'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.