Sales of ouiji boards up by 300%

Donkey Oaty

eisenberg1 wrote: »

Can the other people in the seance hear her?


:sorry, I could not resist.

It is a brave man that jokes about the mummy of King Tut.

Donkey Oaty

o1s1n wrote: »

The second statement contradicts the first. If you don't believe you can communicate with the dead, then you don't believe a potential ****-storm of evil forces will come out of it either.

If you believe that a potential ****-storm can arise from an Ouija board then on some level you believe that it's supernatural.

All he's saying is that it can mess with your head.

Venus In Furs

Went to a convent school and when I was in second year we did the ouija board thing one lunch. The nuns got wind of it and they absolutely freaked! We had to "evacuate" the classroom and nobody was allowed back in there until the chaplain carried out an exorcism. The nuns were huddled around the door whispering and gasping in terror while the priest rid the place of evil.
The girls who set up the board got into a lot of trouble.

It feels like I'm talking about a St Trinian's or Miss Brodie era school, but it was the '90s!

Magico Gonzalez

Venus In Furs wrote: »

Went to a convent school and when I was in second year we did the ouija board thing one lunch. The nuns got wind of it and they absolutely freaked! We had to "evacuate" the classroom and nobody was allowed back in there until the chaplain carried out an exorcism. The nuns were huddled around the door whispering and gasping in terror while the priest rid the place of evil.
The girls who set up the board got into a lot of trouble.

It feels like I'm talking about a St Trinian's or Miss Brodie era school, but it was the '90s!

Whatever they did it wasn't an exorcism, extremely rare in the Catholic church and require approval from the top of the shop.

That kind of thing is reserved for Monopoly or your other more socially disruptive board games.

TwoShedsJackson

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

All he's saying is that it can mess with your head.

If you're a credulous buffoon.

c_man

Red Pepper wrote: »

I tried to use one once with a few friends in the 1980s after watching some movie (Annie I think)

Eh, maybe it was 'Carrie'? :P

Venus In Furs

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

Magico Gonzalez

Venus In Furs wrote: »

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

I am fully tolerant of all board game players.

From Snakes and Ladders all the way up to Risk. Come one come all.

Donkey Oaty

Venus In Furs wrote: »

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

Tell us what star sign you are, and we'll discuss it from there.

thelad95

o1s1n wrote: »

The second statement contradicts the first. If you don't believe you can communicate with the dead, then you don't believe a potential ****-storm of evil forces will come out of it either.

If you believe that a potential ****-storm can arise from an Ouija board then on some level you believe that it's supernatural.

Well what if it turns out that you can? I highly doubt it but I like to remain even a tiny bit open-minded about these things.

In addition, there are various theories around suggestibility which explain why the glass moves and whether that's paranormal or not that would fúck with my mind.

So frankly, while I'm skeptical about the paranormal side, I still wouldn't mess with these things I don't know enough about to mess with, be they paranormal or psychological.

Teyla Emmagan

I believed all the urban myths about them in school. I still wouldn't touch one. Seriously.

kylith

Venus In Furs wrote: »

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

Because it's dangerous bullsht. Grown adults thinking that some letters on a bit of cardboard and a wineglass can raise demons?! If they'll believe that kind of hooey what else will they believe? It's been shown over and over and over again to be absolute nonsense, but people still choose to believe it, so now we have grown-ass people who not only believe in dangerous crap but wilfully ignore all the evidence that it's total crap. How does that kind of thing not terrify you?

Between that and people who think that WATER can cure any ailment if you shake it enough and those who, for some unfathomable reason think that fking angels or fairies, or whatever, control the destinies of people I really despair.

Superstition, wilful ignorance, and abdication of responsibility.

Donkey Oaty

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

If you're a credulous buffoon.

You don't have to be credulous to think it'll do you no good psychologically.

Some people don't watch scary movies for the same reason, even though they know it's all pretend.

FullblownRose

kylith wrote: »

Yeah, I'd love to be denounced from the public with the rest of my ilk. *sigh* I'd settle for just having an 'ilk'.

