What if I'm psychic?

[VicDaring]

The other day, Vic's Chic and I were talking about...oh, I don't know what, and I successfully anticipated something she was about to say.

"It's like I'm psychic," said Vic.

Vic's Chic starts giggling, "Oh wouldn't that be a rip. if you turned out to be psychic. What would you do with yourself?"

She's been having a lot of fun with that ever since.

Sort of an interesting/amusing question, though. What would your immediate reaction be? And, aside from collecting a million clams from Randi, what about in the longer term? Just go state-to-stae winning lotteries? Become a psychic detective? Get a TV show? Or just become immersed in self-loathing?

[CFLarsen]

Oh, you can do a lot of things... (http://www.skepticreport.com/mystics/outofbody.htm)

[Aussie Thinker]

Ya know one of the most COMPELLING reasons psychics do NOT exist is the simple fact that they don’t

Win Lotteries
Predict anything useful before it happens
Solve Crimes
Find Bodies
Get useful info from Dead people

Etc.. etc..

This is what always gets me about the woo woos… don’t they EVER stop and look at the bigger picture…

Like.. if this guy has a paranormal power it is pretty friggin useless !

[Ceinwyn]

I think I would find every missing person ever, then I would find the lost ark, then I would find the nazi gold, then I would find the missing link, then I would find my bed because I would be tired.

[epepke]

Originally posted by VicDaring
Sort of an interesting/amusing question, though. What would your immediate reaction be? And, aside from collecting a million clams from Randi, what about in the longer term? Just go state-to-stae winning lotteries? Become a psychic detective? Get a TV show? Or just become immersed in self-loathing?

I've thought about this a fair amount.

I'd try to enlist Randi's expertise, not so much for getting the money (because I'm sure that for any real psychic ability the payoff would be much greater) but rather to get a skilled person to give me input into whether or not it was real.

[Yahweh]

Originally posted by Aussie Thinker
Ya know one of the most COMPELLING reasons psychics do NOT exist is the simple fact that they don’t

Win Lotteries
Predict anything useful before it happens
Solve Crimes
Find Bodies
Get useful info from Dead people

Etc.. etc..
If I was a psychic, I wouldnt do any of those things. Instead I would master the art of blackmail, and I'd have the town in my firm icy grasp.

Or maybe I'd visit the horsetrack...

[Lothian]

If I was truly psychic I would expose the ‘psychic’ frauds that steal money of the weak and vunerable.

[RamblingOnwards]

Ah yes, but supposing you could only get one paranormal talent, what would you choose?

I'm torn between telekinesis (for the gambling opportunities) and levitation (for the coolness factor).

[MRC_Hans]

I'd choose healing. Not just for unselfish reasons, to be sure. There's dough there too, and most importantly, assuming I can also heal myself, there is long healthy life to enjoy it. Just think of this (belongs in the wish thread):

Wish: I wish I could predict lotteries and become stinking rich.

Answer: Granted. Pity you have cancer.

That aside, my private test for supernatural powers has always been the Rolls-Royce test: If somebody claims to have supernatural powers, I look for his Rolls-Royce.

It should tell you something that most of these people are in the entertainment business.

Hans

[Zep]

Originally posted by VicDaring
The other day, Vic's Chic and I were talking about...oh, I don't know what, and I successfully anticipated something she was about to say.

"It's like I'm psychic," said Vic.

Vic's Chic starts giggling, "Oh wouldn't that be a rip. if you turned out to be psychic. What would you do with yourself?"

She's been having a lot of fun with that ever since.

Sort of an interesting/amusing question, though. What would your immediate reaction be? And, aside from collecting a million clams from Randi, what about in the longer term? Just go state-to-stae winning lotteries? Become a psychic detective? Get a TV show? Or just become immersed in self-loathing? If you know each other fairly well (and I'm talking about intellectually here :)) then you will obviously start to learn each other's quirks, likes, dislikes, and other personal traits. So the chances are you simply anticipated her response because you have enough information to be able to "think like her". At least a little bit!

[Lothian]

Originally posted by RamblingOnwards
Ah yes, but supposing you could only get one paranormal talent, what would you choose?
Being able to predict the future and prevent disasters, locating missing persons, diagnosing illnesses, dowsing for much needed supplies of water, talk to the dead….. no; I think I would like to be able to bend spoons.

[Rob Lister]

Hi all.

I certainly would not take the Randi Challange. I'd keep the talent to myself and slowly accumulate a degree of wealth that allows for all the creature comforts with none of the headaches.

It seems to me if you didn't keep a very low profile, a great many somebodies around the world would do what they could to use you, abuse you, and/or kill you.

[Zep]

I would give up ballroom dancing and do A nationally broadcast cable TV show <strike>pretending</strike> actually talking to dead people. I would make a fortune giving them vague answers that keeps then happy to sob a bit for the cameras. I would NEVER reveal my abilities, even for scientists.

[scotth]

Originally posted by RamblingOnwards

I'm torn between telekinesis (for the gambling opportunities) and levitation (for the coolness factor).

Wouldn't levitation fall under telekinesis? (Moving objects with the mind?)

