# Is Contactiong The Dead a Bad ZIdea? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 29, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200 "2011-10-29T16:52:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/1 "2011-10-29T16:52:39Z")
It seems that the Bible (OT) says so. Take the case of King Saul. Saul is concerned about a battle next day-he wants to know how he can avoid losing. So he hires a local necromancer (The “Witch of Endor”) to contact the now-dead prophet Samuel. The “Witch” does her thing,and the ghost of Samuel emerges. The first words out of his mouth: “why did you disturb my rest”? Samuel finds (to his horror) that not only will he die in battle next day, but his son will too…and his army will be defeated! So, given that he was warned not to contact the dead, did God decide to mess him up as well? Plus, if Samuel is asleep, what could he know about upcoming events? So, attempst to contact bthe dead are usually futile, and frought with risk! Should any of us attempt this at home?:eek: ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/2 "2011-10-29T17:02:16Z")
My Ouija board says it’s a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/3 "2011-10-29T17:03:41Z")
As soon as I find my Magic 8 Ball, I’ll let you know what it thinks… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/4 "2011-10-29T17:29:24Z")
Ralph, do you do _everything_ the Bible says to do, and not do the things it says not to do? ---
**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/5 "2011-10-29T17:45:55Z")
19 ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/6 "2011-10-29T17:58:54Z")
It’s a bad idea, in that it’s a waste of time. Once someone dies their brain rots. Brains cause consciousness. Consciousness is required for contact. Your time would better be spent on typing classes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/7 "2011-10-30T01:31:13Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > As soon as I find my Magic 8 Ball, I’ll let you know what it thinks… I have your Magic 8 Ball. You’ll get it back when you apologize for what you did. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/8 "2011-10-30T02:01:00Z")
They’ll steal your money - happens everytime - those per minute rates to the netherworld are not covered in your wireless plan. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/9 "2011-10-30T02:05:47Z")
Better try contacting a spell checker. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/10 "2011-10-30T02:05:51Z")
forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Circuit\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@Circuit\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Circuit_6)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/11 "2011-10-30T02:07:56Z")
I do not recommend it, Ouija’s are gateways. Also, you _can_ contact the dead with one, but, you can also speak with entities far more horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/12 "2011-10-30T02:09:20Z")
Worse idea: posting while drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/13 "2011-10-30T02:19:49Z")
What are you talking about? I post drunk all the time. Worst it ever got me was lynched in mafia. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/14 "2011-10-30T02:21:03Z")
I’d think so. The grave is a fine and private place, but there’s just no place to charge the cell phone. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/15 "2011-10-30T02:27:18Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Worse idea: posting while drunk. Worse still: posting when you’re **ralph124c**. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/16 "2011-10-30T02:50:23Z")
I tried contacting the dead once. He didn’t say anything useful, though. Just variations on “Please help me, I woke up in here and I can’t get out.” ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/17 "2011-10-30T03:08:25Z")
Ever since Jerry Garcia died, contacting the Dead has been futile. All you get is a computer generated email back, “Gone Phishing”. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/18 "2011-10-30T03:17:29Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Worse still: posting when you’re **ralph124c**. So this is a chronic condition of his? ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/19 "2011-10-30T04:25:48Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > As soon as I find my Magic 8 Ball, I’ll let you know what it thinks… > [@Magic 8 Ball](#): > > Ask again later How’s that? ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200/20 "2011-10-30T07:11:26Z")
> [@Circuit\_6](#): > > I do not recommend it, Ouija’s are gateways. Also, you _can_ contact the dead with one, but, you can also speak with entities far more horrifying. Yeah, like my grandmother. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-contactiong-the-dead-a-bad-zidea/601200.md?page=2)