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lilac · 11th September 2003, 05:03 PM

I'm very interested in hearing other peoples' thoughts on TV psychics currently on television in the UK (and US). I am a sceptic, but do watch these psychic programmes from time to time out of interest.

The programmes we get over here in the UK are:

6ixth Sense (Colin Fry)
Crossing Over (John Edward)
Beyond with James Van Pragh
A psychometry programme with antiques with Derek Akorah
Street Psychic with Tony (someone-or-other!)

I find the above programmes more and more unbelievable as I watch them. I had never heard of cold readings or hot readings until James Randi did the demo of a hot reading on that psychic programme the other week. It made me look long and hard at the so-called evidence that these TV psychics come up with.

James Van Pragh miraculously gets the person whom the questioner is asking for immediately. His evidence is very vague.

John Edward fires point after point at people and they latch onto a hit, ignoring the misses that surrounded that hit. He seems to get a bit aggressive as well if the families disagree with something he says, and vehemently sticks to his own 'information'.

Colin Fry overwhelms his guests with sympathy and elaborates on 'evidence' only after the guest has confirmed his point.

And I thought the Diana Seance with Craig and Jane Hamilton-Parker was a complete load of tripe, with nothing new than what's speculated in the papers. A greedy money-making excercise if ever I saw one.

I am starting to believe these people are really just preying on the berieved for the purposes of their own fame and fortune (fortune here relating to money, not the futuristic outcomes of situations!)

I would be interested to hear others' thoughts on this subject- both for and against the TV psychics.

Lilac

arcticpenguin · 11th September 2003, 05:14 PM

If you want to read more about cold reading, here's a review of a book by Ian Rowland.

In the UK do they run disclaimers before the programs like in the U.S. that state "This is for entertainment purposes only"?

arcticpenguin · 11th September 2003, 05:18 PM

I am picking up a connection from you now...

You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea.

Jeff Corey · 11th September 2003, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
I am picking up a connection from you now...

You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea.

And hang around in bars, and like shrubbery.

Ratman_tf · 11th September 2003, 06:44 PM

I cast my vote in the 'fraud' category.

In principle, there may be a real psychic out there somewhere. In practice, every famous one so far seems to be a charlatan.

Dragon · 12th September 2003, 01:38 AM

"It's been suggested that if the supernaturalists really had the powers they claim, they'd win the lottery every week. I prefer to point out that they could also win a Nobel Prize for discovering fundamental physical forces hitherto unknown to science. Either way, why are they wasting their talents doing party turns on television?"

Richard Dawkins

Colloden · 12th September 2003, 03:08 AM

Hello Lilac,

I've chosen fake from your list. However this implies deliberate deception to me, which may not be true. No doubt many of them are convinced they are in possession of some supernatural power (or even an as yet unexplainable ability).

Welcome to the forum.

Col

De_Bunk · 12th September 2003, 03:53 AM

A witnessed event...

One of the named UK mediums above...

Heres roughly how the reading went...

( Ive posted this before...)

Medium : " Your mother died young !"

Audience member : "No, she was 96...."

Medium : "I mean she was young at heart"

Audience member : "She had Alzheimers"

Medium " Exactly...thats what was coming through"

Audience member just laughs...the medium moves swiftly on to someone else....

(Not shown on TV...but i have seen the "Home videocam" movie...a long time ago..)

DB

Nucular · 12th September 2003, 03:54 AM

Fake. I'm also not convinced that any of the ones Lilac listed believe they're genuine.

Glad you're spotting what's going on Lilac! I wish more people would just engage their brain slightly, and google "cold reading". It's one of those things that's so blindingly obvious once you know what you're looking for that it seems incredible that other people can't see it too - but I remember when I would argue the case for those types of people. It's just not obvious until you're looking for it.

Flo · 12th September 2003, 05:19 AM

Fakes the lot of them.

I'm immensely amused by their fans (especially JE's fans on this board) when confronted by obvious examples of cold reading, and called willing dupes. ... which reminds me of :

"Clairvoyant (n): A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her client namely, that he is a blockhead." (Ambrose Bierce)

lilac · 12th September 2003, 07:04 AM

Hehehe- Penguin- you are right- I am female and well-educated. I abhor scones, am 5 foot 9 (therefore taller than most women) and have been interested in the paranormal since I was about 8. As the next post reads, I don't drink, so don't hang out in bars, nor do I like shrubbery (with a name like lilac, it was 50/50 between the shrub and the colour, eh?!)... nevertheless, the fact that you picked up I was female with a name like 'Lilac' is totally amazing!!! You have a better hit rate than some of these guys, I believe!

lol

I'm only poking fun here, but the fact is some of the guests on these shows do actually take those kinds of points as validations from dead loved ones. Under closer scrutiny, it seems cold comfort indeed.

