# Do you think human ashes can haunt people? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2018, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413 "2018-03-12T04:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/41 "2018-03-14T18:10:46Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > But do you really think that the OP is using one of those other meanings for “haunting”, or do you just want to be pedantic about it? Who knows? But \*\*Roderick Femm \*\*and I and others are actually trying to help the Op, rather than hijack the thread with snarky cynicism. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/42 "2018-03-14T18:21:51Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “Ghosts are very likely not real. But the emotional issues involved could make a “haunting” real enough in its own way.” That’s cute, but that’s most people’s _definition_ of “not real”. Obviously the OPs symptoms are real. ---
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/43 "2018-03-14T19:51:33Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Even if we were to speak in terms of the “spirit world”, folks who were put to rest properly, tend not to “haunt” people. Disclaimer: I don’t believe in hauntings, but the paranormal fascinated me in my youth. So anything I say must be taken as a philosophical exercise, within the framework of “If ghosts exist, then…” That said, the relative was not put to rest properly. The remains were divided. If they are reunited, the spirit should be satisfied, and move on. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/44 "2018-03-14T19:53:49Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > Recently a relative who hated me died (not in the house) and their ashes split into 2 and some were gave to another relative and some were kept at our house by a relative who liked them. Since then I have had constant health problems. Do you think that ashes can haunt people? In a word - no. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/45 "2018-03-14T20:32:56Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > He also pointed out that if we were discrete, nobody would object. Yeah, no one wants an amorphous blob of people scattering ashes in their lake. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/46 "2018-03-14T22:48:43Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > . . . The remedies to this are either to move, to persuade the other party to get rid of the ashes, or to persuade yourself that you really don’t believe in this and you don’t care if the ashes are there or not. None of those is probably an easy option. We’ve already heard several additional options. I was going to suggest sliding a little mirror under them (to reflect any emanations back - works with psychosomatic emanations, too). Then it dawned on me that I was assuming they were out on display. Are they? If they’re away in a drawer somewhere, you might be able to wrap them in aluminum foil. Shiny side in. Tell your relative it’s for freshness. ---
**Author:** ![Krav\_Manga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/krav_manga/32/3153_2.png) [@Krav\_Manga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krav_Manga)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/47 "2018-03-15T02:48:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You know the Op has asked a serious question and has asked us for help. > > Snarky posts to show off that you are the most sceptical poster on the boards arent really helping. Try again captain junior mod. She’s asked whether people believe ashes can haunt people. People are providing their humble opinions accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/48 "2018-03-15T04:24:03Z")
> [@Swampwolf](#): > > That said, the relative was not put to rest properly. The remains were divided. If they are reunited, the spirit should be satisfied, and move on. Or become more powerful and thus finally be able to render his otherworldly justice upon his hated great nephew. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2018, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413/49 "2018-03-15T11:05:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Or become more powerful and thus finally be able to render his otherworldly justice upon his hated great nephew. Nah, it’ll be fine as long as someone doesn’t bleed on the pile of ashes–in which case he will regenerate instantly, ready to once again take iconographs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-think-human-ashes-can-haunt-people/810413.md?page=2)