Interesting...

[real american]

I called Sylvia Browne's office and a man picked up the phone, I asked him two questions.

1. How old was Sylvia whe she relized she was psychic?
he said 8, funny I thought I read someplace that she was 6. Somebody didn't read their script of answers. That to me just shows she is fact. Sadly I try to tell my aunt this but she denys that Sylvia "The Bull" Browne is fake.

[wahrheit]

Itneresting.

What was the second question you asked?

[real american]

I asked what Sylvia's thought on James randi were, the guy first said "Who?... oh the athiest, well he trys to discredit Sylvia and he orginization.

[ExMinister]

Whoever you talked to had his propaganda confused. Actually she claims she was born psychic and has stories from about the age of three that she tells. She supposedly met her spirit guide when she was eight.

[grayman]

Heck, she contradicts herself in her books. I'm sure some office toady doesn't have much of a chance keeping up with her lies biography.

But you called her office? You got moxie kid.

[Bell]

I guess they didn't expect that phonecall!

[wahrheit]

But you called her office? You got moxie kid.

I agree. I just hope they didn't charge him $750. :D

[real american]

But you called her office? You got moxie kid.

Thanks, I just wounder if Sylvia found out. I hope she did. I myself will say if I had a choice to be handcuffed to either her or Madeline Murray O'Hair I would choose O"Hair.

[Jeff Corey]

If you're talking about Madalyn Murray O'Hair, that's a bit necrophilic. She's deceased, pushin' up the daisies, defunct, no longer residing in this realm, croaked, bought the big one, refused to join the celestial choir.
She's an ex-O'Hair.

[RSLancastr]

If you're talking about Madalyn Murray O'Hair, that's a bit necrophilic. She's deceased, pushin' up the daisies, defunct, no longer residing in this realm, croaked, bought the big one, refused to join the celestial choir.
She's an ex-O'Hair.True, but I don't know that this makes RA's choice the wrong one.

[Jeff Corey]

Well, you do have a point there. Since O'Hair died in 1995, it is very unlikely that there would be anything left of her to handcuff her to someone, unless she was properly prepared by a licensed taxidermist.

[real american]

I meant if she was still walking on earth I don't mean right now.

[ranson]

I meant if she was still walking on earth I don't mean right now.

So, we're talking Zombie O'Hair?

[Normal Dude]

Best derail ever. :D

[panchov]

If you're talking about Madalyn Murray O'Hair, that's a bit necrophilic. She's deceased, pushin' up the daisies, defunct, no longer residing in this realm, croaked, bought the big one, refused to join the celestial choir.
She's an ex-O'Hair.

Molly thinks that's funny!

[articulett]

Well, you do have a point there. Since O'Hair died in 1995, it is very unlikely that there would be anything left of her to handcuff her to someone, unless she was properly prepared by a licensed taxidermist.

No... even then... she was murdered and her remains--along of those of her son and granddaughter were found buried much later. They were fully skeletonized, I believe--to do taxidermy on that would require powers beyond those of a mortal taxidermist... even if the taxidermist had directions from some of Sylvia's dead friends.

As I recall, Madelyn Murray O'Hair was a strong civil right proponent and never bilked anyone out of money or preyed upon the grieving. Who wouldn't want to be chained to her over Sylvia (Claws) Browne?

[mayday]

I have a friend who buys into this Sylvia Browne stuff. It makes me cringe. She practically has I'm a fraud tattoo'ed on her forehead.

[real american]

No... even then... she was murdered and her remains--along of those of her son and granddaughter were found buried much later. They were fully skeletonized, I believe--to do taxidermy on that would require powers beyond those of a mortal taxidermist... even if the taxidermist had directions from some of Sylvia's dead friends.

As I recall, Madelyn Murray O'Hair was a strong civil right proponent and never bilked anyone out of money or preyed upon the grieving. Who wouldn't want to be chained to her over Sylvia (Claws) Browne?

Mabey Sylvia realy thinks she psychic? What if she has put on this lie for so long she truly thinks she is a psychic? Just a thought.

[real american]

So, we're talking Zombie O'Hair?

Well lets say if she was alive and wasn't killed.

[TuftedPuffin]

Mabey Sylvia realy thinks she psychic? What if she has put on this lie for so long she truly thinks she is a psychic? Just a thought.

It's always the thought with people like this: deluded or fraudulent? Though deluded ones are more likely to try out for the JREF challenge.

[articulett]

It's always the thought with people like this: deluded or fraudulent? Though deluded ones are more likely to try out for the JREF challenge.

And the liars say they will on television and then make excuses about Randi being ungodly when pressed...

