# Who is Safer Playing with the Ouija Board? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2012, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269 "2012-01-12T10:32:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/41 "2012-01-12T17:40:41Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > _That’s_ when you put on your shortie baby-doll nightie, pick up a malfunctioning flashlight, and go into the cellar (or the attic) and ask in a quavery voice, “_Hello?_ Is someone t_here?_” Well…okay…but I’m drawing the line at having sex with Johnny ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/42 "2012-01-12T17:48:25Z")
Whether you are a skeptic or a believer in spirits, a Ouija board is not going to hurt you unless you eat the planchette. I hate to be harsh, but if that happens, the species is better off without you. Beyond that the worst that can happen is you spook yourself a little bit. That’s only going to happen to a very credulous person and it’s a temporary thing. Everybody gets creeped out once in a while and I don’t think it’s all that harmful most of the time. It’s how most of us learn that things like Ouija boards are just entertainment and you don’t really talk to spirits through them. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/43 "2012-01-12T18:01:48Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > [Ouija Board Stories](http://www.squidoo.com/freakiest-ouijastories-ever) Thanks. I was worried you were going to post a link to something that was anecdotal rather than peer-reviewed hard scientific data. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/44 "2012-01-12T18:29:11Z")
Did the ‘playing with a Ouija board leads to getting possessed’ thing actually start with ‘The Exorcist’, or did people already believe that before the movie? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/45 "2012-01-12T18:49:03Z")
I’ve never understood why anyone, of any stripe, pays any attention whatsoever to Ouija boards. I mean, when my mouse moves the cursor toward some icon or another on my computer screen, I don’t think that my mouse is possessed. The mouse is moving because I’m moving it, exactly like the Ouija planchette is. How in the world did anyone ever manage to sell a touchscreen tablet whose apps don’t do anything in the first place? Oh, and **John diFool** , thanks for the C&H link. I would have gone hunting for it myself, if I had realized there was any chance of success. I’m guessing that’s probably what prompted the OP’s question. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/46 "2012-01-12T19:00:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Well…okay…but I’m drawing the line at having sex with Johnny Why? Yeah, I know he’s as dumb as a rock, but look at those abs! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/47 "2012-01-12T19:01:19Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Bingo! was his name-o. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/48 "2012-01-12T19:03:32Z")
I believe knowledge of the supernatural is critical to a person’s development that both classes of people should be encouraged as long as they are not trying to harm anyone. It is a learning experience to expand their thinking. An interesting thing about the ouija board is that people tend to understand more what happened that night playing it far in the future looking back at what was revealed. We do run into problems for some who’s religious beliefs prohibit this, as such they will have to learn to deal with their religious demons which is also a plus. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/49 "2012-01-12T19:06:25Z")
> [@Theophane](#): > > Bingo! Bingo should only be played by a level 12 cleric in possession of a silver amulet on the night of a new moon. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/50 "2012-01-12T19:09:05Z")
The Ouija board box makes it clear that the thing is a _toy_, does it not? Are there people who are afraid a demon will possess them through their yo-yos or through Candyland? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/51 "2012-01-12T19:10:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The Ouija board box makes it clear that the thing is a _toy_, does it not? Are there people who are afraid a demon will possess them through their yo-yos or through Candyland? Lord Licorice was certainly a shady looking character, I wouldn’t put it past him. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/52 "2012-01-12T19:35:34Z")
… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/53 "2012-01-12T19:38:21Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I’ve never understood why anyone, of any stripe, pays any attention whatsoever to Ouija boards. I mean, when my mouse moves the cursor toward some icon or another on my computer screen, I don’t think that my mouse is possessed. The mouse is moving because I’m moving it, exactly like the Ouija planchette is. How in the world did anyone ever manage to sell a touchscreen tablet whose apps don’t do anything in the first place? I’ve never used one myself, but because there’s multiple people with their hands on the planchette, because of the ideomotor effect it appears to be moving on its own. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/54 "2012-01-12T19:56:54Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Is running with a ouija board safer or more dangerous than running with scissors? Could you put an eye out? Safety-minded parents need to know! My sister once played with a ouija board with her BFF. She got bit by a moose. Mind you, moose bites can be pretty nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/55 "2012-01-12T19:59:32Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I believe knowledge of the supernatural is critical to a person’s development that both classes of people should be encouraged as long as they are not trying to harm anyone. It is a learning experience to expand their thinking. True that. It is important for people grow up and learn that spooks, sorcery, and the supernatural are fictional. > [@kanicbird](#): > > An interesting thing about the ouija board is that people tend to understand more what happened that night playing it far in the future looking back at what was revealed. It truly is interesting to look back at how far one’s intellect has developed since the ignorance and credulousness of an poorly informed childhood. Especially if some of your peers haven’t managed to make the transition. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/56 "2012-01-12T20:05:07Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Monopoly is a far more dangerous game. All of those small parts to choke on! Psh. Psh I say! People will kill each other in anger long before those small choking hazards get to anyone. I mean seriously, I’m not bitter or anything but why do I keep landing on everyone’s hotels and mine go unvisited? Damn dice are haunted by ghosts that hate me. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/57 "2012-01-12T20:07:30Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > I’m not bitter or anything but why do I keep landing on everyone’s hotels and mine go unvisited? Better hookers at their hotels? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/58 "2012-01-12T21:17:33Z")
> [@Lazlo](#): > > Except that the believer might _think_ s/he’s been possessed and freak out accordingly. While this is true, I didn’t say at equal risk of coming to harm. I said equal risk of demon possession. Since no demons exist to possess anyone, skeptic or believer, no one can be at a greater risk of demon possession than zero. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/59 "2012-01-12T22:08:27Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > i get to make as much fun of this as i want, i think–my dad was a preacher and i grew up witnessing deliverances. i’ve done my due diligence. Like “squeel like a pig, boy!” deliverances?:eek: ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269/60 "2012-01-13T00:18:53Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Better hookers at their hotels? That sounds like a great “local rules” variation on Monopoly. After you’ve festooned a property with hotels, the next thing to further raise the rent is to buy hookers & blow to add to the hotels. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-safer-playing-with-the-ouija-board/609269.md?page=4)