[Debate] Haunted or Not?

[Alan Vende]

I have heard many different things over the years that I have been in the paranormal field. I have heard from various investigators that they say that you should never label a location as haunted because if you do, it could have some legal ramifications (such as you having to tell potential buyers if you attempt to sell your house that it is haunted).

But if the house is truly haunted, would you label it haunted? Why or why not?

[Deleted]

No.

First, as you stated, there could be legal ramifications. This is important to know, but not necessarily the most important point. The term "haunted" truly does not have a distinct definition. This is mostly due to the differences of opinion between those who believe and those who are skeptics. If I lived in a place where there are spirits, I wouldn't necessarily label it as haunted. To me, they are simply here for their own reasons - perhaps some sort of attachment to the place. However, if these spirits are "living" in peace with me, and are not aggressive, I deem the term haunted as inappropriate. If, however, the spirits who were where I lived were malicious and aggressive, then I would find the term appropriate.

Yet, there are some who may even consider the presence of "friendly" spirits enough cause to label a place haunted. This is also why I make the distinction between spirits (friendly) and poltergeists (aggressive / malicious intent). If my place was "haunted" by spirits, I simply see them as being a part of the history here. If my place was "haunted" by poltergeists, I would definitely have to see about what could be done to help them find peace, or if needed, to expunge them from my home.

[Alan Vende]

Oct 26, 2015 12:29:43 GMT -5 @msg said:

No.

First, as you stated, there could be legal ramifications. This is important to know, but not necessarily the most important point. The term "haunted" truly does not have a distinct definition. This is mostly due to the differences of opinion between those who believe and those who are skeptics. If I lived in a place where there are spirits, I wouldn't necessarily label it as haunted. To me, they are simply here for their own reasons - perhaps some sort of attachment to the place. However, if these spirits are "living" in peace with me, and are not aggressive, I deem the term haunted as inappropriate. If, however, the spirits who were where I lived were malicious and aggressive, then I would find the term appropriate.

I assumably "No," you are referring to my final line, "But if the house is truly haunted, would you label it haunted? Why or why not?" correct?

I think people also call a place haunted, be it a paranormal investigator or a client, right off the bat because that's what they have seen in the movies/online. They look online for information and, most times, that could be terrifying.

I have seen some things online that say, below a list of haunting symptoms, the following: "...if you have answered yes to one or more of the above symptoms, then your house is haunted." I think that that would be scary for anyone, not just a client, don't you think? I mean there are some things that haunt even a paranormal investigator. They have experiences that stay with them forever. I know that I certainly do.

Oct 26, 2015 12:29:43 GMT -5 @msg said:

Yet, there are some who may even consider the presence of "friendly" spirits enough cause to label a place haunted. This is also why I make the distinction between spirits (friendly) and poltergeists (aggressive / malicious intent). If my place was "haunted" by spirits, I simply see them as being a part of the history here. If my place was "haunted" by poltergeists, I would definitely have to see about what could be done to help them find peace, or if needed, to expunge them from my home.

Some people do consider the presence of friendly spirits enough to label a place as haunted, you are correct. To me, though, that's more out of fear of the unknown than anything. Also, the Hollywood Film Industry hasn't really helped much, either. Namely with the Paranormal Activity movies. When a person is possessed, they don't spew plasma out of their mouths and whatnot. They simply do not do that! I think that people would label a place as haunted without having someone come in and investigate and so forth because they want to either break a lease and move out, or they're really afraid and don't know really what they are dealing with. I have seen people who, out of complete fear, would move out of places and not come back (and that's after they have been experiencing it for a while.)

The term, poltergeist, though, in its simplest terms, means "Noisy Spirit". They, as their name suggest, are here only to cause harm. Something I have learned, though, is that they are mainly brought on my teenage-aged girls - ones who are going through puberty. That's because they have so much pent up energy in them that doesn't know which way is up, in a sense, and they are in turn a beacon of light that has a 24 hour sign on them and they don't even know it. They are unconsciously inviting malevolent spirits in.

I think that there are two sides to the haunted coin, and knowledge really helps on both sides. If you are in a situation where your house is haunted, you want to consult a paranormal investigation team. In some cases, they will consult clergy (e.g. If there's a demonic case). But if the team can expel the spirit or help it cross over into the Light, there really isn't a need for clergy. Most of the time, it's just a matter of taking your home back - of standing up for what you believe in and taking back what is yours.