Incidently, as you asked Penguin, the channel that shows these programmes (UKLiving), is now legally obliged to show a disclaimer prior to, and after, psychic reading programmes.

Lilac

Quote:

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
I am picking up a connection from you now...

You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea.

Colloden · 12th September 2003, 07:16 AM

For future reference, you may find the UK Living channel referred to here as ‘the execrable channel’. This is on account of its output.

Ed · 12th September 2003, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Corey

And hang around in bars, and like shrubbery.

And like to wear women's clothing and hang around in bars.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

De_Bunk · 12th September 2003, 04:43 PM

Ed knows far too much about

1) Hidden English countryside villages, churches...etc..

2) Early 70's Brit TV...

3) Spells all the UK counties and UK placenames correctly...

Ergo..Ed is a Brit...( or a complete smarta** )

DB

Paul C. Anagnostopoulos · 12th September 2003, 04:52 PM

Lilac said:

Quote:

I abhor scones ...

What are you, some kind of freak?!

Welcome.

~~ Paul

Ed · 12th September 2003, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by De_Bunk
Ed knows far too much about

1) Hidden English countryside villages, churches...etc..

2) Early 70's Brit TV...

3) Spells all the UK counties and UK placenames correctly...

Ergo..Ed is a Brit...( or a complete smarta** )

DB

I'll tell you about Shipton on Stour sometime

De_Bunk · 12th September 2003, 05:21 PM

Ed...

Me'thinks you got your hands in many pies....

But i like the idea of a "Global" Ed...

DB

Ed · 12th September 2003, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by De_Bunk
Ed...

Me'thinks you got your hands in many pies....

But i like the idea of a "Global" Ed...

DB

http://www.peterfiner.com/

You take the train to Shipton, a lackey motors you from there.

Jeff Corey · 12th September 2003, 05:32 PM

De_B
Does Dallas.
Wot time isit there?

Not too much action on the other bored.
Jeff

arcticpenguin · 12th September 2003, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lilac
Hehehe- Penguin- you are right- I am female and well-educated. I abhor scones,

NO, you like scones and just don't know it. I insist.

lilac · 16th September 2003, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
Lilac said:
What are you, some kind of freak?!

Welcome.

~~ Paul

Oh thanks Paul!

Scones are vile. I can't help it. I'd be interested in any forthcoming posts about spontaneous scone combustion by the way. I don't believe that's been covered here yet.

Lilac

lilac · 16th September 2003, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arcticpenguin

NO, you like scones and just don't know it. I insist.

Perhaps scones could be featuring in my future? I should watch out for liking them, and send you a validation when I eat a remotely similar cake with a currant in it?

alibaba · 16th September 2003, 09:13 PM

I do believe there are a lot of psychic people out there. But the TV one are mosly fake

Limerick Challenge needs a rating system	2	40.00%
Limerick Challenge is fine as it is	1	20.00%
All Limericks get 100% on Planet-X	2	40.00%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

11th September 2003, 05:03 PM	#1
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11	TV Psychics- Your Thoughts? I'm very interested in hearing other peoples' thoughts on TV psychics currently on television in the UK (and US). I am a sceptic, but do watch these psychic programmes from time to time out of interest. The programmes we get over here in the UK are: 6ixth Sense (Colin Fry) Crossing Over (John Edward) Beyond with James Van Pragh A psychometry programme with antiques with Derek Akorah Street Psychic with Tony (someone-or-other!) I find the above programmes more and more unbelievable as I watch them. I had never heard of cold readings or hot readings until James Randi did the demo of a hot reading on that psychic programme the other week. It made me look long and hard at the so-called evidence that these TV psychics come up with. James Van Pragh miraculously gets the person whom the questioner is asking for immediately. His evidence is very vague. John Edward fires point after point at people and they latch onto a hit, ignoring the misses that surrounded that hit. He seems to get a bit aggressive as well if the families disagree with something he says, and vehemently sticks to his own 'information'. Colin Fry overwhelms his guests with sympathy and elaborates on 'evidence' only after the guest has confirmed his point. And I thought the Diana Seance with Craig and Jane Hamilton-Parker was a complete load of tripe, with nothing new than what's speculated in the papers. A greedy money-making excercise if ever I saw one. I am starting to believe these people are really just preying on the berieved for the purposes of their own fame and fortune (fortune here relating to money, not the futuristic outcomes of situations!) I would be interested to hear others' thoughts on this subject- both for and against the TV psychics. Lilac
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11

11th September 2003, 05:14 PM	#2
arcticpenguin woo ban clan Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,717	If you want to read more about cold reading, here's a review of a book by Ian Rowland. In the UK do they run disclaimers before the programs like in the U.S. that state "This is for entertainment purposes only"?
	__________________ The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

