Fiasco for psychic detectives on tv show

Vitnir · 25th August 2003, 04:41 AM

A tabloid not otherwise very known for good journalism in Sweden, Aftonbladet, printed a news item regarding a show where psychics were "helping" the police in ten murder cases. The reporter looked up each police official in each case and asked what progress had been made.

Conclusion? Not a single new clue in any of the ten cases from the psychics, there were two psychics on each case. The officials explained their participation in the show that they had hoped the media attention would attract new witnesses more than any actual help from beyond the grave.

Well there is hope for sanity after all ...

CFLarsen · 25th August 2003, 05:08 AM

We got that beat: Out of 20 similar shows, not one single Danish psychic was able to solve one single crime, let alone find one single clue that could help the police in their investigations.

It was a text-book example of non-event TV - unless you count the "zero score" as an event...I sure hope it has gotten just a few people thinking about the usefulness of psychics...

Ove · 25th August 2003, 10:29 PM

We have just had a very talked about murder in Denmark. A 12 yr old girl was found strangled. The police caught the guy eventually but i read a article in a newspaper recently that really made me think. It said that the police had been literally flooded with approaches from "Psycics" and "Clairvoyants"offering their help.

They had to take them serious, partly because some people want to believe in that stuff but mostly because the police are obliged to consider ANY clues offered to them.

NOT ONE of the clues they got was remotely in the right direction.

Should our police waste resources "chasing ghosts" and responding to "i sense water and bushes nearby" type of clues??????

I think no!!!!!

Definitely no. If any "Psycic detective" really think he or she can do anything the burden of proof is on them and as Claus said, they had their chance in the "Sense of Murder" TV series. Unfortunately skilled editing and "half trues" has left a lot of people with the convintion that the programme actually prooved that psycic's CAN help the police. Which it didn't.

CFLarsen · 25th August 2003, 10:46 PM

Ove,

Hey, I got no problems with psychics "helping" the police. However, I really think they should start with something less gruesome than child-killings. How about the many stolen bikes?

I'm not joking, you know: I really don't see the difference between a lost child and a lost bike. If the psychics can prove that they can solve bike-crimes, then they can "move up" to more serious crimes.

One might get the feeling that the psychics are focusing on murder cases because of the attention value.

The last case with the girl, Mia Sprotte Teglgaard, really drove the point home, I think. Dozens of psychics approached the police with "information". Not two agreed, and none helped in any way whatsoever.

The psychics are both wasting valuable police resources, as well as giving false hope to the parents.

Vitnir · 26th August 2003, 01:08 AM

Somtimes I get a bit depressed on the thought where humans have evolved, or rather haven't evolved. What difference is there really on the idea that women would travel to meet Satan, have sex with him and eat human sacrifices to become witches and the idea that you can find "earth rays" by the aid of two metal rods?

To my utter dismay I have found out that two of my collegues at the university are "open" to the concept of dowsing. I know education isn't a vacine to stupid ideas but I hadn't thought it would come and bite me in the ass.

And here comes Aftonbladet, the premiere source (in Sweden) of gossip on which celebrity has it going with who and delivers an investigative, educational and objective story like this. Well it was nice for me is what I can say.

PS. A few hundred women were executed for being witches mostly on the witness reports from small children in old Sweden. DS.

Ove · 26th August 2003, 05:02 AM

Quote:

I'm not joking, you know: I really don't see the difference between a lost child and a lost bike. If the psychics can prove that they can solve bike-crimes, then they can "move up" to more serious crimes.

Sounds like a good idea to me, or how about stolen cars? Actually i remember one of the insurance compagnies had a far more effective idea. They hired old retired policeofficers to roam around the city looking for stolen cars. It was amazing the number they "dug up" from car parks and side alleys around the city.

Regardiing the "Mia" case that definitely gave me a bad taste in my mouth. Your idea sounds good, a sort of "certification" of psycics: "You provide solid evidence in those 10 randomly selected robberies (whodunnit - where's the loot) and then we'll consider listening to you in the future".

I think somehow they'll find a way of creeping out the back door.

Quote:

Somtimes I get a bit depressed on the thought where humans have evolved, or rather haven't evolved. What difference is there really on the idea that women would travel to meet Satan, have sex with him and eat human sacrifices to become witches and the idea that you can find "earth rays" by the aid of two metal rods?

