Hiya EH
There are no stupid questions.
What I try and do is equate spirits to humans...as in alive humans.
So if another human comes along and tells you he/she was famous in a previous life, how would you take that/feel?
Would you assume that person was evil or of darkness?
The way I see it is that humans (and other beings) have their own personalities - they might be playful, sarcastic, helpful, draining, generating, samaritans, mischievous and so on.
Whatever spirit you have encountered, treat it as if you've met someone in the pub on a Friday night...in other words, be discerning
Squatch