Calling all Skeptics!!

[thaiboxerken]

http://boards.courttv.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=77


Ok, Court TV has gone down the gutter and is now after ratings instead of maintaining integrity in their programming. I mean, a "Psychic Detective" show once in a while is silly.. but this is Psychic Detective Week at CTV. I'm asking help from all skeptics to help give insight to people at this charade. The board is for discussion of psychic detectives, and these people need some serious help with reality.

I'll let you know my screen name as soon as I get one.

[ProudAtheist]

I think this makes the 8th time you've been banned

[CFLarsen]

I'm there.

[geni]

you don't excatly go for the softly softly aproach do you?

[thaiboxerken]

I sent this to Nancy Grace of CTV.



I'd like to say that I enjoy much of the programming on CTV, as it is usually entertaining while at the same time being educational. The judicial system and investigative practices are great things to learn about, as they do affect us all.

This is not the case with "Psychic Detective week." I find it distasteful for CTV to go the route of ratings instead of maintaining some semblence of journalistic integrity. These shows simply cater to psuedoscientific claims and falsities that merely increase the profits of these "psychics", who have NEVER solved a crime. These shows do not educate people, but instead, have the opposite effect of perpetuating ignorance and gullibility of the audience.

Have you ever thought of voicing a skeptical opinion on these issues? It would be great to have a show that debunks these psychics, but perhaps that would not attract ratings. James Randi, or the James Randi Educational Foundation is an expert on these psychics and can provide much insight into how these psychics actually work. He also has one-million dollars that can be claimed by any psychic who can simply demonstrate psychic ability.

I urge CTV to stop placing ratings over ethics. These psychics are predators, feeding off of the finances and grief of those they claim to help. CTV should be actually trying to stop these psychics from thwarting the legal system, if they really cared about the public.

I understand you are not the program director, and I sincerely hope that you do not believe in these psychics yourself. Please voice these concerns to your program director. I also ask that you voice skeptical opinions about these issues.

Here is information on Carla Baron.

http://www.iigwest.com/carla_report.html

[CFLarsen]

Boy, am I there... (http://boards.courttv.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162843) :)

[geni]

might want to calm down a little. You've already tripled the traffic on that forum.

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by geni
you don't excatly go for the softly softly aproach do you?

Well, that's why I'm calling for help. I lack the self-control to speak about nonsense politely.

[geni]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
Well, that's why I'm calling for help. I lack the self-control to speak about nonsense politely.

Well I've I got an account there. I'll wait and see if anything interesting happens

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by geni
Well I've I got an account there. I'll wait and see if anything interesting happens

Well, I'll probably get banned, again.

[ProudAtheist]

Geni, you have to understand the way the posters at CTV work. They don't like any form of disagreement and get irate when asked a skeptical question.

[thaiboxerken]

It's Sunday, so the forum will probably be slow.

[ProudAtheist]

It'll pick up by tonight

[geni]

Originally posted by ProudAtheist
Geni, you have to understand the way the posters at CTV work. They don't like any form of disagreement and get irate when asked a skeptical question.

Sounds very very fermilia. So anyone want to start a poll on how many posts each person will make before getting banned?

[JPK]

This could be fun.


This should get some disscusion going (http://boards.courttv.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=4164330#post4164330)

I saw a Larry King Live show one night hosted by Nancy Grace. It was pretty much a paid advertisment for Psychic Detectives on Court TV. Nancy started every dialog by confirming that she has always been a dyed in the wool skeptic, but after see this she believes.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

Maybe I should remain quiet until the discussion does get going. I think my blunt posts tend to shut down discussions by the believers.

[JPK]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
Maybe I should remain quiet until the discussion does get going. I think my blunt posts tend to shut down discussions by the believers.

For some reason I tend to get these people talking. I'll set it up and you can spike it. :)


JPK

[thaiboxerken]

Well, we've already been called trolls.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
Well, we've already been called trolls.

It's a start....

[JPK]

Not exactly a friendly welcome over there. The water in that "cesspool" seems pretty uninviting.

JPK

[ProudAtheist]

Originally posted by JPK
Not exactly a friendly welcome over there. The water in that "cesspool" seems pretty uninviting.

JPK It never is friendly when you question them.
Alot of times if they cannot answer our questions with legitimate answers, they'll either spin and dodge or run away

[thaiboxerken]

I think the majority of the skeptics that just joined will be banned within the week.

[thaiboxerken]

Laurie McQuary is another "psychic" that his highlighted on CTV. I can't find much on her, though.

It sickens me that she lives within 20 minutes of me.

