# ouija boards **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 26, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539 "2003-05-26T05:15:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/41 "2003-05-26T21:57:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SimonX \* > \*\*Welcome to the SDMB **comma**. > > The only authority I’ve heard **Lekatt** recognize is his personal experience. > **Lekatt** ’ll be along in a moment to tell you that I’ve misrepresented him in this. \*\* As I’ve had conversations with **Lekatt** on many occasions this is a statement I can agree with. His personal experience is his authority. I’d say more, but the majority would disagree with me so I’ll leave it at that. ---
**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/42 "2003-05-26T22:22:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*I hope to heck this is a joke - or at least an attempt at incomprehensibility. \*\* Pffft! If you cannot understand my highly symbolic and deeply meaningful anecdote, then clearly you are beyond all help. I shall pray for you. Very dismissively and contemptfully, but still I shall pray for you. Good day. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/43 "2003-05-26T22:28:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Marley23 \* > \*\*Then again, the Straight Dope motto IS “fighting ignorance,” and the stuff you and lekatt are spouting is utter bullcrap. :wally \*\* Now, was that nice? You proud of yourself? May be the sweet Baby Jesus shut your mouth and open your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/44 "2003-05-26T22:54:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\* > > A blind man goes to an art museum and demands to be lead to the Masterpiece. He leans forward and sniffs the painting thoroughly. He nods in satisfaction. > > “Harumph!” he mutters “Just as I thought!” \*\* Hmm… so in your analogy, who’re the seers? I mean, the guy who painted the picture, he could see it… the people at the museum, they see it… the blind dude’s the only one who can’t see the painting. So now, the application- Diogenes et al are the blind, right? But you don’t know any more than they do, so you’re blind. So the real analogy would go like this- A blind man goes to an art museum run by a blind man, featuring art by the blind, and admitting only blind patrons. He demands to be led to the masterpiece. He leans forward and sniffs the painting thoroughly. He nods in satisfaction, bla bla bla. That’s a big difference right? But isn’t my story closer to the actual situation here? ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/45 "2003-05-26T23:00:14Z")
Or… he just smells oil paint, or varnish, or paint-cleaning fluid… ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/46 "2003-05-26T23:06:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by His4ever \* > \*\*As I’ve had conversations with **Lekatt** on many occasions this is a statement I can agree with. His personal experience is his authority. I’d say more, but the majority would disagree with me so I’ll leave it at that. \*\* He’s also said the Jesus is a psychic. Since that’s his experience, I’m sure you agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/47 "2003-05-26T23:07:21Z")
Elucidator: I’m still waiting for your answers to my three simple questions. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/48 "2003-05-26T23:08:30Z")
No, no, don’t strain yourself. Its just not for you, nothing wrong with that. Hell, if you get your jollies showing off your worldly skepticism, thats fine too. I’m not trying to convince you of anything. I don’t have any pamphlets to hand you, you can keep your money in your pocket. Listen, don’t listen, go bowling, its all the same. I care enough to speak, the rest is up to you, and its none of my business. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/49 "2003-05-26T23:56:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by His4ever \* > \*\*You might want to check out the book, The Ouija Board, a doorway to the occut, bu Edmond C Gruss for a different view than those expressed by the others. \*\* Mr. Gruss is wrong. Ouija boards are not a “doorway to the occult.” They’re TOYS. How many times does this have to be explained? They are not ancient spiritualist devices. They were invented as toys. They are manufactured and sold as toys. They work using a perfectly natural, scientifically explained principle that can be and has been demonstrated in any number of controlled tests. They’re toys. It is simply not a matter of debate; it is a fact beyond any rational dispute. Ouija boards are exactly as mystical and magical as Monopoly boards. There is nothing supernatural about them. The OP has been answered. Ouija boards work through either the ideomotor effect or through the dishonestly of one of the participants. Case closed. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/50 "2003-05-27T00:07:22Z")
Elucidator: What’s with the condescending non-reply? This forum is called Great Debates, not Great Received Wisdom From People Who Have Talked to Theosophers. You posted several messages about things like “elementals” and “non-material minds,” and when I and others ask you to clarify, you haughtily pooh-pooh us and tell us to go away. I’m not getting my “jollies showing off my worldly skepticism,” I’m asking you serious questions about what you mean. If you are not prepared to discuss and defend your own statements, I suggest you have no business posting in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![bullets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c2a13f/32.png) [@bullets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bullets)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/51 "2003-05-27T00:11:13Z")