[Nigel]

I'd do several of the things already mentioned (visit the racetrack, f'rinstance), but mostly, I'd keep my abilities to myself, if for no other reason than not wanting to get sued for invasion of privacy! (On t'other hand, the blackmail suggestion mentioned sounds pretty cool - it'd be neat to get revenge on all those who spurned me, burned me, or picked on me in the past! Watch out, 'cause I'm watching you!)

[plindboe]

I'd use my new found super power to serve mankind.

[Nigel]

Originally posted by plindboe
I'd use my new found super power to serve mankind.

You'd be a waiter? Or a cook? :)

[Lothian]

You'd be a waiter? Or a cook Fantastic idea. They would use their precognition to know who would be coming to the restaurant, you would need to book, They would know what you would want to eat and it would be ready as soon as you arrived, the table would be cleared by telekinesis, no waiters getting in the way. I’d go.

[Zep]

Originally posted by Nigel

You'd be a waiter? Or a cook? :) How about ballroom dancing?




Lumberjack??

[Craig]

Originally posted by Lothian
Fantastic idea. They would use their precognition to know who would be coming to the restaurant, you would need to book, They would know what you would want to eat and it would be ready as soon as you arrived, the table would be cleared by telekinesis, no waiters getting in the way. I’d go.

They'd also know much much you were going to tip them and treat you accordingly from the beginning.

[Nigel]

Originally posted by Zep
How about ballroom dancing?




Lumberjack??

I've never danced with a ballroom. (rimshot) :(
But....(all together now) "I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay..."
All right, well it's still early in the morning here.

[Nigel]

Originally posted by Craig


They'd also know much much you were going to tip them and treat you accordingly from the beginning.
But as a customer, you probably wouldn't even need the waitstaff, because you could cook and serve the food yourself with your telekinetic powers. That would cause the economy to crumble, and all would be chaos. Or maybe it'd be cool. I don't know. :)

[VicDaring]

Originally posted by Zep
If you know each other fairly well (and I'm talking about intellectually here :)) then you will obviously start to learn each other's quirks, likes, dislikes, and other personal traits. So the chances are you simply anticipated her response because you have enough information to be able to "think like her". At least a little bit!

That's exactly what was at work here. The, "It's like I'm psychic," comment was strictly tongue-in-cheek.

She just thought the concept of Mr. Skeptic Vic-I-Don't-Believe-In-Nothin' turning out to be psychic was funny. And it is.

[RamblingOnwards]

Originally posted by scotth


Wouldn't levitation fall under telekinesis? (Moving objects with the mind?)

Hmmm... good point. I've always thought of telekinesis as acting on little objects - controlling the roll of a dice, etc - but that assumes telekinesis is constrained by inertia (the heavier the thing, the harder it is to move).

Using telekinesis to move oneself sounds a little too 'pick oneself up by one's boot straps'. But why not?

But MRC_Hans has persuaded me. One dose of healing power to go please! (TT type, rather than physic surgery. Bleh)

[patnray]

CFLarsen: From your link:

"These are just a few of the earth-shattering consequences we would live with, provided the believers in OOBE’s were right. Since we still have spies, unsolved crime and phone companies, these claims are probably based in reality. "

Don't you mean "probably NOT based in reality"?

[Jaggy Bunnet]

Originally posted by VicDaring


That's exactly what was at work here. The, "It's like I'm psychic," comment was strictly tongue-in-cheek.

She just thought the concept of Mr. Skeptic Vic-I-Don't-Believe-In-Nothin' turning out to be psychic was funny. And it is.

Wait a minute, we now have to choose between two possibilities;

The highly improbable, overturn the laws of phsyics option that you are in fact a psychic; OR

That a man can ever understand a woman well enough to anticipate what she will do next.

The answer is obvious - congratulations, you're a psychic! :p

[VicDaring]

HA!

[Chad Noles]

Rob Lister,kudos on a well thought out answer.Welcome to the forum.Critical thinking is always welcome,even if not always appreciated.

[Yahweh]

Perhaps I'd write a book. It would be rather long, but that 2 1/2 inches of paper would be just silly enough to sever millions from reality.

Feeling cynical today? Yeah, a little...

[Kevin_Lowe]

If I had a super power I'd fight crime.

[JPK]

If I had super powers...
Ok, first I would create an all powerfull, omnipotent being and put it in charge of taking care of the needs of all of the critters in the unviverse. It would be very accessible to all so it could directly respond to all needs everywhere. It would leave no doubt as to it's exisitance and it's job would be to improve all creatures great and smalls lifestyle. I would do this my first day with my super powers. In fact I would get this done as soon as possible so I could go on vacation. I see no reason to take six days to do it.

Oh wait, this is about psychic powers...
I would start a 900 number and promote it on LKL and Montell.

[Ladewig]

It seems to me if you didn't keep a very low profile, a great many somebodies around the world would do what they could to use you, abuse you, and/or kill you.

Amen. While I think the type of levitation that allows controlled flight to be the coolest thing possible, the world is filled with people who would try to destroy you. Most of them you accuse you of being in league with the devil before they did "God's work" and fired guns at you.

[Soapy Sam]

I would dig a deep hole, line it with sapient pearwood, lead shielding and thoughtproof Saranwrap and I would hide in it. Because, if the psychics out there could read my mind and find out what I'm thinking, they would all try to kill me.