The full text of JE's disclaimer

CFLarsen · 20th August 2003, 11:15 AM

For about one second, here is what flickers across your TV screen when a John Edward entertainment show is over:

Quote:

"The producer has relied heavily on the contributions of John Edward and other third parties in the creation of this program, which has been produced for entertainment purposes only. The materials and opinions presented in this program by John Edward and other third parties, including statements, predictions, documents, photos and video footage, come solely from their respective third party sources and are not the views, opinions and responsibility of the Producer and are not meant or intended to be a form of advice, instruction, suggestion, counsel or factual statement in any way whatsoever."

Boiled down to:

The show is produced for entertainment purposes only.
Whatever JE says has nothing to do with the Producer (meaning: Network).
It is not a factual statement in any way whatsoever.

Go figure...

Thanz · 20th August 2003, 11:34 AM

I really don't see what the big deal is over this disclaimer. It is, quite obviously, a CYA statement for the network. If you had some guy on claiming to talk to the dead, wouldn't you do the same? EVEN IF the president of the network personally believes that JE is talking to the dead, it still makes sense from a legal and financial standpoint to put up this disclaimer.

As for JE, the text of the disclaimer certainly seems to put him outside of its ambit. This sentence:

Quote:

"The producer has relied heavily on the contributions of John Edward and other third parties..."

Puts JE out of the caetgory of producer and into the category of third parties.

TBK, while I do enjoy your new sig line, I think that your interpretation of the disclaimer is incorrect.

CFLarsen · 20th August 2003, 11:40 AM

Thanz,

Clearly, the network does NOT believe JE is talking to the dead.

Can you imagine what would happen, if the network could prove that JE was talking to the dead? The Biggest Ratings Ever, that's what would happen.

They would kill, nay, obliterate every other network in the whole world. In a fraction of a second. Nobody else would ever want to watch any other channel.

But no. They don't believe JE is doing what he claims to be doing. It's a sideshow, a carnival act. Even his own network says so.

Thanz · 20th August 2003, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CFLarsen
Thanz,

Clearly, the network does NOT believe JE is talking to the dead.

Can you imagine what would happen, if the network could prove that JE was talking to the dead? The Biggest Ratings Ever, that's what would happen.

They would kill, nay, obliterate every other network in the whole world. In a fraction of a second. Nobody else would ever want to watch any other channel.

But no. They don't believe JE is doing what he claims to be doing. It's a sideshow, a carnival act. Even his own network says so.

First, I don't think it is clear that the network sees him as a carnival side show. They could just as easily not be taking a position or even believe that he is real. As I explained in my other post, just the possibility that he is not real makes it prudent to use the disclaimer. It simply doesn't matter to the network whether he is real or not - the disclaimer is just about CYA.

Next, even if the network does not believe him to be real, so what? What does it matter? Why does the opinion of the network matter one iota? This seems to be a false appeal to authority.

T'ai Chi · 20th August 2003, 12:11 PM

JE, and many other people, when they do their shows, are on television, not being scientifically tested in a lab.

I would think that the only results that matter, to determine if he can get messages from the spirits or whatever, is what takes place while being scientifically tested.

The rest of the stuff is interesting, but because it is on television, to be taken with a grain of salt- because we don't know the exact details of the conditions.

Darat · 20th August 2003, 03:35 PM

And don't forget in the UK even the programme's own disclaimer is not considered enough and the TV channel that shows it here has to append this text (which appears for a lot longer then the Crossing over one).

Quote:

Living TV disclaimer

Crossing Over with John Edward is a psychic entertainment programme.

Psychic mediums claim to have the ability to communicate with spirits.
Many people, and most mainstream beliefs, question the validity of this claim.

Living TV presents the programme in our Paranormal Zone purely for your entertainment.

Iamme · 20th August 2003, 03:53 PM

Thanz basically believes Larsen is reading more into the disclaimer than need be.

Thanz. SURE they need a disclaimer. But why oh why do they have to blantantly say that, in a nutshell, it's not real. They don't say they don't THINK it's not real. They don't say that it is up to the viewer to form their own conclusions as to it being valid or not. What would be wrong with THAT...if they put it that way? But nooooooo. They just blantantly say it's for entertainment ONLY. Not partially. ONLY. And they say that third parties contribute, but they don't identify the third parties. And the final kicker is when they say it isn't even inTENDED to be factual. Once again...they don't say that it may or may NOT be factual. They just come right out and say that it isn't.

