# Secrets of the Magic 8-Ball **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 13, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792 "2004-04-13T15:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/1 "2004-04-13T15:05:15Z")
Being a Swede, born and bred, I have rarely encountered Magic 8-Balls outside TV and movies. In those circumstances, a character holds a Magic 8-Ball, activates it somehow (we’re never shown; I’ve never seen it shaken) and reads aloud what it has to say. I also read about how a special effects technician on some movie wanted to know how Magic 8-Balls worked since he wanted a similar effect in the movie, but the company refused to divulge the secret. Since then, I have seen a Magic 8-Ball. And it’s so obviously just a polygon immersed in a blue liquid. There’s no secret. Also, the device needs to be vigorously shaken just to get the damn polygon to change sides so you see another message, and it can certainly not be used to produce a random message by any stretch of the imagination. Acknowledging the possibility that the balls I’ve seen are cheap knock-offs or something I browsed the little web, finding [this record of the 8-Ball’s inner workings](http://www.hanttula.com/exhibits/8ball/8ball-6.htm). Exactly what I expected. How could this possibly ever be a big secret? How could it be a secret at all? Is it possible to make a Magic 8-Ball produce a result random enough to fool a casual observer? If so, what am I doing wrong? ---
**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:** [April 13, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/2 "2004-04-13T15:22:51Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > I also read about how a special effects technician on some movie wanted to know how Magic 8-Balls worked since he wanted a similar effect in the movie, but the company refused to divulge the secret. I can only imagine this being said in humour, for exactly the reasons you state; if you want to know how something works, take it apart! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Magic8ball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Miss\_Magic8ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Magic8ball)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/3 "2004-04-13T15:29:06Z")
You really wanna know? I could tell ya… cost you tho…😉 Its a family secret, you see. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/4 "2004-04-13T15:39:35Z")
Being in the US we’ve had magic 8 balls as far back as I remember. I don’t recall anyone ever being puzzled at how they work. That’s like having a special effects guy trying to figure out how dice work. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/5 "2004-04-13T16:04:29Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Being a Swede, born and bred, I have rarely encountered Magic 8-Balls outside TV and movies. How sad. Next you’re going to tell me you never had Gnip-Gnop ™ either. > [@](#): > > Since then, I have seen a Magic 8-Ball. And it’s so obviously just a polygon immersed in a blue liquid. Minor nit: it’s a **polyhedron** , not a polygon. Specifically an [icosahedron](http://mathworld.wolfram.com/Icosahedron.html), one of the classics. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/6 "2004-04-13T16:39:31Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > what am I doing wrong? I’d go with believing something you saw on television or in a movie or ‘read somewhere’. The Magic 8 Ball is exactly what you found it to be. Any other assumptions you had about it before actually seeing one were, simply, wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/7 "2004-04-13T17:12:52Z")
Oh, it’s an icosahedron. That explains _everything_: > [@](#): > > Last night, we put the icosahedron/crystal device (Carol got the plans for this from the same little alien dwarfs who gave us the Big Secret plans-I need to publish the plans so you can make your own or sell them, but I have to wait for Carol’s okay) on top of the Shiva and Carol set the apparatus onto St,. Germain. She said his belly swelled up immediately and by the time we were done watching a movie, she said he looked like an inflated balloon 😉 This is the technique she used to waste the reptilian queen in Los Angeles earlier this year. [Yes indeed!](http://educate-yourself.org/dc/adc63pt2plannedciadeceptionatshasta02may03.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/8 "2004-04-13T17:41:18Z")
Let me rephrase a little. I’m under the impression that Magic 8-Balls are well known in the US. A part of the American cultural landscape, of you will. Why, then, is it that cinematic and televised portrayals of the device deviate so drastically from reality? For example, there was a _Spin City_ episode centered around the thing, and it would be literally impossible to get any kind of results using the methods shown there. No-one would have a car in a TV show and without explanation have it start without the use of a key. Furthermore, given that 8-Balls suck in that they have to be so vigorously (and non-randomly) shaken to get the polyhedron (thanks, **Bytegeist** ; English is my second language) to switch sides, how come they got to be so popular? Or is it, including the pretense that there’s a big secret, all a big joke that I’ve failed to get until now? ---
