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is there a difference between ghosts and poltergeists? and if so what are they?

poltergeists is a mischievous spirit not all ghosts are mischiveuos

Poltergeist are usually a troublesome bunch. They like to play tricks. A ghost may not even have itself be known for years of being with you.

I understand ghosts to be no more than a mindless left over as it were.

Poltergiests I understand to be one who has passed and enjoys making things difficult for people ( as in life, so in death )

Spirits I understand to be those who have passed from the physical world, who may return from time to time for a variety of reasons.

ghosts can be good or bad and poltergeists are misbehaved spirits..

Poltergeists are said to be little children, who plays trciks. Ghosts are vary with young and older people, so there is a difference in that sense.

There are various types of geist... there are polter, then there are zeitageist, or spirits of the time.. I will bring more info as I get more time on-line.

Ghosts merely dwell in a house and occasioally makie an appearance. Where as poltergeists are a nusance and are constantly active.

Poltergiests are most the time bad spirts

I honestly don't think that there is much of a difference between the two. The ghosts seems more quiet then a poltergeist does. But other than that the same.

poltergeists can both good or bad spirts aswell

A spirit is usually defined by their behaviors however we can't REALLY fully say that what we think something is, actually is what we define it.

A poltergeist, in my opinion, is an troublesome entity created by one's own negative energy. A ghost is the soul of the deceased that has stayed on this plane of existence.

A ghost is the left over imprint of someone who died that's left on earth or didn't pass over to the other world.


A poltergeist is considered a troublesome or mishchivious spirit.


Yes, I spelled mis-whatsis wrong.

Distortion- Is there really any proof that that's a true statement though?

Well first aren't poltergeist created by negative energy? or attracted to it maybe. Ghost are spirits and poltergeist are usually really bothersome. And dangerous.

Poltergeist literally translates as 'noisy ghost'. A polter will normally be responsible for the 'bumps in the night' and can feed off (or sometimes be created from) energy generated by emotional turbulence of a being in the house, and channel that energy into moving objects and making noises.

A ghost as most people understand them is simply an intangible form, unable to interact on a physical level with objects or people, and is often unaware of the living or surroundings.

I guess it is just a matter of opinion unless there is evidence of it.

Distortion posted:

A ghost is the left over imprint of someone who died that's left on earth or didn't pass over to the other world.


A poltergeist is considered a troublesome or mishchivious spirit.

Someone posted "But is there any proof that that statement is true?"

Please I am curious about this question? Is what true? That this is a possibility? What Proof do you seek, what do you accept as a possiblity?

Leopard -


Can you prove any statement made in the forum is true? If you asked everyone on VR the same question you'd probably get hundreds of different answers. Everyone has knowledge of some sort on different subjects.

am agreeing that i think poltergeists are evil, which ghosts can be either.

in short poltergeists is a mischievous spirit not all ghosts are mischiveuos and poltergeists can be formed by a person

Well poltergeists are "prankster ghosts". Ghosts are either residual hauntings or intelligent ones. The residual ones are of what happened there, and they aren't aware that you are there but reliving the past. The intelligent ones interact with you and try to communicate sometimes. =)

Yep some as the others.
Poltergeists are the trouble makers the Imps and Ghosts are just like an empty shell.

One difference is that poltergiests will physically interact with you, whereas ghosts will not

poltergiests are just lots of trouble and bad news
ghosts are less worrying

you seen ghosts and someitmes walk right by you, and the fight unless provoke poltergest are possive, unrested and annoying

As far as I know Poltergiests are very disruptive, can potentially cause harm are basicaly are dangerous. A ghost is just a after image is you will of a person that has since passed on and can harm no one.

poltergiests are baddd news and trouble would stay away from them

They are both about the same. but poltergeist's are generally evil

Meaning who defined what a ghost and a poltergeist really is, and what evidence do they have to define it as such?

Most of what I know i've picked up by reading a couple of books and some documenties plus as it's been mentioned before poltergeist in german translates as 'noisy ghost'.

to be honest ive seen both the only difference i can see is that poltergeists can pick things up and touch as ghosts cannot you can feel that they are there but they cannot touch

Actually, I believe that there is a big difference between the two. I have always thought that a poltergeist is an entity created by the negative thoughts and feelings one has. They cause trouble and are considered to be mischevious beings.

