I've discussed this in the past, but it's worth repeating, perhaps more clearly: Ghosts have certain characteristics. Faeries are different. And there are other entities in the "paranormal" category, worth mentioning.
Ghosts. Ghosts were once people the same and you and I are. They have--and still have--very human traits. They experience emotions, sometimes inappropriately. They react to things that occur around them. They have dreams and regrets, and those often cause them to haunt.
Ghosts do not hurt people, unless we're discussing small pranks by poltergeists. You need never be afraid of a ghost; there is absolutely no documented story of a ghost killing someone, including the Bell Witch legend.
Ghosts rarely take things, or hide your belongings. Those are the actions of the fae.
Ghosts manifest in limited ways. You may hear them, or feel as if you could hear them clearly if you could just get closer, or turn your head the right way. You may see ghosts, or something that suggests you can almost see them. You may detect a pipe tobacco or fragrance the ghost favored in life.
However, if you are hearing, seeing, smelling and sensing "ghosts" in other ways, simultaneously, suspect that someone is playing a prank on you. Or, your imagination has taken flight.
The only exception to this is the Green Lady phenomenon, and she is so sane, strong, and powerful, you may confuse her for someone who's still living in our earthly plane. But she's a rare exception.
Faeries. Faeries can be small, winged creatures of fantasy, but far more often they are full-sized people, or larger. They are rarely winged. In fact, you could pass faeries on the street and not realize it, although in my encounters, their mode of dress attracts attention.
Faeries do move objects around the house. They're the ones who hide the car keys, move your glasses to an unlikely location, and so on.
Faeries are similar to humans in many ways, but sometimes their humor baffles us. And, if they're vindictive (which is very rare), they can carry a grudge for a long time.
Faeries rarely appear in photographs, but I've seen some stunning examples. Usually, they're in photos that people send to me, thinking that they've photographed a ghost. Faeries in photos are clearly from the fantasy realm, and don't really look like anyone you'd see on the street; ghosts look like slightly faded people when they're caught on film in "human" form.
