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Questioninggeller
23rd March 2009, 06:50 PM
According to various news sources, "psychics" appear to be doing quite well during rough economic times. Here are a few reports:

North Carolina:

Psychics seeing wave of patrons worried about money
Scripps News (http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/41898)
‎Mar 20, 2009‎

Forget about love.

As the Dow has declined, so has amorous interest among patrons of psychics. What has replaced it? A dogged focus on cash.

"They want to know if they should take their money out of the stock market or if they should get out of a business or stay with a business," said Rachel Johnson of the Psychic Studio in Raleigh, N.C. "People are coming asking if I can do a spell to help their finances."

Johnson says she can read the future in the palm of a patron's hand or with the flip of a tarot card. She does not cast spells.

Such confusion about her abilities may stem from another recent development -- a wave of newcomers seeking out her services.

Business had been up for a few years but hit a fever pitch late last year, said Johnson, who has told fortunes for 18 years, following in the footsteps of her mother. Their business includes another mother-daughter psychic team in Smithfield, N.C., who are their relatives.
...
"About once a day I am reading for people who just lost their job or will be losing their job shortly," said McGill, who noted the trend started just before the November elections. "They are very fearful of what the future will bring for them."
...


Virginia:

Psychics Gaining Business
WCTV (http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/41595692.html)
‎Mar 20, 2009‎

In a time where businesses are being forced to close and people are losing their jobs, one business is hanging on.

Local psychics are seeing more people come in asking about the economy.

Since many are unsure about what will happen in the future, they are turning to psychics for answers.

Sister Fay, a palmist, says "They ask about their love life, their home life, work. . . work is the main thing they want to know about. A lot of people can't get work."
...


Vermont:

Recession Boosting Business for Psychics
Fox44 News (http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=10032369)
‎Mar 18, 2009‎

As far as people with special abilities go, Lydia Solini is insightful.

"I enjoy giving people a different perspective," she said.

As a licensed astrologer and self proclaimed intuitive in South Burlingtion, her insights are in demand.

Solini says the tanking economy has boosted business by about 30%.

"They're frightened about how things are going to turn out with the economic downturn we're having," said Solini.
...
It seems the rising numbers of people turning to those with psychic abilities is a sign, for some, of desperate times.

"People are searching for real answers," said Solini.

She also told us we should expect to see signs of improvement in the economy by July.


Philadelphia:

Psychics make a fortune during uncertain economic times
USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2009-03-15-psychics_N.htm)
‎Mar 15, 2009‎

Valerie Morrison has less time for love these days. The Philadelphia psychic says clients who once obsessed about romantic prospects are too worried about their economic future.
Executives inquire about layoffs. Restaurateurs ask if people will still go out to eat. Homeowners want real estate tips.

"They ask me if this (recession) is going to turn around or become even worse," says Morrison, a seer since age 7, when she says she foresaw an aunt's death. "I say chicken pox gets worse before it gets better. Do not panic."

Anecdotal evidence indicates that psychics, astrologers, palm readers, Tarot card shufflers, numerologists and other paranormal specialists have become the rage as investment advisers and brokers appear clueless. After all, if the times aren't normal, why not try the paranormal?
...


Georgia:

Psychics see boom in business in tough times
Atlanta Journal Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/03/08/fortune0308.html)
By Brian Macquarrie
Sunday, March 08, 2009

Barbara Bonham slowly shuffled the tarot cards as Alex Palermo, owner of the Original Tremont Tearoom, locked eyes across a small table brightened by a row of smiling Buddhas. After spreading the cards before him, Palermo gently fingered his graying goatee as the $55 half-hour session began.
...
In a business that has long catered to questions about romance and family, many psychics are finding that the recession is not only good for business, it has changed their business.

Palermo said the tearoom, which opened amid the desperation of the Great Depression, has seen a 50 percent increase in customers since the economy tumbled into free fall late last year, with many of them looking for guidance through the hard times ahead.

Now, instead of 150 clients a month, Palermo said, the tearoom is handling 225 patrons, including lawyers, single women, CEOs and priests.
...



