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A Question About Ghosts...

Temporal Renegade

Last of the Time Lords
Temporal Renegade
Joined
May 26, 2003
Messages
1,890
The other day, I happened to catch a glimpse of an episode of The Ghost Whisperer that my mother-in-law was watching on tape. All of a sudden, I was hit by a question:

Why do ghosts wear clothes?

Now, if a ghost is supposed to be a person's 'soul' or 'spiritual energy' that goes on walkabout after the unfortunate person dies, why do they have clothes on? Do clothes have a 'spiritual energy' that clings to the person after they die? Now, I know that on television, nudity isn't usually allowed on regular network TV; but, what about in a 'real world' application?

I know this sounds goofy, but I'd still like to hear some thoughts on this.
 
Temporal Renegade said:
The other day, I happened to catch a glimpse of an episode of The Ghost Whisperer that my mother-in-law was watching on tape. All of a sudden, I was hit by a question:

Why do ghosts wear clothes?

Now, if a ghost is supposed to be a person's 'soul' or 'spiritual energy' that goes on walkabout after the unfortunate person dies, why do they have clothes on? Do clothes have a 'spiritual energy' that clings to the person after they die? Now, I know that on television, nudity isn't usually allowed on regular network TV; but, what about in a 'real world' application?

I know this sounds goofy, but I'd still like to hear some thoughts on this.
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Because the FCC isn't ready for the real representation of ghosts, that of naked, sexy spirits with full working naughty bits.;)
 
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The ghosts have to wear clothes in the Ghost Whisperer. If they were naked, it would detract from the sartorial train wreck that is JLH. Whenever I watch that show, I ask myself why, Jennifer, what were you thinking? Why do you let them dress you like that? And keep away from naked flames. I foresee a hideous polyester burning incident in your future.
 
It's a 'Matrix'y type thing where they can look however they want to.

Or...

Those orbs that get picked up in photographs are the naked ones.

Can I get a woo badge? :D
 
well, and hairstyles.

I mean, are you doomed to wear the clothing you wore when you died? If so , an awful lot of ghost photos should show hospital gowns.

What you were buried in?

Ghost whisperers do NOT like these types of questions.
 
Actually... Don't 'they' get round this one by saying that some spooks are recordings (thus clothed), and some 'energy'?
So if spook whisper person sees the ghost, then it'll have clothes on, and if they just 'chat to the energy' the ghost will tell them what they have on, and could of course, lie about it. As we all know, so many ghosts are evil and mischief making that they probably do the latter, which is why so many psychic types get stuff wrong.
 
I don't mean on television; that's just a given, with the regulations & all; what I should have asked was, why do you think people 'see' them wearing them?
 
joobz said:
Because the FCC isn't ready for the real representation of ghosts, that of naked, sexy spirits with full working naughty bits.;)
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Because they are ectoplasm and the ectoplasm takes the place of their appearance when last alive, as the spirit remembers it and forms the ectoplasm from that memory. And the FCC really dumb big fines.:D


I would watch more of these idiot things if they did follow the stated above policy though!!!:D :D :rolleyes:
 
There is very little agreement among woo as to why ghosts wear clothing. Basically, any excuse you can make up, the wilder the better, is why ghosts wear clothing. Here's a sample:

1. Our clothing reflects our personality and in the case of a nightgown can depict a time of day. The clothes of "the day" can also tells you a time frame when the person lived. They are trying to provide you with clues to their identity. Showing you clothing also distracts from the lack of a physical body. Most of the time people report no face for instance.

2. They will try to represent themselves in the way you knew them. When people see loved ones who have crossed they report seeing them looking approx the same way that they remember them best minus any health issues.

3. Sylvia Browne says that everyone is 30 on the "other side. Although I do not agree with an exact number it does seem to be true that the person will project themselves looking at their best. So if they died of old age and you remember them when they were young they may appear young to you.

They do not have bodies anymore but they are trying to get you to recognize them or at least not to be fearful. If their agenda is communication they really do not want you to run screaming. They will project their "best foot forward". They may show you injuries if that is an issue for them but in my experience they would rather just tell you about it. Since it is all energy they can project whatever works for them and for you.
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If it turns out I become a ghost after I die, I'm going around naked whether or not I get clothes to start with.
Thats forward planning! Lol.
 
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I guess no one wants to disappoint the OP by telling him ghosts aren't something out there that can be clothed or unclothed, but are merely imagined clothes and all. But that's too unbelievable, so, Temporal Renegade, we leave you with ectoplasm.
 
The ghosts are naked. The perception of ghosts by living people incorporates clothing to reduce the shock value.

You're already seeing a dead person. Heaven forfend you should see a naked dead person.

~~ Paul
 
I always thought the traditional "white sheet" ghost was supposed to be wearing a shroud from the grave. Not coincidentally, that also made it easy to "see" ghosts, since all you needed was the illusion of a pale blob and you could imagine it as Aunt Mary in her winding sheet, or whoever. And psychologically, if she was wearing a shroud the last time you saw her and you imagined she "came back" from wherever she went, it makes sense to imagine her dressed the same way.

Nowadays in cultures where people are more apt to be buried in street clothes, the white sheet stereotype seems to be going out of fashion except as a cartoon stereotype, since there's no longer an emotional connection between death and a white sheet.
 
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos said:
The ghosts are naked. The perception of ghosts by living people incorporates clothing to reduce the shock value.

You're already seeing a dead person. Heaven forfend you should see a naked dead person.

~~ Paul
Click to expand...

But wouldn't that be to the ghost's advantage? I mean, if they don't want to scare you, maybe making you laugh would be a good thing, huh?
Sorry, that thought just makes me snicker. I wonder if anyone on TAPS ever saw a naked dead person?
 
Soapy Sam said:
...and why are they such slaves to fashion?
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Ah, see, these souls still have strong links to material things and vanity. This attachment is keeping them imprisioned here at our material plane.

The nude ghosts are on the other side, beyond the tunnel of light.

Cand I make some money with this?
 
If I had to make something up, I'd say that the "spirit" has no detectable physical or empirically visible form (are you liking this so far?) but is only manipulating the viewer's <insert scientific sounding name here> lobe, resulting in a Spirit Induced Hallicination (SIH) which is indistinguishable from a normal hallucination, dream, or drug trip.

How's that? Sounds pretty water tight to me. Where my mirrion dorrar?
 
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