“good morning, girls” said the blind man as he passed he fish mkt. well, i sure as hell didn’t learn anything about ouija boards, but i’m glad i asked the question. woman who fly upside down have crackup. ``` ...confucious..... ``` dos anyone want the address of a web site which is owned by a retired psychiatrist? he’s into a lot of things which he says he got from the ISH of mutiple personalities. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/52 "2003-05-27T00:22:42Z")
Well, gosh, **bullets** thanks for the, uh, contribution. You tell these jokes to your Mom? ---
**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:** [May 27, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/53 "2003-05-27T00:34:46Z")
Such anger, fear, and frustation in the skeptical posts. All about a piece of cardboard with letters on it. I bet you could really get worked up over a magic wand. It is very funny. See what I meant about depth, none at all exhibited. Love Leroy ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/54 "2003-05-27T00:36:37Z")
**Elucidator** , you have been bested. All hail **bullets**! Whatever people may think about the metaphysical and paranormal (having completed watching 7 seasons of _The X Files_ on DVD, I am quite the authority!), do any of you think that Parker Bros. is making a ‘spirit phone’? We are talking about a device expressly manufactured to make money, not connections to The Beyond. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/55 "2003-05-27T00:40:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bullets \* > \*\* > dos anyone want the address of a web site which is owned by a retired psychiatrist? he’s into a lot of things which he says he got > from the ISH of mutiple personalities. \*\* Why don’t you just post it and see? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/56 "2003-05-27T00:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > If you are not prepared to discuss and defend your own statements, I suggest you have no business posting in this forum. I would suggest that he has every right to be here. He made it clear that he wasn’t going to defend his thoughts concerning elementals. So it should have been clear to everyone who can read that he wasn’t interested in a debate. That being the case he was witnessing wasn’t he? How can you suggest that witnessing has no business in this forum? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/57 "2003-05-27T00:42:31Z")
Well, **Brutus** , its not like you were my biggest fan, or anything. Can hardly count as a loss what I never had. Besides, would you tell that “fish” joke to _any_ self-respecting woman? Any of the ones I know would hand you your Boys in Da Hood to carry in your pocket. ---
**Author:** ![FairyDust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@FairyDust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyDust)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/58 "2003-05-27T00:59:06Z")
Here are some [reviews about ouija boards](http://www.epinions.com/kifm-review-644E-54D3720-38B8DD94-prod1). ---
**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:** [May 27, 2003, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/59 "2003-05-27T01:19:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyDust \* > \*\*Here are some [reviews about ouija boards](http://www.epinions.com/kifm-review-644E-54D3720-38B8DD94-prod1). \*\* Good link, shows the common experience of the board. Unfortunately, it will probably just be made fun of. The skeptics posting here IMHO seem very frightened of anything spiritual. They laugh, make jokes, evade the issues, and ignore the questions. It is like whistling through a graveyard or holding a hurricane party. Trying to remain distracted until it’s over, but with spiritual things, they will never be over. The only way through the fear of things is straight ahead. Learn all you possibly can from as many sources as you can, the truth will fall in place. Most of all be true to yourself, forget what others think and learn truth for yourself. You will never be sorry you did. Love Leroy ---
**Author:** ![frithrah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frithrah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frithrah)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/60 "2003-05-27T01:45:59Z")
So this South American tribe starts getting sick and the chief calls in the shaman to find out what the problem is. The shaman cosults his spirit board and informs the cheif that evil spirits are all around them flying through the air and they need to evacuate. They leave and the chief trades gems to get his sick daughter some help from the white man’s hospital in the city. After examining her, the Dr says, “This girl has Tuberculosis. Put on a mask quick! There are germs everywhere!” So the shaman turns to the cheif and says, “Told you so!” I have no doubt that ouija boards and John Edwards and all kinds of silly brew-hahah work if you want to fashion your reality around them. In this regard, Lekatt is not wrong. We may think he’s a bit whacky, but it is his choice to see magical mystical satanic or miraculous attributes in the world around him… A rose by any other name. Personally, I think it would do one better to study a foreign language book than to get a ouija board if they really want to enhance their world view, but thats just me [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539.md?page=4)