[Operaider]

Well, I'm there. Though probably not for long

[Operaider]

damn, still waiting for my account to ba activated.

Can't wait to jump into the fray

[thaiboxerken]

Hardly a fray there, I think the believers are just avoiding the forum now. I guess questions are just bad things to them.

[Azrael 5]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
Well, that's why I'm calling for help. I lack the self-control to speak about nonsense politely.

See geni,its not only me.:D

[thaiboxerken]

We have a real victim of Carla Baron on the board. Wow, is she ever emotional. She defends Carla like a Christian defends the bible, reason doesn't play much of a part of her arguments. Our simple questioning of Carla's powers and motivation have her very angry. Maybe we can talk sense into this lady, but I doubt it. She will be forever a sucker to Carla believing that a person with superpowers solved her son's murder case.

[Dragonrock]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
We have a real victim of Carla Baron on the board. Wow, is she ever emotional. She defends Carla like a Christian defends the bible, reason doesn't play much of a part of her arguments. Our simple questioning of Carla's powers and motivation have her very angry. Maybe we can talk sense into this lady, but I doubt it. She will be forever a sucker to Carla believing that a person with superpowers solved her son's murder case.

Her assertion that the Sheriff was hiding evidence makes me doubt the accuracy of her statements. What she considers "hiding" may have been the sheriff holding on to evidence longer than she felt was appropriate.

She is a grieving mother and I would doubt her ability to recall with accuracy, anything related to her son's case.

[Azrael 5]

Im in! I am the law(best ironic name I could think of);)

[JPK]

I suggest going to RBalleza website and reading about this story.

RBalleza's site (http://www.timothystonefamily.com/h...mothy_stone.htm )

Seems she feels there is a big police cover-up. Is this what happens when a psychic gets involved and starts telling grieving parents what they want to hear as opposed to what the investigators find?

newspaper article (http://www.timothystonefamily.com/html/news_articles.html)


State Police investigator Terry Smith told the Camden News that a reconstruction of the accident was conducted and that no evidence was found that Stone died from foul play. "I do not have any concrete evidence except that this was an accident," Smith said. "Why wasn’t this mentioned when everyone was out there?" he asked. "Nobody came up with this until way after the accident." Smith said that Stone’s body bounced around in the car while it was turning over. "His head could have gotten hit then." Ellis, the trooper who completed the accident report, noted that Stone was not wearing a seat belt.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

It seems like Balleza has a predrawn conclusion that her son was murdered as well as who did it. To me, it's very likely that Carla Baron simply is catering her "readings" to Balleza's needs and merely "validating" Balleza's suspicions. Of course, the police seem to have ruled this an accident, but that is not a satisfactory answer to this particularly emotional parent. I wonder if there are pictures of the car somewhere, as Balleza makes the accusation that the car was unscathed despite the police reporting that the car rolled over several times.

I think what is going on here is a distrust of authority coupled with the grief of a mother that is being played upon by a BS artist.

[JPK]

This is also from her website

Timothy had served in a correctional facility for minor infractions that involved three other of his cohorts (whose names were never disclosed during court proceedings.) At the time of the automobile accident, Timothy had just been released from this facility - well on his way to a complete turn-around, as observed by several people in the community where he lived with his grandfather.

Along with contacting Carla for help, Renata hired a private investigating firm out of Little Rock, AR, to gather information on Timothy’s known associates before, during and after his stint in the correctional facility.

These investigators have since uncovered much in the way of information, one such fact being that there were two individuals who reportedly revealed to an acquaintance of Timothy that they were the ones responsible for his death and he was pulled from his car and beaten to death.


I wonder what life must be like in that town with this circus going on.

JPK

[Hellbound]

It's the south, for the most part people politely avoid the topic and continue on with their lives.

This isn't too far from me. Oddly, I don't recall hearing much about this, so it seems that it's pretty much restricted to local interest. Most likely it was a "filler" piece on Chanel 4. KARK is not known for sceptical or unbiased reporting (suprise suprise!).

I'd have to agree with other comments. A grieving mother decided that the boys her son didn't like were responsible, rather than accepting the fact that bad things happen. A "psychic" comes along and feeds all this back to her, stashing away a nice nest egg in the process.

[Phrost]

Someone needs to give you an award, Thai.

[FFed]

I just came across another forum with RBalleza going on about her investigation and (apparently) even Carla Baron makes some posts.

http://www.cybersleuths.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000922

[JPK]

Originally posted by FFed
I just came across another forum with RBalleza going on about her investigation and (apparently) even Carla Baron makes some posts.

http://www.cybersleuths.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000922

Well RBalleza certainly leads an exciting life.

