# How long do ghosts live? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2018, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848 "2018-01-04T13:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/21 "2018-01-04T15:37:49Z")
Until a kid that can see them helps them with some unfinished business. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/22 "2018-01-04T15:45:09Z")
First off, the obvious answer: ghosts don’t exist. Now moving on to stories about ghosts. As some people have noted, one idea is that ghosts are tied to this world by some unresolved issue. They will remain here until that issue is resolved. Another idea is that ghosts are tied to this world by memories. A ghost will exist as long as living people remember the person. Once the person is no longer remembered in the living world, then the ghost will fade away. This theory explains why famous people can linger around as ghosts for centuries while the average person only gets to be a ghost for a few decades. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/23 "2018-01-04T15:48:17Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Ia I understand they are timeless and immortal souls in their ‘home’ realm - but do age as the soul progresses, and is renewed young again, but to a more evolved soul, when they live in mortal flesh they age as a person age as that is what they are. When they die they are usually frozen at the physical age of death, and enter the realm that we experience as ghosts, which is a realm that they died but didn’t accept their death so are frozen in our world but without a physical body (as we detach from it at the moment of passing). > > So in a ‘ghost state’, as long as it takes for the ghost to accept it has died and goes to the light, to their ‘home’ realm of spirit, and possibly rentering a physical world. Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to **kanicbird Johnson** for stating what needed to be said. I am particularly glad that these lovely Dopers are here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic psychic gibberish, it expressed the courage little seen in this day and age. -with apologies to Mel Brooks ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/24 "2018-01-04T15:52:37Z")
Now that we’ve resolved that one, can someone answer - do ghosts see each other? Do they see humans? If not, what do they do all day? And night? Must be incredibly lonely. A literal hell-on-earth, trapped in a location, unable to interact with anyone, and unable to escape. Not even death offers a respite from the torture. And, from the sound of it, doomed to repeat certain actions over and over, without any semblance of free will. Are ghosts’ minds restricted somehow? Do they not have full cognition? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/25 "2018-01-04T15:59:16Z")
> [@B-Rad](#): > > With all due respect: consensus within an area of research, whether you as a scientist can stomach the subject being treated “scientifically” or not, is an objective consensus. Ghosts are not an area of scientific research, even if certain people claim “expertise” on them. > [@](#): > > I’m no physicist, but I understand string theory is a line (heh) of thought with no observable evidence to support it. Nevertheless, I have a feeling a related thread would not suffer the indignity of exorcism from the GQ page. I don’t mean to be a little bitch about it, but jeez, dude. When you can cite a peer-reviewed analysis that provides a plausible mechanism for the existence of ghosts, get back to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/26 "2018-01-04T16:00:19Z")
It’s a trick question! They don’t live. The real question should be “How long do they _dead_?” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/27 "2018-01-04T16:01:33Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Now that we’ve resolved that one, can someone answer - do ghosts see each other? Do they see humans? If not, what do they do all day? And night? Also, can they take off their ghost-clothes and can those clothes exist independently of the owner? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/28 "2018-01-04T16:01:49Z")
I’m curious why screws working themselves loose on an object moved regularly is something in need of a supernatural explanation. I would suggest Loctite or a similar product as a solution to this entirely mechanical issue. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/29 "2018-01-04T16:03:19Z")
> [@B-Rad](#): > > With all due respect: consensus within an area of research, whether you as a scientist can stomach the subject being treated “scientifically” or not, is an objective consensus. The objective consensus is that ghosts don’t exist. Anything that would have an opinion on how longs ghosts live isn’t research, it’s woo. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/30 "2018-01-04T16:04:41Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’m curious why screws working themselves loose on an object moved regularly is something in need of a supernatural explanation. I would suggest Loctite or a similar product as a solution to this entirely mechanical issue. Also, that’s a pretty damn boring afterlife isn’t it? I mean, you’re a disembodied spirit, capable of interacting with the physical world, and all you can think of to do is fucking _loosen screws_? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/31 "2018-01-04T16:07:16Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s a trick question! > > They don’t live. The real question should be “How long do they _dead_?” Don’t dead. Open inside. ---
**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:** [January 4, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/32 "2018-01-04T16:08:53Z")
How long does a ghost live? It depends, has the ghost stopped beating his wife? ---
**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:** [January 4, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/33 "2018-01-04T16:10:27Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s a trick question! > > They don’t live. The real question should be “How long do they _dead_?” I think it’s like when those astronauts on the moon jumped in the air. ---
**Author:** ![BlueMerle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@BlueMerle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueMerle)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/34 "2018-01-04T16:15:08Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Also, that’s a pretty damn boring afterlife isn’t it? I mean, you’re a disembodied spirit, capable of interacting with the physical world, and all you can think of to do is fucking _loosen screws_? This one time, at Ghost camp… ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/35 "2018-01-04T16:15:16Z")
> [@B-Rad](#): > > Among such experts, or even aficionados, is there anything resembling a consensus about how long a spirit will endure in this world once it is brought into existence? No. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/36 "2018-01-04T16:23:10Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Also, that’s a pretty damn boring afterlife isn’t it? I mean, you’re a disembodied spirit, capable of interacting with the physical world, and all you can think of to do is fucking _loosen screws_? A little empathy, please? Imagine being a disembodied consciousness whose senses are no longer linked to meaty organs, nor to whatever analogs might exist in the afterlife. You can no longer interact with or experience the world as you did when you were alive, and what you do have is ill-suited for the physical world you still inhabit. Loosening a couple screws and effecting even miniscule physical contact with others is probably a huge accomplishment. Besides, maybe he _has_ gotten up to other stuff, but I can’t blame the doorknob screws on the cats. Maybe I should? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/37 "2018-01-04T16:30:10Z")
Empathy is for the living. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/38 "2018-01-04T16:31:37Z")
Every time you yawn a ghost puts his penis in your mouth. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/39 "2018-01-04T16:32:51Z")
Can the cats see your ghost? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848/40 "2018-01-04T16:33:28Z")
Since ghosts leave no identifying evidence, how do your experts know it’s the same ghost that’s been sighted since 1170? Maybe a ghost lives only for a century. Maybe it’s a different ghost every time. Maybe it’s assembled strips of 50 different ghosts. Maybe ghosts have schedules and sick days. You don’t get to use science, like string theory, in an argument like this. Every scientist in the world capable of doing the math can look at string theory and come up with the same results when the same data is plugged in. That’s what science means. Woo starts with picking out one possible answer and sticking with it no matter what. If two people see something in the same building they assume it’s the same ghost, not two different ghosts, or a ghost and an illusion, or two not ghosts, or anything else that the imagination can think up. Why? That answer is more fun. Serious discussion ends there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-do-ghosts-live/805848.md?page=3)