# 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:** 4
**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, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/61 "2003-05-27T02:03:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lekatt \* > \*\* 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… \*\* This is getting frustrating. Ouija boards are a **game**. Created as a game. Mass-produced by game manufacters. Do you get financial advice from Monopoly? Do you get medical advice from Operation? No? Then why the living hell would any sane person get spiritual advice from Ouija boards? It would make about as much sense to consult the hallowed Magic Eight-Ball. ---
**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, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/62 "2003-05-27T02:24:54Z")
Hey! don’t start picking on my Hallowed Magic 8-Ball! Grin ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/63 "2003-05-27T03:31:53Z")
Wait a minute, I’ve been using an Ouija board to pick stocks. :o True story. My sister got an Ouija Board for Christmas and we played with it for about a week (pretty lame toy). After she saw the Exorcist, she threw it in the trash. I saw it an fished it out to use as a writing board. Months later she saw the “resurected” board and screamed. It’s a toy and a poor one at that. Now if you can find one that works by itself… ---
**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, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/64 "2003-05-27T03:34:06Z")
Don’t throw that one away! Burn it! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/65 "2003-05-27T04:17:10Z")
I loved the reviews. The first review talked about how Ouija boards were used in Salem before the witch trials to pick baby names. That REALLY is amazing, when you consider that the Ouija board wasn’t invented until two centuries later. ---
**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, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/66 "2003-05-27T04:26:30Z")
The above-linked review is pretty hot and steamy… > [@](#): > > …Two hours later we were soaked with sweat and decided to take a break…Twenty minutes later we started again. I was feeling very tired and drained – Cameron said the same. We decided to let two other people try… Are they still talking about Ouija boards? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/67 "2003-05-27T04:43:29Z")
Here’s the first link I found with a quick google on the beginning of the ouija board… [http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm47427.html](http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm47427.html) The Ouija Board originated in Asia Minor. The prototype consisted of a three-legged bronze table engraved with images of Hecate, a circular dish with sacred symbols, which functioned like a roulette table, and two rings. This apparatus was used to gather information from the next world. In 371 A.D., a more modernized version of the Ouija appeared in Greece. This consisted of a laurel tripod, a round metal plate inscribed with Greek letters, linen thread, and a suspended ring that acted like the modern planchette. The diviner set the ring in motion to begin the divination. Apart from this moment, the implement was never touched by mortal hands. The diviner invoked the spirits, trusting them to guide the tool to give correct answers. The Roman Emperor Valens used this early form of the Ouija to discover the name of his successor. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/68 "2003-05-27T11:30:42Z")
I would be delighted to find somebody who could _actually use_ a ouija board in a way which incontrovertibly showed that they were in contact with the dead. They would have to pass this test: 1. Have put on them a proper blindfold. 2. Have brought to them a ouija board of random configuration, randomly oriented, which they have never seen before. 3. Write a message. How difficult can that be? Would anyone here who believed that ouija boards are not toys be prepared to take the test if it was worth a million dollars? If so: Which of these messages would you claim you could produce? Which of them would constitute proof that it “worked”. a) My name is Gerald Witherspoon. I died on 13th December 1944 in Bruges, Belgium. My youngest grandchild’s middle name is Karl. b) Mt ndce id Grwalg Wisajdgew. g ergg oin 93 Ddcegbgr 1244 in dfges, felffum. sy ysungegt grgndchild’s mivdle vave is Gwrl. c) I am Gerald d) I im Gevsld e) U ds hwvoid I, personally, would award the prize to anything except (e). ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/69 "2003-05-27T12:05:49Z")
_Clarification_: I _might_ award the prize to (e) if a random place out of ,say 50, on the board was a “spacebar”. This would give a 1 in 2500 chance of putting the “space” in the correct positions _if_ the person announced _beforehand_ that “I am \*\*\*\*\*…” was the intended message. Notice that you need not prove that you are actually taking to the dead (by _eg_ having the information checked for accuracy). This is a simple test for whether you can do something statistically _significant_ after all the usual cheating methods have been removed. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/70 "2003-05-27T12:39:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*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. \*\* In your opinion. Before condemning the info in the book, why not read it? You may win the argument, it doesn’t mean you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/71 "2003-05-27T13:00:03Z")
**His** , without having read the book or study you speak of, I would be interested to know if any actual testing took place. Did any of Mr. Cruss’ subjects produce anything other than gibberish when blinfolded and given an unfamiliar board? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/72 "2003-05-27T13:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*My god, I actually agree with **Brutus**. > > That’s right, they _don’t work_. The planchette moves by subtle subconscious (or conscious) manipulations by the user. Try using one with a blindfold once. All of a sudden the spirits start cranking out gibberish. That’s because there _aren’t_ any spirits. The users just can’t see what they’re doing any more. \*\* Which reminds me of an experience with a board way back in my student days. The cup was wizzing around, spelling out the name of the spirit, coming up with random, largely vowel-free gibberish (kriyudgytslu or some such) and one of the girls who instigated the session said, in all seriousness, “everytime I try this all I get are Russians.” ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/73 "2003-05-27T14:37:40Z")
Did a search on Google for info on the ouija and found some interesting sites for those who think it’s only a game or toy. That wasn’t the original intent of the board. [http://www.wels.net/sab/nl/oct-dark-04.html](http://www.wels.net/sab/nl/oct-dark-04.html) [http://www.castleofspirits.com/ouijaboards.html](http://www.castleofspirits.com/ouijaboards.html) [http://www.greatdreams.com/stories/ojindex.html](http://www.greatdreams.com/stories/ojindex.html) [http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/history.html](http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/history.html) [http://www.faithdefenders.com/sermons/ouija.html](http://www.faithdefenders.com/sermons/ouija.html) While I certainly don’t advocate the teachings of all theses sites, they do bring forth information on the history of the board and it’s intent for communication with the spirit world. Strange how when you go to look up info on the board, it’s always associated with the occult, demonism, etc. Too many people have had terrible experiences with demonic forces using this board to say that it’s all in the mind. Just because the board doesn’t work for some, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. The demons decide when and where to manifest and you can’t control them. You can decide for youself and believe whatever you wish. The person who started the OP wanted info and needs to research both points of view before deciding. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/74 "2003-05-27T14:43:38Z")
There is no such thing as a “spirit world” **H4E**. Give it up. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/75 "2003-05-27T14:44:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SentientMeat \* > \*\ ***His** , without having read the book or study you speak of, I would be interested to know if any actual testing took place. > Did any of Mr. Cruss’ subjects produce anything other than gibberish when blinfolded and given an unfamiliar board? \*\* I need to reread the book, it’s been a little while. I don’t know if he himself tested it, which I doubt, since he’s a Christian and wouldn’t be messing with it because divination and communication with the dead is forbidden in the scripture. I think he relates other people’s experiences of testing or using it and the experiences they had. You can find the same info on the net somewhere probably. There’s lots of sites about the ouija, both Christian and non. As I said, I need to get it out and reread it. But on some of the sites I looked over on Google, even non Christian occult people say that it’s dangerous to use. ---
**Author:** ![lynn73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@lynn73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynn73)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/76 "2003-05-27T14:46:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\*There is no such thing as a “spirit world” **H4E**. Give it up. \*\* Your opinion. The Bible teaches otherwise and people’s experiences prove otherwise. You give it up. If I tell you to prove there is no unseen spirit world, you’ll just tell me to prove there is so let’s just agree to disagree. ---
**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, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/77 "2003-05-27T14:58:53Z")
how about two people who are working an ouija board while i am in the room. neither of them knows anything about my relatives, yet they are able to come up with the names of my uncles on my father’s side. the address of the web site owned by a psychiatrist is ``` dissociation.com ``` i haven’t decided, yet, just what to think about his stuff. i,ve checked with a number of people in the head shrinking business…they all speak highly of him and he has spoken at many meetings around the world. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/78 "2003-05-27T15:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by His4ever \* > \*\*I need to reread the book, it’s been a little while. I don’t know if he himself tested it, which I doubt, since he’s a Christian and wouldn’t be messing with it because divination and communication with the dead is forbidden in the scripture. I think he relates other people’s experiences of testing or using it and the experiences they had. \*\* So the book you are basing your conclusions on is fabricated out of second hand anecdotes? Why should I find that compelling proof of anything? > [@](#): > > **The Bible teaches otherwise and people’s experiences prove otherwise. You give it up. If I tell you to prove there is no unseen spirit world, you’ll just tell me to prove there is so let’s just agree to disagree.** Yes, let’s just dispense with the need to prove our assertions, and just believe whatever spooky stories some charlatan spins for us. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/79 "2003-05-27T15:11:18Z")
> [@](#): > > how about two people who are working an ouija board while i am > in the room. neither of them knows anything about my relatives, yet they are able to come up with the names of my uncles on my father’s side. Did they say the names belonged to your uncles or did they spell out a couple of common names and let you fill in the blanks? Were the names something like Jim and Bob or were they Ragnar and Cadwallader. Sounds like cold reading to me. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539/80 "2003-05-27T15:15:57Z")
**bullets** > [@](#): > > how about two people who are working an ouija board while i am > in the room. neither of them knows anything about my relatives, yet they are able to come up with the names of my uncles on my father’s side. Is this a suggestion for a test, or something that has actually happened to you? If the former, then we would have to be careful about what we were testing. If a [million dollars](http://www.randi.org/research/index.html) was at stake, the people could very easily do some prior research on you (called “hot reading”). We would also have to stop you from giving any clues by speech, nodding or even facial expressions (“warm reading”). The answers themselves would have to be clear and unambiguous rather than “begins with d”, “comprises a single syllable” or “sounds like John” (_ie_ “cold reading”). All of this could be dispensed with by asking them to give non-gibberish on an unfamiliar board whilst blindfolded. > [@](#): > > the address of the web site owned by a psychiatrist is > [dissociation.com](http://dissociation.com) That site gives no information regarding ouija boards at all that I can see. What was your point? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ouija-boards/177539.md?page=5)