JPK

[Operaider]

Anyone else notice that on yesterday's Pyschic detective the psychic predicted that the victim was hit over the head in the parking lot? He wasn't and she completely failed to predict the second attacker.

[JPK]

I caught the end of it last night. Back in April, Nancy Grace was filling in for Lary King and the show was dedicated to promoting the Psychic Detective show on CourtTV. The case they aired last night was also done on LKL in april. If you watched the show close, the psychic didn't provide anything helpfull to solving the case. I believe the story has been edited since they showed it in april. I don't recall if they mentioned last night that the allegedly abducted man, Tyson, was turned loose by his captures and they gave him $1000.00 also.

From the Lary King Live Transcript:

. He gets scared, carries him out, rapes him again, after raping him numerous times at the residence, carries him out, gives him $1,000. And Tyson tries to convince him that he's not going to tell me about it, and Anita, carries him within a mile of our residence and turns him loose. And he runs through the -- one of our neighbors'. They call us at 2:00 o'clock in the morning.

I also found it odd that the police knew the man was missing before his parents.

From the Lary King Live Transcript:

Well, it was about midnight. He was at work, and he was supposed to get off work at 10:00 o'clock, and he was supposed to come down to the deer camp and spend a couple of days with us. And about midnight, a car drove in, and I thought it was his truck and -- but it wasn't. It was the sheriff. Henry saw him, and he said, Well, what's up? And he said, I think we've got a problem. He said, We can't find Tyson.

JPK

[JPK]

In that transcript, Nancy Grace constantly reminds us just how much of a skeptic she is, and it's a good thing because you wouldn't know it. :)

If you are a cynic like me, someone that only believes in hard evidence, you're going to find tonight's show very tough to believe

Now, if you're a dyed-in-the-wool cynic like I am, you may not believe this, but take a listen.

If you are a cynic like me, you're going to find tonight's show very tough to take in.


TRANSCRIPT (http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/29/lkl.00.html)

JPK

[Brown]

Gee, I wonder how I'd feel about "psychic detectives" if I were a REAL detective. As a real detective, I would have had to undergo years of formal training, with my progress reviewed and graded by instructors. My training would have encompassed (to a degree) law, medicine, mathematics, history and criminal procedure, to name just a few subjects. I would have had to amass years of experience in the field, to become familiar with investigatory procedures, finding and preserving evidence, establishing chain of custody, questioning witnesses, testifying at trial, and the like.

And then someone comes along and claims that s/he can do my job better than I can, without having the training, without having the instructor review, without having the education, and without having the field experience.

Moreover, not only is this "psychic detective's" testimony inadmissible in court, but any evidence obtained based upon this person's assertions is also at serious risk of inadmissibility.

I guess that, if I were a real detective, I'd be mad as hell.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Brown
Gee, I wonder how I'd feel about "psychic detectives" if I were a REAL detective. As a real detective, I would have had to undergo years of formal training, with my progress reviewed and graded by instructors. My training would have encompassed (to a degree) law, medicine, mathematics, history and criminal procedure, to name just a few subjects. I would have had to amass years of experience in the field, to become familiar with investigatory procedures, finding and preserving evidence, establishing chain of custody, questioning witnesses, testifying at trial, and the like.

And then someone comes along and claims that s/he can do my job better than I can, without having the training, without having the instructor review, without having the education, and without having the field experience.

Moreover, not only is this "psychic detective's" testimony inadmissible in court, but any evidence obtained based upon this person's assertions is also at serious risk of inadmissibility.

I guess that, if I were a real detective, I'd be mad as hell.

You forgot the most important aspect: If you screw up, you will probably not only find yourself in jail, you will also certainly have caused the victims of crimes a great deal of pain and suffering.

This is of no concern to the psychic detective, of course. We know that the spirits are not reliable, yet the psychic detective is never wrong!

I dare anyone to find lower scumbags that psychic detectives.

[hgc]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
...

I dare anyone to find lower scumbags that psychic detectives. Nancy Grace and Larry King.

OK, I don't know if they're actually lower, but the psychics' media shills are quite scumtastic.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by hgc
Nancy Grace and Larry King.

OK, I don't know if they're actually lower, but the psychic's media shills are quite scumtastic.

Granted, it is a question of who is the bigger scumbag: The crook or the promoter of the crook.

[Operaider]

I think those who perform "sexual seances" may be a notch below. But, the "psychic detectives" definitely give them a run for their money.

[Brown]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
You forgot the most important aspect: If you screw up, you will probably not only find yourself in jail, you will also certainly have caused the victims of crimes a great deal of pain and suffering.This is a good point, although I would put it more generally: If you are a real detective, your work is subject to review. If you make mistakes, you are at risk of being punished.

