Court TV board has lots of kooks too.

[thaiboxerken]

In a thread debating the rights of people to "pull the plug" on Terri Shiavo in Florida (woman with only a brain stem), this weird anecdote was given:

In closing, I'd"just like to share this photo with you. The images floating around my lovely wife have been photographed nearly everyday by several different people using several different cameras since January 2004. "

http://www.debramoretta.com/photos/...ls_01-09-04.jpg

It's amazing what nonsense people believe.

[LostAngeles]

It netted me a 404.

Nevertheless, let my psychic powers do the work... washed out photo appears to show angels?

[bearcub]

The link didn't work for me either.

Though I'd hazard that you're close to the mark LostAngeles.

[Marian]

I went to the main website. The 'orb' photos are apparently located on the message board, and one must register to view them there. I didn't want to register.

I did read the woman's story. It sucks and is sad. I'm probably additionally sympathetic because I also have Kaiser, and their description of events with Kaiser doesn't seem surprising to me. :(

Anyway the woman was diagnosed with leukemia, goes in for chemotherapy, then during the night after reporting she wasn't feeling well and that something was wrong, lapses into a coma. That is undetected by medical staff, and is detected by the husband calling the next day and getting no answer, and having to drive 35 miles to the hospital in a panic.

Why she's in a coma...they dunno. But she ends up with massive brain damage and in a PVS. (Persistive Vegetative State).

And doctors have talked to him as well about 'pulling the plug', and he's fought it and has gotten some therapy for his wife, and she's had some recovery (according to the site). She's able to verbalize the word 'Hi' and apparently can answer questions through yes/no methods. If that's true, then she's not PVS.

Anyway, I didn't see the photos, but saw the section they were in and saw areas on the site that made angel claims and I felt really sh!tty in a way.

I mean, part of me thinks, "You know what, I feel really bad for this guy, his wife, his family, etc. What a crappy deal in life. If they want to believe in something like that...and if it brings them comfort, then I don't have the heart to debunk it."

But then I thought some more (a horrible problem ;) ). If no one debunks it, then other people may view this as 'proof' of angels. After all, no one will say otherwise! And therein lies the problem.

There's no way this guy is going to change his beliefs. Or at least, it's extremely unlikely. I think it's a safe assumption that he truly believes in it. And whatever his faith may be...I don't have an issue with. But when you offer photos as proof and/or evidence...then that crosses out of the realm of pure faith and you're offering up something that can (and will be) addressed by others. And in many ways has to be, for if it were unchallenged because everyone just felt bad for the guy...then it might be taken as fact by others...because if it wasn't true wouldn't someone have challenged it?

Anyway that was the bit of thinking I engaged in. Doesn't make the situation any less sh!tty though. :\

[bearcub]

I went to the main site and took a look also (don't know why I didn't do that to begin with - brain fart I guess). You're right Marian, it is a sad story and I feel for the family.

With that in mind, I still have a problem with all the angel promoting stuff. I saw a link toward the bottom of the page about that guy who:
recently learned that he had the ability to dispatch Angels to people in need and that he had just sent one hundred of them to Debi’s bedside.
I didn't know angels were like taxis and needed a dispatcher. ;)

As far as trying to go there and do a little debunking, I think it would be viewed as an attack by the forum members and would probably do more harm than good.

main site for anyone interested:
http://www.debramoretta.com/

[Marian]

Originally posted by Cave Dweller
As far as trying to go there and do a little debunking, I think it would be viewed as an attack by the forum members and would probably do more harm than good.


Oh I agree, and when I said that such things do need addressing, I didn't mean to imply that they should be done so on his website forum.

However in other public forums if the photos are touted as proof, then yes. I'm pretty sure though there are sites that have specific debunking of 'orbs' in photographs. It's certainly not the first time I've seen the orbs of light in photographs claim of angels (or spirits, or whatever).

[thaiboxerken]

http://www.debramoretta.com/photos/forum/orbs/Angels_01-09-04.jpg

Ok, here is the photo. Yes, I was referred to as a F A for debunking the photo.

[odorousrex]

Still can't see the photo....

but nevertheless, Woo or not, it's such a tragic story I hope the husband sues Kaiser to smithereens.

[Starrman]

Once again the angels show up too late to prevent a tragedy. I'd be pissed at the little orbs for not showing up sooner giving a warning to the doctors that something was wrong.

If you believe in Angels, you don't need to look to deep into the paper to see they are doing a sh*tty job.

[Ipecac]

There are numerous prayers for Debi listed at the cite. Sad that none of them seem to be working.

Please forgive me but I thought the one below was unintentionally humorous with the addition of a single word. See if you can guess which one.

A young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out he knelt in prayer. "Lord, I cant go on," he said. " I have too heavy a cross to bear." The Lord replied, "My son, if you can not bear this weight, just place your cross inside this room, Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief. "Thank you Lord," he sighed, and he did as he was told. Upon opening the other door he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one Lord," he whispered. And the Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in. Dumb@ss."

[VicDaring]

Originally posted by Ipecac
There are numerous prayers for Debi listed at the cite. Sad that none of them seem to be working.

Please forgive me but I thought the one below was unintentionally humorous with the addition of a single word. See if you can guess which one.



In?

No...wait...

Cross?

Hold it...oh...

With?

Ah geez. I don't know.

[Ipecac]

Originally posted by VicDaring


In?

No...wait...

Cross?

Hold it...oh...

With?

Ah geez. I don't know.

Ooh. So close.

[thaiboxerken]

LOL. Now these idiots are talking about ghosts and how closed minded it is for me not to believe in them. It's amazing, some of them claim to live in haunted houses. None of them are willing to let the JREF investigate their houses, even with the 2 million dollars that they could earn for simply showing people that their ghosts are real.

Why is it that believers insist what they "know", yet ultimately fail to act on it?

[Nasarius]

Originally posted by Ipecac


Ooh. So close.

I dunno about you, but it's kinda hard to respect a god who calls someone a "Dumb@ss".

God can really be a jerk sometimes ;)

[thaiboxerken]

Now i'm arguing on there with some idjit nitwit, newage woo woo that thinks his experiences are valid evidence for the existence of souls and afterlife. Where the crap do these people learn this kind of nonsense? Since when does personal perception trump scientific evidence?

[Doctor X]

FYI:

She's able to verbalize the word 'Hi' and apparently can answer questions through yes/no methods. If that's true, then she's not PVS

One of the originators of the terms "persistent/permanent vegetative state" has proposed "minimally conscious."

Unfortunately, people in this state generally do not recover in a meaningful fashion. If being able to say "hi" and moan and meep to simple question is "meaningful" well . . . okay--that is not directed to Marian specifically.

It is sad when medicine makes the family "the executioner."

"Do you want to pray to angels and have some faith and hope--like those wonderful women on Oprah or would you rather just KILL MOM?!!!"

That is how families perceive the question. Very few--frankly--understand "what" exactly they chose to preserve. Like Congress funding a useless program, to cease funding admits a mistake. Better to keep throwing money at it rather than admit a mistake to the voters.

People can become comfortable chasing a hopeless situation rather than admit they never had hope, never had an angel, never had anything but a tragedy.

--J.D.

[thaiboxerken]

Hope is well and good, if it's based in reality. These people are just way out there.