[UnrepentantSinner]

Well, you do have a point there. Since O'Hair died in 1995, it is very unlikely that there would be anything left of her to handcuff her to someone, unless she was properly prepared by a licensed taxidermist.

Itnerestingly enough, Sylvia appears as if she's having herself slowly pickled with formaldehyde as the years go by. From the sounds of her voice, she's drinking it.

[ExMinister]

I don't believe she's just deluded. Narcissistic maybe. Another ex-minister told me about a minister who resigned many years ago after accidentally over-hearing a conversation between Michael and Sylvia. Apparently they were joking about faking the trances. I didn't hear of this until many years later, but it confirmed my own experiences and those of other ministers. Granted the story is second (third)-hand but it came from a person I trust.

If narcissism or antisocial personality disorder can create delusions or illusions of grandeur or otherwise cause a person to sincerely believe their charade is justified, then she may be deluded. Otherwise it is the opinion of many of her ex inner circle and ministers that she is just a sad, egotistical, greedy and power hungry woman.

[real american]

Itnerestingly enough, Sylvia appears as if she's having herself slowly pickled with formaldehyde as the years go by. From the sounds of her voice, she's drinking it.

First time I heard her voice I was thinking to myself "How many smokes did you have befor the show?"

[real american]

I don't believe she's just deluded. Narcissistic maybe. Another ex-minister told me about a minister who resigned many years ago after accidentally over-hearing a conversation between Michael and Sylvia. Apparently they were joking about faking the trances. I didn't hear of this until many years later, but it confirmed my own experiences and those of other ministers. Granted the story is second (third)-hand but it came from a person I trust.

If narcissism or antisocial personality disorder can create delusions or illusions of grandeur or otherwise cause a person to sincerely believe their charade is justified, then she may be deluded. Otherwise it is the opinion of many of her ex inner circle and ministers that she is just a sad, egotistical, greedy and power hungry woman.

You are probably right. I just think it may be possible. I just went on wikipedia, and looked up HDS, her is something that caught my eye "Women with HPD are described as self-centered, self-indulgent, and intensely dependent on others." That is Sylvia's personality, she is self-centered, self-indulgent, and depends to much on others worship to her.

[UnrepentantSinner]

First time I heard her voice I was thinking to myself "How many smokes did you have befor the show?"

Heh. I've been calling her "frog voiced bitch" for years, but stopped after I realized that was an insult to frogs. As a twoish pack a day man myself, I'm of the opinion that she's taking drags whenever she's not on camera.

[ExMinister]

For what it's worth some info on narcissistic personality disorder, which is apparently rare but which I feel, having known Sylvia personally for many years, fits her extremely well. I edited it slightly to make it shorter. Found this on http://www.halcyon.com/jmashmun/npd/dsm-iv.html. Apparently taken from DSM-IV, with great comments (translations) from the author of the article:

1. An exaggerated sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

...Common conspicuous grandiose behaviors include expecting special treatment or admiration on the basis of claiming (a) to know important, powerful or famous people or (b) to be extraordinarily intelligent or talented.

2. Preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

Translation: Narcissists cultivate solipsistic or "autistic" fantasies, which is to say that they live in their own little worlds (and react with affront when reality dares to intrude).

3. Believes he is "special" and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

Translation: Narcissists think that everyone who is not special and superior is worthless. By definition, normal, ordinary, and average aren't special and superior, and so, to narcissists, they are worthless.

4. Requires excessive admiration

Translation: Excessive in two ways: they want praise, compliments, deference, and expressions of envy all the time, and they want to be told that everything they do is better than what others can do. Sincerity is not an issue here; all that matter are frequency and volume.

5. Has a sense of entitlement

Translation: They expect automatic compliance with their wishes or especially favorable treatment, such as thinking that they should always be able to go first and that other people should stop whatever they're doing to do what the narcissists want, and may react with hurt or rage when these expectations are frustrated.

6. Selfishly takes advantage of others to achieve his own ends

Translation: Narcissists use other people to get what they want without caring about the cost to the other people.

7. Lacks empathy

Translation: They are unwilling to recognize or sympathize with other people's feelings and needs. They "tune out" when other people want to talk about their own problems.
In clinical terms, empathy is the ability to recognize and interpret other people's emotions. Lack of empathy may take two different directions: (a) accurate interpretation of others' emotions with no concern for others' distress, which is characteristic of psychopaths; and (b) the inability to recognize and accurately interpret other people's emotions, which is the NPD style...

8. Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him

Translation: No translation needed.

9. Shows arrogant, haughty, patronizing, or contemptuous behaviors or attitudes

Translation: They treat other people like dirt.