11th September 2003, 05:18 PM	#3
arcticpenguin woo ban clan Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,717	I am picking up a connection from you now... You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea.
	__________________ The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

11th September 2003, 06:44 PM	#5
Ratman_tf Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,002	I cast my vote in the 'fraud' category. In principle, there may be a real psychic out there somewhere. In practice, every famous one so far seems to be a charlatan.
	__________________ "In the end, I was so decent, I stopped being a Christian altogether!" -Ruby --- "God is an invention of Man. So the nature of God is only a shallow mystery. The deep mystery is the nature of Man." -Nanrei Kobori

11th September 2003, 06:23 PM	#4
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	Quote: Originally posted by arcticpenguin I am picking up a connection from you now... You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea. And hang around in bars, and like shrubbery.

12th September 2003, 01:38 AM	#6
Dragon Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,403	"It's been suggested that if the supernaturalists really had the powers they claim, they'd win the lottery every week. I prefer to point out that they could also win a Nobel Prize for discovering fundamental physical forces hitherto unknown to science. Either way, why are they wasting their talents doing party turns on television?" Richard Dawkins

12th September 2003, 03:08 AM	#7
Colloden You love me Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Hiding in your underwear drawer Posts: 1,520	Hello Lilac, I've chosen fake from your list. However this implies deliberate deception to me, which may not be true. No doubt many of them are convinced they are in possession of some supernatural power (or even an as yet unexplainable ability). Welcome to the forum. Col
	__________________ Sou, Sou, where for art thou Sou ? Name sounds like the secret lair of the "Colon man." - caniswalensis Lives alone in a cupboard and has no friends. Even the cupboard hates him. - JihadJane AUUUUUUUUUHHH. -Wilhelm

12th September 2003, 03:53 AM	#8
De_Bunk Scourge of the Believer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,508	A witnessed event... One of the named UK mediums above... Heres roughly how the reading went... ( Ive posted this before...) Medium : " Your mother died young !" Audience member : "No, she was 96...." Medium : "I mean she was young at heart" Audience member : "She had Alzheimers" Medium " Exactly...thats what was coming through" Audience member just laughs...the medium moves swiftly on to someone else.... (Not shown on TV...but i have seen the "Home videocam" movie...a long time ago..) DB
	__________________ I've made nearly 20,000 posts on the JREF... Trouble is..over 14,000 have been deleted... And you think you're 'Hardcore'.. (DB)

12th September 2003, 03:54 AM	#9
Nucular Illuminator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Brane 6, Brahman's Dream Posts: 3,050	Fake. I'm also not convinced that any of the ones Lilac listed believe they're genuine. Glad you're spotting what's going on Lilac! I wish more people would just engage their brain slightly, and google "cold reading". It's one of those things that's so blindingly obvious once you know what you're looking for that it seems incredible that other people can't see it too - but I remember when I would argue the case for those types of people. It's just not obvious until you're looking for it.
	__________________ From the UK? Sceptical? Like forums? Well my psychic powers tell me that the UK Skeptics' Forum is for you - 8 out of 10 sceptics demand to know where these figures came from. Non sunt in coeli, quia fvccant vvivys of heli (Flen Flyys, c.15th Century) Get out of my head, Nucular (kmortis)

12th September 2003, 05:19 AM	#10
Flo Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Massongy, France Posts: 2,827	Fakes the lot of them. I'm immensely amused by their fans (especially JE's fans on this board) when confronted by obvious examples of cold reading, and called willing dupes. ... which reminds me of : "Clairvoyant (n): A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her client namely, that he is a blockhead." (Ambrose Bierce)
	__________________ "Let me explain the order of things for you. There's the aristocracy, the upper class, middle class, working class, dumb animals, waiters, creeping things, head lice, people who eat packet soup, and then you." (Chef)

12th September 2003, 07:04 AM	#11
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11	Hehehe- Penguin- you are right- I am female and well-educated. I abhor scones, am 5 foot 9 (therefore taller than most women) and have been interested in the paranormal since I was about 8. As the next post reads, I don't drink, so don't hang out in bars, nor do I like shrubbery (with a name like lilac, it was 50/50 between the shrub and the colour, eh?!)... nevertheless, the fact that you picked up I was female with a name like 'Lilac' is totally amazing!!! You have a better hit rate than some of these guys, I believe!lol I'm only poking fun here, but the fact is some of the guests on these shows do actually take those kinds of points as validations from dead loved ones. Under closer scrutiny, it seems cold comfort indeed. Incidently, as you asked Penguin, the channel that shows these programmes (UKLiving), is now legally obliged to show a disclaimer prior to, and after, psychic reading programmes. Lilac Quote: Originally posted by arcticpenguin I am picking up a connection from you now... You are female, average height or less, well-educated, but your intellectual curiosity has never wandered into the field of paranormal activity before. You enjoy scones with your tea.
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11

