# You find real magic 8 ball **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 12, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446 "2015-10-12T17:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/1 "2015-10-12T17:33:43Z")
It comes with instructions. You get to ask it one question and it will give you a straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’. The answer will definitely be factually true, forget about how you know this, you just do. You will be unable to use the answer to convince other people, it’s just for your own information. If you ask something which can’t be truthfully answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’ it will answer ‘dunno’ and you will have wasted your question. Once used, it will harmlessly self destruct leaving no trace. What do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/2 "2015-10-12T18:33:20Z")
Whatever I ask, I feel absolutely certain that the answer will be _ **Reply Hazy — Ask again later** _ Then it’ll vanish in a puff of smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/3 "2015-10-12T18:50:39Z")
I just want to say, I think this is a great question! Unfortunately I need a little more time to come up with a single question that will somehow benefit more than just my curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/4 "2015-10-12T18:54:09Z")
(a) Did God intend Mankind to hang the toilet paper so it hangs down from the front of the roll? (b) If I were to ask you if the road on the left leads to the village, would you say “Yes”? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/5 "2015-10-12T19:03:24Z")
I would ask, “Doesn’t this thread belong in IMHO?” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/6 "2015-10-12T19:11:15Z")
Does God, as defined in the Judeo-Christian traditions, exist? Any other questions are mere details on life. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/7 "2015-10-12T19:13:01Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Does God, as defined in the Judeo-Christian traditions, exist? > > Any other questions are mere details on life. Yep, that’s pretty much what I keep coming to. Or another version that I’ve been tossing around… “Is there an afterlife?” ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/8 "2015-10-12T19:17:15Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I just want to say, I think this is a great question! > Unfortunately I need a little more time to come up with a single question that will somehow benefit more than just my curiosity. Thank you. Nice to know you’re putting some thought into it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/9 "2015-10-12T19:18:05Z")
Does it know the future? ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/10 "2015-10-12T19:19:55Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I would ask, “Doesn’t this thread belong in IMHO?” I wasn’t sure. Happy for it to be moved if it doesn’t belong here. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/11 "2015-10-12T19:23:32Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Does it know the future? Yes, unless the answer it gives and your subsequent actions might change that future, in which case, your risking a ‘dunno’. For example, you can’t ask it if you will have toast for breakfast tomorrow and then deliberately do the opposite of what it says. It will see that sort of thing coming. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/12 "2015-10-12T19:24:03Z")
Will Knoebels still be running the old-style Lusse cars 20 years from now? (If not screw the healthy living thing and pass me some real butter) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/13 "2015-10-12T19:34:41Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > Yes, unless the answer it gives and your subsequent actions might change that future, in which case, your risking a ‘dunno’. For example, you can’t ask it if you will have toast for breakfast tomorrow and then deliberately do the opposite of what it says. It will see that sort of thing coming. In that case, “Will my next spin at a roulette wheel come up red?” ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/14 "2015-10-12T19:37:33Z")
Will the Charger cover the spread? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/15 "2015-10-12T19:39:31Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Does God, as defined in the Judeo-Christian traditions, exist? DUNNO (WTF DUDE I’M JUST AN 8-BALL) _\_ ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/16 "2015-10-12T20:02:39Z")
Was this the best question I could come up with? ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/17 "2015-10-12T20:16:34Z")
Are there other sentient beings in the universe? I’ve watched too many alien shows. If the truth is out there, I want to know! ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/18 "2015-10-12T20:29:25Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > Are there other sentient beings in the universe? > > I’ve watched too many alien shows. If the truth is out there, I want to know! I was leaning to this as well. Pretty useless information on its own, but I’d quite like to know. Gotta admit I’d be shocked and disappointed by a ‘no’ though. Perhaps It’d be safer to ask if I ever really had a shot with that girl I liked back in high school. Then again, perhaps sometimes it’s better just to wonder. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/19 "2015-10-12T21:53:53Z")
I vaguely remember a similar thread from a few years ago; the difference was, your question and the answer were public information. In this case, I’ll go with: Will the winner of Super Bowl 50 be one of the American Football Conference teams? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446/20 "2015-10-12T22:05:17Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > In that case, “Will my next spin at a roulette wheel come up red?” > [@sitchensis](#): > > Will the Charger cover the spread? I admit these questions and similar occurred to me; the problem is that you really can’t get massive bets down on either of these. I think $1000 is around the max on roulette tables, and NFL bets - at least in Vegas - pretty much top out at $10,000. Live horseracing, on the other hand, doesn’t have limits, though you can move the odds if you bet enough. Then however you’re stuck trying to come up with something more complicated, for example something like “will this moderately favored horse win or place?” I feel like there’s something I’d be able to figure out in the financial markets and daytrading, but I haven’t worked that out yet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-find-real-magic-8-ball/734446.md?page=2)