Allan Sweeney, Hon. PhD (Medicina Alternativa)

[RSLancastr]

Several days ago, a man by the name of Allan Sweeney emailed me at the StopSylviaBrowne site, inviting me to England to take his course in "psychic development."

I looked into his web site (www.reiki-healing.com), where he advertises classes in... well, you take a look:

http://www.reiki-healing.com/diary.html

I politely declined his offer.

Since then, I have received a number of emails from him, generally increasing in hostility. His favorite phrase seems to be "biased bigot" (I assume because I do not believe in Reiki, psychic surgery, angels, etc.).

Here are some quotes from his emails:

"Please come on my course and prove you have an open mind. Prove you are not just a biased bigot."

"Yes, as I thought, a biased sceptic hell-bent on destruction. You seem no better than a fascist or leftie extremist who have bloated egos thinking they have so evidence to pull down society."

"Quite frankly, people like you disgust me.
How can I start a website against you?"

"YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NO BETTER THAN A FASCIST OR EXTREMIST LEFTIE WHO BELIEVES IN THEIR CAUSE AND TRIES TO DESTROY. DESTROYERS LIKE YOU DISGUST ME.

HAVE YOU CONTACTED HER TO ASK HER WHICH ONES SHE GOT RIGHT?
I WILL. AND IF I FIND YOU ARE A BIASED BIGOT, I WILL ENSURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE KNOW ABOUT IT

Anyone familiar with this guy?

[Fnord]

Several days ago, a man by the name of Allan Sweeney emailed me at the StopSylviaBrowne site, inviting me to England to take his course in "psychic development."

{SNIP}

I politely declined his offer.

Since then, I have received a number of emails from him, generally increasing in hostility. His favorite phrase seems to be "biased bigot" (I assume because I do not believe in Reiki, psychic surgery, angels, etc.).

{SNIP}

Anyone familiar with this guy?


No, but can you tell me how I can get on his mailing list? Baiting and bashing those Nigerian 419 scammers has become pointlessly boring, so I need a new hobby...

:hit:

[-Fran-]

Anyone familiar with this guy?

I've never heard of him... but aren't we all familiar with the type? :rolleyes:

[ravdin]

Anyone familiar with this guy?

No, and I'm glad he doesn't know how to contact me.

[Enlighten]

I think this is him:


"BROUGHT TO HEAL."
From: The Mirror (London, England)
Date: August 31, 2001
Byline: Andrew Penman, Michael Greenwood

DR ALLAN Sweeney runs Japanese spiritual healing courses in Margate, Kent. ... one-year philosophy course under the Indian Board Of Alternative Medicine, whatever that is. Just thought you should know...
[snip]


"Brought to Heal," The Mirror (London, England), August 31, 2001 (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-77739772.html)

That seems to be his only press.

[RSLancastr]

Okay, that's about what I thought.

[H3LL]

Mr. Lancaster, I think we have people on the forums in Kent (Tim or Lynn might know).

Try to confirm it's him, I doubt his correspondence with become more polite, and his comments may make for an interesting read in his local rag.

Any Kentish person willing to have a go?

ETA:

A quick whois on his website gave this:

Allan Sweeney International
31 Princes Avenue,
Ramsgate,
CT12 6DW
GB

Different from the website address...but close.
.

[Rolfe]

I suppose it may be different in some uncivilised parts of the world, but certainly in Britain you absolutely cannot get an honorary PhD.

All sorts of other doctorates are frequently given as honorary accolades to the great and the good, but the PhD is sacrosanct. That one you have to work for.

Rolfe.

[wahrheit]

'WORLD FIRST' REIKI CD NOW AVAILABLE "MAY THE REIKI FORCE BE WITH YOU' (http://www.reiki-healing.com/products.html)

:mgbanghead

HAVE YOU CONTACTED HER TO ASK HER WHICH ONES SHE GOT RIGHT?
I WILL.

I think even Sylvia will not be interested in having correspondence with this guy.

[DeVega]

Hmph - that's not very nice and 'zen-like' is it?
I notice he also links to: http://www.angelsonearth.info/
Methinks he's on the woo gravy-train

Also, the website says they are staring a Charity this year????? I wonder why/to what purpose? I hope the Charities Commission will look at that proposal very carefully.

[Alice Shortcake]

I suppose it may be different in some uncivilised parts of the world, but certainly in Britain you absolutely cannot get an honorary PhD.

All sorts of other doctorates are frequently given as honorary accolades to the great and the good, but the PhD is sacrosanct. That one you have to work for.

Rolfe.

Rolfe, dozens of celebrities have been awarded Honorary PhDs in the UK. Earlier this year Sir David Frost and Tracy Emin received their Hon PhDs from the University of Kent.

[ksbluesfan]

Wow, that's insane. He offers something, you refuse, then he gets hostile. He's as bad as a homeless guy who insists he is going to clean the windshield of your car.

[fls]

Rolfe, dozens of celebrities have been awarded Honorary PhDs in the UK. Earlier this year Sir David Frost and Tracy Emin received their Hon PhDs from the University of Kent.

It looks like Tracy Emin didn't receive a PhD, but rather a Doctor of Letters (http://www.kent.ac.uk/censec/other/Past-Honorary-Degrees.pdf). David Frost's name isn't there, but I don't see any PhD's listed. I had a quick peek at a few other universities and didn't find any PhD's on their honorary degrees list. I suspect Rolfe knows what she's talking about.

Linda

[Showmeproof]

I believe in America one can receive an honorary PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). I did not know it was different in Europe.

[ExMinister]

Wow. Biased, bigoted, leftie extremist sceptic? I wonder what he says to the people he DOESN'T want to take his course.

