Sales of ouiji boards up by 300%

Coopaloop

So the ever reliable daily mail had a story today saying the sale of ouiji boards is up by 300%. I've always been curious about them but not so much that I would ever use one, way to scared to do that.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Something about them has always screamed don't go near them, or are they just a board game?

Bigus

300% could mean they sold 3 instead of 1 over a certain period .

seamus

Of course it's just a board game.

There was a rumour that they're banned in Ireland, but I don't think that's actually possible.

What's more likely is that the church in the 80's strongarmed toy retailers into not selling it, and so it's just never been available here. I imagine Smyths would make quite a killing if they started selling it now.

Realt Dearg Sec

Coopaloop wrote: »

So the ever reliable daily mail had a story today saying the sale of ouiji boards is up by 300%. I've always been curious about them but not so much that I would ever use one, way to scared to do that.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Something about them has always screamed don't go near them, or are they just a board game?

Aren't they made by Waddingtons or someone? I wouldn't worry about it. Although I have afriend whose neighbour's cousin once used one and his head exploded when he talked to his dead wife even though he'd never been married.

Mr Freeze

Even though I don't believe in ghosts, I don't think I would go near a Ouigi board.

All those priests coming into school giving us talks about all the bad things in life, well don't use ouiji boards is the only thing I remember from those things.

They had 2 people in once who claimed they had been possessed in past.

I don't think schools would get away with that craic these days.

Sheep Lover

seamus wrote: »

Of course it's just a board game.

A game of Scrabble has more chance of summoning the dead

Realt Dearg Sec

Mr Freeze wrote: »

If though I don't believe in ghosts, I don't think I would go near a Ouigi board.

All those priests coming into school giving us talks about all the bad things in life, well don't use ouiji boards is the only thing I remember from those things.

They had 2 people in once who claimed they had been possessed in past.

I don't think schools would get away with that craic these days.

Ha yeah we were given the same warnings. Such ****e talk.

kylith

Coopaloop wrote: »

So the ever reliable daily mail had a story today saying the sale of ouiji boards is up by 300%. I've always been curious about them but not so much that I would ever use one, way to scared to do that.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Something about them has always screamed don't go near them, or are they just a board game?

Let me put it this way - They were developed by Milton Bradley, the board game company.

They work via the ideomotor effect - basically you move it without realising that you're moving it. This is the same effect that makes dowsing rods move. Penn and Teller do a very good debunking of Ouija boards.

conorhal

seamus wrote: »

Of course it's just a board game.

There was a rumour that they're banned in Ireland, but I don't think that's actually possible.

What's more likely is that the church in the 80's strongarmed toy retailers into not selling it, and so it's just never been available here. I imagine Smyths would make quite a killing if they started selling it now.

TBH ouiji boards have no place in smyths, toyshops generally don't tend to have an occult section and I can't see parents being that enthuastic about trying to summon the devil or talk to granny from beyound the grave with the kids after a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos.....

NoCrackHaving

FFS, they're board games made by Hasbro, as in the toy manufacturer.

It was invented by a guy called Ellijah Bond in 19th century as basically a grown up s toy. It wasn't until a mumbo-jumbo 'talk to your dead relative' spiritualist began using them in the 1920's to fleece gullible idiots out of their money that it took on the 'evil'/Satanic overtones.

Frankly, ouiji boards have no place anywhere but not for religious or occult reasons but to stop idiots having their pockets picked by retailers.

jaykay74

They should have seen it coming

Calibos

I despair that some of you people are allowed vote

seamus

conorhal wrote: »

TBH ouiji boards have no place in smyths, toyshops generally don't tend to have an occult section and I can't see parents being that enthuastic about trying to summon the devil or talk to granny from beyound the grave with the kids after a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos.....

How many parents do you think sit down with their children and play a nice family game of GTA 5 where they beat up hookers and go around torturing and murdering people?
Yeah, Smyths sell that too.

Ridiculous comment tbh. A Ouija board is a game and nothing more.

GabbyJay

hate to be pedantic but... "ouija".

GabbyJay

hate to be pedantic but... "Ouija" (a instead of i).

furiousox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAD0XLytC0w

nozzferrahhtoo

Coopaloop wrote: »

So the ever reliable daily mail had a story today saying the sale of ouiji boards is up by 300%. I've always been curious about them but not so much that I would ever use one, way to scared to do that.

