How to Avoid Psychic and Occult Scams

SRW · 10th June 2009, 09:18 AM

Avoid Psychics, was that so hard?

Apparently some people need more advice than what is reasonable.

Quote
In this downturn economy, there is an increased demand for psychic, occult and metaphysical services. The connection to an outside power that is immediately available for guidance is comforting in uncertain times. There are a great deal of good and respectable psychics or intuitive consultants (as some prefer to be called) that are able to help others and happen to be flourishing. At the same time, there are a few people who are using this trend to con people who are seeking help of their money. This drums up negative stereotypical images of psychics such as “Miss Cleo,” driving away people who could actually benefit from metaphysical assistance. The keys to avoiding occult scams are doing research before a consultation, knowing what you are paying for, and remembering that you have the power to walk away from a bad reading.
Endcrap/opps quote

Gord_in_Toronto · 10th June 2009, 09:22 AM

Originally Posted by SRW

Avoid Psychics, was that so hard?

Apparently some people need more advice than what is reasonable.

Ah. That is so ******* useful. It's advice on how to avoid scam psychics -- with the presumption that you can actually find a real one if you follow the advice.

We share a planet with these people.

Ashles · 10th June 2009, 09:30 AM

Posting comments is nice and easy on that site.

666 · 10th June 2009, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Ashles

Posting comments is nice and easy on that site.

You're right!

Sideroxylon · 10th June 2009, 09:48 AM

I'm going out on a limb here but I reckon "LA Occult & Paranormal Examiner" Ryan Omega might go about his investigations with somewhat less rigor than say Joe Nickell or James Randi.

Erigena · 10th June 2009, 10:32 AM

Funny this thread was here. I was just reading an article and shaking my head. Even when psychic ability has been debunked, believers still believe.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/...aranormal.html

The Platypus · 10th June 2009, 12:00 PM

Psychic and occult scams are easy to avoid. 2 seconds of thought is all it takes.

jasonpatterson · 10th June 2009, 10:08 PM

As I posted in the comments on the site, this is one area in life where an abstinence only policy works best.

HansMustermann · 11th June 2009, 08:51 AM

Well, in the interest of gullible marks everywhere, here's my handy dandy guide to identifying psychic/occult/homeopathic/woowoo scams. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does it use one or more of the following words (or makes equivalent claims) in describing its product: psychic, occult, spirit (as in, of someone dead), clairvoyance, telepathy, hypnosis, soul, energy flow, chi, homeopathic, holistic, naturist (or "natural" in the same sense), detoxifying, quantum?

2. Does it claim to tell you the future?

3. Does it claim to tell you what's in somebody else's head?

4. Does its working depend on your belief or faith in it, in Jesus, or in anything whatsoever?

5. Does it have only individual anecdotes and endorsements instead of proper published tests to prove that it works?

6. Do its tests lack a control group?

7. Are its tests which _not_ double-blind or reproductible?

8. Does it attack the standard medicine, scientific establishment, scientific method, big pharma, academia, etc, as some kind of claim that its own product/service works?

9. Does it claim that its proponents have been oppressed, silenced, ridiculed, etc, by some establishment conspiracy/clique/etc, as some kind of claim that its own product/service works? Does its claim to glory rest largely on being the underdog, the David against the establishment's Goliath?

10. Does it claim to help against _two_ or more of the following, in a living organism: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, cancer, auto-immune diseases, poisons?

(Solutions which claim to kill them all when you wipe your kitchen sink or floor with them, i.e., _outside_ a living organism, do not count.)

11. Does it have a disclaimer saying that actually it doesn't claim to do or cure anything?

12. If you feel a need to defend it, do all your arguments score a "yes" on the other questions above?

(E.g., you think that accusing me of being a brainwashed drone of the medical conspiracy somehow proves that your woowoo cancer cure works. E.g., you think that my lack of faith actually has any relevance to whether it's working or not. E.g., you think that some personal anecdote is sufficient proof.)

Well, if the product or service scored 1 (one) or more "yes" there, congratulations, it's a scam.

Belz... · 11th June 2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

How to Avoid Psychic and Occult Scams

Kill them.

Twiler · 11th June 2009, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Belz...

Kill them.

Thus demonstrating that they CAN'T see it coming.

Ashles · 11th June 2009, 09:31 AM

Apparently we are a bunch of "a bunch of sad little people" who have decided to "attack" "an author" regarding "an oft misunderstood topic".

I feel sad for people who "misunderstand" the topic. It's really quite easy to grasp if you have at least a tiny portion of a functioning brain.

10th June 2009, 09:18 AM	#1
SRW Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,901	How to Avoid Psychic and Occult Scams Avoid Psychics, was that so hard? Apparently some people need more advice than what is reasonable. Quote In this downturn economy, there is an increased demand for psychic, occult and metaphysical services. The connection to an outside power that is immediately available for guidance is comforting in uncertain times. There are a great deal of good and respectable psychics or intuitive consultants (as some prefer to be called) that are able to help others and happen to be flourishing. At the same time, there are a few people who are using this trend to con people who are seeking help of their money. This drums up negative stereotypical images of psychics such as “Miss Cleo,” driving away people who could actually benefit from metaphysical assistance. The keys to avoiding occult scams are doing research before a consultation, knowing what you are paying for, and remembering that you have the power to walk away from a bad reading. Endcrap/opps quote
SRW Master Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,901	__________________ Monterey Skeptics Stop Sylvia Brown Stop Jenny Macarty Tales from a dyslexic heathen Rationalization may be defined as self-deception by reasoning.— Karen Horney Last edited by SRW; 10th June 2009 at 09:23 AM. Reason: added quote

