Women's Mags

[Undodog]

Well, yet again, the lady of the house has brought home another magazine containing an in-depth no-holds-barred scientific investigation* into the world of the paranormal.
(*read as: free promotion)

This week (from Real Magazine, 15th April - 29th April 2005) its all about how companies are using frau…psychics in job interviews.
And looky! $1m Challenge evader Mia Dolan proudly tells how she knew (from his aura) that a guy was depressed and therefore shouldn’t be employed. Lovely!

scanned page 1 (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c_allen/stuff/realmagpage1.jpg)
scanned page 2 (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c_allen/stuff/realmagpage2.jpg)
scanned page 3 (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/c_allen/stuff/realmagpage3.jpg)

Mia has a new look to her website and it’s a bit more up-to-date than the last effort. She has put up some other examples of what ‘the press’ have written about her. (http://www.miadolanltd.com/corporate.htm)
Still no sign of a forum on there though. I wonder why.

[Kiless]

Oh. Bloody. Hell. :(

Why do they do this to women?? :(

[skeptikel]

I love this explanation of her "gift:"

"But the pesky voice of her spirit guide wouldn't leave her alone.

'Why me?' I said aloud.

There was no answer, so I carried on.

'Why not pick on a nun, or someone really spiritual?'

The answer, when it came, was dry. 'Your guess,' he said, 'is as good as mine.'"


What's the point of having a "spirit guide" who is as clueless as the medium?

BTW, this is a big part of the reason why I don't purchase women's magazines any more.

Kelly

[Ashles]

Originally posted by Undodog
This week (from Real Magazine, 15th April - 29th April 2005) its all about how companies are using frau…psychics in job interviews.
And looky! $1m Challenge evader Mia Dolan proudly tells how she knew (from his aura) that a guy was depressed and therefore shouldn’t be employed. Lovely!
Surely in real life this would break loads of employment laws.

Refusing someone a job on the basis of afflictions/records that they don't even have? And she doesn't consider this unethical?

I would love to hear of a company announcing this as a recruiting method then hearing about them get their ass sued off.

[Nex]

Originally posted by Kiless
Oh. Bloody. Hell. :(

Why do they do this to women?? :(
Sadly, because women buy them.

It's enough to make me slightly misogynist, some days.


An interesting sidenote: Here in the US, there's a very large national bookseller that lists all the scientific magazines it sells as "men's."

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by Ashles
Surely in real life this would break loads of employment laws.

Refusing someone a job on the basis of afflictions/records that they don't even have? And she doesn't consider this unethical?

I would love to hear of a company announcing this as a recruiting method then hearing about them get their ass sued off. There was some comment about that in the article. I think it's probably wildly illegal - but do you hear about anyone announcing they're doing it? No way! In the article, no company name was given that I noticed, and it was made clear that the applicants had no clue at all as to what was being done. Catching them, that's the trick.

By the way, I think it was fairly obvious from the article why the companies thought it worked. They had already whittled down the applicants to a short list of about three before they called in the psychic. She was then just picking among those already identified as suitable for the job. Chances are, picking a name out of a hat would work well at that stage too, if all the short list were good candidates. Then it's just a matter of the lucky one doing OK, and nobody having any idea how either of the others would have measured up.

Rolfe.

[The Don]

Would you really want to work for a company which makes a recruitment decision based on auras ? To me it looks like the unsuccessful applicant had a lucky escape

[bouch]

Originally posted by Ashles
Surely in real life this would break loads of employment laws.

Refusing someone a job on the basis of afflictions/records that they don't even have? And she doesn't consider this unethical?

I would love to hear of a company announcing this as a recruiting method then hearing about them get their ass sued off.

Not quite the same, but a company I used to work for (now out of business) had a recruiter who swore up and down about the validity of handwriting analysis. She even derailed at least one hiring decision based on the results of said anaysis, much to the disgust of my boss.

Believe it or not, I tend to doubt its illegal. As long as the decision to not hire someone is not based on race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or some other "protected class", then its probably well within the bounds of legal.

BTW - I had been hired well before this woman was...

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by Nex
Sadly, because women buy them.

It's enough to make me slightly misogynist, some days.


An interesting sidenote: Here in the US, there's a very large national bookseller that lists all the scientific magazines it sells as "men's."

Generally it takes to X chromosones to be a misogynist, though I imagine those mags don't help. I wonder if I can claim some bizzarre suit over that.

Anyway, yes. Women buy them. Want to be amused, count the rnumber of sex-related articles to non-sex related articles listed on the cover of Cosmo.

It's generally more than half...:(

[Rolfe]

Originally posted by LostAngeles
Anyway, yes. Women buy them. Want to be amused, count the rnumber of sex-related articles to non-sex related articles listed on the cover of Cosmo. Still, if you read the magazine, rather than the cover, things are sometimes more than they seem. My all-time favourite - "I had a boob job at sixteen" turned out to be a sensitive account of a young girl whose life was blighted by over-sized breasts, and the careful steps through surgical assessment and psychological counselling that totally transformed her to normal proportions.

Rolfe.

[Darat]

Originally posted by LostAngeles
Generally it takes to X chromosones to be a misogynist, ...

...snip...