I have always thought a ghost was the spirit of someone that has passed away but hasn't crossed over yet. Ghosts can play tricks on people or cause trouble, and that can be good and just leave people alone.

Both are made up by the creative collective of cultures to explain random knockings in the night, ghost have more forms then poltergeist, apparitions, possessive type, or a feel type all have cultural variations. Yet the Geist are usually imagined as collective ghost.. no one person has any monopoly on the definition of ghost or polrergeist, anybody that claims to is likely to interpite their imagination as accurate, I would challenge that definition. If it is said that any thing is possibly then let the imagination of other be just as likely...

A ghost is just one entity. It can also just be a lost soul not looking to harm you and just seeking the light.

A poltergeist is multiple entities and they cause more disturbance then just one ghost. They are usually mischievous and evil.

From what I know, ghosts can be just leftover energy. Poltergeists usually are a significant amount of manifested energy that can do things...(throw books, etc.)

Left over energy? Clarify please.

ghosts are spirts from some one of something that has lived and dyed and did not pass on

the polterghost is something that causes problems

Hm another thought here. If we were to believe in souls, and most would agree that energy plays a role here....then because we too make a lot of noise , would that make us poltergeists as well technically speaking? lol Of course i guess it doesn't count since we're still in a body but still...I really don't see the difference between the two only that one is mild mannered and the other is more active. Again, i think we are really just defining them based on their natures.

Making noise does not a poltergeist make. Poltergeists are mischivous spirits. Pranksters of sorts, who usually try to harm people.

What if a spirit just wants others to know they are there, they are not out to harm, just create attention to themselves..

the differenence between ghosts is the y are spirits and the differences between poltergeists is that they are misbehaved energery

dabbler - To answer your question, there are simpler ways I'm sure of a spirit drawing attention to itself rather than the trouble geists cause.


I rather think that geists may be testy that they're no longer alive or are jealous of the living and therefore stir up trouble as it were.

When I grew up I followed all things Para-Natural.. Para Behavioral phenomena is my accepted area now, I still see a likely phenomena, though in poltergeist I am not convinced that it is not the meta physical world interfacing with the physical. For example:


http://jamesaconrad.com/Tina/Tina-Resch-Boyer-case.html

For ghost, Apparition, possessive, or audio, I am not convinced that it is para-normal either, sentimental notions enhanced by grievance.

I create ghost activity.. with that in mind I set my sights on what is not a ghost, or what is commonly accepted or interpeted as ghost.

The above case really had the definition of poltergeist by the neck, they even contrived a new phrase, a practice I have seen alot by career para researchers. As an investigator to para normal claims come onto the sceen the old ghost hunters are getting testy about their presence.. Investigators of claims study Motive, and other aspects of activity around claims made by people about perceived ghost activity.

ghosts and poltergeist possess you don't they both? I though they both did.. Maybe for different reasons though.

I imagine a ghost would want to be reconnected with a person, if a ghost is a static entity.. holding to this realm in a faint conscious.. I could imagine that they would need a large attachment, or teether to here, and to absolve that connection, or the source that is restraining them from passage, or the reason they linger.. I could picture the time I spent reclining at in the mounted tracker seat my Grand Pa put on his back fence, and how I could be still and connect with him there. He let me know in his own way that he was there.. and that he waited until I knew he was onto better things and places.. I have told people what has a ghost told you.. relative to the position they appear, or they project noise.. what is the message they seek to relay.. sadly their are too many people that dominate with their interpitations of these matters. If A ghost is attracted to a person then it would be following reason to accept that that person should "get the message" as intended.

Undervampsgaze - No.


Demonic spirits are usually that which are most related with possession.


Geists don't possess people, but rather cause trouble for them.


Ghosts CAN possess, but rarely.

A ghost is the spiritual existence of a person after they have left the world of mortals but have refused to leave the realm of the living.


A poltergeist is a nasty spirit. In German, poltern means to knock and geist means spirit. To some, the poltergeist is a noisy ghost, but it can be far more than that. The typical poltergeist disturbance usually revolves around one individual, often a young girl entering puberty or with an emotional or psychological stress.

Source: http://www.essortment.com/all/ghostpoltergeis_rmqn.htm

I think that they are simulair but not the same as a ghost will generally be attched to something where then a poltergeist, may be anywhere causing chaos

A poltergeist is a spirit, that's true, however, they are not paranormal. Poltergeists are caused by humans. They come from the human psyche. A good place to look for information on Poltergeists is HERE. Later on...I'll also have some information on them in my journal.

