Debunk a local psychic anyone?

[Shyguy1215]

Hello all,

My name is Travis Busey. I have a sister who claims to be a "spirit medium". We had a falling out eight years ago when her husband threatened to beat up my then 56-year old Father and 54-year old Mother, who was disabled, and did nothing to stop him. She did numerous other things, including insulting myself and my three other sisters, during that time. She was never into this psychic thing until just about eight years ago when she began reading Tarot Cards. Before all of her "abilities" hit her, she was a hair-dresser and got fired for several other jobs and we have proof. Recently, she again attacked me and my family on myspace and I have had enough. I contacted Mr. Randi several months ago and he put an article about her disclaimers on his swift. This definitely got under her skin as she complained about Mr. Randi on her daily blog. If you are interested in helping me debunk her, please write back when you can and I will send you her web site.

-Travis

[Garrette]

You can pm me the site, and I will take a look. I make no promises, though, about what I will eventually do.

A caution is in order, I think. While I'm all for debunking, it appears that your motives deal less with informing people about truth and more about the emotions tied up in a bitter family split. It may be wise to step back from this and perhaps not involve yourself in any debunking of her at all.

[brettDbass]

Recently, she again attacked me and my family on myspace and I have had enough.

If you've been subjected to a personal attack on myspace, contact their administrators who will take appropriate action.

From their terms and conditions
Prohibited Content includes, but is not limited to Content that, in the sole discretion of MySpace.com:
is patently offensive and promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual;
harasses or advocates harassment of another person;
http://www.myspace.com/Modules/Common/Pages/TermsConditions.aspx

[Shyguy1215]

Hi,

Thanks for your concern, but I have not talked to her much for eight years. I am just fed up with her making money off people like this and, as mentioned in my first blog, she was not into this garbage until eight years ago. Her prices continue to rise which also makes me furious. I am a full on skeptic and would love to debunk her or anyone who profits like this.

-Travis

[Garrette]

Ummm...Shyguy, I owe you a BIG apology.

I got your pm, but didn't remember your screen name, and the text was sparse enough that I thought it was spamming.

I reported it.

Now I'll fix my error.

I am VERY sorry.

[exarch]

I suppose this might explain the often cited skeptics who "changed their minds and came to believe in [insert woo of choice]". They probably never changed their minds, but rather, they just succumbed to the lure of more and easier money.

I think every skeptic on this board will agree that scamming people is not that hard, most of us just prefer not to turn to the dark side.

But sometimes, it can be very tempting ...

[Garrette]

A very quick review of her website brings these thoughts to mind:

She mentions John Edward and James Van Praagh as examples of what she does. JE has been caught cheating. JVP is simply atrocious and has virtually no accuracy.

She is a member of the American Association of Electronic Voice Phenomenon. This has been debunked so often and so thoroughly it's ridiculous.

Here's her disclaimer:

By agreeing to receive a reading or any service on this site, you agree your spiritual consultation, whether purchased for yourself or you received as a gift, is subject to your own interpretation.Any information provided (whether it be through a reading, class, workshop, any other service, or any event listed on this website) does not constitute legal, psychological, medical, business, or financial advice. Choices, and/or actions based on the content of your reading or service are your responsibility. This is only another avenue of inspiration and is not to be a substitute for professional care.If you are in need of professional assistance (i.e. doctor, psychiatrist, lawyer, financial advisor, etc.), please seek it.This is NOT, nor do I imply anywhere, that this is fortune telling. We have free will, can change our path, and are in charge of our own lives at all times.(emphasis hers)

So her readings aren't worth anything and tell you nothing.

This is despite the fact that she charges $100 for 30 minutes.


If you want to schedule a reading, you have to give your name, email and phone number as well as fill out a text box entitled "Comments" and with the caution: "Please don't give any info on a passed loved one."

Finally, she says to wait at least three months after a loved one has passed before scheduling a reading in order to give yourself time to grieve.

I wonder if it's really to make a search easier when the sitter provides name, email and phone number.

[exarch]

Finally, she says to wait at least three months after a loved one has passed before scheduling a reading in order to give yourself time to grieve.

I wonder if it's really to make a search easier when the sitter provides name, email and phone number.

I don't think so. It doesn't actually say you have to wait three months before you get your reading, just that the sitter has to wait three months before attempting to contact any recently departed loved ones. I think it's more likely to be because:
So shortly after passing, the sitter may remember too many details about a loved one that don't add up with what she's pulling out of her :rolleyes:ss.
To allow her to match findings to another deceased relative whose name DOES start with P, R or M, but who the sitter wouldn't think off when they have only one specific person on their mind.
She doesn't want to feel the guilt that people crying on the phone for a recently departed loved one stir up in her.

[Garrette]

You may be right, exarch, but some other stuff on the site leads me to, so far, think otherwise.