Do you mean denounced from the pulpit?
Why do you need ilk?

thelad95

kylith wrote: »

Because it's dangerous bullsht. Grown adults thinking that some letters on a bit of cardboard and a wineglass can raise demons?! If they'll believe that kind of hooey what else will they believe? It's been shown over and over and over again to be absolute nonsense, but people still choose to believe it, so now we have grown-ass people who not only believe in dangerous crap but wilfully ignore all the evidence that it's total crap. How does that kind of thing not terrify you?

Between that and people who think that WATER can cure any ailment if you shake it enough and those who, for some unfathomable reason think that fking angels or fairies, or whatever, control the destinies of people I really despair.

Superstition, wilful ignorance, and abdication of responsibility.

That's all very true but the point still stands. They're beliefs aren't harming anybody so why do you care what they believe?

Venus In Furs

kylith wrote: »

Because it's dangerous bullsht. Grown adults thinking that some letters on a bit of cardboard and a wineglass can raise demons?! If they'll believe that kind of hooey what else will they believe? It's been shown over and over and over again to be absolute nonsense, but people still choose to believe it, so now we have grown-ass people who not only believe in dangerous crap but wilfully ignore all the evidence that it's total crap. How does that kind of thing not terrify you?

Between that and people who think that WATER can cure any ailment if you shake it enough and those who, for some unfathomable reason think that fking angels or fairies, or whatever, control the destinies of people I really despair.

Superstition, wilful ignorance, and abdication of responsibility.

Isn't there a scale though? I mean, I actually don't believe in god in the traditional sense, but I do believe there is something more than the earth we are aware of - whatever shape or form it takes. I don't *know* of course, but it's my belief.
But I'm not an idiot, I definitely don't abdicate personal responsibility, and I DEFINITELY don't believe in those angel card things or water being a cure for any ailment!

kylith

FullblownRose wrote: »

Do you mean denounced from the pulpit?
Why do you need ilk?

I did indeed.

I just think that the phase "Kylith and her ilk" is nice.

thelad95 wrote: »

That's all very true but the point still stands. They're beliefs aren't harming anybody so why do you care what they believe?

They are harming themselves, and they are harming children who know no better than to believe their pointless fearmongering.

jobbridge4life

IF your looking for a board game that can lead to incredible violence and bad spirits just play Risk with some competitive people.

thelad95

kylith wrote: »

They are harming themselves, and they are harming children who know no better than to believe their pointless fear-mongering.

Are they really harming themselves though? Are they really?

I don't know what you refer to with your 'pointless fear-mongering' but a belief in God actually gives a lot of comfort to people in difficult times. Be that the placebo effect or whatever else does it really matter?

Most kids eventually develop beliefs and values of their own anyway. As long as they are brought up in a loving,caring and nurturing environment, their parents beliefs don't matter a jot.

Shrap

idnkph wrote: »

Did one of these at college 20 years ago with 3 girls from my class. It spelt out pregnant a few times.
I went home and slept great but the girls lived in the same house and started hearing noises throughout the night. Next morning one of the girls parents was over and they told them what had happened. Mam freaked out and called the priest in to do all the hocous pocous crap.
within a year the 3 girls were all stuffed. Maybe a coincidence but makes ya think

Ha ha! That's hilarious. Talk about the power of suggestion.

Did ouiji boards a few times while in college in the UK. First time, I was playing along like everyone else.....except they weren't playing along. Turns out everyone in the house except me saw ghosts that night :rolleyes: One girl was so petrified, she packed her bags and left with her bf to his house. I saw nothing - slept like a baby.

Interestingly, at a hypnosis gig, I was the only student on stage to be asked to sit back down again as the hypnotist did his thing. I was a bit annoyed as I had been following instructions and was really interested to see if it would work, but he sussed me as not being suggestible enough it would seem.

Venus In Furs

thelad95 wrote: »

Are they really harming themselves though? Are they really?

I don't know what you refer to with your 'pointless fear-mongering' but a belief in God actually gives a lot of comfort to people in difficult times. Be that the placebo effect or whatever else does it really matter?

Most kids eventually develop beliefs and values of their own anyway. As long as they are brought up in a loving,caring and nurturing environment, their parents beliefs don't matter a jot.

Yeh a lot of us were brought up with ludicrous religious/spiritual dogma, but at the same time, having a decent education.
It's on uneducated people that this stuff works. You can see it in its extreme form in terribly poor places around the world.

