Shadow People

These are pretty self-explanatory.  A shadow person is a type of ghost that is nothing more than a dark silhouette or blob.  They are typically seen through peripheral vision, but people have claimed to spot them from a distance.  They are usually observing people or slowly following without getting too close.  A few stories claim they have glowing eyes while others give them no features.  They even appear in some religious folklore where they are considered shades from the underworld.

Now, there is one recurring shadow person called “Hat Man”.  This is a shadowy ghost that looks like all other accounts, but he wears a brimmed hat.  He has been associated with sleep paralysis and the overuse of Benadryl.  This entity began getting mentioned on the Internet in the early 2000’s and this increased the sightings of general shadow people.  I would keep in mind that they have existed in folklore for centuries, but they achieved a modern push due to “Hat Man”.  There is also a high chance that people seeing the attention the stories got then claimed to have seen it themselves.

The connection to a drug is why people look at the shadow people for an explanation of ghosts in general.  Humans need a solid, tangible explanation, which spirits of the dead doesn’t accomplish.  So, the idea that taking a drug and seeing a shadowy figure under sleep paralysis gives an explanation.  It doesn’t help that they are typically seen briefly through peripheral vision, so people are never 100% sure of what they see.  Has all the hallmarks of psychological trickery induced by heightened emotions, exhaustion, and/or medication.

Even with all of the doubt, there could be some truth to a shadowy ghost.  Just like how the ladies come in different colors, it could be that there are ghosts that don’t glow in the dark.  They absorb light and stick to the darkness.  Though, they could be considered demons as well . . . That’s another post.