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StopSylviaBrowne - I Speak With Sylvia Browne

Robert, I am very proud of you. I think that it is important to remain polite and respectful. Your approach to your website and your handling of the Sylvia Browne confrontation is the best way to allow those sitting on the fence to make up their own minds. People won't change their mind if they are forced to, they have to do it of their own free will. So I am glad that you present the facts, act gentlemanly, and conduct yourself with class. Once again, good job! You have my respect.
 
Great article!
Now you can tell those people who say you should meet her, what kind of welcome that skeptics get: Expelled! :|

The logistics around the numbered tickets and your account of how they came up to you after you were seated is curious and maybe worth looking into more. You might ask about attendees experiences at other shows.

Ticket and seat numbers can be useful if you want to throw a couple hot readings into the cold reading mix. If you purchased tickets in certain ways, they could know a lot about you by the time you showed up as long as you were the one who purchased your ticket. Consider that they may not have been as interested in your questions because your tickets were a gift.

A hot reading can convince far better than cold ones - if you know something about someone, people would tend to remember the hot 'wins'.

Btw, I think Larsen's question about his Grandfather could have been guessed by a good enough hot reader, especially on a repeat visit, (it also being his middle name). My problem with these kinds of tests is that if she'd guessed correctly I would have certainly pegged her as a hot reader, so it was really a no win question for her.
 
I've got to say I admire Rober Lancaster's restraint after Sylvia Browne seemed to badger him into a confrontation.
Thanks, db!

The article also mentioned Montel Williams having a new show called Living Well, does anyone know what it's about?
Williams has a "Living Well" book, and during this, the last season of his current show, he has been having "Living Well" episodes. It seems to be about eating right, exercising, etc.

Also, since CBS is packaging the "best of" Montel for syndication during the upcoming year, I don't think they'd take too kindly to him competing with himself for air time. There is most likely a "no-compete" clause in his contract that would prevent a new talk show for a while. This means that Slyvia is a liar once again. Surprised?
I hope you are correct in this.

Sorry, I'm just having this remarkable giggle-fit, imagining a Sylvia get-together where we smuggle in CFL, RSL, and put Randi in a wheelchair with a shawl and false nose and get him one of the preferred tickets. I'd spring for all three tickets -- no, make that FOUR tickets -- so I could watch.
:D

Hi Robert. You may want to add StopParanormalState.com and StopPsychicKids.com.
Someone else was working on a skeptical site regarding Paranormal State. Don't know if it ever came to fruition.

I read your post about speaking with Sylvia Brown and I commend you on your dealing with the situation in such a low key manner.
Thanks, CR.

I lived and worked in Las Vegas in 2001 and 2002 in Entertainment where I worked with "psychic" Gary Spivey on one occasion. It's truly amazing to me that people buy the crap they these charlatans dish out.
I had not heard of Spivey before this. And now I know why. :o

Kudos, Robert! The way you handled yourself is impressive.
Thanks, lieslbeth!

And what would the logo look like?
I think it would have to be animated.

Great article. You were a perfect gentleman.
Thanks, Tressa!

Thanks! I really enjoyed that!
Thanks, Megh!

I live in Vegas, and I'll go to the Excalibur with you anytime! ;)
Evidently not for a while!

I did not know where it was but wandered up to the floor with the Thunder Down Under show and only there right outside the theater was the Sylvia poster.
And it was evidently only there while her show was on. If you look at the photo of the door from the article, a poster for the ventriloquist (whose show was on at the time) is in the same place.

hahahaha. I can see ur hiney.
Looks like I've been using the stairmaster! :D

Once again, good job! You have my respect.
Thanks, Monza.

Great article!
Thanks, Kopji!

Ticket and seat numbers can be useful if you want to throw a couple hot readings into the cold reading mix.
True. However, I have rarely seen Browne give a reading which even made me wonder for a moment if hot reading was involved. It's all just random guesses and (rank amateur) cold reading.
 
What gets me angered is the fact Montel had this fraud on his show for many years. I bet you my XM radio that Montel knew that she was a despicable fraud from day one but kept having her on because she increased ratings on the show. It didn't matter how many people has been hurt by this fraud including the family members of Shawn Hornbeck, Opal Jo Jennings, elc.
Even Coast To Coast had enough sense to ban her for life after the Sago Mine bruhaha.
 
>>I had not heard of Spivey before this. And now I know why. <<

During the Q&A portion of the show a lady said that she thought her MIL to be evil. GS said that the reason she thought that was that her MIL was "the devil". *sigh*

He also claimed that he was the only psychic to predict 9/11 and produced a very professional (not) Power Point presentation showing exactly where he was standing in Central Park when he had his vision. Lots of very obvious BS and none of the standing room only crowd left. There were aprox 350 people there. I think it's the white tumbleweed he wears on his head that makes him so attractive. <G> Must be his asshat painted with platinum Rustolium. ;-)
 
This would have been a good question to ask her:

"Of the astounding insights you've provided tonight, which would you say is the MOST astounding?"
 