Well said, have you read about Tina Recsh and the activity that drew the top investigators? I suggest it makes a good case for what you mentioned.

Not for a while...but yeah...I have. It was pretty weird...crazy! I have more info about it in my journal if you want to read up on it.

I believe that poltergeists are just more evil then ghosts.

I believe that ghosts can be very annoying at times. The ones I have encountered like to hide things and make noises all the time. I think that a poltergeist is a much more fearful entity. I thankfully have not encountered one. I would run screaming I'm sure, if one decided to torment me.

Big diffrence and since everyone has said and repeated it i think the point is now taken.But most people believe that a poltergeiest is prodused by the person his/her self by the subcon mind an anger of teenage years.Most are thought to be girls because they are more emotional boys how ever are the stronger entity because they hold the anger so deep it becomes an out let and becomes real a entity on its own life you might call it a haunt that is intellegent.can it think? can it speak?yes and can be seen the human mind is powerfull we can wield things in to being.but when they no longer give it power it dies.Or so people who have lived with the thing.But there are entities who act as a poltergeist wich are infact feeding off your anger and fear and following you around causeing harm.Known as a demon so not all poltergeists are your creation but real entites...or parhaps you never had the power to make it real they were the ones the whole time??
Ghosts being living dead or earth bound spirits once alive can and do interact with you...

A ghost is an entity that either doesn't know they are dead, or has some unfinished business here on earth. They are usually harmless. A poltergeist is a spirt that causes trouble for those still living.

Yes there is a ghost can do very little... they can try to talk, mess with your things, ring your phone, drop change, but are harmless,

A poltergeist is very different and hard to explain but i will do my best.
Very often a poltergeist is not what you think it may be...most times it is energy of a traumatized mortal attacking them-self.... usually teenager and had a very rough childhood. Ever see American Haunting? Movie sucked because that is not a valid explanation of the Bell witch... but great example of what i just described.

Now that said if you have an actual poltergeist they are very nasty and can harm you....not kill you but yes harm you.

Poltergeist is a German word for "noisy ghost." This type of ghost makes its presence known by knocking on doors, walls, breaking objects, making objects disappear then reappear, making objects float through the air, making noises and a variety of other disruptive things to draw attention to itself. Generally speaking a poltergeist will not harm people. Poltergeist tend to occur when children are present in the household that are either very young or in their teen years.

There are two types of poltergeists. One is the poltergeist that is directly tied to a ghostly spirit; meaning an entity that has crossed over to the other side. The second is the non-entity poltergeist. This type of poltergeist is directly tied to a child entering puberty and the energies they put out causes the effects of poltergeist activities, yet is directly generated by the child and not a spirit. This type of poltergeist will disappear soon after the hormonal activities of the child settles down and reaches a leveling out pattern.

In both cases phenomena reported consist of rapping's on the walls floors and ceilings, objects moving and levitating by them selves, objects disappearing and then reappearing elsewhere in the building or home, and a more serious note, fires starting without warning in unexpected places such as drawers and cupboards. Puddles of water or other liquids may also appear without apparent cause.

In many cases there have been reports of the spirit taking a dislike to certain family members and hurling abuse, ornaments and even furniture at them, injuries are rare but by no means unheard of. Poltergeist hunting's can last from a few hours to several years, although they rarely last more than a few months.

A ghost, also known as a specter, spirit, or apparition is the essence of the life of someone who has died physically. In short it is their soul, which lives on after physical death.

References:

What is the difference between a ghost and a poltergeist?

What are Poltergeists?

No it isn't a matter of opinion, it's just definitions. As posted above, poltergeist translates into "noisy ghost." Meaning that they are malicious and tricky. Where as a plain ol' ghost is generally harmless and will keep to itself.

A ghost is someone who has passed on, but does not realize that he/she is dead or has unfinished business here on earth, and is stuck in there own time, and will remain in this world with the living.

A spirit is someone that has moved and is enlighted to journey to the spirit world (afterlife) and may sometimes visit the living world, and watch over thier loved ones.

