# Ghost Sighting On Tape **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 20, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158 "2003-12-20T11:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/101 "2003-12-22T13:14:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lekatt \* > **I have no trouble believing it could be real.** Yes, we know. IIRC you believe in everything supernatural-anything that has anecdotal evidence as opposed to useful empirical evidence gets your thumbs up. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lekatt \* > **Ghosts have been sighted for thousands of years, and recently hundreds of them have been captured on film. True, there are fakes, but most are just unexplainable. To dismiss the possibility of Ghosts is irrational in view of the evidence available.** If they are fakes then how are they unexplainable? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@handsomeharold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharold)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/102 "2003-12-22T13:19:07Z")
Thus it was explained to me by one of these beings of pure energy. I’m am not so prideful as to pretend that I understand the science of higher planes of existence. Scientists and skeptics too do not know everything. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/103 "2003-12-22T13:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Thus it was explained to me by one of these beings of pure energy. Circular reasoning. > [@](#): > > Scientists and skeptics too do not know everything. Argument from ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@handsomeharold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharold)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/104 "2003-12-22T13:50:12Z")
Straw man. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/105 "2003-12-22T13:59:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharold \* > \*\*Straw man. \*\* _Non sequitur_?? Grim ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/106 "2003-12-22T14:23:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Non sequitur?? LOL ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/107 "2003-12-22T14:24:41Z")
I think everyone has neglected to mention that it’s a freaking guy in a cape and a mask opening and closing a fire door, filmed at a time when holloween parties are pretty common. It’s not a ghost. It’s someone in a costume. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/108 "2003-12-22T14:26:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharold \* > \*\*Straw man. \*\* To whom are you referring? If you are saying Blake was using a strawman then I don’t think you know what that term means. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@handsomeharold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharold)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/109 "2003-12-22T14:33:07Z")
[http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/straw.htm](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/straw.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/110 "2003-12-22T14:43:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharold \* > \*\*[http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/straw.htm](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/straw.htm) \*\* I know what a strawman is, but to whom are you referring to and what exactly did you think was a strawman? ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/111 "2003-12-22T14:45:02Z")
_We_ know what strawman means, **handsomeharold** , but evidently you don’t. **TwistofFate** : I’m still not sure about the Hallowe’en connection, but it’s surely a bloke in a costume. BTW, [these people](http://www.talismantv.co.uk/grfi/page10_events.htm) must have been gutted to miss the show by a couple of months. Or perhaps they didn’t miss it? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/112 "2003-12-22T14:47:22Z")
“You keep using that word. I do not think in means what you think it means.” - Inigo Montoya ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/113 "2003-12-22T14:47:46Z")
**handsomeharold** : > [@](#): > > (i) Since you cannot prove that ghosts do not exist, they must exist. [http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/distract/ig.htm](http://www.datanation.com/fallacies/distract/ig.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/114 "2003-12-22T14:49:36Z")
Just to be clear, the quote is an example of a logical fallacy and is in no way intended to be perceived as valid. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/115 "2003-12-22T14:56:39Z")
> [@](#): > > I think everyone has neglected to mention that it’s a freaking guy in a cape and a mask opening and closing a fire door Nah, I said that. Second post in fact. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/116 "2003-12-22T15:02:20Z")
I’m pretty sure I said it too. I think that must of us have simply taken it for granted from the get-go that it’s a bloke in a costume. The debate has really shifted to a discussion of the reality of ghosts in general and the anecdotal assertions of a couple of posters in particular. ---
**Author:** ![IWLN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@IWLN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IWLN)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/117 "2003-12-22T15:09:17Z")
Yawwnn… Could we just argue about G-d now. I’m bored. Maybe we could argue about whether or not ghosts go to heaven? Wonder where I put my evidence on that? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/118 "2003-12-22T15:22:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > **TwistofFate** : I’m still not sure about the Hallowe’en connection, but it’s surely a bloke in a costume. BTW, [these people](http://www.talismantv.co.uk/grfi/page10_events.htm) must have been gutted to miss the show by a couple of months. Or perhaps they didn’t miss it? Someone trying on their Halloween costume for a party in the castle itself or outside of work. What the guy is doing in the tape looks alot like someone who is opening and closing a fire door in order to turn off an alarm. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@handsomeharold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharold)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/119 "2003-12-22T15:32:03Z")
I know what circular reasoning is, but to whom are you referring to and what exactly did you think was circular reasoning? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158/120 "2003-12-22T15:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handsomeharold \* > \*\*I know what circular reasoning is, but to whom are you referring to and what exactly did you think was circular reasoning? \*\* A simple “I was referring to Blake’s post” wasn’t sufficient? 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-sighting-on-tape/220158.md?page=7)