Ghosts

The old village streets, abandoned buildings and fields surrounding Avilla, Missouri are said to be known haunts of the Shadow People, who are dark shadowy types of ghosts or shadow-beings. But sightings of the Avilla Shadow Folk should not be confused with the "Avilla Phantom Bushwhacker" of the "Death Tree Legend", also known as "Rotten Johnny Reb". This is the famous Halloween ghost story for the old town. Rotten Johnny is described as a similar shadowy figure but is not a true shadow person. He is a fearfully different type of troubled night apparition and is most likely a revenant or rare type of semi-visible poltergeist that roams around Avilla and haunts the Death Tree itself. It is an enduring Avilla ghost story describing various hauntings involving the ghost of a dead Confederate Bushwhacker whose remains were never properly buried, and an old tree charged with dark or evil energy after his skull was hung on it.

According to one version of the legend, the phantom is not only searching for his head, but vengeance on the town citizens as well. Rotten Johnny lurks in the shadows of the night, a now headless specter wearing a long duster and carrying an antique firearm. The Civil War never ended for him, as he is cursed to fulfill his mission even in death. The rebel relentlessly searches for unsuspecting dead or living "Yankee scum" around Avilla to bushwhack. It is said that the phantom can be seen nearly any night of the year, but seems most active in Autumn. It is thought that his head had been removed on All Hallow's Eve, accounting for his deadly power in the afterlife. Some unexplained deaths are attributed to the phantom, and he is rumored to be the reason why many have moved far away from Avilla over the last century and a half. The old village folk believed that the only way to break the curse was to find the Death Tree and remove the skull, and then properly bury it in a cemetery with other resting Confederate soldiers, or otherwise destroy it in a fire on holy ground. It is also said that the skull itself radiates dark, evil energy and can only be seen on the tree while illuminated under moonlight. You must carry a sharp knife or saber during this dangerous task. Once you see the hanging skull, it must be cut down quickly from the tree before "Rotten Johnny Reb" can cut you down first.

A handful of residents have tried to break the curse over the years, but all have failed, and the knowledge of the tree's location has died with them. One of the clues to finding the tree is that during the day it attracts black crows as a perch. Another clue is that it bears shriveled or rotten fruit, or none at all. It was once near an apple orchard but all the trees around it soon died, and it probably stands alone. The tree was located beside a trail leading to town, but the modern roads do not follow the old Civil War era trails at all, so it is more likely in a field today. The Death Tree is believed to be a very old Osage-orange tree near the outskirts of Avilla, but which side of town is unclear, and the exact location of of it is unknown.

No one sees ghosts. There are several reasons people say they do. These include lying, hallucinating and hoaxing among others. Ghosts have never been proven to exist, so it is intellectually responsible and prudent to conclude they do not exist.

In order to make sense of our world, we must use the scientific method, not spooky stories, opinions, hoaxes or outright lies by people who need attention or need to feel special. Other believers may be uneducated, superstitious or just too young and naive.

The Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.

Scientific researchers propose hypotheses as explanations of phenomena, and design experimental studies to test these hypotheses. These steps must be repeatable in order to dependably predict any future results. Theories that encompass wider domains of inquiry may bind many independently derived hypotheses together in a coherent, supportive structure. This in turn may help form new hypotheses or place groups of hypotheses into context.

Among other facets shared by the various fields of inquiry is the conviction that the process must be objective to reduce biased interpretations of the results. Another basic expectation is to document, archive and share all data and methodology so they are available for careful scrutiny by other scientists, thereby allowing other researchers the opportunity to verify results by attempting to reproduce them. This practice, called full disclosure, also allows statistical measures of the reliability of these data to be established.

In summation: For something to exist it has to be proven. This is how we escaped the dark ages - using reason and logic.So, for now, ghosts do not exist.

• Edit: Statements below the bullet point under this are either unproven facts or sightings. Ghosts have not been proven, but people claim they've seen them. The only posible evidence are that they have a form of depression, loneliness, over-active imagination, or fearing them.

• Not all people see ghosts (or specters.) Some people don't even believe in them and Christians feel if one sees a ghost (Even the Holy Ghost?) it's a demon and not of this earth and evil. I've read many scientific studies on specters and have seen some pretty convincing pictures. They say that if someone dies a sudden death, is murdered, or loves the home they lived in they will remain there. They don't know they are dead. There is no scientific proof to back this up, but there are many things in this world us humans don't understand and perhaps we aren't meant to understand more at this point in time. Some see ghosts while others simply feel their presents or, the ghost may move material things around that person. A book may go flying across the room or lights flicker off and on for no apparent reason. Yes. Just because scientists can't prove there is such a thing doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
• I see ghosts I have seen six in my house in just this year. They go to the right people they need loads of energy to be able to show themselves. I'm psychic. They come out when you are confident and happy just get a camera out and start taking pictures you have to be patient but they will show up cause it happened to me four times, but each one was different.
• I have seen many ghosts in my years they stalk me, asking for my help, I know I am not going crazy because i have seen them go into the light.
• Ghosts are real and because scientist can't prove it doesn't mean that it isn't true. I don't believe that ghosts have to stay one earth because of certain reasons I believe that they can chose if they stay and they can chose anything they want. They can be annoying they can follow you or they can just be evil. I believe a ghost should cross and if they don't want to but are not evil you should try to help and offer to help them. But if one of the people is evil or it is a demon then you should learn to get rid of it. Some people have different beliefs on how to get rid of ghosts and demon's so people can do it by themselves and other believe that only the church can and other think no one can get rid of the ghosts that haunt you. Learn why you can see the ghost, I believe that people see them for different reason's some they have a gift or the ghost's want you to see them. You need to find out to help them or you will never get rid of them unless they meet someone else who can help.
• Ghosts are not real they are in peoples imagination, if they were real don't you think you would see them in everyday life? Demons are evils spirits but they only get control of you because they're wanting something from you.

Okay, I know this is going to sound a lot like 'ghost whisperer', but I'm not lying. I can hear, see, help and talk to the ghosts that I help to 'cross over'. Please don't say I'm crazy or lying, because I'm not.