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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let him bring a Ouija Board into my house?

139 replies

MrsMontague · 27/01/2010 12:40

This might all sound a bit silly. But basically, BIL is visiting us this weekend, he is 23.

He called last night to say he had got a Ouija Board, and would bring it with him for us to try out 'for a laugh'.

Was a bit of a shock, as tbh he has never shown any interest in anything gothic...which in itself shows that he just sees it as a novelty toy or something, I don't know.

DH was a bit sceptical, but rubbish at saying no to people. However I am ready to call him up and say for him to leave it behind.

AIBU not to want one of these things in my house? I have heard lots of unsettling things about them, and I am really not sure I want one in my house, especially when my little girl will be asleep upstairs.

BIL is a little immature and will no doubt take the mickey out of me for saying I don't want one in the house, but I can't help but wonder about all the bad things I've heard, and tbh can't understand why somebody would bring this along as a fun Saturday night activity??

What do you all think? Anybody had any experiences?

OP posts:
junglist1 · 27/01/2010 18:11

Can I just say just because I believe in ghosts doesn't mean I believe in Derek Acorah or that American one

VinegarTits · 27/01/2010 18:12

I've never been to a psychic, but if its so easy you should be able to tell my past present and future just by looking at my profile picture sbg, no?

go on give it a try

cornsilk · 27/01/2010 18:14

I did one and it worked. It freaked me out BIG time.

pranma · 27/01/2010 18:14

We did it a lot as students and some very creepy stuff happened includin a warning of the date of my grans death[day month year]and the prediction that my then fiance and I would live together but not die together.we did marry,later divorced and he died in 2008.
I'd never ever have one in a house where there were children.

expatinscotland · 27/01/2010 18:29

now astrology is total bollocks.

so are psychic readings that predict the future.

i have indeed worked as a telephone cycic and most definitely it's BS.

you do this training class for 2 days to learn how to lead callers along until they run up a certain amount of money at least ($120USD when i was working) and keep 'em talking.

half the time after a bit they just wind up telling you their story and just talking.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/01/2010 18:30

"science doesn't and can't explain everything". Yet. Science can't explain everything yet. And science is an ongoing process, of which scientists are aware and never tries to say 'this is definitely it. Believe this but don't expect evidence'.

Does anyone want to join my Stand Up for the Enlightenment campaign?

Janos · 27/01/2010 18:31

OP, YANBU.

If you don't want your BIL bringing one into your house, for whatever reason, then say no. If he makes fun..so what.

Another one here who has had experiences. Me and my friends used to mess about with them in the late 80's when we were daft teens. Not that we had any particularly bad experiences with them..but I can totally understand why they would make people feel uncomfortable.

Another one here who loves Expats ghost stories, if love is the right word! They're very creepy and unsettling.

junglist1 · 27/01/2010 18:37

That's what they say about schizophrenia. It's biological and genetic but no gene or chemical has been discovered yet. In fact the majority diagnosed with it have lived in poverty or experienced abuse or racism. But to admit it's social means no big bucks for the drug companies.
In some cases scientific endevours are unethical

Morloth · 27/01/2010 18:40

BrahmsThirdRacket 'this is definitely it. Believe this but don't expect evidence'.

But isn't that what you are effectively saying here? That ouija boards/the supernatural are crap, but you can't actually prove that can you?

As I said upthread, I am a total sceptic, but I don't know - no-one does, so as there is no need to fuck around with this stuff why do it?

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/01/2010 18:41

At least scientific endeavours are quantifiable. Yes science can be used for unethical reasons but it's benefitted humanity far more than religion or making shit up.

illgetyoubutler · 27/01/2010 18:41

"..Yet. Science can't explain everything yet..."

Well if science hasn't "yet" explained the phanomana of ghosts and spirits, you cant be certain it doesn't exist!!

posieparker · 27/01/2010 18:50

I think many people have proven that Ouija boards are nonsense. Please watch this.

Morloth · 27/01/2010 18:55

So that proves in the whole history of humans using ouija boards - that it has never ever "worked"?

Don't get me wrong, I am totally of the view that gullible fools are the ones who fall for this shit (and often hand over cash).

I don't know everything though, actually on a world/universe scale I know fuck all - so am willing to entertain the idea that there might be something to it.

What possible reason is there to use one?

onagar · 27/01/2010 18:59

If the OP wants to forbid them in her house then fine, but it is silly really.

And science doesn't need to prove things don't exist unless there is already at least some evidence that they do. It has not been scientifically proved that baked beans can't talk, but I don't say 'good morning' when I open a can just to be on the safe side.

Morloth · 27/01/2010 19:01

No but there is a reason to open a can of baked beans. There is no reason to mess around with a ouija board.

Janos · 27/01/2010 19:02

Hang on, why must everything be explained, quantified and categorised?

If people want to be a bit freaked out by spooky stories and ouija boards, let them. It's not doing any harm in the scheme of things.

junglist1 · 27/01/2010 19:05

onagar you know you talk to your beans otherwise the thought would never have entered your head

Threebellies · 27/01/2010 19:05

YANBU.

Having been a dabbler in the occult, now I know better, much better.

I did a few as a early teen, and twas not funny when pictures flew of the wall, you never saw 5 kids move so fast.

I had some very bad experiences, I would never touch it again, ever.

Once you invite these things round they tend not to leave.

yummyyummyyummy · 27/01/2010 19:10

I think people under estimate the power of suggestion.Don't believe it at all.
A friend did it once and was told she would be dead within a year - she wasn't but had an anxious 12 months !

TheFoosa · 27/01/2010 19:18

Elffriend - we did that too, how funny

you were supposed to see the face of the Devil but it never worked

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/01/2010 19:18

Janos, no you are right it doesn't really matter. But it can make people vulnerable to people who are just trying to exploit them, which really pisses me off.

Kaloki · 27/01/2010 19:19

yummy The power of suggestion is crazy stuff. I read a load of articles ages ago on stuff like voodoo curses, stigmata and phantom pains. It basically goes along the same lines of hypnotism, if someone is (can't think of the right word) "open" to suggestions then you can change not only they way they think but also the way their body reacts.

SolidGoldBrass · 27/01/2010 19:21

VinegarTits: There are two sides to your personality, one of which you prefer to keep hidden from all but those closest to you. You experienced a distressing incident involving a journey some years ago. There are some things you regret in the recent past, but you may have an opportunity to make up for them in the next few months.

How's that?

posieparker · 27/01/2010 19:23

No SGB, that's mine!!

onagar · 27/01/2010 19:25

Oh I enjoy a good spooky story or film. You can suspend disbelief while you watch it and have fun. But when you turn off the TV it's gone.

Junglist, Honest I'm trying to stop I know it's irrational, but I can't help myself.
Only the BEST baked beans though. I have some standards.