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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand ouija boards?

153 replies

FairyPig · 07/08/2014 10:30

So I've been reading on here (and other places) how these things aren't to be messed with, they're dangerous, they bring unwanted things into the house, how they're scary, etc.

I'm not wanting to dispute people's experiences but I honestly don't get it. It's a board with letters on and a glass in the middle. How does a board with numbers on and a glass enable ghosts and evil spirits to get through? How does a board enable a portal to be open to all sorts of evil spirits? What make an ouija board different to any other board to make them 'dangerous', 'scary' and 'not to be messed with'?

Speaking of ghosts and demons, why would they even need a portal to get through, can't they get through themselves?

Again not trying to dismiss anyone's experiences but I am seriously baffled how a board with numbers on and a glass can be magical and be able to do these things.

I've also recently learned that Toy's R Us in the US sell them, not sure if they sell them in UK branches, but that did make me go Hmm considering how many adults take them seriously and seem scared of them.

That aside, even though logically it seems silly to me I would still never use one. You know, just in case...

OP posts:
Hakluyt · 07/08/2014 13:03

"I would bet that most of the people on here who love to rock up on the Wooooo threads and call everyone idiots would not touch a Ouija board with a barge pole."

I would try to avoid calling anyone an idiot. But I would cheerfully touch a ouija board. And if it moved, I would without any doubt at all be able to find out what was making it move.

mommy2ash · 07/08/2014 13:04

to me it's not the board but the intention I don't think people realise how powerful your intention can be. I do believe that if with your intention you allow energies in bad things may happen as you can't control it. I'm quite spiritual and very into meditation but I only practice with one person that I trust implicitly as I don't think anything like that should be undertaken lightly.

I went to a fortune teller once and I'm not sure why but both my friend and I were very ill after. I spent a week wanting to through myself against a wall and feeling very depressed. I went to meditation and worked through it to get rid of anything heavy I was holding onto. my friend didn't and she ended up quite ill and was going back and forth to the doctor for a few months afterwards.

sebsmummy1 · 07/08/2014 13:22

Mommy it's funny you mention fortune tellers as I was always very gung-ho about having tarot readings etc and it didn't bother me at all. Now I have my son and my lovely DP I would not put myself in a position to get a potentially horrible ear worm from a random stranger wielding cards.

SpeedofSound0 · 07/08/2014 13:27

No sebsmummy1 If you read my post, I stated quite clearly that the glass flew off the board and smashed against the patio doors.

It flew so fast as if something had picked it up and aimed it against the doors, we only had our index fingers on the glass.

Also, to hit the patio doors, that glass had to travel through the living room and the open double doors into the dining room to hit the doors leading to the patio area.

The OP's thread is about not understanding Ouija boards, that is the point, none of us really do understand these things.

There is so much the human mind cannot comprehend and things which scientists cannot understand, there are forces beyond our control, whatever form they may be or take.

There is/was a famous British Parapsychologist called Joan Forman whose books I read as a teen in the 1990s, these were published in the '70s. A perfectly rational and intelligent woman, and even she said she thought it was dangerous to mess about with a Ouija or Planchett board.

noblegiraffe · 07/08/2014 13:33

And yet a million pound prize to show that something like an ouija board actually works still remains unclaimed.

It's baffling, seeing as so many people seem to have been successful in contacting the spirit world via them.

Hakluyt · 07/08/2014 13:33

"There is/was a famous British Parapsychologist........ A perfectly rational and intelligent woman"

Perfect example of an oxymoron!

SpeedofSound0 · 07/08/2014 13:38

Hakluyt What do you mean by that statement?

I said is/was because I don't know whether she is still alive or not. And she came across as being an intelligent and rational woman, and certainly widely respected.

So what's with the attitude?

sebsmummy1 · 07/08/2014 13:56

SpeedOfSound the only one coming across with a bit of an attitude is you. People are allowed to have differing views and air them.

Hakluyt · 07/08/2014 14:02

Attitude?

I was merely pointing out that it is impossible to be both intelligent and rational and believe in the paranormal.