The point of my above post was to suggest another line of argument that might be submitted to the network, namely, that promotion of "psychic detectives" is a real slap in the face of the people who do it for real for a living. These programs suggest that training, education, experience, and plain old hard police work aren't as valuable or important as unsubstantiated intuition.

[Dr Adequate]

Originally posted by CFLarsen

I dare anyone to find lower scumbags that psychic detectives.
Cancer quacks. Or the people who killed Candace Newmaker. Suicide bombers. All believing weird things... harmless, isn't it?

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by Operaider
Anyone else notice that on yesterday's Pyschic detective the psychic predicted that the victim was hit over the head in the parking lot? He wasn't and she completely failed to predict the second attacker.

Perhaps you can voice this at CTV where the true believers need to see it. RBalleza is the victim here, she needs to find the courage and strength and reason to boot Carla to the street.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by FFed
I just came across another forum with RBalleza going on about her investigation and (apparently) even Carla Baron makes some posts.

http://www.cybersleuths.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000922


My private investigating firm www.townsendinvestigations.com is getting together a PRESS RELEASE that she is going to present concerning Tim's murder.
Source: Cybersleuths (http://www.cybersleuths.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000922)


On townsendinvestigations.com, she is listed as a client.

[JPK]

It would be interesting to learn her relationship with the Townsend Investigation company. The site they have tells very little about them. From searching I found that they are in California.
Also I wonder what her relationship with her son was. From reading her site, it apears that her son was living with the grandparents.


JPK

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by JPK
Well RBalleza certainly leads an exciting life.

JPK

Somethings' scwwevvy going on with Renata Balleza... (http://boards.courttv.com/showthread.php?postid=4209836#post4209836)

[Skep]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
You forgot the most important aspect: If you screw up, you will probably not only find yourself in jail, you will also certainly have caused the victims of crimes a great deal of pain and suffering.

This is of no concern to the psychic detective, of course. We know that the spirits are not reliable, yet the psychic detective is never wrong!

I dare anyone to find lower scumbags that psychic detectives.

In California, and I would guess most states, real private detectives have to undergo training, apprenticeship and licensing. Psychic detectives just skip that part. I wonder if they can be prosecuted?

(Of course, licensing doesn't mean legitimacy, since we know some states license Naturopathic "Doctors." Heck, we might as well license--damn, I was going to use an ironic example, but I realize we'll license just about anything, so the irony is completely lost...)

[thaiboxerken]

It's not a surprise, but I got banned. No reason given, I gave no offensive posts. Oh well. Guess I'll have to make another name and keep on posting there. Their censorship will not stop me.

[Azrael 5]

Too many dumb believer forums,not enough proxy servers,lol. On the subject of psychic detectives,Keith Charles Psychic Cop(well,ex cop)is doing a show near me Wednesday in Leeds,must go have a laugh.Got a friend to blag me some tickets.If anyone is interested Ill post a review.

[JPK]

I have spent a lot of time reading the posts of the believers on CourtTV. When you follow the posts you can see that someone will have firm belief in a certain psychic. Then some info comes up to contidict the psychics claims, and then the believer says something to the effect of, "well I never was impressed with that one, but you have to see this one, they are real" And it just goes on and on. I know Randi wrote about this in his books. How people will write to him and thank him for showing some faith healer as a fraud and that now they send thier money to another faith healer. They just so desperatly want to believe in this silliness that they simply refuse to question it one bit at the start.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

There is also the same pattern going on over there of simply attacking skeptics and feeling "pity" for us because we don't believe in anything. Is it our society that tells people that logic and reason are bad things?

[Phrost]

Yes, specifically the xtian meme of "Faith" as a value, especially in spite of "evidence" to the contrary or a lack thereof.

[Azrael 5]

It gets tiresome trying to get a rational argument of believers.I too got a reply similiar.Tried this medium,he was rubbish now go to better one etc.If you've never been to a medium how can you preach to us etc.Like you have to visit a medium before you get common sense.
Good to know all the years as a policeman havent affected Keith Charles,he now gives messages about cracks in bathroom ceilings and the smell of aftershave.What a gift!;) Roll on Wednesday.

Cant access site at minute,does this message mean Ive been blocked? http://www.thesupernaturalworld.co.uk/forum/index.php?

[geni]

Originally posted by Azrael 5


Cant access site at minute,does this message mean Ive been blocked? http://www.thesupernaturalworld.co.uk/forum/index.php?

I think since I don't get a message.

