Stone Boxes and Metallic Plates

[_subgenius]

Do you believe in Ghosts?

do you mean commendatory or existentially?

[_Themis]

i have no problem with doubt, but only when it is the reasonable position...however, you have made it clear that you prefer the unreasonable position.
For example:
If a person whom you had confidence in, whom you considered to be an honest and a sober person, not a practical joker, and as competent as any other person you regard - what if this person told you they had a gremlin in their basement?
You would either believe them or doubt them, correct?

The unreasonable one here is the one who thinks that belief and doubt are absolutes. Again read what the word doubt means. I would believe they thought they saw a gremlin, not that they actually saw one, and I don't think most people would do any different.

The reasonable position given the circumstances is to believe them, the unreasonable position would be to doubt them.

Incorrect.

The former position would justify looking in the basement for yourself..out of curiosity or for the experience of seeing a gremlin.
The latter position would not be justified as well, if you doubted it then why bother looking? If you considered this person's story implausible or unbelievable what possible reason could be offered which would explain you looking in the basement for yourself?

Again, read what the word means. How can we have a useful discussion if you can't even bother to learn what the word means. Remember uncertain and questioning are part of the definition. As such one who would naturally doubt there really are gremlins in this persons basement would probably still be willing to look. Doubt is not some kind of absolute disbelief.

If your only reason to doubt them is "well, i have never seen a gremlin" or "well, everyone knows that gremlins are not real, right?" then you would be unreasonable when compared to what you know about the person who told you they had seen one. This is a fundamental flaw in many people today, and it is not counter to a position of naïveté - when there is nor just cause to believe that this person is being dishonest or is being swindled ,then the only reasonable position is to believe them.
To say otherwise is illogical or dishonest...perhaps both.

You are the only one being illogical. I can't think of anyone who would believe without any doubt this story. Most would probably be willing to look though. I would even for someone I know does make up fictitious stories. I have no problem with people providing evidence.

[_PrickKicker]

Do you believe in Ghosts?

do you mean commendatory or existentially?

Ghosts are ghosts apart from when the word is replaced with spirit as in being
not spirit as in ambiance or zeitgeist.

I take it you are not Mormon then as you wish me to define the term.
Do you believe there are such things as Spirit beings?

I mean existentially. ie: preexistence or disembodied spirits. do you believe they exist?

To believe in such for me is now as equally absurd as believing someone who says they saw a gremlin.

I believe that people have a momentary memory recall of a friend or relative or just simple fear, that causes a emotional response which is then attributed to a Ghost/Spirit.
After all people never say: Oh I just saw our preexistent children playing on the rug.