10th June 2009, 09:22 AM	#2
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,411	Originally Posted by SRW Avoid Psychics, was that so hard? Apparently some people need more advice than what is reasonable. Ah. That is so ******* useful. It's advice on how to avoid scam psychics -- with the presumption that you can actually find a real one if you follow the advice. We share a planet with these people.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

10th June 2009, 09:30 AM	#3
Ashles Pith Artist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The '80s Posts: 8,711	Posting comments is nice and easy on that site.
	__________________ With extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat. - Jeffrey Burton Russell No one "proved" that a bumblebee can't fly. What was shown was that a certain simple mathematical model wasn't adequate or appropriate - Ivars Peterson

10th June 2009, 09:47 AM	#4
666 Whingeing Pom Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Slightly to the east of Kernow. Posts: 1,327	Originally Posted by Ashles Posting comments is nice and easy on that site. You're right!
	__________________

10th June 2009, 09:48 AM	#5
Sideroxylon Gavagai! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Turkey Posts: 10,603	I'm going out on a limb here but I reckon "LA Occult & Paranormal Examiner" Ryan Omega might go about his investigations with somewhat less rigor than say Joe Nickell or James Randi.
	__________________ 'The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool.' - Richard Feynman

10th June 2009, 10:32 AM	#6
Erigena Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 322	Funny this thread was here. I was just reading an article and shaking my head. Even when psychic ability has been debunked, believers still believe. http://www.newscientist.com/article/...aranormal.html
Erigena Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 322	__________________ "As God said to Job, checkmate." Stephen Colbert

10th June 2009, 12:00 PM	#7
The Platypus Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,789	Psychic and occult scams are easy to avoid. 2 seconds of thought is all it takes.

10th June 2009, 10:08 PM	#8
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Space, The Final Frontier Posts: 2,180	As I posted in the comments on the site, this is one area in life where an abstinence only policy works best.
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

11th June 2009, 08:51 AM	#9
HansMustermann Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 9,827	Avoiding psychic/occult scams Well, in the interest of gullible marks everywhere, here's my handy dandy guide to identifying psychic/occult/homeopathic/woowoo scams. Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Does it use one or more of the following words (or makes equivalent claims) in describing its product: psychic, occult, spirit (as in, of someone dead), clairvoyance, telepathy, hypnosis, soul, energy flow, chi, homeopathic, holistic, naturist (or "natural" in the same sense), detoxifying, quantum? 2. Does it claim to tell you the future? 3. Does it claim to tell you what's in somebody else's head? 4. Does its working depend on your belief or faith in it, in Jesus, or in anything whatsoever? 5. Does it have only individual anecdotes and endorsements instead of proper published tests to prove that it works? 6. Do its tests lack a control group? 7. Are its tests which _not_ double-blind or reproductible? 8. Does it attack the standard medicine, scientific establishment, scientific method, big pharma, academia, etc, as some kind of claim that its own product/service works? 9. Does it claim that its proponents have been oppressed, silenced, ridiculed, etc, by some establishment conspiracy/clique/etc, as some kind of claim that its own product/service works? Does its claim to glory rest largely on being the underdog, the David against the establishment's Goliath? 10. Does it claim to help against _two_ or more of the following, in a living organism: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, cancer, auto-immune diseases, poisons? (Solutions which claim to kill them all when you wipe your kitchen sink or floor with them, i.e., _outside_ a living organism, do not count.) 11. Does it have a disclaimer saying that actually it doesn't claim to do or cure anything? 12. If you feel a need to defend it, do all your arguments score a "yes" on the other questions above? (E.g., you think that accusing me of being a brainwashed drone of the medical conspiracy somehow proves that your woowoo cancer cure works. E.g., you think that my lack of faith actually has any relevance to whether it's working or not. E.g., you think that some personal anecdote is sufficient proof.) Well, if the product or service scored 1 (one) or more "yes" there, congratulations, it's a scam.

11th June 2009, 09:13 AM	#10
Belz... Fiend God Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: In the details... Posts: 28,446	Quote: How to Avoid Psychic and Occult Scams Kill them.
	__________________ The Onmyouza Theatre, An unofficial international fanclub forum dedicated to the Japanese heavy metal band Onmyo-Za: "In the interests of time and space, it is not unreasonable to cite one point at a time. Citing 30 is the equivalent of citing none. Obviously." - Robert Prey "Physical evidence must be observed and interpreted by witnesses which makes it subjective and subject to mistakes and to fraud." - Robert Prey

11th June 2009, 09:26 AM	#11
Twiler Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,494	Originally Posted by Belz... Kill them. Thus demonstrating that they CAN'T see it coming.
Twiler Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2,494

11th June 2009, 09:31 AM	#12
Ashles Pith Artist Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The '80s Posts: 8,711	Apparently we are a bunch of "a bunch of sad little people" who have decided to "attack" "an author" regarding "an oft misunderstood topic". I feel sad for people who "misunderstand" the topic. It's really quite easy to grasp if you have at least a tiny portion of a functioning brain.
	__________________ With extraordinary few exceptions no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believed that the earth was flat. - Jeffrey Burton Russell No one "proved" that a bumblebee can't fly. What was shown was that a certain simple mathematical model wasn't adequate or appropriate - Ivars Peterson