[Azrael 5]

Ba***rds! How can they do that? Seriously how is it possible? More importantly how can I undo it.For the record the message I see is this:IPB WARNING [2] load_template(CACHE_PATHskin_cache/cacheid_2/skin_global.php): failed to open stream: No such file or directory (Line: 482 of /sources/functions.php)

Can they block you from even seeing a webpage?:(

[JPK]

Originally posted by Azrael 5
It gets tiresome trying to get a rational argument of believers.I too got a reply similiar.Tried this medium,he was rubbish now go to better one etc.If you've never been to a medium how can you preach to us etc.Like you have to visit a medium before you get common sense.
Good to know all the years as a policeman havent affected Keith Charles,he now gives messages about cracks in bathroom ceilings and the smell of aftershave.What a gift!;) Roll on Wednesday.

Cant access site at minute,does this message mean Ive been blocked? http://www.thesupernaturalworld.co.uk/forum/index.php?

Wow. Everyday is Halloween over there. :)

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

The CTV moderator says I called someone fat on their board. That's the accusation she used to justify banning me. However, I don't recall doing such a thing. I think she just doesn't like my particular bluntness in posting my skeptical opinions.

[Azrael 5]

Well, looks like Im banned for the long term.had an email from the webmaster saying as much.Seems the truth is a dangerous thing.I hate being outsmarted as well.....:(

[Operaider]

Thai Boxer
were you Im chewy?

[thaiboxerken]

Nope, I was skeptiguy.

[Operaider]

Someone names IM Chewy called one of the parents of the victims fat after she posted to the message board. The Moderator thinks you are the same person with a different name.

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by Operaider
Someone names IM Chewy called one of the parents of the victims fat after she posted to the message board. The Moderator thinks you are the same person with a different name.

If she traced IP's, that would explain it. I'm not the only computer user in my apartment. Of course, CW could care less about wrongly banning skeptiguy, since she pretty much dislikes all skeptical positions.

[Operaider]

that might be it, I'm not sure what proof she might have had. She also listed about 4 other names that she thought was you.

[JPK]

Well someone is trying to get me banned. I seemed to have touched a nerve.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

It usually happens to any skeptics that challenge the woo-woos.

[thaiboxerken]

Looks like Balleza is pimping her version of the her story on the Cold and Other case forum at the CTV board. I guess she is trying to hide form the skeptical view.

[Azrael 5]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
It usually happens to any skeptics that challenge the woo-woos.
Tell me about it!! The webmaster over at woo woo city SupernaturalWorld has sent me a nice little email,I think his delusions have got the better of him
You’re not blocked from viewing the site per say, although all your accounts are suspended and all IP’s you have used are being filtered. The only way to post on my site is to register and have me accept your registration, which we both know isn’t going to happen. You obviously se me as some idiot who has thrown a site together with very little effort, this is not the case. I am advanced in web design and my knowledge of computers and the web is extensive. A little effort and I now have a system that means you will no longer be able to post on my site in any form. You are welcome to register as many times as you like, but trust me when I say that not one single registration from your personal computer or ISP will ever be accepted. :D
His cage is well and truly rattled
NTL are now investigating my report that has been sent, included in this report is every private message and email you have ever sent. Based on their findings this matter will most probably be handed over the police for further action by me. You obviously see this as a joke and probably think I am not that serious, that’s fine with me. You should really read the contract you have with NTL and then come back and say I am wrong.
NTL is my ISP,do you think they care?All that just for giving some people a reality check.Jeez;)

[Zep]

www.megaproxy.com

[geni]

Originally posted by Zep
www.megaproxy.com

Blockerble (the weakness is that that there is no legit use for this kind of thing as far as most sites are concerned so they lose nothing by blocking it). AOL proxies are the ones which are hardest to block because the ip can change with every page view so to be effective you have to block ranges which results in you stopping anyone on AOL accessing the site.

[Azrael 5]

Its my ISP thats blocked,so a proxy wont help.Ive tried.Thanks.;)
Although Megaproxy might do it.$9.95 hmmm...;)

[thaiboxerken]

My newest name at CTV has been banned for no apparent reason. But what else is new. CTV boards are ran by one moderator. It makes me appreciate boards like this JREF.

[crimresearch]

Yeah, I noticed that I was also banned, after merely pointing out RBallezza's post that violated their own rules...she of course is still there, although her offending post was 'surgically removed'.

[JPK]

Jeepers and I thought I was going to get banned after Sufi flipped out on me. I seem to still be there.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

Originally posted by crimresearch
Yeah, I noticed that I was also banned, after merely pointing out RBallezza's post that violated their own rules...she of course is still there, although her offending post was 'surgically removed'.

