Why is Everyone So Afraid of Ghosts?

Everyone seems to agree that ghosts are scary, but noone seems to be able to explain why. Ghosts are only around to haunt. Many people tell stories of being haunted by ghosts, but there is no single instance in which a ghost has harmed anyone in any way. That is because ghosts are just around to scare people. But that just raises the question of why this works.

If ghosts scare you for the sake of scaring, then they should not be met with mortal terror, they should be met with the kind of giddy jumpiness that one experiences on a roller coaster. Roller coasters, like ghosts, are designed to scare with no real threat of harm.

Perhaps, though, there is something else here. Perhaps the experience of seeing a dead person forces us to face our own mortality. However, I don't think this works. I think that facing something really dangerous such as a tiger or zombie would be much more effective. Sure, a ghost may give us pause to think about our eventual end, but I think it is much more terrifying to see your end hurtling towards you at high velocity with very sharp teeth.

Perhaps seeing a ghost also forces us to reconsider our views about the afterlife. It is after all difficult to maintain the view that deceased souls ascend to heaven or are completely and finally erased from this terrify thing called existence when some dead guy is walking right in front of you. But again, this is more of a philosophical issue. Philosophy in general is a peaceful and relaxing practice, not one performed while running at full speed, shrieking at the top of one's lungs (with a few notable exceptions, see Nietzsche and RealityGrip).

So I think you should agree. Next time you see a ghost, there are two appropriate reactions: you can let loose a giddy squeal like an 8 year old on a waterslide, jump up and down a few times, then collapse in laughter, OR you can commence in deep soul searching about the nature of existence and our own mortality. Anything else would be unwarranted, unnecessary, and will only encourage them to continue their annoying practice.