phenomena, and frankly it's fun to believe in the paranormal, so I do.

Moroccogill · Yesterday 20:56

squirrelchops2 · 29/07/2026 11:14

Millions of people believe in a 'god'. I've never had an experience that leads me to belive they exist
I believe in ghosts more than a 'god' as I've had experiences that lead me to believe in ghosts.

Edited

100%!!

I am in two minds - someone mentioned an energy more than a spirit that floats around smelling of perfume, I agree with that. Also agree that we pretty much know the bare minimum about life/death/in between so we will never know.

In saying that I went away with my DH to a hotel a few months ago and stayed in the same room our friends had joked was ‘haunted’ after staying there before us (just coincidence we ended up in that room). The minute we walked in our dog stopped at the door and started growling, he didn’t settle all night. I woke up in the middle of the night to tell my husband to stop moving things at the side of my bed, it was like he was rustling around in the cabinet beside the bed… he was fast asleep beside me. I put a light on because I was freaked out so wanted to sleep with it on, by the time I had woke up it had turned itself off (wasn’t my DH). I went to check a noise in the hallway before I went to the toilet, obviously closed the door and when I came out the bathroom it was wide open…. That night I believed in ghosts.

Flossy1985 · Yesterday 21:09

I’ve seen, photographed and have had menacing encounters with apparitions. I wouldn’t push my beliefs onto anyone but I do say don’t mock what you don’t know. Your MILs experiences don’t scream anything supernatural to me. I’ve had lightbulbs thrown at me I’ve watched cutlery moving on its own and something jumping on my bed really heavily. These are just a few of many things that have happened. A lot of stuff can be just residual energy a playback of things that used to go on.

Rhaidimiddim · Yesterday 21:22

Sheandhercat · Yesterday 18:26

But this is actually my point really. No one can possibly know for certain. Thats why I don’t understand how people are CONVINCED that what they experienced was a ghost. I also have experienced things that I can’t explain. I believe that there probably is more out there that we don’t know. But I would rather admit that I don’t know. I’d rather say “yes that’s creepy and weird and I can’t explain it, I don’t know what the answer is” rather than “my brain can’t come up with an answer right now, therefore this is proof that ghosts exist”

Or you just use the vocabularly that has developed around these types of exprerience.

The fact that a vocabulary has evolved indicates how common and consistent the phenomena are.

DarkAngel23 · Yesterday 21:46

I think I’m in the camp of just letting MIL believe what she wants to, it makes sense to her and she’s not really hurting anyone.

I haven’t seen a ‘ghost’ like some people describe but I do think the deceased can leave some sort of energy or give us a ‘sign’ from time to time.

My much loved grandma passed earlier this year. She took ill suddenly so I didn’t actually know she was dying until my dad phoned to say she had passed. She was an incredibly strong woman and we miss her very much.

However the day of her passing my little cat was acting nutty. From 6am she was hyper, playful but also affectionate. I even commented on it to my OH how crazy was she acting without knowing my gran had passed. That afternoon I had a nap and my cat climbed on my back to give me what I can only describe as a ‘back rub’. My gran passed just after 3pm. I always say that Dcat passed on a goodbye message!

Then a few months ago I had to have a really difficult conversation with a family member. I really didn't know how I was going to approach it. But one Friday evening it just came to me and I suddenly ‘knew’ how I was going to have that conversation. I felt this strength and ‘steely resolve’ and I was able to have that conversation.

Call me crazy but I do think my gran was out there giving me a little ‘nudge’. I do consider myself fairly intelligent so is there a more plausible explanation, possibly? Maybe her strength just inspired me to do a difficult thing, however believing my gran is out there looking out for me from time to time gives me some comfort even if not entirely rational!

She was a pretty ‘woo’ person herself and used to say she could feel my grandad in their home after he passed, so who knows maybe it was her after all 😄.

MistressoftheDarkSide · Yesterday 22:08

I saw my late DP about 5 weeks after his very sudden passing. I accept I was in the grip of extreme grief.

It was around 3am and I'd been in the kitchen tweaking his eulogy as sleep was very much not my friend.

I went upstairs, round our four poster bed (sounds grand, but it was constructed from Akro scaffolding poles and his decorative sword collection and adorned with various scarves and random stuff, at the foot was his short wardrobe which had the TV bolted onto it. He was inventive like that).

So I bent down and plugged in my laptop, straightened up and heard the floorboard just inside creak just as it always did when someone walked in. I then observed DP walk past my wardrobes, wearing the same dressing gown of his that I was also wearing at the time, before going out of sight round the bottom of the bed. I was paralysed for a second or two, then went round the bottom of the bed. Of course nobody was there. I almost expected to see my son as he was in the house but asleep as far as I knew.

I tried to replicate the whole thing by bending down and standing up in my original position in case it was an optical illusion, but couldn 't receate it. It was as if he was just coming to bed as he had done hundreds of times before.

It was comforting, but also frustrating because rationalists will write it off as grief brain, tiredness whatever. But it was so normal and mundane and not what I would "conjure up" for myself so as far as I'm concerned I tapped into something otherworldly for just a few previous seconds.

Arran2024 · Yesterday 22:45

HarrietHedgehog · Yesterday 19:52

Tell your MiL to Google olfactory hallucinations. That should give her something to think about.

I mentioned a smell coming from my father in law's clothes. My husband and I both smelled it, so it doesn't fit the criteria for an olfactory hallucination.

smallglassbottle · Yesterday 23:38

keepswimming38 · Yesterday 19:52

Quantum entanglement is the most woo theory you will ever read and yet it’s supported by science. I think some people are too inflexible in their thoughts.

This ^

An experiment conducted in the uk can influence the same experiment, done at the same time, in Australia.