And then, if someone like me e-mails the official JE website, they do not respond In ANY WAY WHATSOEVER

to my very nice and polite question to them, regarding this.

Thanz · 21st August 2003, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iamme
Thanz. SURE they need a disclaimer. But why oh why do they have to blantantly say that, in a nutshell, it's not real. They don't say they don't THINK it's not real. They don't say that it is up to the viewer to form their own conclusions as to it being valid or not. What would be wrong with THAT...if they put it that way? But nooooooo. They just blantantly say it's for entertainment ONLY. Not partially. ONLY. And they say that third parties contribute, but they don't identify the third parties. And the final kicker is when they say it isn't even inTENDED to be factual. Once again...they don't say that it may or may NOT be factual. They just come right out and say that it isn't.

You don't want to be wishy washy in your disclaimer - that has the effect of making the issue much more prone to litigation. You don't sign a waiver that says "Company X may not be responsible for any injuries you may suffer" you sign one that says "Company X is not responsible..."

If you want to cover your a$$, you cover it. You don't put on a thong and hope for the best.

Darat · 21st August 2003, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Iamme
...snip...

And then, if someone like me e-mails the official JE website, they do not respond In ANY WAY WHATSOEVER to my very nice and polite question to them, regarding this.

It is strange isn't it that they don't seem to respond?

I've sent a couple of emails to the JE official website address, all very polite and yet never had one returned yet. In fact I'll paste one of them into a new thread tomorrow.

BNiles · 21st August 2003, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thanz
If you want to cover your a$$, you cover it. You don't put on a thong and hope for the best.

That's great

20th August 2003, 11:15 AM	#1
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	The full text of JE's disclaimer For about one second, here is what flickers across your TV screen when a John Edward entertainment show is over: Quote: "The producer has relied heavily on the contributions of John Edward and other third parties in the creation of this program, which has been produced for entertainment purposes only. The materials and opinions presented in this program by John Edward and other third parties, including statements, predictions, documents, photos and video footage, come solely from their respective third party sources and are not the views, opinions and responsibility of the Producer and are not meant or intended to be a form of advice, instruction, suggestion, counsel or factual statement in any way whatsoever." Boiled down to: The show is produced for entertainment purposes only. Whatever JE says has nothing to do with the Producer (meaning: Network). It is not a factual statement in any way whatsoever. Go figure...
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

20th August 2003, 11:34 AM	#2
Thanz Fuzzy Thinker Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centre of the Universe Posts: 3,850	I really don't see what the big deal is over this disclaimer. It is, quite obviously, a CYA statement for the network. If you had some guy on claiming to talk to the dead, wouldn't you do the same? EVEN IF the president of the network personally believes that JE is talking to the dead, it still makes sense from a legal and financial standpoint to put up this disclaimer. As for JE, the text of the disclaimer certainly seems to put him outside of its ambit. This sentence: Quote: "The producer has relied heavily on the contributions of John Edward and other third parties..." Puts JE out of the caetgory of producer and into the category of third parties. TBK, while I do enjoy your new sig line, I think that your interpretation of the disclaimer is incorrect.
	__________________ "I am totally with Thanz on this one." -- Yahzi

20th August 2003, 11:40 AM	#3
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Thanz, Clearly, the network does NOT believe JE is talking to the dead. Can you imagine what would happen, if the network could prove that JE was talking to the dead? The Biggest Ratings Ever, that's what would happen. They would kill, nay, obliterate every other network in the whole world. In a fraction of a second. Nobody else would ever want to watch any other channel. But no. They don't believe JE is doing what he claims to be doing. It's a sideshow, a carnival act. Even his own network says so.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

20th August 2003, 11:47 AM	#4
Thanz Fuzzy Thinker Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centre of the Universe Posts: 3,850	Quote: Originally posted by CFLarsen Thanz, Clearly, the network does NOT believe JE is talking to the dead. Can you imagine what would happen, if the network could prove that JE was talking to the dead? The Biggest Ratings Ever, that's what would happen. They would kill, nay, obliterate every other network in the whole world. In a fraction of a second. Nobody else would ever want to watch any other channel. But no. They don't believe JE is doing what he claims to be doing. It's a sideshow, a carnival act. Even his own network says so. First, I don't think it is clear that the network sees him as a carnival side show. They could just as easily not be taking a position or even believe that he is real. As I explained in my other post, just the possibility that he is not real makes it prudent to use the disclaimer. It simply doesn't matter to the network whether he is real or not - the disclaimer is just about CYA. Next, even if the network does not believe him to be real, so what? What does it matter? Why does the opinion of the network matter one iota? This seems to be a false appeal to authority.
	__________________ "I am totally with Thanz on this one." -- Yahzi