[Deleted]

Correct. My first "No" was in reference to your question on your last line.

---

Oct 26, 2015 14:51:34 GMT -5 Alan Vende said:

Oct 26, 2015 12:29:43 GMT -5 @msg said:

No.

First, as you stated, there could be legal ramifications. This is important to know, but not necessarily the most important point. The term "haunted" truly does not have a distinct definition. This is mostly due to the differences of opinion between those who believe and those who are skeptics. If I lived in a place where there are spirits, I wouldn't necessarily label it as haunted. To me, they are simply here for their own reasons - perhaps some sort of attachment to the place. However, if these spirits are "living" in peace with me, and are not aggressive, I deem the term haunted as inappropriate. If, however, the spirits who were where I lived were malicious and aggressive, then I would find the term appropriate.

I assumably "No," you are referring to my final line, "But if the house is truly haunted, would you label it haunted? Why or why not?" correct?

I think people also call a place haunted, be it a paranormal investigator or a client, right off the bat because that's what they have seen in the movies/online. They look online for information and, most times, that could be terrifying.

I have seen some things online that say, below a list of haunting symptoms, the following: "...if you have answered yes to one or more of the above symptoms, then your house is haunted." I think that that would be scary for anyone, not just a client, don't you think? I mean there are some things that haunt even a paranormal investigator. They have experiences that stay with them forever. I know that I certainly do.

I truly don't think that you can answer a questionnaire or some other type of question form where they say "...if you have answered 'yes' to one or more...". One? Really? They're trying to tell you that if you've answered just one question as a "yes" then the place is haunted? I don't think so. I could understand if it was like 4 or more in a series of, say, 10 to 15 questions, then yeah - it may be haunted. I don't believe a questionnaire can tell you if a place is haunted or not. As there is no real consensus on what defines a place being haunted in the first place, I have issues with something like that.

Alan Vende said:

Oct 26, 2015 12:29:43 GMT -5 @msg said:

Yet, there are some who may even consider the presence of "friendly" spirits enough cause to label a place haunted. This is also why I make the distinction between spirits (friendly) and poltergeists (aggressive / malicious intent). If my place was "haunted" by spirits, I simply see them as being a part of the history here. If my place was "haunted" by poltergeists, I would definitely have to see about what could be done to help them find peace, or if needed, to expunge them from my home.

Some people do consider the presence of friendly spirits enough to label a place as haunted, you are correct. To me, though, that's more out of fear of the unknown than anything. Also, the Hollywood Film Industry hasn't really helped much, either. Namely with the Paranormal Activity movies. When a person is possessed, they don't spew plasma out of their mouths and whatnot. They simply do not do that! I think that people would label a place as haunted without having someone come in and investigate and so forth because they want to either break a lease and move out, or they're really afraid and don't know really what they are dealing with. I have seen people who, out of complete fear, would move out of places and not come back (and that's after they have been experiencing it for a while.)

The term, poltergeist, though, in its simplest terms, means "Noisy Spirit". They, as their name suggest, are here only to cause harm. Something I have learned, though, is that they are mainly brought on my teenage-aged girls - ones who are going through puberty. That's because they have so much pent up energy in them that doesn't know which way is up, in a sense, and they are in turn a beacon of light that has a 24 hour sign on them and they don't even know it. They are unconsciously inviting malevolent spirits in.

I think that there are two sides to the haunted coin, and knowledge really helps on both sides. If you are in a situation where your house is haunted, you want to consult a paranormal investigation team. In some cases, they will consult clergy (e.g. If there's a demonic case). But if the team can expel the spirit or help it cross over into the Light, there really isn't a need for clergy. Most of the time, it's just a matter of taking your home back - of standing up for what you believe in and taking back what is yours.

I agree with your last paragraph entirely. I think if someone is concerned about their place being haunted, they should call in a professional paranormal team of investigators. They have the tools to find out more than your typical person could, as they've got equipment for recording things that the human eyes can't typically see and have recorders that can pick up the spirits voices better than the human ear can hear. Spirits operate on a different frequency than the living, so this special equipment helps a lot. But many times, standing up and letting the spirits know that this is your home and you don't plan on leaving is usually enough to settle them down.