Rubbish - that's a totally misandrist statement! ;)

I’ll ask a few colleagues (in HR and recruitment) when I next see them if they’ve any actual incidences of psychics and so on being used, I’ll also see if I can find out the legality (in the UK) of using someone/thing like that.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by Rolfe
Still, if you read the magazine, rather than the cover, things are sometimes more than they seem. My all-time favourite - "I had a boob job at sixteen" turned out to be a sensitive account of a young girl whose life was blighted by over-sized breasts, and the careful steps through surgical assessment and psychological counselling that totally transformed her to normal proportions.

Rolfe.

Well, I meant the "Sixteen things to try in bed tonight!" (get an imagination) and "Does he think about you during sex? Take this quiz!" (16 questions reveal the truth about complex things!) stuff. I've tried reading some of them, but there was too much crap weighing down the good. At this point, the only mags I read are National Geographic and Electronic Gaming Monthly, with an occasional Time for chuckles.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by Darat
Rubbish - that's a totally misandrist statement! ;)

I’ll ask a few colleagues (in HR and recruitment) when I next see them if they’ve any actual incidences of psychics and so on being used, I’ll also see if I can find out the legality (in the UK) of using someone/thing like that.

Hey! I said "Generally!" Also, I used the wrong "two!"

Damn it! LostAngeli are generally bad typists sometimes.

[pyewhackett]

Originally posted by Ashles
Surely in real life this would break loads of employment laws.

Refusing someone a job on the basis of afflictions/records that they don't even have? And she doesn't consider this unethical?

I would love to hear of a company announcing this as a recruiting method then hearing about them get their ass sued off.

I wrote an article about graphology (not the forensic form) a few years ago and encountered a graphologist who claimed she analysed the handwriting of potential employees for various companies - imagine losing out on a job because you loop your 'l's! She wouldn't provide any proof so I guess she was trying to legitimise her 'field'.

I agree that this bias would be totally unethical and I really doubt it happens, unless it's for a small, private business. Who'd wanna work for someone who used such a recruitment method anyway?!


Karen.

[Darat]

Originally posted by LostAngeles
...snip...

Damn it! LostAngeli are generally bad typists sometimes.

Must be those long red nails that get in the way...

(Darat hastily retreats to nuclear bunker.)

[Nex]

Originally posted by LostAngeles
Generally it takes to X chromosones to be a misogynist...

I have two X chromosomes. :p

[pyewhackett]

Originally posted by Nex

An interesting sidenote: Here in the US, there's a very large national bookseller that lists all the scientific magazines it sells as "men's."

The way you say it makes the mags sound pornographic... ;)

And I've seen skeptical magazines under 'new age' and new age stuff under 'science'.


Karen.

[LostAngeles]

Originally posted by Darat
Must be those long red nails that get in the way...

(Darat hastily retreats to nuclear bunker.)

(To be followed by a raving LostAngeles clawing after him with short, chewed nails.)

Orginally posted by Nex
I have two X chromosomes. :p

So do I, hence my beer drinking, football watching, math stuff, and general insensitivity.

Wait...

[Perpetual Notion]

A couple of months ago, "Allure" magazine published an article on how to find a good psychic. They had all kinds of practical tips like: Don't cross your arms while she's doing the reading because it will block the energy flow.

I wrote in to tell them I couldn't wait for the article on what to do when in case I was abducted by aliens. They actually printed it along with a letter by a woman who used to be a psychic but came to realize that she had actually been doing cold readings and had subsequently stopped.

I'm sure we'll be treated to an article on reflexology within the next six months if my psychic prediction is correct. I'd quit reading women's mags, but MUST. BUY. SHOES.

[pyewhackett]

Originally posted by Perpetual Notion
A couple of months ago, "Allure" magazine published an article on how to find a good psychic. They had all kinds of practical tips like: Don't cross your arms while she's doing the reading because it will block the energy flow.


I love those shopper's guides!

Of course, they always unquestioningly accept that psychics have 'real' abilities and they never explore their legitimacy.

If a psychic offers good value for money, is friendly, chatty and offers an appropriately 'mystical' ambience, they are 'professional'. Throw in a few compliments and sit back for the referrals!


Karen.

[Perpetual Notion]

I found the article from Allure!!

Here are their suggestions for how to find a good psychic. (FYI, these recommendations come from Fay Koliai, a REAL psychic to the stars):

Get a recommendation! Just like you would for a doctor because "there are so many phony psychics out there". "Make sure you connect with her as an old, understanding soul". You have to make sure she feels your energy and doesn't just read tarot cards.

Calm yourself! If you're stressed you won't get a good reading. Make sure you take notes and pay attention. Do you realize that just one word from her could "change your life"?!

Give her a clue! You need to let her know she's on the right track and don't just tell her yes or no. Don't try to confuse or test her because "it will throw her off"!! Are you listening all you jerky skeptics?

Wow, I'm so enlightened. Can anyone recommend a good psychic?

[pyewhackett]

Originally posted by Perpetual Notion

Give her a clue! You need to let her know she's on the right track and don't just tell her yes or no.

Therein lies the cold reading...


Karen.

[Nex]

Originally posted by Perpetual Notion
... Don't try to confuse or test her because "it will throw her off"!! Are you listening all you jerky skeptics?

Mmmmm... jerky. http://www.lileks.com/bleats/archive/03/1203/homerdrool.jpg