Volvoair

here ya are....oujia board for free.............(but your soul will burn forever in the pits of hell) go on ask it a question....i dare ya.
http://www.brainjar.com/dhtml/ouija/

kylith

thelad95 wrote: »

Are they really harming themselves though? Are they really?

I don't know what you refer to with your 'pointless fear-mongering' but a belief in God actually gives a lot of comfort to people in difficult times. Be that the placebo effect or whatever else does it really matter?

Most kids eventually develop beliefs and values of their own anyway. As long as they are brought up in a loving,caring and nurturing environment, their parents beliefs don't matter a jot.

I refer to ouija boards when I say fearmongering, but tbh religions aren't much better. I'm on Pinterest and it's saddening to see all the people pinning "I'm a sinner, I can't do this without God, I'm worthless without him", like they're proud of having been convinced of their own lack of self-worth. That is a seriously damaging mindset for someone to have. But there are plenty religion threads, so I'm not going to say more about it here because this thread is about the nonsense that is the ouija board.

Cantremember

Sheep Lover wrote: »

A game of Scrabble has more chance of summoning the dead

Scrabble is only played by the dead!

Capt'n Midnight

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

It is a brave man that jokes about the mummy of King Tut.

Little known historical fact. When x-rayed the skeleton suggests that he only stood a meter tall.



But he made a good ruler.



Did you hear about the Egyptian door bell ?

Tut and come in :pac:

thelad95

kylith wrote: »

I refer to ouija boards when I fearmongering, but tbh religions aren't much better. I'm on Pinterest and it's saddening to see all the people pinning "I'm a sinner, I can't do this without God, I'm worthless without him", like they're proud of having been convinced of their own lack of self-worth. That is a seriously damaging mindset for someone to have. But there are plenty religion threads, so I'm not going to say more about it here because this thread is about the nonsense that is the ouija board.

I don't know what you mean by this bit but the people you're referring to sound like the kind of people who behave recklessly and who wouldn't need to be convinced of their own perceived lack of self-worth.

Ouija boards have been debunked as nonsense of course but in saying that a lot of rational people have had bad experiences with them so they're still not something to be messed with.

Red Pepper

c_man wrote: »

Eh, maybe it was 'Carrie'? :P

Naw she was a little red haired orphan girl.

kylith

thelad95 wrote: »

Ouija boards have been debunked as nonsense of course but in saying that a lot of rational people have had bad experiences with them so they're still not something to be messed with.

I would be of the opinion that if people have had bad experiences with some paper, a glass, and their own imagination then those people are not rational.

FullblownRose

kylith wrote: »

I did indeed.

I just think that the phase "Kylith and her ilk" is nice.

It's the sort of phrase that needs to be venomously spat out to work..

Donkey Oaty

FullblownRose wrote: »

It's the sort of phrase that needs to be venomously spat out to work..

"Kylith and her kith and kin" would be even better.

thelad95

kylith wrote: »

I would be of the opinion that if people have had bad experiences with some paper, a glass, and their own imagination then that person is not rational.

Not everything is black or white though. There are of course scales of rationality. Somebody might be 90% sure that Ouija boards are nonsense but sufficiently irrational so that a strange experience with one might render them terrified even if they still know it's nonsense. It's why you don't have to believe in ghosts to be scared by a horror film. If you classify such a person as irrational, then that's your opinion.

kylith

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

"Kylith and her kith and kin" would be even better.

My kith and kin are even worse than my ilk.

ScumLord

Venus In Furs wrote: »

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc -

I wouldn't say people are entitled to their believes. Different people believe in all sorts of irrational beliefs that go beyond religion into believing some people are better than other people and so on. I think you have to be tolerant of other peoples wacky believes, up to a point. More so for your own sanity rather than respecting another person's right to believe in nonsense.

Being from a small Catholic town in the west of Ireland I saw my fair share of Catholic hypocritical superstition. There are priests out there that would say or do anything to put the fear of god into a child.

Archeron

The real danger is OuiJarJar boards. "Mesa demon from another dimension, Ex squeeze me"
Brrrrr...

ElvisChrist6

o1s1n wrote: »

More hocus pocus.

