I don’t debunk those kinds of things. I listen to the story, even ask questions, for more details, etc. I always like hearing stories.
It’s rife here where I work because the hotel is supposed to be haunted. And weird stuff has happened here.
The Taco Bell I worked was built on top of a house that had been around for a hundred years or so before it was torn down. That place was haunted. I saw the same ghost twice and before we opened it was not uncommon to hear the door leading to the dining room open by itself.
I don’t try to debunk such stories. I tell myself, I don’t know everything. There could be all kinds of things going on, and I wasn’t there.
But I doubt…oh, I doubt.
Well what sounds more cool and fun? A story about a ghost of a woman killed by a jealous lover or the fact its just the sound of a leaky toilet?
I’d be particularly cautious if some hotel and BnB has some claims of ghosts and use it as a promotional thing.
What concerns me about the story is twofold. First is there potential to frighten the kids (they are seven and six years old), along with my general wish that they grow up without believing in the supernatural. That is why I prevailed upon building management to let me take them on a tour of the supposedly haunted apartment.
I’d say “the paranormal isn’t real, but pareidolia certainly is.”
If they persist: “I believe you believe”
Not that anyone is likely to engage conversation with me anyways.
We saw a spooky manifestation while tent-camping in the wilderness of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park between San Diego and the Salton Sea. (It’s often called Anza-Borracho, drunk.) We were around Borrego Springs for a Liar’s Club contest. (I came in last so you can believe everything I post.) Anyway, we lounged between Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) and Datura meteloides (Jimson weed, toloache) shrubby clusters, under a thickly cloudy sky, when the atmosphere began glowing and pulsing and otherwise acting funny. “Wow,” I thought, “UFO-ola!” Then we heard the engine and saw the Coast Guard helicopter churning along. So ordinary…
I should be haunted by vengeful spirits. They haven’t appeared. Should I feel neglected?
Am I the only one who would distinguish between my kids and adults? Sure, I wouldn’t say much to most adults, unless I had a good reason. But I would definitely want to help my kids not believe in that stuff, same as I would monsters under the bed or any of that nonsense.
Though if an adult describes sleep paralysis, I’d probably tell them about it, if only because it feels so scary that I’d think they’d rather know it’s just your body still being “asleep” while your mind is awake. I’m definitely glad I learned about things like that, so I didn’t worry about them.
I generally do not disabuse people of their beliefs, especially if they’re obviously all-in on believing, unless they or someone else is in a position to be harmedby it in some way.
I’m not a woo-woo type person and believe that there’s usually a logical explanation for most odd experiences. However, no one can conclusively prove that ghosts don’t exist any more than someone can prove that they do. I’m an educated, reasonably intelligent adult and have experienced some things that could not be explained by logic and reason, either by myself or others I’ve experienced it with or described it to. I’m not saying there were ghosts or otherworldly forces involved, but none of us have been able to find any other explanation.
As others have said, ghost stories are ordinarily harmless and fun, so I don’t debunk anything. (I don’t have children, and if I had an easily frightened child I would certainly try to assuage his or her fears.)
This comment made me curious. They’d rather “know it’s your body being asleep while your mind is awake” than what? I’ve suffered from sleep paralysis since childhood, I don’t think I’ve ever thought it was anything other than my body being asleep while my mind is awake, and I’m still terrified every time I get stuck in my sleep.
I roll my eyes and walk away.