THE GRUMPY SKEPTIC
Trying to fight all the illogical whoo whoo in our city, and our nation.
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Hello all, seems I can't find the time to write anymore in my blogs so i can only hope to continue to write. Either way, last night, while having a poker night having a few drinks, Ouija Board came up, and someone swore up and down that it works. After I stated that there is no way that Ouija Board works we ended up a long night trying to convince each other of the plausibility of it.
In my humble opinion I don't see any plausible way of seeing how this happens. I have seen very plausible explanation, it's known as the Ideomotor effect described below

http://skepdic.com/ideomoto...
ideomotor effect

The ideomotor effect refers to the influence of suggestion or expectation on involuntary and unconscious motor behavior. The term "ideomotor action" was coined by William B. Carpenter in 1852 in his explanation for the movements of rods and pendulums by dowsers, and some table turning or lifting by spirit mediums (the ones that weren't accomplished by cheating). Carpenter argued that muscular movement can be initiated by the mind independently of volition or emotions. We may not be aware of it, but suggestions can be made to the mind by others or by observations. Those suggestions can influence the mind and affect motor behavior.

Scientific tests by American psychologist William James, French chemist Michel Chevreul, English scientist Michael Faraday (Zusne and Jones 1989: 111), and American psychologist Ray Hyman have demonstrated that many phenomena attributed to spiritual or paranormal forces, or to mysterious "energies," are actually due to ideomotor action. Furthermore, these tests demonstrate that "honest, intelligent people can unconsciously engage in muscular activity that is consistent with their expectations" (Hyman 1999). They also show that suggestions that can guide behavior can be given by subtle clues (Hyman 1977).

The movement of pointers on Ouija boards, of a facilitator's hands in facilitated communication, of hands and arms in applied kinesiology, and of some behaviors attributed to hypnotic suggestion, are due to ideomotor action. Ray Hyman (1999) has demonstrated the seductive influence of ideomotor action on medical quackery, where it has produced such appliances as the "Toftness Radiation Detector" (used by chiropractors) and "black boxes" used in medical radiesthesia and radionics (popular with naturopaths to harness "energy" used in diagnosis and healing.) Hyman also argues that such things as Qi Gong and "pulse diagnosis," popular in both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine as practiced by Deepak Chopra, are best explained in terms of ideomotor action and require no supposition of mysterious energies such as chi

so either some spirit is controlling the planchette or, someone is unconsciously moving it,
I find it rather silly that this ancient belief is still in existence but oh well I can only try and do my best to educate the world lol. So in closing i will try any supernatural game or thing to prove it doesn't work.

sincerely
your grumpy skeptic
 

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Topics: Ouija Board, skepticism, debunking, stupid, lame, spirit
posted by thegrumpyskeptic on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 09:53 AM
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