Coldwater does have her favorites and she sanitizes any mess they make. One lady a few months ago made some very racists comments, said I was not a real american because my mother is Okinawan and I was banned for it. Her offending posts were removed and she was not banned.

The mods here at this forum are much more reasonable, but then again, so are most of the posters.

[thaiboxerken]

I am logged in there through a proxy server, hopefully I won't get banned this time.

[JPK]

I can't help but notice that many of my posts on the CourtTV board have been removed. Specificly ones that were sympthetic to the beleivers. What's up with that?

JPK
Someone have an agenda?

[thaiboxerken]

There is no limit to the amount of dishonesty that ColdWater (the CTV moderator) will use to discredit and censor atheistic or skeptical posts. Simply put, she's a christian hippy that want to only make believers happy.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Originally posted by JPK
I can't help but notice that many of my posts on the CourtTV board have been removed. Specificly ones that were sympthetic to the beleivers. What's up with that?

JPK
Someone have an agenda?
I think they've left my posts intact. It seems to me their main agenda is to just completely ignore any request for evidence.

[crimresearch]

A cynical skeptic might wonder if the new JREF member going by the handle of RBellazza was reporting back to Coldwater the names of people who were members of both forums under the same name...


But wait!!! That would mean that RBellazza's claims on CTV that we are all the same person hiding behind several names to attack her, ( coupled with Coldwater's knowledge as a moderator of who signed up from what IP) would be a deliberate lie...

Leading a jaded cynical skeptic to wonder what other claims are being phonied up over there, and if any solicitations of money in the name of that poor dead kid are actually going to astray.

Wouldn't that be a hell of a story, so soon after the CBS Memogate... Court TV used to deceive the innocent ?

[Azrael 5]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
There is no limit to the amount of dishonesty that ColdWater (the CTV moderator) will use to discredit and censor atheistic or skeptical posts. Simply put, she's a christian hippy that want to only make believers happy.
She's nothing compared to the webmaster at thesupernaturalworld.co.uk there you get banned for just being a skeptic-although that involves being sarcastic and arrogant seemingly.;)

[1inChrist]

One good thing I can say about the pseudo-skeptics here is that they didn't ban me because I had a different opinion.

[Temp3st]

..or because you are crazy.

[1inChrist]

Originally posted by Temp3st
..or because you are crazy.

I am NOT crazy. I am just a person who talks to the Lord and knows His Word inside and out. For this I am crazy? Why can't you accept that people actually have a relationship with Him? Just because you choose to reject Him doesn't mean he magically doesn't exist.

The Lord is there and you will find this out in the End.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
One good thing I can say about the pseudo-skeptics here is that they didn't ban me because I had a different opinion.
You are far too amusing to be banned.

[Upchurch]

Temp3st thinks 1inChrist is crazy. 1inChrist thinks Temp3st is going to burn in a lake of fire (or the equivalent, I assume).

The fun thing is, 1inChrist is correct about at least one thing, neither opinion will get ya booted.

[Dr Adequate]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
One good thing I can say about the pseudo-skeptics here is that they didn't ban me because I had a different opinion.
No, but if you keep posting halfwitted drivel like this, we're going to start ignoring you. I don't know what distinction you mean to make between "skeptics" and "pseudoskeptics" --- they all look like the real deal to me. You think they're all True Believers pretending to be sceptics? That would be the wooiest of your beliefs so far, and let's remember that these seem to include fire-breathing dragons.

If you talk to God regularly, could you ask Him to supply you with some decent arguments? Then you could perform the Miracle Of Not Looking Like A Complete Idiot. Hallelujah!

[Azrael 5]

We can all "talk to the Lord" so whats so special about that.Getting an answer..thats the tricky bit!:D

[Dr Adequate]

Originally posted by Upchurch
Temp3st thinks 1inChrist is crazy. 1inChrist thinks Temp3st is going to burn in a lake of fire (or the equivalent, I assume).
What is the "equivalent"? I Can't Believe It's Not A Lake Of Fire?
The fun thing is, 1inChrist is correct about at least one thing
Hooray! He should quit while he's ahead.

[Dr Adequate]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
I am NOT crazy. I am just a person who talks to the Lord and knows His Word inside and out. For this I am crazy? Why can't you accept that people actually have a relationship with Him?

ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE. Which part of "sceptic" didn't you understand? Oh... all of it apparently.

Just because you choose to reject Him doesn't mean he magically doesn't exist.
Agreed. Only you, dear 1inChrist, have the power to wish deities in and out of existence --- no sceptic claims this power, as we are not delusional. It's the complete lack of evidence for his existence and the massive, crushing, overwhelming evidence against his existence that mean he doesn't exist.

