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[SD-Ness]

Saturday, December 4, 2004 Posted: 6:38 PM EST (2338 GMT)

HOBART, Indiana (AP) -- A woman's effort to assuage her 6-year-old son's fears of his grandfather's ghost by selling it on eBay has drawn more than 34 bids with a top offer of $78.

Mary Anderson said she placed her father's "ghost" on the online auction site after her son, Collin, said he was afraid the ghost would return someday. Anderson said Collin has avoided going anywhere in the house alone since his grandfather died last year.

In a description titled "This isn't a joke," Anderson told Collin's story on eBay:

"I always thought it was just normal kid fears until a few months ago he told me why he was so scared. He told me 'Grandpa died here, and he was mean. His ghost is still around here!"'

Lest the boy's fears scare off potential bidders, Anderson added, "My dad was the sweetest most caring man you'd ever meet."

Some of the prospective buyers have posted their own messages.

"Your story brought tears to my eyes," one bidder said. "I just wonder how this will turn out for your son. I'm sure his Grandfather loved him very much."

Anderson also put her father's metal walking cane up for auction so she would have something to actually send the winning bidder. The proceeds from the auction will go to buy Collin a special present, she said.

Anderson makes one special request of the winner bidder: "I would like to ask you to write a letter after you've received the cane (and the ghost) to my son letting him know that he's there with you and you're getting along great."

The bidding is due to close Monday afternoon.

A message left with San Jose, California-based eBay Inc. in San Jose, California, was not immediately returned Saturday.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/12/04/ghost.for.sale.ap/index.html

Wow.

 

[Dan]

So I'm reading this article at CNN about a woman auctioning her father's ghost on eBay, and then I click over and reload GAF and there appears a thread on it!

Anyway, it's pretty bizarre. People keep finding weirder and weirder things to auction off, and new ways of keeping them within the rules.

 

[Socreges]

Anderson also put her father's metal walking cane up for auction so she would have something to actually send the winning bidder. The proceeds from the auction will go to buy Collin a special present, she said.

Anderson makes one special request of the winner bidder: "I would like to ask you to write a letter after you've received the cane (and the ghost) to my son letting him know that he's there with you and you're getting along great.

That's actually kind of cool.

One of the more creative (while not offensive) uses of eBay.

 

[FoneBone]

I don't believe in ghosts, but the symbolism inherent in "selling" your father is rather disturbing.

 

[Socreges]

I don't believe in ghosts, but the symbolism inherent in "selling" your father is rather disturbing.

I see what you mean, but you're selling his ghost, not his soul.

 

[Matlock]

Whoa, I'm gonna buy me a zombie slave.

 

[beerbelly]

Why don't she just write the letter herself and lie to the kid?

 

[Eminem]

I live not even 6 miles from Hobart, where this ebayer is from 0_o

 

[Zaptruder]

I don't believe in ghosts, but the symbolism inherent in "selling" your father is rather disturbing.

You gotta pimp it when you can.

 

[MIMIC]

Why don't she just write the letter herself and lie to the kid?

She can't make any money that way.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

$5 tops. It shouldn't include S&H, right?

Anyway, I bet it can't even posess people or pick shit up and make it look like it's flying around the room. : [

 

[Rorschach]

I bet Satan's pissed he was outbid at the last minute yet again.

 

[cvxfreak]

I can't wait until this kid grows up.

 

[Mr. Spinnington]

I bet Satan's pissed he was outbid at the last minute yet again.

Should've sniped.

 

[AstroLad]

I'd trade some Alf Pogs for this, but that's it.