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8 Things You Shouldn’t Do With an Ouija Board
The Ouija board: the best communication device to stay in touch with your loved ones beyond the grave? Eh, probably not. You’re more than likely to hit up the spicy incubi-succubi hotline from this family-friendly board game.
Parker Brothers acquired the Ouija board years ago, joining Monopoly and Risk. The Kennard Novelty Company sold the talking board game in the late 19th century for about $1.50. The company founders noticed spiritualism was a hot button trend at the time and took advantage of it.
Nowadays, scientists and skeptics claim spirits are nowhere involved with the board, only humans. When people believe their grandma is speaking to them, it’s only their involuntary muscles moving the board. This is called the ideomotor effect.
A study in 1972 revealed people will make up anything to fit their imaginations. Scientists told their test subjects about a deceased individual named “Philip” before playing with the Ouija board. The truth: Philip’s not real.
During gameplay, the subjects believed they made contact with Philip as the planchette moved on its own (so to speak).
Meanwhile, there are strong believers who are attracted to the board or too creeped out to do anything with it. There are countless books, videos, and articles from people sharing their creepy experiences with it.
The Ouija board has become so popular it has made its appearances in movies like The Exorcist (1973), Ouija (2014), and Satan’s Blood (1978). Churches are warning people to stay away from the board due to occult activity. 700 Club’s Pat Robertson doesn’t want people chatting with demons.
If you’re still curious about the Ouija board, whether you think it’s real or fake, here are eight things you shouldn’t do with it (according to the internet).
1. Play with the Ouija Board in a Cemetery
Cemeteries are obvious hotspots of spiritual activity. However, you never know whom…