[1inChrist]

You think they're all True Believers pretending to be sceptics?

Yes. True believers in naturalism.

[Marquis de Carabas]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
Yes. True believers in naturalism.
But if we're True Believers, then that means we're not really using rationality, critical thinking, skepticism, and all that other Satanic stuff, right? So, is your benevolent God still going to roast us on spits later?

[Operaider]

We can all "talk to the Lord" so whats so special about that.Getting an answer..thats the tricky bit! That's not what makes 1 in C special. It's the fact that Jesus talks back. But that doesn't make him crazy. Heavens no. Since when does hearing voice in your head mean your crazy?

[Skep]

Originally posted by 1inChrist
quote:
You think they're all True Believers pretending to be sceptics?
Yes. True believers in naturalism.

I'm thinking there is a hint of truth to this. While I'm not a dogmatic "True Believer," I do believe in "natural" explanations and that no "super-natural" explanations are needed to explain the world. Indeed, the concept of "super natural" is, to a degree, a self-contradictory one. For, if there are "super natural" beings, they must be subject to a larger set of "natural" laws of which ours would be a subset.

But, I would say that "proponent of natural explanations" != ["does not equal"] "pseudo-skeptic"

However, I would add, that people who hope to prove mythical, supernatural phenomena through science to bolster their beliefs are pseudo-faithful.

You, 1inChrist, don't seem to fall for the fallacy of seeking any kind of scientific proof for your belief system. You see any proof that contradicts your conclusions as faulty. So, at least you keep your faith based system entirely faith based...

[Skep]

Originally posted by Operaider
That's not what makes 1 in C special. It's the fact that Jesus talks back. But that doesn't make him crazy. Heavens no. Since when does hearing voice in your head mean your crazy?

Um, since we invented religion. But I have an interim solution. I think we should get cell phone headsets for all of the people who hear voices and think they talk to god--just the headsets. That way they will at least look like they are talking to someone when they are out wandering on the streets and won't seem so crazy.

Heck, for all I know, people who think they talk to god could actually be telepathically talking to other crazy people around the world.

[Operaider]

I think we should get cell phone headsets for all of the people who hear voices Funny you should mention this. A couple months back I was working at the restaurant I manage when an older lady came in with a backpack on. She asked if she could have a glass of water then sat down. After a while it became obvious that she wasn't going to order anything, but I let her stay since there was no one else in the restaurant and we were closing soon.
The whole time she was sitting there I could hear her talking. I just assumed that she had a headpiece for her cell phone, because she was deep in conversation. But, from the angle she was sitting I couldn't see the headpiece. It wasn't until I passed by her table on my way to clean the restrooms that I noticed she wasn't talking to anyone. I went back and told the kitchen staff, who had been waiting to take her order. The didn't believe me, because she had been talking so clearly, until they saw for themselves.
Since then she's come to into my restaurant about a dozen times. She always just gets a glass of water, she always has her backpack, its always just before close, and she's always carrying on a conversation. Which makes my wonder.
1 in C you wouldn't happen to live in Kansas?

[Operaider]

I havn't been banned from Ctv yet.

Let's see if this does the trick: posted on Courttv.com Message Boards > Court TV Shows *Sept. 20 - 24: Psychic Detectives Week > psychic detectives

I'd love it if all kinds of forums were shut down. Why give people I disagree with the opportunity to share experiences and opinions, facts and informationFunny, coming from a forum that bans skeptics just for disagreeing. You’re not concerned about debating anything, and neither is Court TV. They just want this forum to be a meeting ground for mindless believers. People who will watch and won’t ask questions Anytime someone demands proof you bury your heads and say "I don't need to prove anything". When the truth is you CAN'T prove anything. That's why you need to believe in psychics. Because it's not a science. It’s a belief system. A religion. You’re not looking for an honest discussion your looking to have people agree with you. Which is why you haven't shown any evidence for psychics, because if you did it would be shown that your beliefs are wrong.

[thaiboxerken]

I find it interesting that Barbie-Scully has been insulting and attacking skeptics in a very blunt and obvious way, but she doesn't get banned there. As soon as a skeptic asks a difficult question to a believer, that skeptic's post is deleted or he is banned. I would've thought that CTV would've hired an objective and fair moderator, but they didn't.

[JPK]

I think it is odd that my posts got deleted because someone considered something I said hurtfull. Those messages are left there. Everything else I posted has been removed. I have PM'd the mod several times and only got the response of that he didn't know what I was talking about. Some moderator.

