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Do you have to believe in ghosts to encounter one?
From my experience: No.
Can a skeptic change their mind about ghosts?
Yes, but when that happens during a ghost hunting event, it can be a problem.
Not only can skeptics realize – to their horror – that they’ve seen, heard, or felt a ghost; they also have to deal with the fact that they’ve been wrong in the past.
The more belligerent and snarky they’ve been about ghosts, the harder it is for them to accept their mistakes.
That’s why I’m wary of skeptics, but – at public events – I also keep an eye on them. Without warning, they may need to be escorted to a quiet place to have an emotional meltdown, sometimes of epic proportions.
I do my best to be sympathetic.
Oh, by the end of the event – or perhaps the next day – hard core skeptics often go back to being obnoxious.
Usually, they’re convinced we pulled a prank to embarrass them, or something like that. (As if any of us would bother. Or risk our reputations like that.)
If telling themselves that false version of the story brings them comfort, I’m not sure that’s okay, but I don’t know what else to say.
Time and time again, I’ve seen that skeptics don’t have to believe in ghosts to experience something bone-chilling at a haunted location.
In fact, it can seem as if the ghosts take particular delight in tormenting them.
So, if you can tolerate the skeptic’s pre-encounter behaviors, it may be worth following them around, just to see what happens.
Or not. Seeing a skeptic react to a ghost can be interesting, but it’s not why you’re at that location. Investigations should never become a spectator sport at the expense of others.
In fact, the most valuable aspect of an investigation is your deeply personal experience, and what you learn about ghosts and paranormal research as a result.
Have you seen a skeptic become a believer… or were you a skeptic at one time? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your story.
I don’t think you mean skeptic. Skeptics are more middle of the road and will listen to possible evidence. What you describe is a non-believer and I have no patience for those. It tickles me pink when they finally do have an experience 😉
Good point, Robin! And you’re right. I was using the term “skeptic” too casually. (I’ll leave the current articles as they are, but lean into “non-believer” for future articles.)
Thanks, and I agree about non-believers when they have an actual encounter with something paranormal. They’re easy to spot: They’re the ones gasping for air, frantic for a reasonable answer that fits their previous beliefs (and non-beliefs), and often need to be taken aside while they calm down, so they don’t alarm the rest of the group. lol
Unfortunately, I’ve also seen those in major meltdown at the event, then return to their non-believer comfort zones within a day or two.
At that point, I’m exasperated and won’t give them extra attention the next time they have a face-to-face with something they vehemently want to believe isn’t real.
skeptics are just that, a skeptic. their just someone who needs to have an experience with the other side, or the unexplainable to begin to have a self-realization that it is very possible that something or someone is out there, that they cannot see or hear. I myself have had way too many experiences to not know that we are not always alone in a room, when we are alone.