# Ouija Boards - I used to think it was bull until...... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 19, 2009, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528 "2009-02-19T09:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/681 "2009-03-04T16:40:49Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I don’t know anyone who believes that. It _is_ the ideomotor effect, or whatever: the spirits **inspire** or otherwise influence the users to move the physical objects in an effective way. (Or, in the case of the pendulum, it can be used in that way without requesting the guidance of a spirit.) Can you give any actual evidence that this is the case? Or are you just sliding back the normal claim to do an end run around the scientific explanation? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/682 "2009-03-04T18:34:47Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > fap fap fap Sorry, **Cervaise**. Forgot you were half Yeti. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/683 "2009-03-04T19:33:31Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > You keep making statements like this, like you were talking about something true and verifiable. When you talk about the differences between high and low spirits and how they work and who they communicate with, it’s like me discussing in great detail the mating habits of yetis. > > FIRST, you need to offer some definitive, verifiable, repeatable proof that they even exist. Since people have claimed that ghosts exist for thousands of years and never managed to prove it, I’m not holding my breath. > > THEN you can make up twaddle about different types of spirits and how they behave and what they think and present it to us as “fact.” You demand definitive, verifiable, repeatable proof as regards the spirit world. I think you are just too far advanced intellectually for me to oppose. You win whatever you think is OK with me. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/684 "2009-03-04T23:02:53Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > You demand definitive, verifiable, repeatable proof as regards the spirit world. I think you are just too far advanced intellectually for me to oppose. You win whatever you think is OK with me. 😃 Nicely worded! Tell you what, **lekatt**. I’ll keep an open mind and say that spirits might possibly exist if you’ll keep an open mind and say that they might not. ---
**Author:** ![QuanSu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c37758/32.png) [@QuanSu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuanSu)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/685 "2009-03-04T23:15:49Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Several years ago I read some of the writings of an Admiral during WWII. He stated the allies had made a landing and were barely holding on. They knew the Germans had reinforcements on the way but didn’t know where they were. > After exhausting all logic as to where they may be a sailor offered to use a pendulum on the map. He had been good at finding water and things. The Admiral allowed the sailor to do so, and he quickly pointed to a spot on the map where he said he was sure the Germans were grouping. After swearing the sailor to secrecy, the Admiral ordered all the guns of the fleet to that spot and the 14" Battlewagon guns pounded the spot for an hour. The sailor was right and the German reinforcements slaughtered. The Admiral related this story about 8 years after the war was over and he had retired. I am only passing the information on, don’t care what you think about it. Just finish reading the thread, and I just want to put in my 2 cents: I don’t care either why you need to “pass” the “information” to us or your logic so far; I just want to note that this “story” does not fit the definition of “information”. It is at best hearsay or gossip, and at worse is spam or rubbish. All the spams I received in my mailbox have the same characteristics: Cannot be independently verified, contains no specific names, conflicting internal logic, “just pass it on” etc… ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/686 "2009-03-05T00:49:18Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > 😃 Nicely worded! > > Tell you what, **lekatt**. I’ll keep an open mind and say that spirits might possibly exist if you’ll keep an open mind and say that they might not. I thought you might like it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/687 "2009-03-14T02:36:23Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > The exact question I asked myself whenever I heard a quote from Dick Cheney. I lost my wallet, had my running money for the month in it (gas, food at college, etc.). It’s prolly gone taking with it various IDs, including my social security card. I had a lot of trouble reporting it. It’s hard to call the cops this late. So I was super frustrated. Yet this made me laugh hard enough to cheer me up. Thanks yo. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/688 "2009-03-14T03:08:13Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > On the other hand spiritual people have been able to contact very high spirits through the board. No, they haven’t. > [@](#): > > Like Seth of Jane Roberts “Seth Books.” It is true beginners should have experienced help. Roberts was a scam artist. You’ve been fooled. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/689 "2009-03-14T04:40:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Roberts was a scam artist. You’ve been fooled. (hyperventilating) Oh God! Did you ever SEE her? She’d rise from her chair, assuming the stance of Yul Brynner in “The King and I”–y’know, feet apart, squatting somewhat, and with her hands on her hips, and she’d adopt a gruff voice while spouting platitudinous BS. It was HILARIOUS! ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/690 "2009-03-14T21:26:19Z")
> [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](#): > > For the first: Someone knew in advance what was going to be drawn. > For the second mystery: The one friend who was able to make the board work was the one doing the moving. > > My guess: The idea for playing with the board originally came from that person or the one who did the drawing, or they skillfully managed to suggest the idea without it seeming to come from them. They had the whole thing planned in advance as a joke. I did the board in late high school with some friends strictly on a whim one day. I was the one who suggested it and we started messing around and seemed to be getting answers like how old am I? etc. The board was nailing them. Then a friend of ours dropped in with his brand new girlfriend and she suggested we ask it her middle name. The planchette(sp) went without hesitation to S-U-E, which was her middle name. We were all astounded and one guy got the heebee jeebes and quit. 1. I suggested it on a whim. 2. No one got up to pee or leave the room 3. our friend dropped by unexpectedly 4. no one had met his girlfriend before that day. I don’t know what or how this happened, but I know it wasn’t a rigged game. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/691 "2009-03-14T21:42:03Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > I don’t know what or how this happened, but I know it wasn’t a rigged game. Who was touching the planchette? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/692 "2009-03-14T21:47:24Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > I was the one who suggested it and we started messing around and seemed to be getting answers like how old am I? etc. You mean easy questions you all knew the answers to? Some mystery. > [@](#): > > Then a friend of ours dropped in with his brand new girlfriend and she suggested we ask it her middle name. The planchette(sp) went without hesitation to S-U-E, which was her middle name. We were all astounded and one guy got the heebee jeebes and quit. Sue’s a common name. You got lucky. ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/693 "2009-03-14T22:32:44Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Who was touching the planchette? Me and a buddy, not the friend with the girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/694 "2009-03-14T22:47:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Sue’s a common name. You got lucky. Once on IRC some dude, never talked talked to that dude before; it might have been a chick for all I know, was going on and on about this dude named “Chris” or or something. Everyone’s like who’s Chris? Joking I was like “his uncle”. Turned out it was their uncle, and they thought I was a stalker. It was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/695 "2009-03-14T23:32:16Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > Me and a buddy, not the friend with the girlfriend. Your buddy was in on it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/696 "2009-03-14T23:48:29Z")
> [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](#): > > Once on IRC some dude, never talked talked to that dude before; it might have been a chick for all I know, was going on and on about this dude named “Chris” or or something. Everyone’s like who’s Chris? Joking I was like “his uncle”. > > Turned out it was their uncle, and they thought I was a stalker. It was funny. Heh. Seriously, **jakesteele** , “Sue?” If you’d guessed correctly that her name was Humperdinck or something, I can understand being spooked. But Sue? That’s got to be one of the five most common middle names for women, up there with Lynn (I know about five of those), Lee, Mary and Elizabeth. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/697 "2009-03-15T02:27:57Z")
Yeah, middle names were the only way we could distinguish some sets of sisters when I was a kid. Mary Sue, Mary Beth, and Mary Katherine were all different people. OTOH, when my daughter was in (public) elementary school, she was the ONLY Mary out of hundreds of students. This lapse of what I considered normal, going to Catholic school in the 60s. ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/698 "2009-03-15T02:29:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You mean easy questions you all knew the answers to? Some mystery. > > Sue’s a common name. You got lucky. Could have happened that way, it is not outside the realm of possibility. I wish I had that kind of luck picking Lottery tickets. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/699 "2009-03-15T02:42:54Z")
> [@jakesteele](#): > > Could have happened that way, it is not outside the realm of possibility. I wish I had that kind of luck picking Lottery tickets. Probability is weird like that. There’s so many weird unlikely things that chances are eventually some of them do happen because there’s just so many. I had no idea who Chris was, but I guessed correct. Bob’s yer uncle ---
**Author:** ![jakesteele](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed8c4c/32.png) [@jakesteele](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jakesteele)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/700 "2009-03-15T02:44:06Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Your buddy was in on it. There was nothing to be in on. As I stated, I was the one who came up with the idea on a whim. It was something neither one of us had done since childhood. Neither one of us left the room. Our buddy came in unannounced shortly after we started. The only way you could say anyone ‘was in on it’ is to say I’m lying about this event either by making it up or not letting you in on the punch line. One poster said it was because of luck. If it was luck, that means that it happened free of trickery, duplicity or deception. So am I lying, was it luck or something else? Remember, Ocaam’s Razor is a double edged blade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528.md?page=36)