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And, as you say, my friend perceives a hornworm to be a monster. I, being color blind, cannot see the hornworm among the foliage. We are both incorrect as to what is in reality -- I see nothing, my friend sees a monster, but in reality, it's an insect.
What science DOES know is that there are many instances when a person can receive bits of information via the senses, and that person's mind fills in the gaps to come up with something. Visual illusions are an excellent example. Other experiments involve priming a person with a series of related words, and then showing incomplete drawings. Depending on the series of related words used, individuals will perceive different images from the same drawings. Thus, as you point out, different people will perceive different things from the same bit of information. But why do you claim that because some people "fill in the gaps" to create a ghost that they are correct, while those who "fill in the gaps" to say "oh, that sound was an owl...there is a storm coming, so that explains the random gust of air, etc."?
You are free to continue to believe what you wish, and you may genuinely feel the sensations that cause your mind to come to the conclusion that ghosts exist. However, none of that is sufficient to prove that they do.
The stories are entertaining to read, however, so keep 'em coming.