20th August 2003, 12:11 PM	#5
T'ai Chi Penultimate Amazing Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 11,235	JE, and many other people, when they do their shows, are on television, not being scientifically tested in a lab. I would think that the only results that matter, to determine if he can get messages from the spirits or whatever, is what takes place while being scientifically tested. The rest of the stuff is interesting, but because it is on television, to be taken with a grain of salt- because we don't know the exact details of the conditions.
	__________________ http://www.statisticool.com

20th August 2003, 03:35 PM	#6
Darat Lackey Administrator / JREF Forum Liaison Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 64,769	And don't forget in the UK even the programme's own disclaimer is not considered enough and the TV channel that shows it here has to append this text (which appears for a lot longer then the Crossing over one). Quote: Living TV disclaimer Crossing Over with John Edward is a psychic entertainment programme. Psychic mediums claim to have the ability to communicate with spirits. Many people, and most mainstream beliefs, question the validity of this claim. Living TV presents the programme in our Paranormal Zone purely for your entertainment.
	__________________ If it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008

20th August 2003, 03:53 PM	#7
Iamme Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 4,622	Thanz basically believes Larsen is reading more into the disclaimer than need be. Thanz. SURE they need a disclaimer. But why oh why do they have to blantantly say that, in a nutshell, it's not real. They don't say they don't THINK it's not real. They don't say that it is up to the viewer to form their own conclusions as to it being valid or not. What would be wrong with THAT...if they put it that way? But nooooooo. They just blantantly say it's for entertainment ONLY. Not partially. ONLY. And they say that third parties contribute, but they don't identify the third parties. And the final kicker is when they say it isn't even inTENDED to be factual. Once again...they don't say that it may or may NOT be factual. They just come right out and say that it isn't. And then, if someone like me e-mails the official JE website, they do not respond In ANY WAY WHATSOEVER to my very nice and polite question to them, regarding this.
	__________________ I lost my mind many years ago and it hasn't affected me a bit...a bit..a bit..a bit.

21st August 2003, 05:24 AM	#8
Thanz Fuzzy Thinker Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Centre of the Universe Posts: 3,850	Quote: Originally posted by Iamme Thanz. SURE they need a disclaimer. But why oh why do they have to blantantly say that, in a nutshell, it's not real. They don't say they don't THINK it's not real. They don't say that it is up to the viewer to form their own conclusions as to it being valid or not. What would be wrong with THAT...if they put it that way? But nooooooo. They just blantantly say it's for entertainment ONLY. Not partially. ONLY. And they say that third parties contribute, but they don't identify the third parties. And the final kicker is when they say it isn't even inTENDED to be factual. Once again...they don't say that it may or may NOT be factual. They just come right out and say that it isn't. You don't want to be wishy washy in your disclaimer - that has the effect of making the issue much more prone to litigation. You don't sign a waiver that says "Company X may not be responsible for any injuries you may suffer" you sign one that says "Company X is not responsible..." If you want to cover your a$$, you cover it. You don't put on a thong and hope for the best.
	__________________ "I am totally with Thanz on this one." -- Yahzi

21st August 2003, 05:27 AM	#9
Darat Lackey Administrator / JREF Forum Liaison Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 64,769	Quote: Originally posted by Iamme ...snip... And then, if someone like me e-mails the official JE website, they do not respond In ANY WAY WHATSOEVER to my very nice and polite question to them, regarding this. It is strange isn't it that they don't seem to respond? I've sent a couple of emails to the JE official website address, all very polite and yet never had one returned yet. In fact I'll paste one of them into a new thread tomorrow.
	__________________ If it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 1918-2008

21st August 2003, 11:48 AM	#10
BNiles Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 284	Quote: Originally posted by Thanz If you want to cover your a$$, you cover it. You don't put on a thong and hope for the best. That's great
BNiles Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 284	__________________ Most people are like "Slinkies". Not very useful, but you just have to smile when they tumble down stairs.