No. To me ghosts represent fear, sorrow and regret and ways to deal with them, and these are portrayed in such simple contexts that it reeks of human nature. Coming back from the dead to give a warning, a farewell message, fix something that ain’t right, or making realizations. It’s kind of like getting drunk, only it has a happy ending, and thus, it is where the concept errs, at least, if it wanted me to believe in ghosts. Because in how I think people kept and keep on with ghosts (not talking about when many really did think that swamps were their loved ones, or their enemies, coming back) seems a way to to deal with reality without having to face it directly.
Fuckin’ Poe, no wonder he was such a genius lol. Psychological trauma or intense grief can do a lot to a person.
What I’m trying to say is that I think the idea of ghosts is closely related to things like gods, an afterlife and all, and are ways to better face adversity, even if ghosts these days are basically just entertainment. A form of denial turned real for the person seeing a ghost. On the other hand, that I think ghosts are born of man’s need for guidance and reassurance, even if through fears and hauntings (always better than death, ya know) and as such represent man’s nature in certain areas, ghosts could easily exist, since the idea has been around everywhere, and for centuries. Who am I to argue an entire history of peoples and beliefs?
Still, if there are real ghost sightings and experiences, I’m guessing it’s not actually what we think it is. I also think science, sociology and psychology could explain it.