I need to spend some time going over it in depth and not just cursorily before I post anything else.

If you've a technical bent to your expertise, then go to her FAQ and pull out all the comments about spirits being pure energy and needing to adjust their vibration levels to communicate and see what you can come up with there that doesn't wash. (I mention this, because my technical bent is not very bent at all).

[exarch]

You may be right, exarch, but some other stuff on the site leads me to, so far, think otherwise.

I need to spend some time going over it in depth and not just cursorily before I post anything else.

If you've a technical bent to your expertise, then go to her FAQ and pull out all the comments about spirits being pure energy and needing to adjust their vibration levels to communicate and see what you can come up with there that doesn't wash. (I mention this, because my technical bent is not very bent at all).

Hmmm, while I might probably be able to figure out what's bollocks, and what's complete and utter bollocks, I'd probably not be able to tell you exactly WHY that is.

Regarding "energy and vibrations", I'm not entirely sure, but I think that's something the woos have picked up from science fiction shows like star trek. Suffice it to say that I thought your "vibration" being out of tune doesn't make you become invisible or move into an alternate plain of existence as suggested. I think your best bet would be to split off this thread into the science forum and ask for opinions there.

[Garrette]

When I get specific questions, I will. Thanks.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

JE has been caught cheating.

Garrette - Do you have details on this? Links? I know he's full of crap, but I never knew he had actually been caught cheating.

[exarch]

Garrette - Do you have details on this? Links? I know he's full of crap, but I never knew he had actually been caught cheating.

IIRC, one of his former aides spilled the beans on what he was really doing.

Didn't we have a few JE threads in this very forum a couple of months ago? I'm sure there's some good stuff in there ...

[Garrette]

I'll look. It wasn't his aide. It was a special in which JE got information which turned out to be applicable to the cameraman. Funny that he was talking to that cameraman before the show.

[Garrette]

http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/i-files.html (http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/i-files.html)

A CSICOP article which discusses medium methods in general (focusing on John Edward) and which mentions the ‘caught-cheating’ episode.

http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,100555,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,100555,00.html)

A web article by Leon Jaroff who wrote the original caught-cheating article which appeared in the March 2001 issue of Time magazine.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_6_25/ai_79794369/pg_3 (http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_6_25/ai_79794369/pg_3)
An article which describes in detail what was in the 2001 Time article.

Sorry I can’t find the original article itself online in a quick search.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Thanks! I'll give them a look. A friend of mine knows JE - in fact he ran into him the other day at a restaurant. My friend's wife is a bit of a "fence sitter" on JE, but I'm trying to sway her.

[Shyguy1215]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for checking out her web site. I hope you all can help at least take her down a notch. I can not get in touch with her and ask why don't you take James Randi's Challenge because she blocked my email and myspace. Brave person huh? Anyway, thanks again for checking her out!

-Travis

[Shyguy1215]

A woman named Mavis, hoping to connect with her husband.

I transcribed the best I could!

Barb: “Hi Mavis how are you can you hear me alright?”
Mavis: “I can hear you”
Barb: “Okay cause you’re really, really light for me so just be as loud as you can okay?
Mavis: “Í sure will”
Barb: “Okay, what is your husband’s first name, please?”
Mavis: “Gordon”
Barb: “Alrighty, let’s see about Gordon, you also have had a Father Figure passed as well would you understand that?”
Mavis: “A Father Figure?”
Barb: “Yes a father, father-in-law or step-father”
Mavis: “Father”
Barb: “When I was focusing on you, um, I was seeing a father figure, so, he might coming instead okay?”
Mavis: “Okay”
Barb: “He is telling me he lost a lot of weight before he passed, remember that?”
Mavis: “Yes he did”
Barb: “Okay cause I get a-a leaner looking man but he is telling me he is thinner because he lost a lot of weight”
Mavis: “Yes right he did”
Barb: “He is telling me the month coming up here in December was important to him or to you, would you recall that there is a birthday or anniversary?”
Mavis: “No that is when he passed away”
Barb: “Okay, he wants to talk first and I’ll ask him to talk to your husband and see if he comes in too”
Mavis: “Okay”
Barb: “Are you aware of the wedding ring that he-that your husband had that getting a wedding ring on a chain”
Mavis: “Yes”
Barb: “Okay, you put it on a chain for awhile”
Mavis: “Yes”
Barb: “Okay, he will bring up that, um, I might be getting two here, so, I am trying to get him to bring it in-bring through your husband here, um, but I think your Dad wants to talk first, hold on, let’s see, he is with your mother, your mother passed as well?
Mavis: “Yes she has”
Barb: “Okay cause he is with your Mother, okay, okay, they have, she is a beautiful woman, she had a sweet smile with her and I want to say that smile probably told people that-that maybe they just got the wrong idea about her as if-you know someone stereotype you because your pretty (laugh, Mavis laughs with her), I am getting that type of stereotype with her she is a beautiful lady she showed me red lipstick or lipstick all the time remember her always wearing her lipstick?
Mavis: “Yes she did”
Barb: “I don’t think she would have been able to walk out of the house without the lipstick remember that about her?
Mavis: “No, never she always wore her lipstick”
Barb: “She excited (laughs) she comes in as um very excited-both of your parents do, your husband I am sure is perfectly fine ah but let me see if I can talk to him a little bit-your parents want to talk, they are saying new birth in the family, who is the new birth?
Mavis: “My niece?”
Barb: “your niece just had a baby?”
Mavis: “Yes”
Barb: “Okay, I am getting new birth, excited, excited, they want to talk about that.
Mavis: “Huh”
Barb: “Hold on a minute, he’s a fly feeling with him, he’s got a fun feeling with him remember that about him?”
Mavis: “Yes”
Barb: “I get a very funny kinda, I let you know later just you wait feeling (laughs)
Mavis: “Okay that sounds great!”

