Psychics and Missing People
- Thread starter Kelly
- Start date
There's alot of true believers there. I fear a skeptical point of view critical of psychics isn't going to be welcome much.
From time to time, skeptics are treated as though they just strangled a puppy in the middle of a party when we critically examine someone's fast held beliefs in the paranormal.
Kelly
Philosopher
I think Luke's was cut off due to space. I signed it, too, but said nothing about psychics. If they do read that forum, they will probably recognize the name.
In good news, our own Chillzero has submitted an excellent guest piece for the blog series! Thank you!
If we can just get to that mild response, we have come far.
delphi_ote
Philosopher
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Messages
- 5,994
It's more like we're treated as though we took a **** on the coats.
rjh01
Gentleman of leisure
Another link to Lets Help Find Jennifer Kesse web site. This one takes you to the main forum page.
http://jenniferkesse.org/forum/index.php?d=390a2d2a9d5e1b37e5e00a353bee4bdd
I understand this is not authorised by the family. See http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_orlandocrime/2006/03/the_kesse_web_s.html#more
http://jenniferkesse.org/forum/index.php?d=390a2d2a9d5e1b37e5e00a353bee4bdd
I understand this is not authorised by the family. See http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_local_orlandocrime/2006/03/the_kesse_web_s.html#more
Kelly
Philosopher
Right. I heard there was a spat between the two. I am sure, however, that the family is still reading the other one. They would have a vested interest in what is going on with it. Thanks for the links.
Kelly
Philosopher
The blogger posting mechanism is down, and has been since last night. I am unable to post my next part in the series until they get it fixed again. 
Kelly
Philosopher
Someone posted an article about my series on a science blog. They did an excellent intro. Does anyone know who this is?
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/03/project_jason_psychics_and_mis_1.php
The Blogger uploader is still down.
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2006/03/project_jason_psychics_and_mis_1.php
The Blogger uploader is still down.
sophia8
Master Poster
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2003
- Messages
- 2,457
That's Orac - he mostly attacks medical fraud and quackery, as you'd expect, but he sometimes takes a break to give a polished slapdown to other frauds as well.
Kelly
Philosopher
Thank you for letting me know. It is indeed polished. I'll have to hunt him down and thank him later on.
I'm off on some errands and I have a press conference early this evening on a local case of a missing child.
Kelly
Philosopher
It appears that Blogger finally completed their repairs.
Kelly
Philosopher
I just received today and was given permission to use a IM dialog between a psychic and one of our family members. It's somewhat long and shows the psychic is wrong about numerous things throughout, generally ignoring the wrongs or trying to make excuses. It would be highly entertaining if not for the subject matter.
Gr8wight
red-shirted crewman
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,661
Orac was the person I mentioned earlier. I sent him the link. He put me off, by saying he would forward it to the next Skeptics' Circle host. I presume he read the first couple of posts and decided to mention it earlier. I thanked him in his comment thread.
Kelly
Philosopher
I thought that was you. I thanked him as well. Quite a few hits are coming from there.
Gr8wight
red-shirted crewman
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,661
He has a big readership. I wonder if we can get Dr. Myers from Pharyngula to give you a mention? He's got one of the largest readerships in the skeptical and scientific blogosphere. I'll pop a note off to him tonight.
Kelly
Philosopher
I don't mind links. That will be interesting if he does post it, as he appears to be pretty much anti-religion. He may be like Susan Blackmore about not wanting association unless disclaimers are used. It's his call, of course.
I am trying to present this and keep religion out of it unless it goes with what I am writing. Family members sharing stories may include statements about religion, and I will not edit. I also have planned a guest writer who will present the Christian viewpoint on why we as beleivers, are not to use psychics or things like tarot cards and oiujia boards, etc. Overall, it's a well balanced presentation in my opinion.
Thank you!
Kelly
Gr8wight
red-shirted crewman
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,661
Yes, PZ is an avowed atheist. However, he is against stupidity more than anything else. His beef is only with those who insist on a literal interpretation of the bible (specifically Young earth Creationism) despite all evidence to the contrary.
Now we're getting somewhere.
The longer the diaolog, the better. It shows how a psychic will use maxiumum verbosity, counting on the victim to remember the hits and forget the misses.
I read your encounter with Sharon Nolte. Three hours! Same thing. Gibber on incessantly, using what information you gave her to weave a giant tapestry of B.S. in the hopes something will ring "true" for you later on, or to plant an idea in your head that just won't go away, causing you to seek confirmation.
Any chance we can take a look at this IM dialog? It should be made public, and let me tell you why.
About ten years ago, my wife was working as a server at a restaurant owned by a guy who believed in psychics. One day, he told his employees that he was bringing a psychic in to do readings for everyone, and that it would cost 35 dollars. Creep.
My wife and I weren't married at the time, but we were in a serious relationship. When she told me about this psychic business, I gave her my strong opinion about the matter.
However, my wife was going through an extremely dark period at the time. Her father had just died suddenly, and her mother was dying from cancer. So she was vulnerable to psychics, and sat for a reading.
She came home with all kinds of bugaboos in her head, one of which was an obsession with the number 5. The psychic had played up the number 5 as being of significance. Of course, when someone plants such an idea in your head, you see 5's everywhere. Oooh! See? She was right!
Anyway, there was no JREF forum back then, but there was a randi.org. And Randi had a sample psychic reading on this site. So I sat my wife down at the computer and called up the sample reading.
Of course, it bore a remarkable resemblance to the psychic reading she had just received a few days before.
30 seconds later, my wife was converted and ready to take a shotgun to the psychic's face.
That's why any dialog you have, Kelly, is of utmost importance. It will help other people see it's all the same old B.S.
If they have heard it before, they will recognize it immediately. If they haven't heard it yet, they will recognize it when they hear it again.
Either way, it will snap people back to reality.
Last edited:
Roadtoad
Bufo Caminus Inedibilis
I ought to mention, Kelly, I put a mention of your site on the EveryTruckJob.com forum. Hopefully, that will generate some more hits, and get the word out.