Stinkle · 07/08/2014 14:03

When I was a teenager a group of 4 of us were messing about in one of the group's cellar with a ouija board.

It was a Victorian 2 up, 2 down sort of terrace. Nothing remarkable, no stories about it being haunted or built on a grave yard or anything like that. They'd converted the cellar into a sort of TV room/den

4 of us sitting on the floor with our index fingers on a glass (one of those thick, heavy, cut glass whiskey tumblers). We were all a bit nervous, but for a while absolutely nothing happened so we relaxed, started messing about and giggling, when all of a sudden the glass started to vibrate, then flew off the board, catching one of my friends on the shoulder, and smashed against the wall about 12 feet away.

Bearing in mind, the glass was on the floor and it flew upwards, it was like someone had picked it up and thrown it for it to have travelled that far and smashed. We only had our index fingers on it and we'd all hushed up and were watching the glass when we felt it start to vibrate. I'm not sure how anyone could flick a glass upwards and with enough force for it to smash against a wall 12 feet away, with just their index finger

Nothing happened afterwards as far as I know and friend didn't report any odd stuff happening in her house

Our parents all hit the roof when we told them what we'd done

I'm quite sceptical when it comes to ghosts and stuff and I think most of the time there are perfectly rational explanations when it comes to odd happenings, but I've never touched ouija board again

SpeedofSound0 · 07/08/2014 14:03

No, it is the snippy little comments that some people make sebsmummy. I don't twist other people's posts and highlight and pour scorn on a statement. Smile

I don't have a problem with anybody, but I will come back at somebody if it is warranted.

SpeedofSound0 · 07/08/2014 14:13

Why? Hakluyt So you are saying that anybody who believes in the paranormal is irrational and not very intelligent?

There are things that nobody can ever fully explain, so even scientists cannot apply rational explanations to everything, though they try to apply logic to everything.

Beeyump · 07/08/2014 14:15

'I was merely pointing out that it is impossible to be both intelligent and rational and believe in the paranormal.'

Brilliantly insulting! Grin

sebsmummy1 · 07/08/2014 14:18

PMSL. I wonder why all the spirits like smashing the glasses against walls and doors? It's very strange.

Hakluyt · 07/08/2014 14:19

"Why? Hakluyt So you are saying that anybody who believes in the paranormal is irrational and not very intelligent?"

Certainly irrational. And certainly deficient in one area of intelligence, yes. They may be incredibly intelligent in other areas.

MollyHooper · 07/08/2014 14:21

It's just the done thing among the sceptics of MN to be insulting. It's really trendy! Or something. Confused

specialsubject · 07/08/2014 14:24

I'm quite happy to volunteer to use a ouija board. Predict away. It will make no difference.

there IS a rational explanation which has been posted twice here. Refusing to believe in science doesn't change it.

mind how you go, everyone. Not believing in gravity doesn't mean you can't trip up.

TalcumPowder · 07/08/2014 14:26

I'm with Hakluyt. Ouija boards are only scary, powerful portals into the occult if you're a suggestible (possibly drunk or high) teenager. Virtually every scary story on this thread either happened when the poster was very young or is hearsay.

SpeedofSound0 · 07/08/2014 14:26

But that is just your opinion.

So not very important really overall then.

I am glad I only believe in co-incidences. Smile

TalcumPowder · 07/08/2014 14:28

PS, am perfectly happy to use an ouija board with a bunch of masked strangers in the dark basement of a haunted house. At midnight on Halloween. While reciting the Lord's Prayer backwards.

soverylucky · 07/08/2014 14:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hakluyt · 07/08/2014 14:40

Yep- odd that, isn't it, sovery? Grin

MollyHooper · 07/08/2014 14:41

I believe that the Colin Frys of this world do not speak with the dead. the spirits show them things. So it's difficult for them to be as specific as 'Yo bro, this is Barry!'

I don't believe Colin Fry actually does this but that's what he tells people.

KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 07/08/2014 14:43

I had a Ouija Board.

I love a bit of woo and was well up for contacting spirits.

Had candles, a lovely relaxing room, incense - all perfect.

Nothing. No bugger showed up. I was well pissed off..!