A poltargeist is a disturbed spirit, that makes noises and moves things and causes disturbances to the living, because they haunt a specfic place, and they may not realise that they are dead or letting the living know that they are around, like haunting people and making their lives a misery.

You can see ghosts, and you can hear poltageists. Poltageist is the German meaning for noisy spirit.

As previously stated poltergeist literally translates as noisy ghost. Although traditional ghosts are reported to make noises, these sounds tend to be in keeping with the spirit's life. For example, the ghost of a blacksmith might return to his forge and people might then hear the sound of horse shoes being hammered into shape.

Poltergeists are often said to manifest when an adolesant lives in the house. They are traditionally considered to be noisy or mischievious spirits focusing on one specific person and the results are random, not re-enacting actions from a life already lived.

normal ghosts don't' have as much energy as a poltergeist, poltergeist have the ability to move things and ghosts have barely enough energy to reveal themselves, which is why they don't apeare for a long period of time.

i think all disembodied forms need a large amount of energy. i realy dont think it matter which kind they are.

Way back they defined Poltergeist as a ghost who basically moved things around...noisy is correct. They got away from that and said it was a child starting puberty who was unconsciously projecting kenetic energy and moving the things around and their was no ghost present. This has confused me over the years because since that time I see people defining it back the old way or combining the two. Whatever the cause it is some form of energy being projected by something to move things around and make noises...whether it might be the child or a ghost it appears at this time.

I think when all the ghost hunting came about many looked all this up to learn and they drew from old research views and voila we redefined back to original beliefs.

Yes, its possible, because ghosts and poltageists have the same aspects of each other, that stay behind in the living, because they have unfinished business. A ghost is what you see and sometimes they can make noises. I remember a story about a man who worked in a small garage and stones were thrown onto the roof, and noises and bangs were heard inside the garage when he was working alone with his friend. Tools were thrown across the floor. And then one day after all the poltageist activity that was going on in the garage, and he walked up the steps, and he saw a ghostly figure of a young boy. He was playing games with the two men for months. The poltageist turns into a ghost of a boy months later.

ghosts in my term are soul lost or not knowing that they are dead or have not acceptedit, either by tragic death or all of a sudden, poltriegeist are misheivies spirits who get their jollys by tormanting the living.

NartinaLeMaliki -


I'd have to disagree with you on your statement. Poltergeists are indeed paranormal. Spirits ARE paranormal.


Also, your statement about 'geists being caused by humans is slightly true [this is all in my opinion]. They're kind of like ghosts in a way.

I really dont know, I have not studied any of this. But I do find both interesting.

Ghosts are much the same as spirits, demons, gods, angels, mermaids, unicorns, gremlins, goblins, fairies, Santa Claus and the Easter bunny -- a lot of people believe they exist, but no one has any credible evidence to support that believe.

Poltergeists seem to be the same thing. I've watched more than a few shows which claim to investigate hauntings attributed to such entities and find most of them so utterly lacking in any credibility that they actually serve as evidence against the existence of such entities. I can recall one where a 15-year old girl was said to have been sleeping in her bed when she felt a light bump. Then the bed jumped. In seconds the bed was hopping up and down in her room with her in it. She was said to be terrified (which would be completely understandable). And yet, she didn't wake her parents because she didn't want to disturb their sleep.

Does that sound credible to anyone? I realize that there are always some hoaxes and in cases where people are attempting to investigate a reality, those hoaxes only muddy the water. But what I've not seen is a credible presentation that actually provides substance for such beliefs.

Until someone can present credible/logical support, I'm going to have to file ghosts and poltergeists along with the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny -- myths.

darkXwhisper -



Not necessarily. Not all ghosts are quiet and keep to themselves.

Obscuration,

I grasp the assertion. What I don't see is support for the assertion. What can you offer to support the claim that not all ghosts are quiet?

I would suggest that all are completely silent -- as silent as Leprechauns, and for the same reason.

My comment is based off of reports I've read. To say that all ghosts are quiet would be saying they're all completely and utterly mute.

Yet even if this does prove to be true I believe ghosts are capable of possession, controling the human body, and having use of all of it's features which would include the voice box.

the difference between ghosts and poltergeists is that poltergeists do not materialize physically and are disruptive.It is also said that girls hitting puberty are very emotional and cause poltergeist like activity and it becomes difficult to tell which it is if there is a female going through puberty in the same space.

The conversation is beginning to go in circles.