[Showmeproof]

That Sweeney guy sounds like a nice person lol

[fls]

So I looked up Allen Sweeney's honorary degree. It was allegedly awarded by the Alternative Medical University in India. The requirements for a 'real' PhD from this institution is any other degree and the submission of a paper, plus $850. In other words, his Hon PhD didn't even fulfill the minimal effort it takes to get a fake diploma mill PhD.

Linda

[Alice Shortcake]

It looks like Tracy Emin didn't receive a PhD, but rather a Doctor of Letters (http://www.kent.ac.uk/censec/other/Past-Honorary-Degrees.pdf). David Frost's name isn't there, but I don't see any PhD's listed. I had a quick peek at a few other universities and didn't find any PhD's on their honorary degrees list. I suspect Rolfe knows what she's talking about.

Linda

Damn you, BBC news website! :blush:

[Alice Shortcake]

Mr. Lancaster, I think we have people on the forums in Kent (Tim or Lynn might know).

Try to confirm it's him, I doubt his correspondence with become more polite, and his comments may make for an interesting read in his local rag.

Any Kentish person willing to have a go?

ETA:

A quick whois on his website gave this:

Allan Sweeney International
31 Princes Avenue,
Ramsgate,
CT12 6DW
GB

Different from the website address...but close.
.

This is the nearest thing to a local rag I could find - it covers local newspapers in the Thanet area.

http://www.locallife.co.uk/thanet/newspapers3.asp

I never cease to be amazed by the sheer viciousness of the "love and light"
mob. I think Mr Sweeney needs a course of anger management... :jaw-dropp

I've also e-mailed the Charities Commission to ask them if they know anything about Mr Sweeney's plan to establish "Allan Sweeney International" as a charity. Somehow I think the answer will be "no".

[logical muse]

Several days ago, a man by the name of Allan Sweeney emailed me at the StopSylviaBrowne site, inviting me to England to take his course in "psychic development."

Hi Robert,

Is he offering to pay for your travel and accommodation expenses? Why not take him up on it? At the very least you'll get a nice holiday and a look at what is "taught" in these courses.

[RSLancastr]

The requirements for a 'real' PhD from this institution is any other degree and the submission of a paper, plus $850.So, I wonder where the other degree was from, and how much it cost?

I never cease to be amazed by the sheer viciousness of the "love and light"
mob. I think Mr Sweeney needs a course of anger management... :jaw-droppYeah, he ramped it up pretty quickly. I answered his second (I believe it was) email, and went out to dinner with my wife. When we returned, there were four more emails from him.

I've also e-mailed the Charities Commission to ask them if they know anything about Mr Sweeney's plan to establish "Allan Sweeney International" as a charity. Somehow I think the answer will be "no".Keep us posted!

[RSLancastr]

Is he offering to pay for your travel and accommodation expenses?He graciously offered to pay for my "UK expenses," but I did not press for details on exactly what that meant, and whether travel to and from was included.

Why not take him up on it? At the very least you'll get a nice holiday and a look at what is "taught" in these courses.I suppose I might have, had he been local (but probably not even then).

But as it is, my vacation time is already allocated to attending TAM5.5 in January. I am not about to take days off of work and spend 20+ hours in airplanes just to see how Mr. Sweeney teaches people how to be psychic.

[Locknar]

Several days ago, a man by the name of Allan Sweeney emailed me at the StopSylviaBrowne site, inviting me to England to take his course in "psychic development."

<snip>

Not a clue who he is; odd he went from Mr Nice Guy, offering to pay your "UK expenses" (what ever that is) to what appears to be a all caps rant...all in the span of 4 e-mails?

All kinds of folks on that Internet thingy these days eh?

[DoubtingStephen]

I was a bit skeptical of his claim to have an advanced degree until I saw the message he sent in ALL CAPS, truly the sign of an elite Mensa intelligentsia type.

He doesn't seem at all like a gentleman who gets intoxicated and then becomes combative.

[Jaana]

*sigh*

I'll be happy to not have anything to do with this character. From everything I read, he is certainly not one to waste another brain cell on. I'd block his email address and move on to happier messes like Sylvia Brown. :P

AloooooooHa!

[logical muse]

He graciously offered to pay for my "UK expenses," but I did not press for details on exactly what that meant, and whether travel to and from was included.

I suppose I might have, had he been local (but probably not even then).

But as it is, my vacation time is already allocated to attending TAM5.5 in January. I am not about to take days off of work and spend 20+ hours in airplanes just to see how Mr. Sweeney teaches people how to be psychic.

I'll go! :D

[Zep]

I'll go! :D:D I won't let on!

[Mojo]

He's had a run-in with the ASA (http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/adjudications/non_broadcast/Adjudication+Details.htm?Adjudication_id=28673) about his use of the title "Dr" (among other things). Apparently the Authority considered that it neither represented a doctorate, a course that typically took 3 years to complete, nor was related to medical training.

[Mojo]

You seem no better than a fascist or leftie extremist who have bloated egos thinking they have so evidence to pull down society


It's well known that people who ask for evidence are fascists (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Pharmacology/dc-bits/holmes-deconstruction-ebhc-06.pdf).

[Alice Shortcake]

Hmph - that's not very nice and 'zen-like' is it?
I notice he also links to: http://www.angelsonearth.info/
Methinks he's on the woo gravy-train

Also, the website says they are staring a Charity this year????? I wonder why/to what purpose? I hope the Charities Commission will look at that proposal very carefully.

I've been in touch with the Charities Commission - they have NOT had an application from Allan Sweeney. No big surprises there...:)

[RSLancastr]

Thanks for the followup, Alice!