[Alice Shortcake]

Sylvia Browne isn't the only psychic to display signs of NPD. There are three locked threads over at UK-Skeptics (www.skeptics.org.uk) devoted to the ramblings of one Sarah Delamere Hurding, who emerged from the woodwork to "help" search for missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann. Her posts read like a classic case of NPD.

[tripi]

Heh. I've been calling her "frog voiced bitch" for years, but stopped after I realized that was an insult to frogs. As a twoish pack a day man myself, I'm of the opinion that she's taking drags whenever she's not on camera.

I wonder what a Sylvia Browne coughing fit looks and sounds like. The baggy skin on her flesh probably convulses violently as she expels massive amounts of stale breath.

[DRBUZZ0]

I asked what Sylvia's thought on James randi were, the guy first said "Who?... oh the athiest, well he trys to discredit Sylvia and he orginization.

Oh yes "The atheist" that pretty much sums up Randi in a non-prejutory manner that applies to his most noticable and well known feature. As opposed to "the guy with the million dollar challenge" or "the former stage magacian who advocates skepticism" or even "the skeptic" or just "The guy with the white beard"

Yes, indeed, whenever I hear someone say "You know that atheist" I think "Oh you must mean James Randi"


For the record, if describing me, I would prefer my defining characteristic be used. Please refer to me as "The guy who can't drink caffeine after about 7 PM or he won't be able to sleep"

Either that or perhaps "The guy who's first cell phone was a Samsung"

That should pretty much characterize who I am.

[SezMe]

Actually, I was thinking the guy with electrons orbiting his head might be more accurate.

[devnull]

For the record, if describing me, I would prefer my defining characteristic be used. Please refer to me as "The guy who can't drink caffeine after about 7 PM or he won't be able to sleep"

Either that or perhaps "The guy who's first cell phone was a Samsung"

That should pretty much characterize who I am.

Mine is "the guy with the penis and testicles".

[DRBUZZ0]

Actually, I was thinking the guy with electrons orbiting his head might be more accurate.

Yeah that's actually just an abstraction to make it simpler. In reality they are in clouds... well not really clouds but clouds of electrical potential.. except in more place than one at a given moment. Actually they're kinda like a wave. Well...

Yeah it's kinda hard to illustrate that way.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Actually, I was thinking the guy with electrons orbiting his head might be more accurate.

I thought those were meatballs. ;)

[chillzero]

Mabey Sylvia realy thinks she psychic? What if she has put on this lie for so long she truly thinks she is a psychic? Just a thought.

If she truly believed it, I would have expected her to put a little honest effort into clearing her name, and trying to prove her abilities.

[Rodney]

As I recall, Madelyn Murray O'Hair was a strong civil right proponent and never bilked anyone out of money or preyed upon the grieving. Who wouldn't want to be chained to her over Sylvia (Claws) Browne?
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair --

[O'Hair's son Bill] Murray spoke critically of his mother after her disappearance:

"My mother was an evil person... Not for removing prayer from America's schools... No, she was just evil. She stole huge amounts of money. She misused the trust of people. She cheated children out of their parents' inheritance. She cheated on her taxes and even stole from her own organizations. She once printed up phony stock certificates on her own printing press to try to take over another atheist publishing company."

[Olowkow]

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair --

[O'Hair's son Bill] Murray spoke critically of his mother after her disappearance:

"My mother was an evil person... Not for removing prayer from America's schools... No, she was just evil. She stole huge amounts of money. She misused the trust of people. She cheated children out of their parents' inheritance. She cheated on her taxes and even stole from her own organizations. She once printed up phony stock certificates on her own printing press to try to take over another atheist publishing company."

Pretty interesting. It would be good to have more information on the son, since reading further on, it would sound like a major split between him and his mother over money possibly:

Murray also criticized his mother after her disappearance, claiming she had stashed "tens of millions" away.[2] He attempted to gain "guardianship" over his missing mother and brother's assets, declaring they had stolen money, and said, "My brother had a tendency to fall for con games and con artists".[2]

I recall reading about the controversy and scandals when she went missing, but I just was not very interested at the time. She was a very abrasive person, I felt, when I saw her speak in person, but it could be that I was a prisoner of my times and culture. Not sure anymore.

Somehow a far cry from today's skeptics and atheists.

[UnrepentantSinner]

She was a very abrasive person, I felt, when I saw her speak in person, but it could be that I was a prisoner of my times and culture. Not sure anymore.

Somehow a far cry from {edit} some of {/edit} today's skeptics and atheists.

I'm not sure how one could conclude this from what you read on this forum sometimes.