Yes it can get depressing sometimes, it seems like the "sum" of stupidity is equal, when we learn something on one subject we forget a lot on others.

Quote:

And here comes Aftonbladet, the premiere source (in Sweden) of gossip on which celebrity has it going with who and delivers an investigative, educational and objective story like this. Well it was nice for me is what I can say.

I had a somewhat similar experience with the Danish magazine "Se & Hør" who had a very critical article on a healer but alas it is small stars on a dark dark sky.

Quote:

PS. A few hundred women were executed for being witches mostly on the witness reports from small children in old Sweden. DS.

Sounds familliar: Salem Witch Trials

Lurker · 26th August 2003, 05:18 AM

What is especially galling is that believers will say that perhaps psychics ARE helping the police and we just don't know about it. Perhaps they want to keep a low profile?

While possible I find the above pretty damn unlikely.

Lurker

CFLarsen · 26th August 2003, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
Sounds like a good idea to me, or how about stolen cars? Actually i remember one of the insurance compagnies had a far more effective idea. They hired old retired policeofficers to roam around the city looking for stolen cars. It was amazing the number they "dug up" from car parks and side alleys around the city.

I think it was something like 1 car per person per day. They were amazingly efficient, and they were shovelling money home by the truckload for the insurance companies. Was it only retired cops? I seem to remember it was any old geezer with too much time.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
Regardiing the "Mia" case that definitely gave me a bad taste in my mouth. Your idea sounds good, a sort of "certification" of psycics: "You provide solid evidence in those 10 randomly selected robberies (whodunnit - where's the loot) and then we'll consider listening to you in the future".

Yup. One astrologer, Karl Aage Jensen, also runs an "astrological detective agency", and - just after they caught the killer - claimed that one of the reasons the psychics weren't that efficient was that they weren't allowed on the scene of the crime immediately! Can you imagine some nitwit running around, stomping down evidence, spreading DNA all over? I think not!

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
I think somehow they'll find a way of creeping out the back door.

Yup, that's what they are really good at.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
I had a somewhat similar experience with the Danish magazine "Se & Hør" who had a very critical article on a healer but alas it is small stars on a dark dark sky.

Got a scanned copy? Email it to me if so. I'd like to see it. (HEY! GUYS! OVE READS THE TABLOIDS!!!

)

Ove · 27th August 2003, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Got a scanned copy? Email it to me if so. I'd like to see it. (HEY! GUYS! OVE READS THE TABLOIDS!!! )

Sorry i'm afraid it's gone to the bottom of the hamstecage long time ago. Off course i read the tabloids, everybody needs an injection of sillyness once in awhile. The difference between me and 90% of their readers is that i KNOW it is silly .

CFLarsen · 27th August 2003, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
The difference between me and 90% of their readers is that i KNOW it is silly .

So says them all!

UnrepentantSinner · 27th August 2003, 11:21 PM

Hey now, this thread's been up for 2 days (3 actually) and Steve Grenard hasn't posted several instances of psychics helping police. Someone PM him a chastizement for laying down on the job.

Ove · 28th August 2003, 01:27 AM

Quote:

So says them all!

Does not!!!!!!!!!!

CFLarsen · 28th August 2003, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
Does not!!!!!!!!!!

Does too!! Find one person who thinks Se & Hør is good journalism!

Ove · 28th August 2003, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CFLarsen

Does too!! Find one person who thinks Se & Hør is good journalism!

Who on earth spoke about good journalism???

CFLarsen · 28th August 2003, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
Who on earth spoke about good journalism???

"Not silly", then. Find anyone who takes Se & Hør seriously.

Ove · 28th August 2003, 05:50 AM

Quote:

"Not silly", then. Find anyone who takes Se & Hør seriously.

My mom and a lot of her friends, but off course that's anecdotal evidence.

CFLarsen · 28th August 2003, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ove
My mom and a lot of her friends, but off course that's anecdotal evidence.

You have a mom?? (casting a sidelong glance at your avatar)

She has friends?? How much does that cost her?

25th August 2003, 04:41 AM	#1
Vitnir Muse Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 669	Fiasco for psychic detectives on tv show A tabloid not otherwise very known for good journalism in Sweden, Aftonbladet, printed a news item regarding a show where psychics were "helping" the police in ten murder cases. The reporter looked up each police official in each case and asked what progress had been made. Conclusion? Not a single new clue in any of the ten cases from the psychics, there were two psychics on each case. The officials explained their participation in the show that they had hoped the media attention would attract new witnesses more than any actual help from beyond the grave. Well there is hope for sanity after all ...

