'Media blows up rumors, irrationality, superstition'

'Media blows up rumors, irrationality, superstition'

After a television aired a story last week about an unoccupied
house in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, which is rumored to be
haunted, thousands of people visited the house, causing traffic
jams in the area. The Jakarta Post spoke to several people to get
their take on the matter.

Widyanarti, 32, a housewife who lives in Kayu Jati, East
Jakarta:

I heard rumors about the haunted house in Pondok Indah last
year.

I don't really care what the truth behind the story is.
Besides, I have seen pictures of the house in newspapers and this
so-called haunted house does not appear to be frightening. Lots
of people have gone into the building and painted graffiti on the
walls.

I criticize the media for blowing up the rumor and
exaggerating this absurd issue. It implies that the media spends
too much time on irrational and superstitious stories.

I wonder why all kinds of people from all levels of society
want to go and see this "haunted house". It seems they don't have
anything better to do.

Maybe people are tired of hard issues like politics. Instead,
they want to hear about more common and entertaining stories,
including ones about ghosts.

Dimas, a fourth year student at Trisakti University who
resides in Cinere, South Jakarta:

The public is becoming more interested these days in soap
operas and mystical programs shown on some private television
stations. It seems irrationality is becoming more commonplace.

But we have to believe that God actually creates not only
human beings, but also other beings which might be invisible. We
have got to believe in other creatures, which many people might
think are ghosts. Otherwise, we don't believe in God's might.

The growing belief in superstition is natural because the
roots of our ancient culture recognized mysticism and
superstition.

However, the public has gone too far in responding to the
"haunted house" in Pondok Indah, which is a bit unusual. The
exaggeration of this rumor reflects the immaturity of our
society.

Ignas, 31, an accountant at a private company in Blok M, South
Jakarta:

I think the public response to the haunted house in Pondok
Indah is natural. Besides, the religious affairs minister (who
recently ordered a dig for hidden treasure at the urging of a
paranormal) has taught us to believe in mysticism.

We cannot deny that superstition exists in many countries,
whether advanced or developing. And mysticism is part of our
culture.

I can understand the public response to the rumors about the
haunted house in Pondok Indah.

Johan, a clothes seller. He lives in Jombang, Tangerang, with
his wife and four children:

I believe ghosts exist. There is even a ghost in my house, and
I sometimes see strange things at night.

But it's all right as long as the ghosts don't bother us, like
the one at my house does.

So, I can say that what has happened at the haunted house in
Pondok Indah is quite normal. I don't think it's surprising that
lots of people would go and see the house.

I believe that there are many ghosts in that house, even
though I haven't visited it.