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Math Is Hard
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Medium is back on TV tonight! I can't wait!
I know, I saw that!Math Is Hard said:Medium is back on TV tonight! I can't wait!
VFrost said:..., but sometimes the things you DO believe, must come only from FAITH! Unfortunately, I realize this forum is dedicated to science, but even scientists can't explain everything.
Another thing that Mr. Anderson says about skeptics is that generally they will remain skeptics even if given proof, ...".
treed said:This subject is very interesting to me. I don't believe any of the senstionalist TV mediums are genuine, but I have had a personal experience with a medium that really scared me. My wife and I were visiting friends in Florida on vacation and went to a large flee market. We happened upon a medium offering tarot and readings. I did a session with her for a lark to see what would happen. Only $25 so what the heck. I asked for a reading rather than tarot cards and she agreed. With no prior conversation whatsoever, she took my hands and started telling me about my personal life. For example, I have three children, two by my wife and one from a former relationship. She said "I see three children, two are very close and one stands far away" Needless to say, I paid close attention to the rest of the reading and it shook my beliefs about this to the core.
I am 100% sure my friends had no prior contact with her and in fact did not know about my third son at all. I was the only one doing a reading so no one preceded me that could divulge any details.I stress again there was zero conversation with the medium prior to the reading so she had no clue whatsoever about any of the detials of my life.
So, the bottom line for me is that these kinds of "abilities" cannot be dismissed entirely.
Instead of doubting, try going to George. I found him to be not 75% accurate, but more like 99%.No-where-man said:The most disgousting thing that I've seen on Anderson's TV seanses was when he said "you(dead) sister says goodbye to you and she says she must cross the line to the other world,now she is disappeared on the other side".That's rubbish,I know that he is lying when he said that.
Anyone can say that.
Any other thoughts?
Chronos said:Many studies have been done, and many tax dollars spent seeking the 'men in black'. They all come up empty. Either the real psychics have an aversion to being rigorously tested, or they do not exist.
I saw him giving a cold reading on tv. It was SO incredibly bad. He'd make some vague statement then the person would start spewing out information, and at the least would nod, or looked confused or look exited, leading him down a certain path. After the reading the person had no idea how much information they had given away, and how vague most of what he'd said had been. They were amazed. I was amazed too, that they were so oblivious to what had actually happened.jarednjames said:Perhaps one of the more scientific members of PF should go see him and report back? Set it up like a secret experiment. False names, backgrounds etc. See how he does. Not exactly difficult to test is it.
Maybe even give a name of a person who is known to have someone close who has just died, see if they suddenly start reeling off details of that persons loved ones not your own.
Really easy to test, if he was nearby to me I'd do it.
sjm123 said:Instead of doubting, try going to George. I found him to be not 75% accurate, but more like 99%.
FlexGunship said:Here is the video for your enjoyment: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=1CJbOAvfMf8
jarednjames said:Her face is priceless, and her (and the audience - psychologist excluded) explanation more so.
jarednjames said:Perhaps one of the more scientific members of PF should go see him and report back? Set it up like a secret experiment. False names, backgrounds etc. See how he does. Not exactly difficult to test is it.
Maybe even give a name of a person who is known to have someone close who has just died, see if they suddenly start reeling off details of that persons loved ones not your own.
Really easy to test, if he was nearby to me I'd do it.
jarednjames said:I'm actually liking the look of something coming up on TV in the UK over halloween.
They're taking a group of scientists one night and ghost hunters the next to study a "haunted" location and then comparing the findings.
Although, without strict conditions I see the oportunity for a bit of foul play. So a pinch of salt may be required.
jarednjames said:I'm actually liking the look of something coming up on TV in the UK over halloween.
They're taking a group of scientists one night and ghost hunters the next to study a "haunted" location and then comparing the findings.
Although, without strict conditions I see the oportunity for a bit of foul play. So a pinch of salt may be required.
Vagn said:Out of curiosity, what channel is it on and when? It sounds quite interesting.
mugaliens said:So 2012 garbage is locked but this thread isn't? What's the difference? They're both garbage.
I have to say this is a baffling statement. A skeptic is someone who strives to keep an open mind, its not a case of "I'm a skeptic but".patzy said:I consider myself a 'skeptic' but again, try and keep an open mind.
Cold reading can still work on the telephone, it can work in nearly any medium. You just rely less on what you can see and more in what the person says and how they say it. For example:patzy said:I admit, I didn't read all the posts in this thread, but so many spoke of people being able to read, faces, mannerisms, clothing etc etc. How about via telephone readings?
This whole example shows that you need to look into what it means to be a skeptic more. So you've had an experience that you can't explain (and it's not the job of the people of this forum to explain it either). In that case you have an unknown phenomenon. It does not lead credence to the idea that some people are magic. Until there is some reasonable evidence that psychic powers exist using it as an explanation for something is fallacious.patzy said:I finally popped for a reading via the telephone...
Why would you "imagine" anything like that? If I were dead but somehow still alive in some magic afterlife and could somehow observe this world you can bet your bottom dollar I will try everything to get things like the lotto numbers to my remaining family.patzy said:I presented a more difficult scenario for a 'psychic' to prove themselves...(don't doubt, I still question)besides one would imagine the 'other side' would not be interested in such things as the Lotto, (and perhaps have no access to such knowledge) but given a conduit to 'loved ones' would rather try and let them know by passing along shared knowledge, to confirm they are 'there', to the recipient.