Imagine everyone said that playing Monopoly allowed you to communicate with the dead. Stay away from it, it's evil. You don't know what you're doing. Don't risk opening up a portal to the netherworld by passing GO. etc etc.

People would still play it, albeit with trepidation. They'd immediately be influenced by all the negativity they'd heard about it. Maybe some people would even go into a state of psychosis, suffer mental breakdowns etc due to the sheer gravity of what they've heard about this evil game.

It's got nothing to do with the board game itself and everything to do with the perception of it.

By propagating this 'stay away!' mentality you're only contributing to the perception that it's somehow harmful. Which ironically, is what leads to the danger. Without that, it's literally a piece of cardboard with a few numbers and letters written on it.

It's not Hocus Pocus to say that some people have underlying mental issues and may fall victim to those beliefs that some actually think happen. That was what my story was about, not magic. Which is why I said my kids wouldn't be at them. Adults can do whatever they want, but there'll always be people propagating that they're some demonic blah-de-blah and whatsmore there'll be even more who'll be taken in by what they believe to have not been influenced by their own hand.

Edit: Also, people are calling it just a board game as if people would use it if they didn't have some belief in it, other than for a laugh for the fact of the mumbo-jumbo behind it. So those that actually use it are probably in a position to believe it - be that drunk, tired, it's late at night or they just believe in it.

The Strawman Argument

I've brought up ouija boards on multiple occasions with people to see whether they'd be able to tolerate my skepticism towards more important stuff, unsure if I've ever talked about them to anyone outside of that.

That being said, I'd use one in the following occasions:
1. Peer pressure (better than standing at the side moaning, I guess)
2. If there was only one other person, to try and psychoanalyse them

shruikan2553

Venus In Furs wrote: »

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

They are free to believe in it just as everyone else is free to think it's completely stupid. Just because a person believes something doesnt mean it is to be kept safe from ridicule.

It is odd seeing religious people talk about these things as being a bit weird though.

Cienciano

Venus In Furs wrote: »

If people believe in the paranormal, so what?

I see a lot of rushing to defend religious people (by atheists) as it's their business, they're entitled to their beliefs etc - which I agree with.
Why can't the same tolerance be afforded those who believe in the supernatural, astrology etc?

People are entitled to their beliefs. But people are entitled to ridicule them if they believe them to be downright stupid. A board game that can summon the dead falls into that category in a lot of peoples opinion.

Venus In Furs

I'm referring more to the way there can be an insistence (including from atheists) on respecting people's religious beliefs, but beliefs in e.g. the paranormal and astrology are fair game.

shruikan2553

Venus In Furs wrote: »

I'm referring more to the way there can be an insistence (including from atheists) on respecting people's religious beliefs, but beliefs in e.g. the paranormal and astrology are fair game.

Theres a difference between respecting the right to have a belief and respecting the belief itself.

The likes of christians, jews etc have very large clubs with a lot of power. If the majority of people in this country claimed to believe in astrology then it would be very different.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

Heres my 2c. Was sailing before on holiday and one of the people on the yacht turned out to be an exorcist. Big fellow with a booming voice. Anyway, we got chatting and some of the stuff he told me defies belief.

He said people like to believe that the occult is harmless, that messing around with a board is just exciting fun. However, he said that what actually happens is the person allows demonic spirits to enter into their life. This does not mean outright possession. The way these evil spirits work is by sending the person horrible, disgusting thoughts, nightmares, depression even if there is nothing to be depressed about. Slowly chipping away at the person's sanity. These entities take their time because they are immortal. Sometimes they move onto the next of kin. I am not making this up, it is all part of what an exorcist learns. All these cases of people going insane after using the board are all true.

The only way to get rid of such a spirit is prayer or exorcisms. This will often take years as the spirit will continue to come back. I am not making this up, so please do not outright dismiss this information. Always run a mile when you see anything to do with the occult.

maccored

the ouija board is a game. always has been.

Phoebas

Victor Obnoxious Poetess wrote: »

Always run a mile when you see anything to do with the occult.

Good advise. If I ever meet someone claiming to be an exorcist I'll run a mile.

moc moc a moc

Victor Obnoxious Poetess wrote: »

I am not making this up, so please do not outright dismiss this information. Always run a mile when you see anything to do with the occult.