12th September 2003, 07:16 AM	#12
Colloden You love me Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Hiding in your underwear drawer Posts: 1,520	For future reference, you may find the UK Living channel referred to here as ‘the execrable channel’. This is on account of its output.
	__________________ Sou, Sou, where for art thou Sou ? Name sounds like the secret lair of the "Colon man." - caniswalensis Lives alone in a cupboard and has no friends. Even the cupboard hates him. - JihadJane AUUUUUUUUUHHH. -Wilhelm

12th September 2003, 07:40 AM	#13
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	Quote: Originally posted by Jeff Corey And hang around in bars, and like shrubbery. And like to wear women's clothing and hang around in bars. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	__________________ "The history of science is the record of dead religions" Phrases And Philosophies For The Use Of The Young Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Our Guarentee: One obscure (or not) Python reference per day.

12th September 2003, 04:43 PM	#14
De_Bunk Scourge of the Believer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,508	Ed knows far too much about 1) Hidden English countryside villages, churches...etc.. 2) Early 70's Brit TV... 3) Spells all the UK counties and UK placenames correctly... Ergo..Ed is a Brit...( or a complete smarta** ) DB
	__________________ I've made nearly 20,000 posts on the JREF... Trouble is..over 14,000 have been deleted... And you think you're 'Hardcore'.. (DB)

12th September 2003, 04:52 PM	#15
Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Nap, interrupted. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: a little toolshed Posts: 18,631	Lilac said: Quote: I abhor scones ... What are you, some kind of freak?! Welcome. ~~ Paul
	__________________ Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ---Susan Ertz RIP Mr. Skinny

12th September 2003, 04:57 PM	#16
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	Quote: Originally posted by De_Bunk Ed knows far too much about 1) Hidden English countryside villages, churches...etc.. 2) Early 70's Brit TV... 3) Spells all the UK counties and UK placenames correctly... Ergo..Ed is a Brit...( or a complete smarta** ) DB I'll tell you about Shipton on Stour sometime
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	__________________ "The history of science is the record of dead religions" Phrases And Philosophies For The Use Of The Young Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Our Guarentee: One obscure (or not) Python reference per day.

12th September 2003, 05:21 PM	#17
De_Bunk Scourge of the Believer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,508	Ed... Me'thinks you got your hands in many pies.... But i like the idea of a "Global" Ed... DB
	__________________ I've made nearly 20,000 posts on the JREF... Trouble is..over 14,000 have been deleted... And you think you're 'Hardcore'.. (DB)

12th September 2003, 05:26 PM	#18
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	Quote: Originally posted by De_Bunk Ed... Me'thinks you got your hands in many pies.... But i like the idea of a "Global" Ed... DB http://www.peterfiner.com/ You take the train to Shipton, a lackey motors you from there.
Ed god Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 8,691	__________________ "The history of science is the record of dead religions" Phrases And Philosophies For The Use Of The Young Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Our Guarentee: One obscure (or not) Python reference per day.

12th September 2003, 05:32 PM	#19
Jeff Corey New York Skeptic Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 13,797	De_B Does Dallas. Wot time isit there? Not too much action on the other bored. Jeff

12th September 2003, 05:38 PM	#20
arcticpenguin woo ban clan Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 5,717	Quote: Originally posted by lilac Hehehe- Penguin- you are right- I am female and well-educated. I abhor scones, NO, you like scones and just don't know it. I insist.
	__________________ The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don't have it. - George Bernard Shaw

16th September 2003, 07:57 PM	#21
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11	Quote: Originally posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Lilac said: What are you, some kind of freak?! Welcome. ~~ Paul Oh thanks Paul! Scones are vile. I can't help it. I'd be interested in any forthcoming posts about spontaneous scone combustion by the way. I don't believe that's been covered here yet. Lilac
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11

16th September 2003, 07:59 PM	#22
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11	Quote: Originally posted by arcticpenguin NO, you like scones and just don't know it. I insist. Perhaps scones could be featuring in my future? I should watch out for liking them, and send you a validation when I eat a remotely similar cake with a currant in it?
lilac New Blood Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 11

16th September 2003, 09:13 PM	#23
alibaba Student Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 25	I do believe there are a lot of psychic people out there. But the TV one are mosly fake
alibaba Student Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 25	__________________ “If I cannot prove it exists, I cannot say it doesn’t. If I cannot prove it doesn’t exit, I cannot say it does.”- Alibaba "He also has one of his own quotes as a sig. I guess he's egotistical as well."- SilenBob 09-01-2002 "Welcome to my ignore list."- SilentBob 09-04-2002 "It depends what you mean by transformtion. you dont go from an untransformed state to a trasnsfromed state, transformation is more transforming."- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld 8-19-2003