Although it would not have been a smart tactic, I don't think I could have stopped myself from asking:

Sylvia, have you no shame?
 
I have a question for RSL, Susan and Claus and anyone else who has confronted a psychic.

Why is it so intimidating to spy on and confront a fake medium or psychic? I know that when I attended Sylvia's taping, I was more frightened and excited (in a bad way) than on most roller coaster rides. I couldn't calm down for hours afterwards. It's so scary that in life experiences, I'd rank it somewhere below getting mugged and above meeting an extremely well known celebrity and having to perform in a school debate.

It's odd because, after all, what could a fake psychic possibly do to you?
 
I have a question for RSL, Susan and Claus and anyone else who has confronted a psychic.

Why is it so intimidating to spy on and confront a fake medium or psychic? I know that when I attended Sylvia's taping, I was more frightened and excited (in a bad way) than on most roller coaster rides. I couldn't calm down for hours afterwards. It's so scary that in life experiences, I'd rank it somewhere below getting mugged and above meeting an extremely well known celebrity and having to perform in a school debate.

It's odd because, after all, what could a fake psychic possibly do to you?

Don't fool yourself, a fake psychic has all the capabilities of a real psychic :rolleyes:

In my subtle defence that Kreskin is the most benevolent of woo psychics I want to say that the first time I met him after a performance I was nine or ten and spoke very softly to him because I was nervous (my dad said I was inaudible) but Kreskin focused and heard every word and understood subtext and engaged me in a fairly long and meaningful conversation given my age. My dad never took a stand on psychic ability but always said he was amazed how much attention Kreskin gave someone so young. (I was sincere and he recognized it).

Kreskin is a positive woo (all things taken into into consideration) who exposes the negative potential of suggestion to his audience.
 
I have a question for RSL, Susan and Claus and anyone else who has confronted a psychic.

Why is it so intimidating to spy on and confront a fake medium or psychic? I know that when I attended Sylvia's taping, I was more frightened and excited (in a bad way) than on most roller coaster rides. I couldn't calm down for hours afterwards. It's so scary that in life experiences, I'd rank it somewhere below getting mugged and above meeting an extremely well known celebrity and having to perform in a school debate.

It's odd because, after all, what could a fake psychic possibly do to you?

Personally, I don't find it intimidating to confront any of the woos. As long as you have done your homework, and know what can happen, you are prepared for whatever can and might happen.

And that's the key: Preparation.

However, you are right about the concerns about what could happen. I have experienced some nasty things when confronting woos, and I would never downplay the possibilities of what could happen. Never underestimate your opponent.

I'm not going to go into details of just what I do before I go into the lion's den, though. Don't want to give away all the secrets. Not in public, anyway. :)
 
Hey, look what I just saw...

RSL has made the bigtime![qimg]http://cectic.com/comics/164.png[/qimg]
Oh...
http://cectic.com/164.html
:)

Fine artwork but the writer needs to understand the demographics of the site. RSL spanking Sylvia would be slightly better, but Sylvia isn't very attractive :rolleyes:. Maybe Mr. Mercer spanking Ann Coulter, now you're talking. Senex initiating new female members with the paddle Houdini used on Marjorie might be best.
 
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Amazing work!

Congratulations for you, your wife and Larsen.

I wish there were more people around fighting woo$ like you are.
 
I have a question for RSL, Susan and Claus and anyone else who has confronted a psychic.

Why is it so intimidating to spy on and confront a fake medium or psychic? I know that when I attended Sylvia's taping, I was more frightened and excited (in a bad way) than on most roller coaster rides. I couldn't calm down for hours afterwards. It's so scary that in life experiences, I'd rank it somewhere below getting mugged and above meeting an extremely well known celebrity and having to perform in a school debate.

It's odd because, after all, what could a fake psychic possibly do to you?

I can't speak for the skeptics you mentioned, such as RSL or Claus, but maybe I can add some information from a TV guy's perspective.

You write that you were more excited when attending a SB taping than having a roller coaster ride.

This is exactly what happens to most, if not all, TV contestants or even audience members that I have encountered so far. It's how the business works, it relies on this heavily. As a TV producer, director, skilled intern or whatever you can make almost any contestant or audience member make, say, perform the wildest things.

I do not exactly know how it works, I don't have a degree in psychology, but in reality it is very easy to achieve. It took me two minutes to talk people into providing a brand new Porsche on stage for free, and those were business men, no advertisement for them in return. Could provide other examples, but I don't want to spam this thread.

I only wanted to say that TV has nothing to do with real life, and I am not at all surprised to read that you couldn't calm down for hours after attending a taping, be it SB or any other show. I've seen this happen countless times, and I don't know exactly why it happens, but it does. *shrug*
 
I would say that I was nervous. Particularly after Robert's number was called and I realized I did not have a "back-up" question. I knew that the eyes of around a hundred people were going to be on me. I have a problem getting up in front of people and just being me - I can act, using words written by someone else which I have memorized, but lack the confidence, I guess, to just be me. And, sitting up there on that stage, so very comfortably I might add, she did have an air of confidence and authority. Even if every time she opened her mouth she spewed nonsense - or made incredibly lame remarks like telling the woman whose mother had been dead two days that her mother "liked the service." Gees!
 
