How On Earth Can Toy Shops Justify Selling These Stuff to Children!

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Ouija Board: Glow-in-the-Dark - Hasbro - Toys "R" Us

Ouija Board - Pink - Hasbro - Toys "R" Us

Ouiji boards specifically targeted for children, including a pink one for girls. I honestly do not know how anybody really knows how to operate these safely.
#children #earth #justify #selling #shops #stuff #toy
  • Profile picture of the author globalpro
    Derek,

    They don't, but when you are selling it as a 'game', who knows the difference. Kids are open tom all things, but Mom and Dad are the ones who purchase it and they are clueless.

    Very sad.

    Thanks,

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    You're right, Derek. The old Yes Yes board is nothing more than a cheap gimmick.

    Here's a quote from....

    Ohio University Skeptic's Society: On Ouija Boards...

    Kids should get better hobbies than wasting their money on these wooden pieces of junk and attributing any minor muscle movement to the supernatural.
    And, here are a few videos (CAUTION: Contains coarse language)



    I can think of other toys that are MUCH worse.

    All the best,
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author ExRat
    Hi,

    It's debatable whether it works or not.

    But I agree with your point - very bad marketing decision by ToysRus.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    I see no problem with these toys.
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    • Profile picture of the author ExRat
      Hi Dan,

      I see no problem with these toys.
      You're happy for your kids to be introduced to games based around the occult where the only function of the game is (allegedly) to contact spirits of the dead?
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    • Profile picture of the author davezan
      Simple: they can.

      Will be darned if some kid (knock on wood) experiences some bad supernatural
      stuff, then the parent tries to sue Toys R Us for that. Heh.
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      • Profile picture of the author ExRat
        Hi Dan,

        Yes. Let them be imaginative and have fun.
        Would you approve of a game that's all about LSD as well?
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
          I propose you ask this kind of question somewhere other than the internet marketing forum next time. The off-topic forum might work, or somewhere other than WF entirely.

          Debating world view can only get nasty.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    Yes. Let them be imaginative and have fun.

    We let them believe Santa Claus is real, they don't become evil elf-worshippers.
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  • Profile picture of the author GeorgR.
    as far as i know ouja boards have always been toys actually. I think it would go FAR too much to debate here in this thread whether there's something "to it".

    HOWEVER... do you think that selling some rambo figure with a M9 hanging from his shoulder or a toy GUN is "safer", now from a morale point of view? The same thing with (so called) violent computer games? Aka GTA....gangs shootings..etc.... This would be an endless debate.
    I think its up to the parents to see what their kids play with.
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    • Profile picture of the author Trader54
      Originally Posted by GeorgR. View Post

      I think its up to the parents to see what their kids play with.
      Yeah and then also make the parent responsible when the kid is all screwed up and robbing the neighbors house.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Those that think Ouija are anything more than harmless toys are clueless.
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  • Profile picture of the author waloosh
    Someone should close this thread before it gets too out of hand. I can already see bad things happening in here.
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by waloosh View Post

      Someone should close this thread before it gets too out of hand. I can already see bad things happening in here.

      Now you're really being rediculous.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
        Originally Posted by KimW View Post

        Now you're really being rediculous.
        It wasn't in the off-topic forum when it started. I'm not going to participate in this though, nobody changes their mind based on facts or logic, so throwing them at others is a waste of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    Like marijuana, ouija boards are regarded as a soft introduction to something much more serious and dangerous. Most people who have played with it do not suffer any harmful effects but there are a few who are very affected pyschologically by it. Year after year, we hear cases of schoolchildren being put into mental hospitals or even attempt suicide because of playing with these boards. Quite often, those who are most seriously claim that they were playing alone.

    Hasbro (Parker Bros) have always marketed a ouija board but this pink ouija board for girls is new. Hasbro knows that it is very difficult to be sued because no courts will recognize ghouls, demons and other occult stuff.

    I am not going to argue either way whether there is something occult behind it or not. When I was at high school, almost everyone have had a try. I tried several times and nothing happened, but the last it scared the hell out of me.