JPK

[Temp3st]

1inChrist - I'm going to shift the debate here a bit (but since I'm going to burn in the fires for all eternity I figure - what the hell?)
but do you believe that the bible is an historical document?

also - do you believe that we should live our lives by the verses of the bible?(I deliberately did not use the word 'teachings' for obvious reasons).

[Grendel]

RE: Court TV (and TV in general):

One sees the word 'court' and concepts of 'truth' and 'justice' are brought to mind, but the operative word in "Court TV" is 'TV' -it is a ratings-driven business enterprise and the money is found in advertising, meaning the more viewers, the more ad revenue. Hence, whatever increases viewership is the target. That said, which sounds more entertaining to the casual cable TV channel surfer: 'Still No Evidence For Psychic Powers After 150 Years Of Investigation' ...OR... "Psychic Solves Double Murder!" ?

Plenty of other cable channels have succumbed to the same drive for ratings -The Discovery Channel, Learning Channel, and History Channel were all once devoted to quality, fact-based, documentary entertainment, but have devolved to ratings-chasing pseudoscientific cesspools choked instead with 'schlockumentaries'. Recently, the History Channel placed as bookends two fine docs on WWII around an insipid UFO schlockumentary full of long ago debunked nonsense. One can almost feel the heat of internal programming wars at these various cable shows. The purveyors of schlock -the quick buck artists -are winning, obviously.

RE: Religiuous nuts who communicate at will with deities.... see my signature line and abandon all hope of gainfully employing logic or reason in response.

Howdy y'all.... newbie here.

[Theodore Kurita]

Originally posted by Zep
www.megaproxy.com

Not just that.

www.samair.ru/proxy

It's free. :-)

[geni]

Originally posted by Theodore Kurita
Not just that.

www.samair.ru/proxy

It's free. :-)

I tned to take the view that if I'm being blocked any posts I make will be deleted pretty fast anyway and if they want to block an entire uni that is their problem.

[sf108]

T3mpest: 1inChrist - I'm going to shift the debate here a bit (but since I'm going to burn in the fires for all eternity I figure - what the hell?)
but do you believe that the bible is an historical document?

also - do you believe that we should live our lives by the verses of the bible?(I deliberately did not use the word 'teachings' for obvious reasons).



That's debatable...especially when you have verses in the Bible such as:

1 Timothy 2: "11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner."

(that's nice. Maybe I should report this to a feminist group, if they not already know...)

OR

Malachi 2: "Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."

hmm nice. We should all be practising this to smoothen our skin with our own s#!t.

GW.

[thaiboxerken]

1inChrist is a biblical literalist and a fool to boot. He thinks reason and logic are inventions of the devil and evil.

Hey, I put Barbie-Scully (BS) on my ignore list at CTV.

Now that her noise is silenced, maybe I can actually discuss things with more rational people there.

[Azrael 5]

Can you register on a forum using megaproxy,or will they be able to block its IP as well? As my home ISP is banned and really want to play out on supernaturalworld.Thanks for any info.

[thaiboxerken]

It seems like BS is crying like a little bizatch over there at CTV. Aussie, you have challenged their beliefs very well with your last post over there. I predict it will get deleted or you'll get banned or both as a result. Their moderator caters to "victim" types.

[thaiboxerken]

It's amazing. I'm at karateforums.com and the believers in ki/chi use the exact same evasions for the JREF challenge that believers in pychic phenomena do. I guess believers in nonsense have the fear of losing their security blanket in common.

[JPK]

Originally posted by thaiboxerken
It seems like BS is crying like a little bizatch over there at CTV. Aussie, you have challenged their beliefs very well with your last post over there. I predict it will get deleted or you'll get banned or both as a result. Their moderator caters to "victim" types.

I finely recieved a response from the mod on CTV. He claims to be overwhelmed with work. Funny, the removal of selected posts on that site would have taken time.

Originally posted by Coldwater @ CTV
As of 6pm ET, we had problems all day on the boards as CTV had 1300 posters online at one time and had registered 1.8 mil. posts, you want me to remember one? Sorry. My superior is "hechingerp@courttv.com". [/B]

I've never used the software that runs the board, but I would imagine it would be easy to remove all of someones post. It wouldn't be too difficult to remove 1 or 2 of someones posts, but Coldwater did surgery on my posts. It took time and I dare say I believe he knows exactly what I was talking about and he remembers.

JPK

[thaiboxerken]

Looks like RBalleza at CTV has lost her mind. Now, the JREF is a hate forum. Oh, and we're horrible people for our criticisms of the CTV moderator.

Oh well, I've never accused a believer of being rational.

[AWPrime]

There are fast food for the sceptics.:D