Do we know ghosts don't exist

[Mulder]

If I see or hear things like that I normally assume I'm over-tired.

This is the assumption I'm talking about. If I see something strange I don't assume anything.

[Mulder]

There will never be 100% evidence of a ghost because no matter if they stand in front of you. You will always try and find another explanation for it. I see a ghost as something that cant be explained naturally,

Your definition of ghost seems very wide. Are you saying anything that can't be explained is a ghost?

[pattshau123]

have you seen any ghosts then mulder

[Trinoc]

This is the assumption I'm talking about. If I see something strange I don't assume anything.

In that case, the clue is in the fact that I used the word "assume". You are correct in deducing from this that I was making an assumption.

[Croydon Bob]

have you seen any ghosts then mulder

Why answer a simple question with another question? You've made some big statements but fail to back them up with detail or evidence.

[Admin]

I link these to ghosts because I cant explain them in any way.

I see a ghost as something that cant be explained naturally,

Why is your default explanation for things you can't explain ghosts?

Why not aliens, shape-shifting lizard people, or something else?

Why do you assume ghosts?

[Mulder]

have you seen any ghosts then mulder

I see ghosts regularly but I know they are caused by misperception. I have seen 'human figures' that, on closer examination, were poorly seen potted plants! They looked like perfectly realistic figures, for a while. Your brain will continue to see a 'human figure', until it gets more information that proves it wrong. I think most ghost sightings are misperceptions.

The important thing when you see something weird is always to it investigate at the time, if at all possible. In the case of misperceptions, they usually vanish when you get a better look.

[pattshau123]

That does all make sense,

[seren]

Pattshau, I have a few questions if you don't mind. you mention seeing lights "3 days before someone died".

Why is that significant?
What if it had been 4 days before, or 6? What if it had been 2 days before, or 2 minutes before? At what point do the person dying and the lights have a connection to each other?

And if you saw them BEFORE the person died, why would you think they were ghosts?

Sorry, I feel like I'm interrogating you, I hope you don't mind.

[seren]

Oops, I think I killed it.

Thread's dead, baby, thread's dead.

[SorryImPsychic]

I see ghosts regularly but I know they are caused by misperception....In the case of misperceptions, they usually vanish when you get a better look.

Mulder you have not seen ghosts regularly - you just regularly have mis-perceptions.

[Mulder]

Mulder you have not seen ghosts regularly - you just regularly have mis-perceptions.

I have investigated many ghost sightings and most are caused by misperception. What is the difference between a ghost and a misperceived human figure?

[Trinoc]

What is the difference between a ghost and a misperceived human figure?

The first of these is a fallacy, the second is a common psychological phenomenon.

[SorryImPsychic]

. What is the difference between a ghost and a misperceived human figure?

One is a misperceived human figure and the other is a ghost. You assume 'ghosts' and 'misperceived human figures' are one and the same thing.

[Mulder]

People see human figures that are not physically present. They say they are ghosts and who am I to argue. If most turn out to be misperceptions, I conclude most ghosts are misperceptions. I see no fallacy.

The problem is that most people talk about ghosts as a theoretical entity, with lots of different definitions floating around (based on little or no real evidence from what I can see). I talk about real ghosts that I've actually investigated, using real evidence, and they're simply not the same thing.