    Q. What is your name
    A. A J E W

    Q. When did you died
    A. 4 4

    Q. Where did you died.
    A. B E L S E N

    When one of us realized that Belsen was the site of a german concentration camp, we stopped the game immediately. One of the participants really hated jews and so it was possible that he tricked us but he would have had been extremely experienced to do so.

    Derek
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    • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      Like marijuana, ouija boards are regarded as a soft introduction to something much more serious and dangerous. Most people who have played with it do not suffer any harmful effects but there are a few who are very affected pyschologically by it. Year after year, we hear cases of schoolchildren being put into mental hospitals or even attempt suicide because of playing with these boards. Quite often, those who are most seriously claim that they were playing alone.

      Hasbro (Parker Bros) have always marketed a ouija board but this pink ouija board for girls is new. Hasbro knows that it is very difficult to be sued because no courts will recognize ghouls, demons and other occult stuff.

      I am not going to argue either way whether there is something occult behind it or not. When I was at high school, almost everyone have had a try. I tried several times and nothing happened, but the last it scared the hell out of me.

      Q. What is your name
      A. A J E W

      Q. When did you died
      A. 4 4

      Q. Where did you died.
      A. B E L S E N

      When one of us realized that Belsen was the site of a german concentration camp, we stopped the game immediately. One of the participants really hated jews and so it was possible that he tricked us but he would have had been extremely experienced to do so.

      Derek
      ...so did you and all the rest of the girls at the pajama party start screaming and giggling? and how experinced do you need to be to push a puck in a ouji board?
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author mbtalontsi
        The only problem that comes from this game is mean older siblings scaring their gullible younger siblings. I fell for it when i was little. haha
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        • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
          I'm sorry folks, but I have to scratch my head at the Ouija board bashers.

          I had one as a kid, 40 some odd years ago. Heck, everybody in our
          neighborhood had one. They were fun. We all knew that we were pushing
          that stupid little thing around to spell out what we wanted it to, but it was
          still fun.

          Let's see.

          I turned out to be a successful Internet marketer.
          One guy became a lawyer.
          Another guy became a dentist.
          One girl became a nurse.
          Another girl went on to become a housewife with 3 wonderful kids.

          I think that, as we get older and become adults, we have forgotten
          what it was like to have fun with things.

          I played with GI Joes.

          I didn't join the army.

          I played with toy cap guns, machine guns, grenades and just about
          every other weapon imaginable including the James Bond attache case
          and guns.

          I didn't become a mass murderer.

          IMO, if a child is going to become a killer or occultist or whatever, they
          didn't become one from playing with toys.

          I knew a guy who went on to become a child molester. He didn't need to
          play with dolls or whatever. He just was what he was.

          We're all free to raise our children as we like and if we don't want them to
          have certain things, fine.

          All I know is that if my daughter ever brought home a Ouija board, I
          wouldn't get all bent out of shape over it.
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          • Profile picture of the author George Sepich
            Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

            I'm sorry folks, but I have to scratch my head at the Ouija board bashers.

            I had one as a kid, 40 some odd years ago. Heck, everybody in our
            neighborhood had one. They were fun. We all knew that we were pushing
            that stupid little thing around to spell out what we wanted it to, but it was
            still fun.

            Let's see.

            I turned out to be a successful Internet marketer.
            One guy became a lawyer.
            Another guy became a dentist.
            One girl became a nurse.
            Another girl went on to become a housewife with 3 wonderful kids.

            I think that, as we get older and become adults, we have forgotten
            what it was like to have fun with things.

            I played with GI Joes.

            I didn't join the army.

            I played with toy cap guns, machine guns, grenades and just about
            every other weapon imaginable including the James Bond attache case
            and guns.

            I didn't become a mass murderer.

            IMO, if a child is going to become a killer or occultist or whatever, they
            didn't become one from playing with toys.

            I knew a guy who went on to become a child molester. He didn't need to
            play with dolls or whatever. He just was what he was.

