# Would YOU spend the night alone in a genuine haunted building? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 24, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356 "2001-03-24T22:48:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SpyderA48](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@SpyderA48](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpyderA48)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/1 "2001-03-24T22:48:20Z")
I tuned into a program concerning an ancient prison, the name of which eludes me, which was one of the very first major prisons built, and practiced enforced solitude, isolation and was run by the Quakers. It is built in the shape of a star around a central core. Anyhow, that’s neither here nor there, but it was mentioned that no one would spend the night alone in the place, because it was haunted. To me it seemed that no one would spent the night there because, as is often the case, the interior is a mess of mold, rust, debris, rotting bedding and rusted bars. While the place is a great tourist attraction, no one spends any money on keeping it up. Sort of like San Quentin. Often, on TV, I see these shows of people spending the night in some haunted place, wearing these complex camera rigs that show both them and the surrounding area, over acting, screaming and jumping at noises no one else hears and generally hamming it up for the cameras. I started thinking. Would I spend a night alone in a haunted house on a dare? No. Why? Not worth my time. Would I do it for money? Yes!! Because I have read, like, every horror book ever written in my time and have an active imagination, the fee would have to be big. Anywhere from $5000 and up and I get to pack my own gear. Now, would you? There’s places that are considered the most haunted places in the world, like a Castle in the UK which books tours and on one televised one, a door shook and rattled and things banged around the investigators. The Winchester Manson is supposed to be haunted, and I love the place, but they don’t allow people to spend the night there. Would you spend the night alone in a place certified to be haunted? If so, would you do it for free or for cash? ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/2 "2001-03-24T22:52:13Z")
I’d do it for free… with two naked willing women. ---
**Author:** ![Totoro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Totoro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totoro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/3 "2001-03-24T23:01:11Z")
Funny thing, I’m a quaker… Anyways, I’d do it for the right price. I’d shit myself scared, but I’d love it. I love horror movies and stuff, so this would be just my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/4 "2001-03-24T23:04:00Z")
Hell, I lived in a house that was certified haunted for over a year. Once we got used to the cats acting weird, the dining room chairs having to be pushed back under the table every morning and having to close all the kitchen cabinets and drawers before we could cook breakfast it was no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/5 "2001-03-24T23:06:08Z")
Yeah, but were you naked and willing? BoooooooOOOOOOOOooooooooooo. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/6 "2001-03-24T23:07:19Z")
I would for money. I’d be scared shitless, but shoot, what’s psychological trauma compared to a couple of grand? ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/7 "2001-03-24T23:08:18Z")
Why yes, yes I was. It was _my_ house, afterall. ---
**Author:** ![scampering\_gremlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@scampering\_gremlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scampering_gremlin)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/8 "2001-03-24T23:41:17Z")
I once visited a French dungeon underneath an old bishop’s palace. They still had some of the instruments of torture. If anything’s haunted, that place has to be. Sure I’d spend the night there for five grand. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/9 "2001-03-25T00:04:05Z")
If someone could convince me it was _really_ haunted (I don’t know what “certified to be haunted” means), then all I ask for is a plane ticket. I’d love to see someplace like this, although, since I don’t believe in this junk, I’m sure my night there would be eventless. I’ve never seen a TV show documentary that’s come close to convincing me that this stuff actually happens. [sub] **Arden Ranger** , you ARE kidding about your house, right?[/sub]:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/10 "2001-03-25T00:04:08Z")
I’d do it for free, just for the experience and a good story to tell. Who knows what one might learn? ---
**Author:** ![lolagranola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea5d25/32.png) [@lolagranola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lolagranola)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/11 "2001-03-25T00:08:24Z")
Nope. I’ve seen too many horror movies. The first little noise, and I’d drop dead of a heart attack. Not worth it. In my last house, I’d occasionally get creeped out, the room would get chilly, and suddenly both dogs would growl and start barking at one corner of the room dining room. Everytime that happened, I cleared out of there so fast I don’t think I grabbed my jacket. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/12 "2001-03-25T00:08:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChiefScott \* > \*\*I’d do it for free… with two naked willing women. \*\* Well, here’s one… ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/13 "2001-03-25T01:38:35Z")
