Popoff's letter scan

[saizai]

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/popoffback.html

So... any chance of this being illegal enough for JREF to sue?

[Skeptical Greg]

Not sure what grounds JREF has for sueing ..

Is panhandling by mail illegal ?

[Kopji]

I don't really see anything illegal in it. Someone probably sold him the name as part of a list of '90% likely gullible' or something like that.

It is a little sobering that he can send out a 63 cent mass spam message and still expect a profit. That's one valuable name list.

My usual response to these kind of things is to send back the self addressed envelope empty and unstamped.

[Glen.Nogami]

It's interesting that this is in defense of Christianity.

Good to see that there are some Christian skeptics out there. Better slightly annoying religion than totally ridiculous Popoff-ery

[Ladewig]

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/popoffback.html

So... any chance of this being illegal enough for JREF to sue?

I looked at the letter and then reviewed this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=62681) and believe that Popoff gets very close to the line separating legal from illegal but never crosses it. I do think he is very clearly over the line in terms of immoral behavior.

From the letter:
In faith, I see this influx of money showering down upon you from an unexpected source. I really believe it is somewhere between $1700 and $17,000.

That last line can be described a number of ways.
Lawyers would call it puffery.
Psychiatrists would call it a delusion.
Skeptics would call it bullshyte.

ETA: Con artists would call it the hook.

[edge]

http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/popoffback.html

So... any chance of this being illegal enough for JREF to sue?

Damn I hope so.
This is where I appreciate James Randis’ efforts.
I just happened to see him on the news last night when James went to one of his so called sermons and caught him and his wife in the act with a simple scanner.
Good stuff.
They were also showing a blurb on the Jesus bones too.
saizai I'm glad to see you post this, because this is the sort of thing that
gives Christianity a bad reputation.
Edge

[saizai]

Actually...

Anyone know what his address(es) is(are)?

Set up a dialer to spam his hotline and ask for lots of Miracle Water delivery to himself. Or maybe to, say, the local DA...

Not likely to hurt him significantly financially but as he says... every stamp helps. ;)

[Skeptical Greg]

My usual response to these kind of things is to send back the self addressed envelope empty and unstamped.


Empty ?


Fill it up with lead shot ...

Or use the envelope as an address label on a large box full of bricks..

[Beerina]

For emphasis, he should be consistent -- use bold, ALL CAPS, or BOLD ALL CAPS. Instead he interleaves the three.

Now I can see BOLD ALL CAPS being really, really important. But which is more important in a middlish sort of way, bold or ALL CAPS?

[Beerina]

I also note he's using well-known psychological techniques, such as trying to get the person to participate a little bit ("Put a glass of water on your bedstand tonight!") which, of course, is the first stepping stone. Then get them to commit a little more next time, then more, then more, then soon their entire life savings is being donated. People continue down this path because they've gone so far, might as well do a little bit more. It's the first step that's the toughest.

"Sandy, our prayer center received your call. I'll bet it didn't "Sandy Simpson, did I spell that correctly?" The likelihood of the computer erroneously garbling the name string it read from a database when pasting it into this template is astronomically low. However, it does attempt to subconsciously demonstrate to the low-Q'd that there's a real person writing the letter, and that they are honestly concerned about them, rather than a form letter pasting in names and addresses from a giant database.

"...and 7 is the Father's number of perfection." No, 7 is the number of non-star heavenly bodies visible to the naked eye (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn*)

"But you must answer this letter to let me know I have your correct address." Translation" ...that I have a live sucker at the other end that I may direct more intense efforts at, not to mention being able to assemble a tigher list of suckers that I can sell off for considerably more money.



* Yes, I know Uranus is technically visible to the naked eye, but that no ancient culture figured out it was a planet because it moved so slowly.

[NobbyNobbs]

I like this one..

Then anoint a Holy Consecrated Seed of Great Harvest Offering of $17.00. No, I don't want you to send $37 or $77...

No, SEND EXACTLY $17.00

And then later...


AMOUNT ENCLOSED ( ) $17.00 ( ) OTHER $__________

[edge]

Empty ?