:rolleyes:

LoganRice

A new film came out about an ouija board, blame that for this, or blame nothing at all...

nozzferrahhtoo

Venus In Furs wrote: »

I'm referring more to the way there can be an insistence (including from atheists) on respecting people's religious beliefs, but beliefs in e.g. the paranormal and astrology are fair game.

I do not think we should be respecting EITHER. Respect people, not ideas. The latter is fair game and we should hold not respect for them what so ever.

And I say that about all ideas, let alone completely fantastical nonsense like a commercial board game is a tool for contacting dead human spirits. If NEGATIVE quantities of respect were possible, rather than just no respect at all, for such ideas I would apply it instantly.

unjedilike

In school we used to put a key in a random page of a small bible, close it with a rubber band and sit the head of the key on two people's index fingers. We would ask it a question and wait for it to turn clockwise for yes and vice versa. The headmaster, a priest, caught us in the act and angrily threatened that God would cast chains around our necks and throw us in the deepest ocean. Despite it all being bull we were 12 at the time and totally believed in God which left us thinking we'd done something really really wrong. He was an awful chap that headmaster. I'd happily kick him in the balls if I saw him nowadays, all the while screaming that it's all fake and he shouldn't be scaring kids like that.

kylith

thelad95 wrote: »

Not everything is black or white though. There are of course scales of rationality. Somebody might be 90% sure that Ouija boards are nonsense but sufficiently irrational so that a strange experience with one might render them terrified even if they still know it's nonsense.

Which is irrational.

Victor Obnoxious Poetess wrote: »

Heres my 2c. Was sailing before on holiday and one of the people on the yacht turned out to be an exorcist. Big fellow with a booming voice. Anyway, we got chatting and some of the stuff he told me defies belief.

He said people like to believe that the occult is harmless, that messing around with a board is just exciting fun. However, he said that what actually happens is the person allows demonic spirits to enter into their life. This does not mean outright possession. The way these evil spirits work is by sending the person horrible, disgusting thoughts, nightmares, depression even if there is nothing to be depressed about. Slowly chipping away at the person's sanity. These entities take their time because they are immortal. Sometimes they move onto the next of kin. I am not making this up, it is all part of what an exorcist learns. All these cases of people going insane after using the board are all true.

The only way to get rid of such a spirit is prayer or exorcisms. This will often take years as the spirit will continue to come back. I am not making this up, so please do not outright dismiss this information. Always run a mile when you see anything to do with the occult.

That sounds to me like someone who preys on the mentally ill and their families. You may as well blame the fact that they ate bread or liked Justin Beiber as blame a Ouija board. Instead of getting these people actual help from mental health professionals he is subjecting them to what is essentially torture.

sbsquarepants

ScumLord wrote: »

I wouldn't say people are entitled to their believes. Different people believe in all sorts of irrational beliefs that go beyond religion into believing some people are better than other people and so on.

Couldn't agree more. The idea that all beliefs are equal is just crazy. You can believe whatever the hell you want - but if you choose to believe something based on nothing other than "this is what I believe, so there" or in the face of tons of evidence that your belief is factually wrong - then you are an idiot and may expect to be treated as such.
I believe - is absolutely worthless. I believe because - now we're getting somewhere. If that "because" makes sense, hey presto you've now got a belief that deserves some level of respect.

Look on it like a court case - I believe ScumLord is guilty of the murder ladies and gentleman of the jury. I have no evidence to suggest he did it, and in fact it has been proven he was out of the country on the date of the killing, but a guy I went to school with said he was told by this piece of cardboard that ScumLord's guilty as sin.
What, can you talk to the cardboard? Eh, well no. We burned it for, em, telling the truth. Ain't no place in this world for crime solving, truth telling cardboard, am I right? But I digress, the point is we should hang the murdering bastard. Who's with me?
I hope you can all see how absolutely insane an ungrounded belief in bolloxology is now?

thelad95 wrote: »

I don't know what you refer to with your 'pointless fear-mongering' but a belief in God actually gives a lot of comfort to people in difficult times. Be that the placebo effect or whatever else does it really matter?

Another one of lifes mysteries. You're having a hard time, you believe in some god, why do you not believe it's this gods fault you're having a bad time?

the_monkey