Animals who have learned a particular skill in one part of the world can influence the same species in another part of the world so both sets of animals then share the same behaviour.

Potted plants demonstrate a particular surge in electrical output when their owner is within a certain distance from home.

All proven quantum entanglement experiments.

Thegirlwhowent · Yesterday 23:43

I don't believe in ghosts. And I can think of several other explanations for smelling the rose perfume - or thinking you're smelling it. I don't understand why people think that ghosts etc are a reasonable explanation when we have no evidence that such things exist.

Thegirlwhowent · Yesterday 23:48

@MistressoftheDarkSide Giving explanations such as 'grief brain' or tiredness doesn't mean that people are writing off your experience. They understand that you experienced it. It just wasn't caused by what you like to think it was caused by - which is understandable at times like that.

Imaginary86 · Today 00:07

LettiSpaghetti · 29/07/2026 11:34

Was it when you saw her face?

😂

MistressoftheDarkSide · Today 00:20

Thegirlwhowent · Yesterday 23:48

@MistressoftheDarkSide Giving explanations such as 'grief brain' or tiredness doesn't mean that people are writing off your experience. They understand that you experienced it. It just wasn't caused by what you like to think it was caused by - which is understandable at times like that.

Your certainty is misplaced and somewhat insensitive. You are of course entitled to your beliefs / opinions and I to mine.

MidnightMeltdown · Today 00:34

BarrelofBeer · 29/07/2026 19:29

I lived in a house where there was a recurrent 'sighting'.

Multiple people saw it in the same place. Family members, visitors, even completely unrelated people - tradespeople for example said they had seen it with no prior knowledge of the situation.

None of us were scared or told the story - we were just used to it - so no attention seeking there at all. It didn't matter to us if we believed or not as we all knew what we'd seen.

We eventually moved house when we were downsizing. A year or so later I met the woman who had lived in the house before us and told her we'd moved on. She said, 'Well at least you won't have to put up with - in the dining room any more'.

Whether ghosts/whatever are real or whatever I don't really know or care, but it was all bloody hard to explain.

Edited

Fucking hell, I hope you put, ‘comes with ghost’ on the house listing. I’d hate to buy a house only to find a surprise ghost living there when I moved in! 😱😆

I don’t know whether ghosts exist, but I do think that our version of ‘reality’ is shaped by our perception. I think the universe is far stranger, and has many more dimensions, than we are normally able to perceive through our limited range of senses. In the same way that a blind animal has no concept of vision, people have no concept of things that exist outside of our limited range of senses. The fact that our brains are wired to perceive things in a certain way, doesn’t mean that’s an accurate reflection of reality. Some Physicists argue that time doesn’t exist. The fact that we perceive time as moving forward is an artefact of how our brains are wired. It’s possible that the past still exists.

HenLen · Today 01:24

Sheandhercat · Yesterday 18:26

But this is actually my point really. No one can possibly know for certain. Thats why I don’t understand how people are CONVINCED that what they experienced was a ghost. I also have experienced things that I can’t explain. I believe that there probably is more out there that we don’t know. But I would rather admit that I don’t know. I’d rather say “yes that’s creepy and weird and I can’t explain it, I don’t know what the answer is” rather than “my brain can’t come up with an answer right now, therefore this is proof that ghosts exist”

However, you didn't "admit you don't know" in the conversation you led with in your first post. You said "because if someone’s already made up their mind it’s hard to convince them otherwise...and I said no I don’t believe in ghosts."

Your premise is that people instantly jump to supernatural conclusions and won't listen to any rational explanation. The reality is that most of do not jump to supernatural conclusions, and if someone is absolutely convinced of a supernatural event - why do you care so much that you want to argue with them? Why do you assume they don't know what they experienced, when you were not there?

You are certainly within your rights to dismiss their explanation, but I've never known anyone to dogmatically demand that others believe in ghosts - I do see a lot of supernatural belief bashing on this site though.

Someone told you they had a supernatural experience, you dismissed it out of hand, basically calling them either a liar or stupid, and you wondered why they continued to argue with you. They might be right, they might be delusional - but they're not hurting you with their belief, so maybe just let it go.

Random321 · Today 02:04

Absolutely not. I think people who do are with dim, grieving heavily or mentally ill.

maxslice · Today 02:16

keepswimming38 · Yesterday 19:52

Quantum entanglement is the most woo theory you will ever read and yet it’s supported by science. I think some people are too inflexible in their thoughts.

“Spooky action at a distance!”

HenLen · Today 02:26

smallglassbottle · Yesterday 23:38

This ^

An experiment conducted in the uk can influence the same experiment, done at the same time, in Australia.

Animals who have learned a particular skill in one part of the world can influence the same species in another part of the world so both sets of animals then share the same behaviour.

Potted plants demonstrate a particular surge in electrical output when their owner is within a certain distance from home.

All proven quantum entanglement experiments.

Yep, when you get down to the quantum level, the laws of physics as we know them no longer apply. It's actually genuinely disturbing, and something I try not to think about too much 😅

ParkParade · Today 05:12

I think for me I haven’t experienced anything unexplainable but I wouldn’t debate with someone who did if that’s what they like to think, don’t mind. I like my mum’s advice though and will pass it to my DC, ‘Don’t worry about ghosts it’s people you need to be scared of’ - so many awful true crime cases not at the hands of ghosts.

Metalmotha · Today 06:11

I have seen a ghost (on several occasions) so has my family (inc the same ghost as me both unaware of each others experiences).

yes most experiences prob can be explained away, but those explanations are often just other explanations that carrry no more or less weight, people just think they do because they reflect their view of the world.

People should be respectful of others beliefs and experiences