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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to buy my 14 yr old Dd a Ouija Board for Christmas?

75 replies

DannyOD · 23/10/2018 09:47

I am not sure why as I don’t believe in that kind of stuff but I am uneasy about buying her one. It just seems wrong. Am I being silly? It is harmless teenage fun or should I trust my gut?

OP posts:

Purpleartichoke · 23/10/2018 14:50

Are all these posts joking? Sometimes it is hard to tell online.

Why wouldn’t someone buy their teen a board game for Xmas?

Kittykat93 · 23/10/2018 14:57

I too would be worried about the psychological effects! She may become really creeped out by it.

dontalltalkatonce · 23/10/2018 15:10

NFW!

malmi · 23/10/2018 15:13

It's suitable for ages 8 and up, go and check the specs on the manufacturer's website: shop.hasbro.com/en-us/product/ouija-game:86117134-5056-9047-F5E1-46EB2553A56A

"Ages 8 and up. Ouija and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro."

If your 14-year old wants to have some fun exploring the Ideomotor phonomon (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ideomotor_phenomenon) then it's an ideal introduction :)

Panicmode1 · 23/10/2018 17:12

No, I wouldn't.

When I was at (catholic) boarding school some of the girls started messing around with one and the nuns went bananas and the priest came to exorcise the room - there were loads of creepy stories which went round about ouija boards which I never really believed. However, my very sane father told me a story of when he was at a party when he was about 21, and a group of people were playing with one. They started asking when they were going to die, and the first three or four answers were fairly close to the ages of those asking - i.e. sort of 24, 27, 30 etc. They stopped asking as it was freaking them out - but those who asked did die in mysterious circs close to the ages they had been given. Did the ouija spirits get it right, or were they paranoid because of the information they had been given and were careless? I don't know but that completely freaked me out!

Janus · 23/10/2018 17:29

Nope I wouldn’t either. We did it as teenagers many moons ago and that evening stays with me, don’t think I’ve ever been so scared! It may be a whole load of nonsense by allmohr hysteria was not!!
And I’d say the same for tarrot cards too I’m afraid.

IStandWithPosie · 23/10/2018 17:48

When I was at (catholic) boarding school some of the girls started messing around with one and the nuns went bananas and the priest came to exorcise the room

Of course they did!! They’re fully signed up members of the woo ministry!

Urbanbeetler · 23/10/2018 17:57

We did it once as children using scrabble letters and a glass on the dining room table. A terrrible thing came of it.

We got smacked for scratching the dining room table surface.

Bloody hurt too. DONT DO IT I SAY!

IStandWithPosie · 23/10/2018 18:17

urban!

Frogscotch7 · 23/10/2018 18:27

I was just going to suggest getting her Scrabble. Two games for the price of one.

TedAndLola · 23/10/2018 18:32

YABU for perpetuating superstitious crap to the next generation.

Thisreallyisafarce · 23/10/2018 18:43

Purpleartichoke

Come off it. Monopoly. Cluedo. Mousetrap. Oh here, have a Oujii

Thisreallyisafarce · 23/10/2018 18:43

Can't spell that: Ouijii?

Anyway, not the same.

GlassOuijan · 23/10/2018 21:11

The presence or absence of true wooness is not the issue here; rather, it is the possible deleterious psychological effect on young minds.

Ouija is a rather wonderful, theatrical activity, but not for those with a pronation to panic or tendency to be terrified.

PhilomenaDeathsHeadHawkMoth · 23/10/2018 21:13

Don't buy it for her. Kids can get really fucked up by them.

speakout · 23/10/2018 21:21

I wouldn't.

Whatever your feelings are it may induce fear and hysteria, and at 14 really too young for this.

Also if she intends to use it with friends you have to consider the feelings of other parents.

I know some parents that would seriously flip out over this- enough to cause a ban on visiting.

Sandsnake · 23/10/2018 21:27

Definitely not! My whole class did it once in year 7 or 8. My friend and I left before it started as she was a vicar’s daughter and I was ‘supporting her’ (aka scared!). When we got back almost all of the girls were crying. It shook up the class and upset the dynamics for quite a while. These things and teenagers do not mix!

GlassOuijan · 24/10/2018 07:38

YABU for perpetuating superstitious crap to the next generation

Regardless of what you or I think about ouija, the fact is that many - you see them on these threads - have had experiences that have terrified them or had lasting consequences. You may argue that it is ideomotor or mass hysteria or mischief on the part of someone involved, but whatever the reason, people have got upset.

It would be very unwise to subject young teenagers to that possibility.

cl61reb · 24/10/2018 07:46

Don't do it. If she wants one so bad she can wait until she is 18 to get her own!!

b4dmum · 24/10/2018 07:48

I'd buy her one. We could contact spirits together.

Rosehip10 · 24/10/2018 08:46

The people saying they are scared of them and wouldn't allow them in the house, you do know, the "movement" is due to a participant pushing?

GlassOuijan · 24/10/2018 09:32

Rosehip Ah, but that is to miss the point of the thread.
If the youngsters involved believe in a power behind the Ouija, or may be frightened and badly affected - even by trickery - then that is a reason to avoid Ouija for them.

Flowerfae · 24/10/2018 10:24

No, don't ... nothing will happen, it's down to something called the ideomotor effect and its just people moving it subconsciously. However, it does have the potential to cause psychological problems (if she believes it, which I guess she does otherwise she wouldn't want one). I used to be a paranormal investigator and those things caused no end of crap (not come across any paranormal effect from them) I've just seen how some people were affected by them, maybe there is some kind of psychological issue there before, for those people who were actually affected by them, I don't know. When she's older if she still wants one, then obviously up to her. I wouldn't buy one for a child though.

speakout · 24/10/2018 10:34

rosehip10

as GlassOuijan points out whether it is "real" or not is not the issue.

The problem lies in the fact that teenagers are vulnerable, and may become afraid, hysterical perhaps.

What we think isn't important ( although you also have to consider the feelings of the parents of any other children who may be involved.)

My DD was doing a final drama piece in her last year at school- she was 18, had written and was directing a 10 minute production as part of her final exam. She wanted to bring in a Ouija Board to do a Victorian period piece.
Her teacher would not allow it as she was too afraid to have a Ouija Board in her department.

GlassOuijan · 24/10/2018 15:28

DannyOD Out of interest, has your DD said why she wants one (other than being in an emo/otherworldly phase)? Does she believe she'll be able to contact the dead, or is it just the imagery of it, because she wants it on her wall or something?

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