25th August 2003, 05:08 AM	#2
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	We got that beat: Out of 20 similar shows, not one single Danish psychic was able to solve one single crime, let alone find one single clue that could help the police in their investigations. It was a text-book example of non-event TV - unless you count the "zero score" as an event...I sure hope it has gotten just a few people thinking about the usefulness of psychics...
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

25th August 2003, 10:29 PM	#3
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	We have just had a very talked about murder in Denmark. A 12 yr old girl was found strangled. The police caught the guy eventually but i read a article in a newspaper recently that really made me think. It said that the police had been literally flooded with approaches from "Psycics" and "Clairvoyants"offering their help. They had to take them serious, partly because some people want to believe in that stuff but mostly because the police are obliged to consider ANY clues offered to them. NOT ONE of the clues they got was remotely in the right direction. Should our police waste resources "chasing ghosts" and responding to "i sense water and bushes nearby" type of clues?????? I think no!!!!! Definitely no. If any "Psycic detective" really think he or she can do anything the burden of proof is on them and as Claus said, they had their chance in the "Sense of Murder" TV series. Unfortunately skilled editing and "half trues" has left a lot of people with the convintion that the programme actually prooved that psycic's CAN help the police. Which it didn't.
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

25th August 2003, 10:46 PM	#4
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Ove, Hey, I got no problems with psychics "helping" the police. However, I really think they should start with something less gruesome than child-killings. How about the many stolen bikes? I'm not joking, you know: I really don't see the difference between a lost child and a lost bike. If the psychics can prove that they can solve bike-crimes, then they can "move up" to more serious crimes. One might get the feeling that the psychics are focusing on murder cases because of the attention value. The last case with the girl, Mia Sprotte Teglgaard, really drove the point home, I think. Dozens of psychics approached the police with "information". Not two agreed, and none helped in any way whatsoever. The psychics are both wasting valuable police resources, as well as giving false hope to the parents.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

26th August 2003, 05:02 AM	#6
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: I'm not joking, you know: I really don't see the difference between a lost child and a lost bike. If the psychics can prove that they can solve bike-crimes, then they can "move up" to more serious crimes. Sounds like a good idea to me, or how about stolen cars? Actually i remember one of the insurance compagnies had a far more effective idea. They hired old retired policeofficers to roam around the city looking for stolen cars. It was amazing the number they "dug up" from car parks and side alleys around the city. Regardiing the "Mia" case that definitely gave me a bad taste in my mouth. Your idea sounds good, a sort of "certification" of psycics: "You provide solid evidence in those 10 randomly selected robberies (whodunnit - where's the loot) and then we'll consider listening to you in the future". I think somehow they'll find a way of creeping out the back door. Quote: Somtimes I get a bit depressed on the thought where humans have evolved, or rather haven't evolved. What difference is there really on the idea that women would travel to meet Satan, have sex with him and eat human sacrifices to become witches and the idea that you can find "earth rays" by the aid of two metal rods? Yes it can get depressing sometimes, it seems like the "sum" of stupidity is equal, when we learn something on one subject we forget a lot on others. Quote: And here comes Aftonbladet, the premiere source (in Sweden) of gossip on which celebrity has it going with who and delivers an investigative, educational and objective story like this. Well it was nice for me is what I can say. I had a somewhat similar experience with the Danish magazine "Se & Hør" who had a very critical article on a healer but alas it is small stars on a dark dark sky. Quote: PS. A few hundred women were executed for being witches mostly on the witness reports from small children in old Sweden. DS. Sounds familliar: Salem Witch Trials
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

26th August 2003, 01:08 AM	#5
Vitnir Muse Join Date: May 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 669	Somtimes I get a bit depressed on the thought where humans have evolved, or rather haven't evolved. What difference is there really on the idea that women would travel to meet Satan, have sex with him and eat human sacrifices to become witches and the idea that you can find "earth rays" by the aid of two metal rods? To my utter dismay I have found out that two of my collegues at the university are "open" to the concept of dowsing. I know education isn't a vacine to stupid ideas but I hadn't thought it would come and bite me in the ass. And here comes Aftonbladet, the premiere source (in Sweden) of gossip on which celebrity has it going with who and delivers an investigative, educational and objective story like this. Well it was nice for me is what I can say. PS. A few hundred women were executed for being witches mostly on the witness reports from small children in old Sweden. DS.