Fill it up with lead shot ...

Or use the envelope as an address label on a large box full of bricks..

Back that up with c4.

[Ladewig]

Back that up with c4.


Dude, what is your problem? What Popoff does is wrong, but not worthy of him being murdered! I find your response to be rather frightening.

[c4ts]

Popoff isn't the only one who uses the "seed" argument for people to send him money. Shows up a lot on religious TV. All these preachers think money grows on trees or something.

[Tricky]

"...and 7 is the Father's number of perfection." No, 7 is the number of non-star heavenly bodies visible to the naked eye (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn*)

* Yes, I know Uranus is technically visible to the naked eye, but that no ancient culture figured out it was a planet because it moved so slowly.
Yes, but the sun is not a non-star heavenly body, so technically, the number is still 7, just the names are wrong.

Besides, they don't say whose "naked eye" it is. I'm pretty sure I couldn't see Uranus.

[Glen.Nogami]

Besides, they don't say whose "naked eye" it is. I'm pretty sure I couldn't see Uranus.

It's very rarely and poorly visible, iIrc.

[edge]

Dude, what is your problem? What Popoff does is wrong, but not worthy of him being murdered! I find your response to be rather frightening.

Sorry about that I was having a military type flash back and I apologize.
I may have had a stroke yesterday afternoon and almost had to go in, so my time here maybe shorter than I think. I apologize for my stupid remark and have no Idea why I even said that.
I think it was a sarcastic joke.
I would never do that to any one and it was crass.

[Tanstaafl]

Well, while I wouldn't advocate homicide either, I'm glad to see you have a low tolerance for scam artists.

I hope your health checks out okay.

[Orangutan]

www.peterpopoff.org/

I didn't want loads of click-throughs from here so please cut and paste.

Then you can request you're own miracle water.

[Ladewig]

Sorry about that I was having a military type flash back and I apologize.
I may have had a stroke yesterday afternoon and almost had to go in, so my time here maybe shorter than I think. I apologize for my stupid remark and have no Idea why I even said that.
I think it was a sarcastic joke.
I would never do that to any one and it was crass.


If you are having health problems, seek a doctor without any delay. Many problems become worse if you wait to seek medical help.

[edge]

If you are having health problems, seek a doctor without any delay. Many problems become worse if you wait to seek medical help.

I went in today.
I'm back now.
They said I had a heart attack, but not yesterday.
I never knew I did amazing.
Don't know what happened yesterday though.
I can say this, the medical explanation for the tunnel I saw yesterday is correct but not the same as the n.d.e. or the o.b.e. tunnel or experience.
There seems to be differences.
The one I seen last night was scary, never got to the next level that's where the fear is gone or if you are practicing the Hindu out of body mediation it's rather calming, or if it happens by accident as they say it can happen.
Could it be that both camps are right on this because now I have experienced two different types.
Interesting to say the least. :)

[Beleth]

Besides, they don't say whose "naked eye" it is. I'm pretty sure I couldn't see Uranus.

Not without buying me a lot of drinks first.








OH COME ON like that didn't cross your mind when you read it too.

[LibraryLady]

I went in today.
I'm back now.
They said I had a heart attack, but not yesterday.
I never knew I did amazing.
Don't know what happened yesterday though.
I can say this, the medical explanation for the tunnel I saw yesterday is correct but not the same as the n.d.e. or the o.b.e. tunnel or experience.
There seems to be differences.
The one I seen last night was scary, never got to the next level that's where the fear is gone or if you are practicing the Hindu out of body mediation it's rather calming, or if it happens by accident as they say it can happen.
Could it be that both camps are right on this because now I have experienced two different types.
Interesting to say the least. :)


Am I alone in not understanding one word of this?

[triadboy]

I'm just happy that God still uses the pronoun "Thee". It just reconfirms that God is old and speaks English.

[wahrheit]

www.peterpopoff.org/

I didn't want loads of click-throughs from here so please cut and paste.

Then you can request you're own miracle water.

Incredible website. Just look at the top header:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/451445f076207c7da.jpg

This could be graphics right from landoverbaptist.