# 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:** 39
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/761 "2013-03-12T12:47:56Z")
> [@James501](#): > > retards That’s all I gleaned from your post. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/762 "2013-03-12T13:08:39Z")
> [@James501](#): > > Those who feel the ouija board should be put to the test, will find that the spirits on the other side have no need to prove themselves to anyone in that way, and like anyone else, take objction to such testing. Generally they wiill simply stop working unless they feel the testers are simply, honestly and unjudgmentally trying to verify that they work as in the case of the first poster. How terribly convenient. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/763 "2013-03-12T14:13:10Z")
If the spirits on the other side aren’t trying determinedly to contact us by any means available, whether we’re receptive or not, I can only conclude one of the following: A. They don’t care about us, which makes me wonder why we should care about them; or B. They don’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/764 "2013-03-12T14:21:09Z")
Talk about raising the dead. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/765 "2013-03-12T14:43:39Z")
Speaking of contacting spirits from the other side, how old is this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/766 "2013-03-12T16:02:54Z")
Wow. After all these years, I’m still surprised, and more than a little disappointed, when people profess a belief in utter nonsense and talk in circles whenever anyone questions it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/767 "2013-03-12T16:05:57Z")
What makes you an authority on the matter, **James501**? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/768 "2013-03-12T16:21:23Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > The real question is, can you use a Ouija board to summon zombies, or just evil spirits from beyond the grave? Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/769 "2013-03-12T20:56:51Z")
“Aye. I can summon up a demon more savage than any in ghost land – by smiting you in the face.” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/770 "2013-03-12T21:13:34Z")
How is it that the spirits on the other side are such conformists? They’re absolutely unanimous in their objection to formal testing. That sort of things would be really weird in any other context that involves personalities. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/771 "2013-03-12T21:16:56Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > How is it that the spirits on the other side are such conformists? They’re absolutely unanimous in their objection to formal testing. That sort of things would be really weird in any other context that involves personalities. Excellent point. Harry Houdini is dead. I’m sure he’d leap at the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/772 "2013-03-12T21:36:30Z")
I don’t think **James501** is coming back. With only one post, I think we can safely say that this rare medium is, well…done. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/773 "2013-03-12T23:26:10Z")
You forgot to take off/put on your sunglasses there. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/774 "2013-03-12T23:58:56Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come when you do call for them? I love that line! ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/775 "2013-03-13T00:13:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I don’t think **James501** is coming back. With only one post, I think we can safely say that this rare medium is, well…done. Perhaps we can use a Ouija board to contact him? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/776 "2013-03-13T00:32:12Z")
> [@James501](#): > > Those who feel the ouija board should be put to the test, will find that the spirits on the other side have no need to prove themselves to anyone in that way, and like anyone else, take objction to such testing. Generally they wiill simply stop working unless they feel the testers are simply, honestly and unjudgmentally trying to verify that they work as in the case of the first poster. This text is in Spanish when nobody is reading it. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/777 "2013-03-13T03:03:44Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > . . . I use the same technique in my scientific experiments and publications. I, of course, know what the real outcome of those experiments should be. The ones that produce other results only occur because someone has failed to believe in them, so I ignore those particular runs of the experiments. This technique has allowed me to produce far stronger results in my experiments and more publications, whereas before realizing what I had to do my papers were rejected because the reviewers claimed that my experiments failed to prove my hypotheses. I love you and want to be your drooling hunchbacked sidekick! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/778 "2013-03-13T04:07:32Z")
> [@martin2588](#): > > This is the point, we are all friends, we didnt rig it in any way, it isnt that simple, we all took turns in drawing the pictures and writing the words. and with the eyes closed thing, as before we are all friends, but there is no way that one person would know the ansers to things the others were asking. No. You didn’t != we/they didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/779 "2013-03-13T11:25:14Z")
O.K., Trinopus, we’ll have to get you a tuxedo appropriate to your hunchbacked body, since you’ll need something to wear at the Nobel Prize ceremony. I will be winning a Nobel Prize, of course, since the Nobel committee will certainly appreciate the startlingly clearcut nature of the results of my experiments, despite the fact that I have been venturing into areas of research far beyond that reached by researchers who refuse to use my methods. I have been able to advance science so greatly because I intuitively know where it has to be going. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528/780 "2013-03-13T14:41:33Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No. You didn’t != we/they didn’t. Maybe he’s come to his senses since he wrote that, four years ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528.md?page=38) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards-i-used-to-think-it-was-bull-until/486528.md?page=40)