sgietz - 2:47 pm on Aug 17, 2009 (gmt 0)

Ghosts have been documented many times, but that doesn't mean that creaky attic upstairs suffers from anything more than wind.

Wind and other noises have been ascribed to "ghosts" without solid proof, although there have been scientific studies done on ghostly phenomenon at university level. To simply dismiss an idea, because we currently lack the knowledge to sufficiently explain it, isn't very wise. Perhaps it's buhumbug, but I would say that a lot of scientific "theories" were considered buhumbug until someone did the math and it became science. I'm sure the idea that there are these invisible waves going through the air, that can be utilized to send/receive sounds, pictures (essentially data) seemed a bit "supernatural" at first. Heck, some of Einstein's theory's were rejected until we had the technology to test and confirm them.

Perhaps that is as it should be. Science is a slow process. We should never accept any claim as fact. The flip side is that we should never dismiss a claim either, no matter how outlandish. Forget about the "Ghostbusters" guys with all the pseudo-scientific equipment hunting down ghosts. I think they play an important role in generating public interest. They're the amateurs with limited funding, who try to peel back the layers to get to some truth that may or may not be there. But they will probably not be the ones writing a paper on it.

For anyone to objectively look back at the past several millennia of human progress and science, and not think that we need to have an open mind, is rather ignorant (this is not a personal attack). You're not a fool for leaving the door open, but closing it would be unwise.

:)