**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:** [April 13, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/9 "2004-04-13T18:44:56Z")
My WAG: While the Magic 8 Ball is well known to many Americans, I would bet that a much smaller percentage of them have actually owned one. So the majority seeing it used in a tv episode will know only that you turn it over for silly messages while a smaller precentage will know that to produce a different message, the globe must be shaken. Of those who do know this fact, most will shrug their shoulders and accept the inaccurate use of the Magic 8 Ball as a plot device. This is particularly true when used on a sit-com, like _Spin City_. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/10 "2004-04-13T18:50:52Z")
The Magic Eight Ball was a bit of fad in the sixties. The advertising for it invoked mysterious powers of insight on the part of the device; sort of a fast food high tech version of the old ouiji board. People liked it, although they didn’t necessarily believe it. They joked about it. They still do. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/11 "2004-04-13T19:03:09Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Why, then, is it that cinematic and televised portrayals of the device deviate so drastically from reality? Cannot say, ask again later. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/12 "2004-04-13T19:27:46Z")
[On line Magic 8 Ball](http://www.mattelgames.com/magic8/flash_index.asp), for anybody who is interested. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/13 "2004-04-13T19:47:06Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > [On line Magic 8 Ball](http://www.mattelgames.com/magic8/flash_index.asp), for anybody who is interested. Okay, I just shook the bejeebers out of my monitor, and yanked the cord out. The damned message didn’t change. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/14 "2004-04-13T19:51:12Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Why, then, is it that cinematic and televised portrayals of the [Magic 8-Ball™] deviate so drastically from reality? For example, there was a _Spin City_ episode centered around the thing, and it would be literally impossible to get any kind of results using the methods shown there. I’m afraid I haven’t seen much of _Spin City_, and in particular haven’t seen the episode you watched. But I’ll offer a guess as to what’s going on. You’re supposed to “ask” the Magic 8-Ball a yes-or-no question, especially one about your hopes or fears, and then turn it over. All of the 20 possible messages are responses that fit these kinds of questions. So although the 8-Ball will never say “Helga likes you; go ask her out,” it will perhaps say “Definitely not” when you pose the question “Does Helga like me?” In this way, the 8-Ball can address almost every issue imaginable. In fact, it’s also _limited_ to the human imagination, as you can see. > [@](#): > > Furthermore, given that 8-Balls suck in that they have to be so vigorously (and non-randomly) shaken to get the polyhedron … to switch sides, how come they got to be so popular? You don’t really have to shake it that hard. Turn it over most of the way, let the icosahedron settle for a second, then tilt it the rest of the way. Either that or roll it across a smooth table from one hand to the other, then pick it up. That will randomize it enough. I would say they were popular because (A) they’re inexpensive, (B) they are effective and attractive paperweights, © some of the responses are mildly funny (though pretty quickly you’ll see every one), and (D) for whatever mystical reasons that fortune cookies are popular. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/15 "2004-04-13T20:11:21Z")
It’s not an icosahedron inside … it’s an octahedron. ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/16 "2004-04-13T20:21:39Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > It’s not an icosahedron inside … it’s an octahedron. [Looks like](http://www.hanttula.com/exhibits/8ball/8ball-6.htm) an icosahedron to me. (Link taken from Priceguy’s first post.) ---
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/17 "2004-04-13T20:26:05Z")
Also [check here](http://8ball.ofb.net/answers.html). I haven’t exhaustedly tested my own 8-Ball lately, nor torn it apart, but it definitely has more than 8 responses. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/18 "2004-04-13T20:33:33Z")
My apologies … I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/19 "2004-04-13T20:54:15Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > No-one would have a car in a TV show and without explanation have it start without the use of a key. Obviously you aren’t that familiar with American TV shows like The Dukes of Hazzard and Knight Rider. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792/20 "2004-04-13T20:59:55Z")
I have to second **Bytegeist** when s/he says that you don’t have to shake it vigorously to turn the die over. It’s no different from shaking a die in a cup. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/secrets-of-the-magic-8-ball/239792.md?page=2)