Does anyone have any experience with them? Something about them has always screamed don't go near them, or are they just a board game?

There are lots of things in life I find time to be scared of. Cardboard and dice are not two of them.

Duggy747

Spooky board brought to you by the crowd who makes Transformers toys who bought the rights from the crowd who made Monopoly!

o1s1n

GabbyJay wrote: »

hate to be pedantic but... "Ouija" (a instead of i).

I cringe whenever I hear someone say 'wee-jee board'

idnkph

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

eviltimeban

Toy shops should totally have an occult section.

Realt Dearg Sec

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

Stops you thinking more like.

furiousox

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

It's a coincidence that a priest called to the house and all 3 girls ended up pregnant?

Insect Overlord

Nice little discussion on their origins here: http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/o-u-i-j-a/

I always wanted to try playing with one when I was a teenager, but nobody was happy to join me!

o1s1n

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

When you do something 'scary' - all regular noises thereafter are looked upon suspiciously as your senses are a more highly aware due to being on edge.

It is not hard to believe that three girls could be pregnant over the course of a year.

Of course it's a coincidence. Coupled with the idiometer effect and confirmation bias.

sjb25

furiousox wrote: »

It's a coincidence that a priest called to the house and all 3 girls ended up pregnant?

Thanks for the milk up my nose and the cornflakes had been lovely up till now lol

nozzferrahhtoo

idnkph wrote: »

within a year the 3 girls were all stuffed. Maybe a coincidence but makes ya think

Dear god. That they would all not only die.... but in a country that allows human Taxidermy...... is boggling to the mind!

killanena

I used one once with a few friends, Nothing happened.. except for some people trying to mess with others. The wood the board is made out of is really smooth and the magnifying glass with the same wood as a farm was really easy to slide along the wood with a tiny bit of force. I noticed I could slide it pretty easily. He had used it before and said he never experienced anything, even on his own but his parents believed it worked. I don't know if they actually believed that or were only saying it to freak us out. We were all about 16-17 at the time.

When I say that a lot of people say "It has to be a real one, the toy ones don't work!"..
What defines a real ouija board? :P + my friend that owed it had it for years, his parents got it in Spain when they lived there before he was born.

I don't believe in anything till its fact but I don't discredit anyone's believes until a point it is proven as a fact to be untrue.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

killanena wrote: »

What defines a real ouija board? :P + my friend that owed it had it for years, his parents got it in Spain when they lived there before he was born.

I believe it has to be blessed by a priest. Or the horned antichrist, I can never remember which.

Nodin

eviltimeban wrote: »

Toy shops should totally have an occult section.

People should have the choice of that "Frozen" thing or the Goat Of Mendes, I reckon.

Kidchameleon

NoCrackHaving wrote: »

FFS, they're board games made by Hasbro, as in the toy manufacturer.

It was invented by a guy called Ellijah Bond in 19th century as basically a grown up s toy. It wasn't until a mumbo-jumbo 'talk to your dead relative' spiritualist began using them in the 1920's to fleece gullible idiots out of their money that it took on the 'evil'/Satanic overtones.

Frankly, ouiji boards have no place anywhere but not for religious or occult reasons but to stop idiots having their pockets picked by retailers.

Nope, Bond just saw the commercial potential. They have been around in some form or another for centuries.

Nodin

conorhal wrote: »

TBH ouiji boards have no place in smyths, toyshops generally don't tend to have an occult section and I can't see parents being that enthuastic about trying to summon the devil or talk to granny from beyound the grave with the kids after a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos.....

Ouija boards belong in smiths, because they're a toy. You can't summon the devil or talk to the dead. If you want to see some unholy event, drink a lot of whiskey.

Summer wind

Somewhere out there a marketing executive is rich, fat and happy.

The_Captain

The demographics on this forum are more heavily weighted towards young, educated people than Ireland as a whole.

If this is the type of crap people here think about Ouija boards, I'm actually terrified to know just how thick the rest of Ireland is about them.

Adults being scared of a game for children ffs

Magnate

Bigus wrote: »

300% could mean they sold 3 instead of 1 over a certain period .