[exarch]

My amateurish try at analyzing this transcript:

Barb: “Okay, what is your husband’s first name, please?”

Geez, she's not even trying ...

Barb: “Alrighty, let’s see about Gordon, you also have had a Father Figure passed as well would you understand that?”
Mavis: “A Father Figure?”
Barb: “Yes a father, father-in-law or step-father”

Setting up an excuse in advance, in case some things don't hit ...

Barb: “When I was focusing on you, um, I was seeing a father figure, so, he might coming instead okay?”

Perhaps she did do a lot of research into this woman, and accidentally looked for stuff on her father instead of her husband assuming that was who she wanted to contact? Might also explain why she had to ask for the husband's name, and why she's setting up an excuse in advance.

Barb: “He is telling me he lost a lot of weight before he passed, remember that?”

Gee, a person who died who lost weight before passing :rolleyes:

Barb: “He is telling me the month coming up here in December was important to him or to you, would you recall that there is a birthday or anniversary?”

could be a hit for November too the way she's phrased it, which is a 1 in 6 chance of getting a hit, not to mention there's bound to be several anniversaries, birthdays, etc... all throughout the year which could become a hit.

Barb: “Are you aware of the wedding ring that he-that your husband had that getting a wedding ring on a chain”
Mavis: “Yes”
Barb: “Okay, you put it on a chain for awhile”

Are there many people who've just lost a wife or husband and didn't put their wedding ring on a chain?

Barb: “Okay, he will bring up that, um, I might be getting two here, so, I am trying to get him to bring it in-bring through your husband here, um, but I think your Dad wants to talk first, hold on, let’s see, he is with your mother, your mother passed as well?

He is "with" your mother. If the answer is that mom didn't pass, she can always wave that off as "he's watching over her".
But, if she did research, that information is just easy to find. If she didn't do research, it's still a reasonable guess that mom may have already died too. Especially since the sitter's name is "Mavis", which is more likely to be a name of someone over 50, which means the odds that both her parents are already dead are pretty high.

Barb: “Okay cause he is with your Mother, okay, okay, they have, she is a beautiful woman, she had a sweet smile with her and I want to say that smile probably told people that-that maybe they just got the wrong idea about her as if-you know someone stereotype you because your pretty (laugh, Mavis laughs with her), I am getting that type of stereotype with her she is a beautiful lady she showed me red lipstick or lipstick all the time remember her always wearing her lipstick?

Does anyone ever think their mother is ugly? And even if people thougth she never smiled a lot, then "maybe they just got the wrong idea about her ..."
all bases covered here.

Barb: “She excited (laughs) she comes in as um very excited-both of your parents do, your husband I am sure is perfectly fine ah but let me see if I can talk to him a little bit-your parents want to talk, they are saying new birth in the family, who is the new birth?

A guess? She obviously has to ask for more information.

Barb: “Hold on a minute, he’s a fly feeling with him, he’s got a fun feeling with him remember that about him?”

"No miss, my husband was a real assh:eye-poppile who never had any fun. In fact, he was such a bad person I don't really want to talk to him. Oh, wait, I just asked you to contact him, didn't I?"
Notice that she could also get a hit on the word "fly" if interpreted differently.

[Shyguy1215]

Hey exarch,

Would you be interested in writing her to at least aggrivated? As said before, she gets annoyed at any question of her "abilities"

Travis

[exarch]

Well, if she's on MySpace, perhaps these guys (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=47825701) could help you out?

*Cue theme music from "The A team"*

[Shyguy1215]

Hey,

Thanks for the info. I did contact them, so, we will see what happens! If your interested in getting in some shots too, that would be great!!

-Travis