26th August 2003, 05:18 AM	#7
Lurker Illuminator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,187	What is especially galling is that believers will say that perhaps psychics ARE helping the police and we just don't know about it. Perhaps they want to keep a low profile? While possible I find the above pretty damn unlikely. Lurker
Lurker Illuminator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 4,187

26th August 2003, 05:42 AM	#8
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Quote: Originally posted by Ove Sounds like a good idea to me, or how about stolen cars? Actually i remember one of the insurance compagnies had a far more effective idea. They hired old retired policeofficers to roam around the city looking for stolen cars. It was amazing the number they "dug up" from car parks and side alleys around the city. I think it was something like 1 car per person per day. They were amazingly efficient, and they were shovelling money home by the truckload for the insurance companies. Was it only retired cops? I seem to remember it was any old geezer with too much time. Quote: Originally posted by Ove Regardiing the "Mia" case that definitely gave me a bad taste in my mouth. Your idea sounds good, a sort of "certification" of psycics: "You provide solid evidence in those 10 randomly selected robberies (whodunnit - where's the loot) and then we'll consider listening to you in the future". Yup. One astrologer, Karl Aage Jensen, also runs an "astrological detective agency", and - just after they caught the killer - claimed that one of the reasons the psychics weren't that efficient was that they weren't allowed on the scene of the crime immediately! Can you imagine some nitwit running around, stomping down evidence, spreading DNA all over? I think not! Quote: Originally posted by Ove I think somehow they'll find a way of creeping out the back door. Yup, that's what they are really good at. Quote: Originally posted by Ove I had a somewhat similar experience with the Danish magazine "Se & Hør" who had a very critical article on a healer but alas it is small stars on a dark dark sky. Got a scanned copy? Email it to me if so. I'd like to see it. (HEY! GUYS! OVE READS THE TABLOIDS!!! )
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

27th August 2003, 10:19 PM	#9
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: Got a scanned copy? Email it to me if so. I'd like to see it. (HEY! GUYS! OVE READS THE TABLOIDS!!! ) Sorry i'm afraid it's gone to the bottom of the hamstecage long time ago. Off course i read the tabloids, everybody needs an injection of sillyness once in awhile. The difference between me and 90% of their readers is that i KNOW it is silly .
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

27th August 2003, 11:06 PM	#10
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Quote: Originally posted by Ove The difference between me and 90% of their readers is that i KNOW it is silly . So says them all!
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

27th August 2003, 11:21 PM	#11
UnrepentantSinner A post by Alan Smithee Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: USAian is not a word Posts: 26,349	Hey now, this thread's been up for 2 days (3 actually) and Steve Grenard hasn't posted several instances of psychics helping police. Someone PM him a chastizement for laying down on the job.
	__________________ I am an American citizen who is part of American society and briefly served in the American armed forces. I use American dollars and pay taxes that support the American government. And yes, despite the editorial decison to change American politics to the nonsensical "USA politics" subforum, I follow and comment on American politics.

28th August 2003, 01:27 AM	#12
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: So says them all! Does not!!!!!!!!!!
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

28th August 2003, 01:31 AM	#13
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Quote: Originally posted by Ove Does not!!!!!!!!!! Does too!! Find one person who thinks Se & Hør is good journalism!
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

28th August 2003, 04:28 AM	#14
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: Originally posted by CFLarsen Does too!! Find one person who thinks Se & Hør is good journalism! Who on earth spoke about good journalism???
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

28th August 2003, 05:44 AM	#15
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Quote: Originally posted by Ove Who on earth spoke about good journalism??? "Not silly", then. Find anyone who takes Se & Hør seriously.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

28th August 2003, 05:50 AM	#16
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: "Not silly", then. Find anyone who takes Se & Hør seriously. My mom and a lot of her friends, but off course that's anecdotal evidence.
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

28th August 2003, 05:52 AM	#17
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,804	Quote: Originally posted by Ove My mom and a lot of her friends, but off course that's anecdotal evidence. You have a mom?? (casting a sidelong glance at your avatar) She has friends?? How much does that cost her?
	__________________ SkepticReport.com