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Definition of a ghost

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9:02 pm
November 9, 2008


Paul Anthony

Boston

Investigator

posts 45

I have never seen a ghost, and I have not experienced a paranormal event.  So what is a ghost, what does it look like, the process of stating a precise meaning seems to differ depending on where the information comes from.

The definition of a ghost is said to be the apparition of a deceased person, frequently similar in appearance to that person, and usually encountered in places he or she frequented, or in association with the person's former belongings.

 The definition is lacking an accurate description, at best it only relates to something existing in perception, a ghostly appearing figure. A definition must show and have an exclusive meaning, so there is no confusion.

Example: I lived with a bitch for eight years she was malicious, I gave her love, she neglected me, snapped at me for no reason and finally one day she ran away.

You thought I was talking about an X wife or girlfriend, I simply described a term for the female of a canine species in general. This is the Importance of knowing the correct definition.

 Definitions that are too narrow will exclude some things that must not be omitted from the object of the definition you are trying to describe. To say a ghost does (or does not) exist you have to know what ghost means when writing, describing or talking about a ghost.

So any meaning of a ghost, must have a definition long before you can say if one of them ghost things exist or not This is where the belief in ghosts falls flat on its face.

Without a definition of a ghost, then there is NO WAY to discuss, or describe a ghost. How can you expect to prove something to exist if you cannot give a definition of what to look for? — To go looking for something but have NO idea what to look for is not logical , you would not know it if you found it because you have no idea what you are looking for.

Im poking fun at the definition of a ghost because their is the probability that someone has given a definition to something that does not exist.

11:57 pm
November 9, 2008


Stephen

San Jose, CA

Admin

posts 589

Yes, that's frequently my reply when people ask me if I believe in ghosts. If they can provide me with a solid definition of what a ghost is, I might be able to tell them. They might as well ask if I believe in sreblaps. (No, I don't know what sreblaps are either.)

Since ghosts are undefined, they can do anything, or nothing, as suits the results of an investigation. It's impossible to prove that any place is not haunted, since ghosts could simply decide not to reveal themselves. It's also difficult to come up with ways to detect them without a definition.

If you go by the short quote on GH– "a ghost is a person without a body"– then things get a bit stranger. I'm currently a person with a body.  Shouldn't I be able to do anything a person without a body can do? I don't show up particularly on EMF detectors, as far as I know. I can't drain batteries. My person-ness, aside from my body, is not detectable with FLIR. Nor is anyone else's, as far as ever has been proven.

Stephen the Friendly Skeptic

11:58 pm
November 10, 2008


Paul Anthony

Boston

Investigator

posts 45

 Shouldn't a spirit be naked

Most ghost reports include sightings of ghosts wearing some sort of clothing, these spirits obviously left this world and some how were able to keep their dignity. Imagine the shock of seeing a naked transparent floating spirit. All self respecting spirits want to be recognizable as human image.

Spirit clothing even dates to a certain period, flowing robe, a military uniform or even a plaid suit. Theoretically speaking of course, this is just a theory that makes no sense, using theories based on a theory describing spirits and their clothing is a theory that does not exist.

At one time an odor of sulphur was said to accompany ghosts. The seances of the early 20th century always featured ghosts ringing bells and beating drums. Frequently they showed up in starched collars and tweed suits. We've moved beyond that now,  And whatever happened to ecto-plasm?
If they haunt places where people have died how come hospitals are not wall-to-wall ghosts? What is the shelf-life of a ghost? You don't hear of many that are more than a hundred years old.
Why do skeptics no more about ghosts then the people who see them?

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