In a lot of cases how are we sure that an apparition is of a dead person? If it resembles Marley or whoever we still can't be certain hence lots of allegations that the spook is impersonating someone else. Could it be an attempt at communication by something?
Maybe there is a need for more definitions when we discuss haunts?
As cloudbusting said many "ghost" TV shows have to have "demons" I suspect mainly for dramatic effect but are they ghosts?
Polts are seen as different but IIRC some involve ghost monks etc.
Ghosts of the living and crisis apparitions are different again.
Then there are cultural differences. Japanese ghosts that you can't escape, Indian sub continent where backwards facing feet IIRC are the sign of a ghost or spirit (also attributed to some Yeti sightings) etc.
Could BHM sightings in area where they is no possibility that they are cryptids (England) be ghost cavemen?
What of lights in the sky or in the open (Lubbock Lights, etc.) are they ghosts or UFOs?
Is the phenomenon as a whole decreasing or are certain areas stabilising or even increasing and is this a purely regional trend (e.g. only in Europe and the US)?
If the energy to power the phenomenon is declining, why? I can see that an Iron age ghost may be running out of steam (Steam powered ghosts , mustn't be sidetracked
) but why would the energy be lower now unless, as suggested something in our technology is causing it.
People may not recognise ghosts as ghosts if seen "out and about" but surely if some old dear in a 1950s twin set shows up in your living room you'd think it odd?
Sorry for the rambling and all the questions (perhaps I'm channeling James Joyce) but some great answers to my original post which have got me asking even more questions.