            We're all free to raise our children as we like and if we don't want them to
            have certain things, fine.

            All I know is that if my daughter ever brought home a Ouija board, I
            wouldn't get all bent out of shape over it.
            But doesn't having to explain to your barber about the "666" get a little tiring? I don't think he buys into the "999" excuse anymore.

            George
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

    Ouija Board: Glow-in-the-Dark - Hasbro - Toys "R" Us

    Ouija Board - Pink - Hasbro - Toys "R" Us

    Ouiji boards specifically targeted for children, including a pink one for girls. I honestly do not know how anybody really knows how to operate these safely.
    safely? you're pushing around a puck. is there an unsafe way to do this?
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Derek,
    While I agree with you more often than not, in this case we have to agree to disagree.
    I'm not going to backtrack but I think another poster had it right when they said it's the parents responsibility to teach their children the difference between fact and fiction, that goes the same about games.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Oh Michael, please use the proper terminology, it's not a puck, it's a planchette (message indicator).
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    • Profile picture of the author Killer Joe
      Go ahead Derek...Cybersmack that Motley mother back

      We'll cover you...

      Webster's Dictionary -
      motley: "composed of diverse often incongruous elements"

      It's not his fault...

      KJ
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    No disprespect kim, but the technology hasnt been invented that could possibly measure how little i care if i dont have the terminology for the ouji board correct.

    Its a retarded game played by girls at slumber parties and college kids who have smoked way too much weed.
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    • Profile picture of the author KimW
      Originally Posted by Michael Motley View Post

      No disprespect kim, but the technology hasnt been invented that could possibly measure how little i care if i dont have the terminology for the ouji board correct.

      Its a retarded game played by girls at slumber parties and college kids who have smoked way too much weed.
      As I get older I am losing my sarcastic edge!

      PS: Don't forget little old ladies with blue hair!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    yeah, the blue haired lil ole ladies that have smoked too much weed play it too.. I didnt think anyone even bought ouiji boards anymore except teenagers with black fingernails and too much eyeliner.
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  • Profile picture of the author TeddyP
    Like marijuana, ouija boards are regarded as a soft introduction to something much more serious and dangerous
    Yes and like marijuana I am sure the "gateway theory" is mostly bunk.

    I see no problem with this.
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  • Profile picture of the author derekwong28
    I repeat that I am not going to disagree with those who thinks this is all false and a joke. I certainly would not like to think that in the afterlife, one would wander around aimlessly and be sometimes called by a ouija board to amuse the mortals.

    But it is still clear that many have been badly affected to it. A lot of those who needed help played ouija alone, like auto-writing. Therefore he/she must have thought that he was not consciously pushing and directing the puck.

    Steven, when you played you all knew someone was cheating everytime. This was not at our school when some "games" were very serious and supposedly involved the same spirit. Sometimes a teacher (in this case a catholic priest) was present. Now of course looking back, he should have stopped it as it was his responsibility.

    Bush, Clinton and Obama are reported to have snuffed marijuana as well. But I don't anybody in their right is advocating promoting marijuana to young children.
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    • Profile picture of the author Thomas
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      ... like auto-writing...
      Mmmm... I wonder if I could channel a dead copywriter and have him write my stuff for me? That would be really handy!
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Ayres
        Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

        Mmmm... I wonder if I could channel a dead copywriter and have him write my stuff for me? That would be really handy!
        That made me laugh!
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by Thomas View Post

        Mmmm... I wonder if I could channel a dead copywriter and have him write my stuff for me? That would be really handy!
        Uh......settle for a live one?:rolleyes:

        Derek - I understand what you are saying, but if a kid is going to go over the edge playing with one, then that kid needs help way before mom brings the Ouija board home from the store.

        Look at the Dungeons and Dragons game that was hot in the 80's though - there were no occult implications in that game - all pure fantasy, but there were kids that would go over the edge once they got involved with the game.