I would, for the cash. ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/14 "2001-03-25T01:52:36Z")
Uh-uh. No way. Not in this life time or the next. Why? Because I have a hard enough time being alone in an UN-HAUNTED, unfamiliar house without being convinced that the local serial killer is sneaking in the back window to get me. A haunted one, unless I was convinced the spirit was benign (and maybe not even then), would be totally out of the question. Unless, of course, I had a big strong man to protect me. But that wouldn’t really qualify as **alone** , would it? 😉 [sub]Yeah, I’ve got a **WAY** overactive imagination. What of it??!! :)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/15 "2001-03-25T01:56:50Z")
(a) Yes, I have no problem spending the night in a building that some individual/group believes is haunted. (b) No, since the OP says _genuine_, there is no such building in which to spend the night. ::eek! What was that!!??:: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/16 "2001-03-25T02:05:15Z")
Ha! My husband I were just talking about this type of thing this morning. Assuming that no one is “planted” in the room/building to scare you - i.e, any noises you hear or things you see are legit - a night in the local morgue - $1000 a night in a haunted place of your choosing - $2000 a night in jail, no choice of roommates allowed - $10,000 I would do the first 2 for free, incidentally, but I think money needs to change hands for it to be taken seriously ;). –tygre - who doesn’t believe in ghosts ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/17 "2001-03-25T02:20:25Z")
Does anyone else have this weird thing – I don’t believe in haunted houses/places, yet I love (sort of) to scare myself to near-death over them. I know it’s just my extremely overactive imagination, but it’s still very scary. If money was involved, I would consider it. If it was just the thrill of the challenge, I would need at least one other person to prevent me from working myself into a hysterical frenzy. I’m not sure how I would feel about staying the night in a moldy, damp, bug-infested building of any sort, haunted or not. Don’t you have any haunted luxury hotels on your list? ---
**Author:** ![dubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dubs)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/18 "2001-03-25T02:35:04Z")
The museum I work in has a haunted airplane, a C-47 that among other missions dropped 82nd Airborne paratroopers at St Mere Eglise on D-Day. Anyway several people have seen someone in the cockpit and heard footsteps in the cargo compartment. Also the museum hangar (WWII vintage) housed the bodies from Jonestown while they were readied for shipment back to their families. A previous historian saw a ghost in the hangar one evening and he supposedly doesn’t get creeped out easily. The hangar also has the usual weird sounds that old, large, drafty buildings normally have. So I’m telling a friend these stories the other day, and she immediately wanted to stage a sleepover. Of course, she has the hots for our director, so I could see where that was going…Would I spend a night there? I don’t think there’s enough money in the world. However, I might consider it if a big strong man volunteered to spend it with me… ---
**Author:** ![Tzel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tzel)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/19 "2001-03-25T05:02:51Z")
Since I don’t believe there is such a thing as a genuine haunted building, I’d be willing to spend a night in any structure generally believed to be haunted. However, I’m not going to presume to know that there is no such thing as a genuine haunted building (not being omniscient and all, damn), and if I could be convinced that a building is genuinely haunted by a malevolent presence, I would think twice about it, and if there was a chance of harm, I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2001, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356/20 "2001-03-25T06:10:15Z")
Nope. Not for any money. I lived in a haunted house for almost ten years and still get the serious heebie-jeebies at the drop of a hat. My imagination is so seriously overactive I think my brain would explode from having to spend the night in an old jail or something. Interesting thing - my SO and I were talking about this exact thing at the movie theatre as the movie “House on Haunted Hill” began. I asked him if he would spend the night in a haunted house for a million dollars. He said yes. I asked if he would spend the night in a condemened insane asylum. He said no. It’s all about boundaries baby. I’m a wimp. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-spend-the-night-alone-in-a-genuine-haunted-building/59356.md?page=2)