What's the best response strategy for skeptic groups to the rising turn to psychics? If more people are turning to the undependable fortune tellers then more people are likely wasting their money when it could be spent more effectively. How can skeptics work to better inform people who are thinking about giving their money to psychics?

ExMinister
23rd March 2009, 07:29 PM
A few ideas:

Even if you believe some psychics are genuine and some aren't, how do you KNOW any one particular psychic is the real thing?

And if you have any doubts whatsoever, is it worth the risk to ask for important financial advice in a situation like that?

Would you go to a financial planner knowing there was a chance that he/she might be a fake?

I don't know, but those are some issues that come immediately to mind. That response was aimed at believers, of course, not skeptics.

Miss_Kitt
24th March 2009, 12:09 AM
Don't you think that a real psychic would be making a fortune in these tough economic times? For example, they could have short-sold on AIG or WAMU and made a killing! If, that is, they could actually see the future.

I think the same thing about those "I'll make you a millionaire" seminars one hears promoted on the radio or TV. If you're so good at making money, why are you charging people to teach them this skill? Surely you don't need the income from the seminar, or the tapes and books...

LONGTABBER PE
24th March 2009, 03:53 AM
What's the best response strategy for skeptic groups to the rising turn to psychics? If more people are turning to the undependable fortune tellers then more people are likely wasting their money when it could be spent more effectively. How can skeptics work to better inform people who are thinking about giving their money to psychics?

>>>What's the best response strategy for skeptic groups to the rising turn to psychics?

Practice Caveat Emptor

>>>If more people are turning to the undependable fortune tellers then more people are likely wasting their money when it could be spent more effectively. How can skeptics work to better inform people who are thinking about giving their money to psychics

Altho I agree with you in principle and in the reality of it 100% the simple truth is this.

For centuries, mankind has demonstrated a propensity to thro caution and common sense out the window when things get tight and "embrace" whatever promises to cure the ill rather than those who tell it like it is.

Its like the Doctor telling you to exercise and the infomercial telling you to buy this new pill with "pure" coral calcium and it will do it for you.

You cant change human nature. I wish I had a different answer to give you but I think you will find my answer prophetic.

Flo
24th March 2009, 04:05 AM
What's the best response strategy for skeptic groups to the rising turn to psychics? If more people are turning to the undependable fortune tellers then more people are likely wasting their money when it could be spent more effectively. How can skeptics work to better inform people who are thinking about giving their money to psychics?

I don't recall any of those powerful seers warning their victims clients about the current crisis ... why should we trust them now ?

Soapy Sam
24th March 2009, 07:14 PM
I don't remember many financial advisers doing so either.

Joe_Black
31st March 2009, 05:26 PM
Cool! I might apply for one and start a remote-viewing business.

SRW
17th August 2010, 10:19 AM
Psychics cashing in to the tune of 8 billion.

That a lot of tea leaves (http://montereycountyskeptics.blogspot.com/).

Baby Nemesis
17th August 2010, 03:09 PM
... What's the best response strategy for skeptic groups to the rising turn to psychics? If more people are turning to the undependable fortune tellers then
more people are likely wasting their money when it could be spent more effectively. How can skeptics work to better inform people who are thinking about
giving their money to psychics?

I'd guess a good strategy would be to combine warnings about the reasons why going to see a psychic is likely to be a waste of money with advice on coping in hard times. It might be very tempting for a person to rush off to someone for advice who they hope will have special insight, when a better way of doing things would be to sit down and do some serious planning about how they could cope, for instance thinking about what other jobs they might have a hope of getting if they lose the one they've got.

A bit of common-sense advice like that might help, but it might depend to some extent on just how worried people are. Still, if their attention can be diverted with ideas on coping in hard times, for instance the kind of stuff you can read in this article called Coping with Unemployment (http://broadcaster.org.uk/section1/scenarios/unemployment.html) as well as having some doubts put into their minds about psychics, some of them might become absorbed in planning for the future themselves rather than trying to seek supernatural help.