        Anything that delves into the mind will push someone somewhere over the edge. Should we ban anything that involves the mind, though, because of few are walking on the razor's edge? I'm tninking that exploring minds is more important than keeping everyone "safe" from themselves - that's how we become over-legislated and how people become unconscious cattle to the slaughter.

        I can understand also if you have objections because of the occult nature of the boards.

        I have known people that have had strange experiences using those things and they wouldn't allow one in their homes to save their lives. I myself had a very good spooking using tarot cards with someone once and you won't catch me using them again -- and we were just having fun with them, we weren't seriously expecting anything like reality to come from it.

        But it's the same thing - it's an exploration of the mind.
        If you go there, you take your chances - but if you refuse to go there, you set limits. Which is better in the long run?
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
      Originally Posted by derekwong28 View Post

      But it is still clear that many have been badly affected to it. A lot of those who needed help played ouija alone, like auto-writing. Therefore he/she must have thought that he was not consciously pushing and directing the puck.
      And Barbie dolls give young girls low self esteem. So we should pull those too.

      It's a toy. And as a responsible parent, it is up to you to decide what you will allow your kids to play with, it's up to you to teach them what's what.

      Not the game manufacturers. Their sole mission in life is to make a profit.

      But one thing that really annoys me more than anything else is when others in our society try to decide for me what is good/evil/right/wrong/or otherwise. Especially when it's in the form of legislation (like to ban Barbie dolls - I believe there was once a push to do that, but not sure if there still is).

      If someone believes a Ouija board is evil, etc. then it's your right not to use one or not allow YOUR kids to use one.

      This is one of those "debates" like who is the best rock band of all time - it all depends on the personal beliefs.

      Ok, off to go buy a new Ouija board. We lost the "puck" thingy on our other one... (ha ha)
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  • Profile picture of the author localsearch1031
    ....typical of the society we are in today.... Having a "Christian" type toy would be considered too religious , but having an occult type toy is fine and not considered religious when it is one of the most prominent religions in society today.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Ypu want the straight dope about Ouiji boards?
    I belong to numerous entertainment boards,and I just by chance came across a thread on one about Ouiji boards. Below are a few unedited comments. The first one is quite "Telling" pardon the pun!

    "Last time I've seen 'psychics' use an Ouija board was on Penn & Teller's BS show."

    "Pretty easy to debunk something that isn't being used "

    "Nearly every Ouija board purchaser I've seen in a decade was a teen aged girl with her young female friends. Giggling, of course. "


    I couldn't stop laughing!


    By the way, To paraphase All magic is is science that hasn't been discovered yet. I can't remember who said that,but the truth is, maybe in the 18th century people believed in the boards, but those of us that are educated know that it is an involuntary and unsually inpercieably response that cause the results,
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  • Profile picture of the author Emily Meeks
    Fine... I didn't really wanna say anything but I'll go ahead and comment.

    Occult = NOT necessarily good *or* bad. Any occult practice is as good (or evil) as the practitioner's intent.

    Anybody who's ever done ritual will say, if there's somebody who's skeptical, it's not going to work. They're not putting forth the energy and opening their mind.

    That said, the kids who will get hurt are the ones who seriously believe, but don't know what they're doing and therefore get themselves into a situation beyond their control. On the flipside, the kids simply playing around without any real faith in the situation will likely come out unscathed.

    I'm not here to debate whether or not you believe the occult is of any influence. That's your personal decision, and a quick exchange of forum posts is NOT going to change your mind. This is MY personal belief, so please don't reply to me with debates - I will not respond and you'll be wasting your time.

    Should these toys be taken off the market? I'm actually stumped on this one. On one hand, I'd like to say if the kids can handle it, go for it. If they know what it is and are responsible, go for it. If they know what it is but don't know what they're doing, stay away. I'd suggest parents talk before kids buy, but it's unlikely that conversation will lead anywhere - particularly if the child is from a Zealot family (I'm not going to say Christian family, as I do know Christian families who are accepting of others' beliefs and I'm not trying to offend anyone)
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