That would only be a 200% increase. :pac:

Greenmachine

I tried to buy one of these for the crack, some time in the mid 90's and found they were not commercially available in Ireland at least. Independent.ie ran an article recently too. The discussion following the article got pretty heated. For me they are just a bit of fun, but a classmate swore that a board had driven his brother crazy.

paulbok

What else can people use if there isn't decent broadband?

conorhal

The_Captain wrote: »

The demographics on this forum are more heavily weighted towards young, educated people than Ireland as a whole.

If this is the type of crap people here think about Ouija boards, I'm actually terrified to know just how thick the rest of Ireland is about them.

Adults being scared of a game for children ffs

Who's 'scared' exactly? It's simply not an appropriate 'toy' for children, it was never a childs toy in the first place and if they want to summon invisible beings and talk to the dead then they can go and be bored in mass like I was as a child.

shruikan2553

The_Captain wrote: »

The demographics on this forum are more heavily weighted towards young, educated people than Ireland as a whole.

If this is the type of crap people here think about Ouija boards, I'm actually terrified to know just how thick the rest of Ireland is about them.

Adults being scared of a game for children ffs

I would agree with this. The crap some people I know believe makes ouija boards look perfectly normal. The likes of ouija boards make you talk to the dead as much as monopoly makes you own a railway station.

etoughguy

Id imagine in this day and age with all the phones with cameras etc that if someone somewhere ever recorded something happening as a result of using one of these thingys it would be all over youtube by now
Everything on the internet is real so I would believe it instantly

o1s1n

conorhal wrote: »

Who's 'scared' exactly? It's simply not an appropriate 'toy' for children, it was never a childs toy in the first place and if they want to summon invisible beings and talk to the dead then they can go and be bored in mass like I was as a child.

Actually at one point they were seen as a bit of fun and used by the whole family.

It was only later that they became associated with the occult - mainly due to popular culture and religious fundamentalists.

I find it hilarious (and a bit mind boggling) how superstitious Irish people are about them.

conorhal

Greenmachine wrote: »

I tried to buy one of these for the crack, some time in the mid 90's and found they were not commercially available in Ireland at least. Independent.ie ran an article recently too. The discussion following the article got pretty heated. For me they are just a bit of fun, but a classmate swore that a board had driven his brother crazy.

I'd suspect that they're not commercially available because anybody I know that's fooled around with one made it themselves using scraps of paper with the letters of the alphabet arranged in a circle on a table with an upturned shot glass. To actually buy a Ouija board you'd have to be a combination of both lazy and credulous!

Phoebas

seamus wrote: »

How many parents do you think sit down with their children and play a nice family game of GTA 5 where they beat up hookers and go around torturing and murdering people?

Me. But I stuck to mowing down farm animals and they're beginning to get over it now.

c_man

At what point in the production process of the board games, are they endowed with magical powers? Is it all done in the one factory?

etoughguy

c_man wrote: »

At what point in the production process of the board games, are they endowed with magical powers? Is it all done in the one factory?

To the best of my knowledge they outsource it to a factory in pixieland

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

c_man wrote: »

At what point in the production process of the board games, are they endowed with magical powers? Is it all done in the one factory?

Ah, now you see you're makign the mistake of thinking that the people who create ouija boards actually think they're making a board game. Or Hasbro intentionlly making an object for occult use!

sbsquarepants

kylith wrote: »

Let me put it this way - They were developed by Milton Bradley, the board game company.

They work via the ideomotor effect - basically you move it without realising that you're moving it. This is the same effect that makes dowsing rods move. Penn and Teller do a very good debunking of Ouija boards.

Yea, yea. Devil puppets the pair of them.

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

It does.
It makes me think your 3 friends got laid and subsequently knocked up cos they lived away from home and could do as they pleased. Whereas you lived at home and your ma proved to be a very effective contraceptive, as they tend to!:D

sbsquarepants

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I believe it has to be blessed by a priest. Or the horned antichrist, I can never remember which.

Reminds me of the joke about the Irish exorcism where they had to summon the devil to get the priest out of the child:D

Earl Turner

I used to go out with a girl who was a hardcore atheist (the absolute worst of the preachy types) and yet was genuinely afraid of Ouija boards. I thought it was funny how she could dismiss one part of the supernatural but completely accept another.

Phoebas

Earl Turner wrote: »

I used to go out with a girl who was a hardcore atheist (the absolute worst of the preachy types) and yet was genuinely afraid of Ouija boards. I thought it was funny how she could dismiss one part of the supernatural but completely accept another.

Aren't you just describing what every religion does?