Court TV/Learning Channel conflicting psychic story

[tlooknbill]

Last night I just saw two different versions of the same psychic phenomenon story between Court TV's Psychic Detectives and Learning Channel's Psychic Witness. The same detective interviewed on both versions gave conflicting detailed information any police report would've kept straight. And this was the kind of information that had nothing to do with dispelling psychic ability.

It was about the diabetic 21 year old woman that went missing and was later found shot in the back of the head in '92. A psychic 2000 miles away gave detailed information on her location and how she died. Information no one could know, not even the police.

One version had the victim washing up on the bank of a canal and the other had her wind up in a dumpster near the canal. There was also detail left out and included on the other. Standard police evidence like a piece of the culprit's shoe left at the place of abduction was mentioned on one but not the other. One said the psychic withheld telling the father his daughter was dead something she sensed before the police did and the other said the police told the father.

Why trip up on simple detail like this when they don't have to? It doesn't make sense. What's the real truth about these psychic detective shows?

[Bob Klase]

Why trip up on simple detail like this when they don't have to? It doesn't make sense. What's the real truth about these psychic detective shows?

The truth is that they get people to watch, which brings in advertising dollars. If they have to lie, ignore significant facts, or distort history they will.

[tlooknbill]

Is there information I can go to on the web that tells the truth about how these psychics know so much detail about a crime and can foretell crimes that will take place in the future as well?

These shows are very convincing, but I'm a skeptic and I need facts. How can you find out for sure?

[Bronze Dog]

You might want to start off at Skepdic's entry (http://www.skepdic.com/psychdet.html). It's a general overview, and some sources are listed. Just so you know: Last time I checked, there's never been a case where a psychic actually helped.

[tlooknbill]

Thanks for the link BronzeDog. I agree they haven't proven psychics help solve crimes. I still wonder how they know so much detail.

Maybe at the beginning they give fague answers that don't help the detectives at all. Later after the case is solved they refresh their memory and fill in the blanks when recalling it to the TV show producers. Since we're not privey to what was actually said at the onset, we'll never know for sure.

Just a thought.

[Bronze Dog]

Thanks for the link BronzeDog. I agree they haven't proven psychics help solve crimes. I still wonder how they know so much detail.

Maybe at the beginning they give fague answers that don't help the detectives at all. Later after the case is solved they refresh their memory and fill in the blanks when recalling it to the TV show producers. Since we're not privey to what was actually said at the onset, we'll never know for sure.

Just a thought.
Yeah, that's one possible answer: Retrospective falsification: Remembering things incorrectly. Another is cold reading: They start with generalties when talking with the police, and pick up unconscious hints about what they expect. Still another that comes to mind is that they have some fixed answers: A lot of crimes tend to follow familiar patterns: Bodies are often dumped in isolated forests and bodies of water, for instance.

[logical muse]

What's the real truth about these psychic detective shows?
Hey tlooknbill, welcome.

If it's the real truth you're after, try Allison Dubois week (http://www.twopercentco.com/rants/allison_dubois_week.html) and reen or noreen? (http://www.parascope.com/en/articles/renierMain.htm).

For the not so real truth, try The Impressive Track Record (http://www.noreenrenier.com/) site.

[JLam]

Here's a good report about Carla Baron.

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

[tlooknbill]

Thanks, everyone for the great links. I just came across this site yesterday.

I've been a skeptic all my life and living down here in Texas you wouldn't believe some of the belief systems some around my parts have adopted as a way of life. It's scary. I could write a book.

For instance someone put a curse on my family and for some reason my entire family has unbelievable bad luck and tragedy. I refuse to accept that and been searching around for sound thinking individuals as yourselves I could associate at least intellectualy. It seems the internet is the only way to do that in my part of the woods.

Thanks for the welcome.

I've always wanted to be around folks that think like James Randi from what I've seen on TV. I love it when he debunks all this superstitious thinking that still seems to prevail in our society despite the amount of supposedly educated public this country has cultivated. And in Texas I'm right in the middle of it.

Beam me up Scotty, PLEASE!!

[Bronze Dog]

Beam me up Scotty, PLEASE!!
*Grabs on tightly, waits...*













*Awkwardly lets go*

[uruk]

Welcome tlookinbill! From what part of Texas do you hail from?
I'm from waaaaaaaay down south near the border.

I would take these shows with a very large grain of salt. Since the shows are biased towards the psychic the "facts" are no doubt skewed or just plain made up. Since the shows are "entertainment" they are under no obligation to the truth. The sad part is, all the slack jawed yokles will use the show as proof considering the channels the shows are presented on.


Anything goes in the persuit of cash.

[tlooknbill]

Uruk,

Sorry for the delayed response. I'm from Mission and Edinburg. Went to Sharyland High. Go Rattlers!

Now in the beautiful hill country of Kerrville.

I take everything with a grain of salt and throw in some tabasco for grins. I really have to say I was getting suckered by what I was seeing on Court TV because the details in the stories were so compelling. I had to find an apposing voice of reason and so I thought of James Randi and others that think logically like him.

Which brings me here.