Discussion
They do ‘work’ or appear to as their operation depends on subconscious movements. If everyone is is ‘on the same page’ mentally then their collective inputs give the expected result. Called ideomotor effect.
Derren Brown uses it in many of his effects - he also has some using oiuja boards on YouTube.
The power of self suggestion is strong and groups of kids + vivid imaginations is an ideal combination to make the effect work.
Derren Brown uses it in many of his effects - he also has some using oiuja boards on YouTube.
The power of self suggestion is strong and groups of kids + vivid imaginations is an ideal combination to make the effect work.
MikeM6 said:
Considering that the dead are just that and that you can not more contact a dead person than you can teach a table to speak English, it does seem odd to be fearful of Ouija boards.
However, they are dangerous in the sense that if someone can convince themselves they experienced something through them, which is entirely likely for anyone gullible enough, they might go on to believe in any number of things. So it might reinforce stupidity, and that is dangerous.
I would posit that the set of people who are driven to believing things through a Ouija board, and the set of people who would have been driven to believing a similar thing anyway without the use of a Ouija board, are entirely congruent.However, they are dangerous in the sense that if someone can convince themselves they experienced something through them, which is entirely likely for anyone gullible enough, they might go on to believe in any number of things. So it might reinforce stupidity, and that is dangerous.
Pitre said:
MikeM6 said:
.... they are dangerous in the sense that if someone can convince themselves they experienced something through them, which is entirely likely for anyone gullible enough, they might go on to believe in any number of things. So it might reinforce stupidity, and that is dangerous.
Like religion generally, then. 
LordLoveLength said:
They do ‘work’ or appear to as their operation depends on subconscious movements. If everyone is is ‘on the same page’ mentally then their collective inputs give the expected result. Called ideomotor effect.
Derren Brown uses it in many of his effects - he also has some using oiuja boards on YouTube.
The power of self suggestion is strong and groups of kids + vivid imaginations is an ideal combination to make the effect work.
I enjoy Derren. I’ve read his books and know how powerful suggestion is. I jokingly pride myself on being impervious to suggestion but I know it’s not true. Knowing your weaknesses is valuable. Assuming you’ve none is foolish. But ouija boards, meh I’m too cynical for that caper.Derren Brown uses it in many of his effects - he also has some using oiuja boards on YouTube.
The power of self suggestion is strong and groups of kids + vivid imaginations is an ideal combination to make the effect work.
I did a few as a kid using an upturned wine glass and alphabet hand drawn in a circle around it.
Clearly the stuff it spells out is nonsense but what makes the glass move? You rest your fingers on the top but there was definitely no intentional pushing going on. For a start it's virtually impossible to drag a wine glass towards you with just your finger resting on the top.
Clearly the stuff it spells out is nonsense but what makes the glass move? You rest your fingers on the top but there was definitely no intentional pushing going on. For a start it's virtually impossible to drag a wine glass towards you with just your finger resting on the top.
xx99xx said:
I did a few as a kid using an upturned wine glass and alphabet hand drawn in a circle around it.
Clearly the stuff it spells out is nonsense but what makes the glass move? You rest your fingers on the top but there was definitely no intentional pushing going on. For a start it's virtually impossible to drag a wine glass towards you with just your finger resting on the top.
Yes we did that as teenagers too, can't explain it.Clearly the stuff it spells out is nonsense but what makes the glass move? You rest your fingers on the top but there was definitely no intentional pushing going on. For a start it's virtually impossible to drag a wine glass towards you with just your finger resting on the top.
Years ago went to Pengerisick castle for Ghost Hunt went open minded thought is would be a good laugh. Didn't see anything no banging on floor or things mysterious happening. Until someone suggested doing Ouija board. I sat there at bottom of bed with two youngsters aged about 20. Board was put on balanket box at bottom of the bed. Someone asked the questions and the glass moved. It rotated as it moved across top of the box and our fingers crossed over each other as it moved. Whilst it was moving I looked at both of the youngsters looking away from the glass and it kept moving ! I knew I wasn't moving it and was sure they weren't moving it too.
Alot of questions were answered about the occupants of the castle etc .
Don't need to do it again as I know it works !!
Alot of questions were answered about the occupants of the castle etc .
Don't need to do it again as I know it works !!
welshjon81 said:
I'm not religious in any shape or form. In fact I would say I am anti-religious if anything but I wouldn't mess with something I didn't understand. And if my kids were, I would act in the same manor, it's a big no, no, for me!
It's a plank of wood. With some letters on it.HTH.
welshjon81 said:
I'm not religious in any shape or form. In fact I would say I am anti-religious if anything but I wouldn't mess with something I didn't understand. And if my kids were, I would act in the same manor, it's a big no, no, for me!
I wouldn't do one because i'm not interested and you never know what could happen. Seems a pointless risk. I was very sceptical about ghosts and the like until I went for a walk around an abandoned mental asylum with some friends and heard some very creepy stuff which made me think twice.deckster said:
welshjon81 said:
I'm not religious in any shape or form. In fact I would say I am anti-religious if anything but I wouldn't mess with something I didn't understand. And if my kids were, I would act in the same manor, it's a big no, no, for me!
It's a plank of wood. With some letters on it.HTH.
I'm reasonably confident that messing with ouija boards is risky to those who believe in the supernatural. But it's a bit self fulfilling. For the rest of us it's a bit silly. Finding the right balance between not believing in the bulls
t but not disparaging those who do is a tricky one. How hard should you go when something's obviously false but someone genuinely believes it? Studs forward? Religious opinions are protected more than most, so having them challenged is a good thing but what's a successful strategy? Evidently studs forward isn't.bigpriest said:
I guess none of the "don't mess with it, it works" people have ever talked to a family member that has died to comfort themselves or keep the person's memory alive. Or had a "chat" with someone in a grave. How are clairvoyants any different?
They're not.People that say the glass moves on its own, really?
It's amazing no one had managed to reproduce the effect under lab conditions, or do the ghosts object to labs?
sociopath said:
bigpriest said:
I guess none of the "don't mess with it, it works" people have ever talked to a family member that has died to comfort themselves or keep the person's memory alive. Or had a "chat" with someone in a grave. How are clairvoyants any different?
They're not.People that say the glass moves on its own, really?
It's amazing no one had managed to reproduce the effect under lab conditions, or do the ghosts object to labs?
deckster said:
welshjon81 said:
I'm not religious in any shape or form. In fact I would say I am anti-religious if anything but I wouldn't mess with something I didn't understand. And if my kids were, I would act in the same manor, it's a big no, no, for me!
It's a plank of wood. With some lettuce on it.HTH.
sociopath said:
bigpriest said:
I guess none of the "don't mess with it, it works" people have ever talked to a family member that has died to comfort themselves or keep the person's memory alive. Or had a "chat" with someone in a grave. How are clairvoyants any different?
They're not.People that say the glass moves on its own, really?
It's amazing no one had managed to reproduce the effect under lab conditions, or do the ghosts object to labs?
There is no talking to the dead, becuase they are dead. If they have no mouths, how do they speak? What is moving the air past what to make the sound? There is no answer as it is not happening in reality, but rather it is perceived by those who wish to perceive it.
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