"Of the astounding insights you've provided tonight, which would you say is the MOST astounding?"
Or the most insightful! :D

Although it would not have been a smart tactic, I don't think I could have stopped myself from asking:

Sylvia, have you no shame?
Yes, or "How do you sleep at night?"

It's odd because, after all, what could a fake psychic possibly do to you?
I was nervous, and the adrenaline was flowing, knowing that there was a chance I would be speaking in front of everyone. I always get that way when I know I will be "on" in front of a group. When singing at a wedding, being in a play, speaking at a convention... I don't dread being in front of people in the least, but I am always extremely high-strung in the time leading up to it, even when I know I am well-prepared and will be in front of a supportive crowd who wants me to do well.

At the Excalibur, not only might I be speaking in front of a group, but I didn't know for certain what I would be saying, and there was the chance that I would be "outed" in front of a group that may be very hostile to me. I'm sure this added to the adrenaline, as did the fact that I am very angry at what Browne does to people.

The nerves/arenaline had nothing to do with her being a fraudulent psychic/medium. I would have felt the same way had I attended a church service where "Kaz" was speaking. I will probably feel the same way if I ever am in the audience observing Peter Popoff, Benny Hinn, Kevin Trudeau, or any of the other people for whom I will have Stop sites.

I'm not going to go into details of just what I do before I go into the lion's den, though. Don't want to give away all the secrets. Not in public, anyway. :)
I'm not certain, but I think I saw, in Claus' suit coat, the outline of a crucifix, a necklace of garlic, a stake and a mallet hidden beneath.

It could have been a trick of the light.

I wish there were more people around fighting woo$ like you are.
Thanks, CN. You're very kind.

I only wanted to say that TV has nothing to do with real life, and I am not at all surprised to read that you couldn't calm down for hours after attending a taping, be it SB or any other show. I've seen this happen countless times, and I don't know exactly why it happens, but it does. *shrug*
An interesting perspective, wahrheit. Thanks for sharing it.
 
The nerves/arenaline had nothing to do with her being a fraudulent psychic/medium. I would have felt the same way had I attended a church service where "Kaz" was speaking. I will probably feel the same way if I ever am in the audience observing Peter Popoff, Benny Hinn, Kevin Trudeau, or any of the other people for whom I will have Stop sites.


Plus these people are freakin' crazy so you should be nervous! I'm pretty comfortable in a lot of situations but hot damn, surrounded by nutjobs?
 
In the interests of overdoing it, hardly possible in this case, let me add my thanks for a fine article and a model display of skepticism. How you kept your cool in the presence of all the psi-energy she must have been radiating... very impressive.

It's funny, eh -- Sylvia has precise information about complete strangers' future lives, but can't remember exactly when she graduated from university? -- oh well, reversing the current too abruptly might overtax her delicate psychic circuitry, I suppose. Encouraging that three of the four women talked to after the show were able to see through her techniques.

As a postscript however, strictly in the interests of impartial and unbiased skepticism you understand, I'm afraid that, by the lax standards of parapsychology at least, we may have to award SB a partial hit for the "Howard" guess re Claus' middle name.
For consider: Howard rhymes with "showered"; what happens if you've showered but forget to turn off the taps? Flooding ~~~ Flodin.* :eek:

*(Clearly, Ms. Browne, lest a full demonstration of her psychic powers overawe those unprepared for it, could only hint at the correct response, 'poetically'. In this she showed the same remarkable restraint as many a prophet before her, from Mother Shipton and Nostradamus all the way back to sibyls and oracles and... too many to mention in the Bible.
What truly remarkable restraint on her part. And such concern for her audience! Remarkable...
Either that, or she just took a guess like she always does. And people pay to see. Remarkable.)

Seriously, thanks again to all involved, RSL, Mrs., & "Howard", for doing skepticism proud. :)
 
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Howard!

There was a film loop playing on the main auditorium screen during one of the TAM 6 lunches. One of the bits repeated during that loop was The Three Stooges running around a hospital, with the hospital's loud speaker blaring "Dr. Howard! Dr Fine! Doctor Howard!"

Coincidence? I think not.


Great article, Robert! I was happy to meet with you briefly at TAM. I must say, however, that while I think it was great of you to attend the witch's show, it really was, as you put it, checking off the "Have I ever seen her in person?" check box. I think your other articles are much more revealing as to how despicable Sylvia really is. It is to those that believers should be steered.
 
Lancaster: Second: does this mean I am banned from the Excalibur for life?
Supervisor: [After a pause, smiling] Let's just say... until the next time I see you.



I still don't know what he meant by that.
​
I think he may have meant you are banned until the next time you take a trip to Vegas; knowing that you were a tourist, and that wouldn't be for a while.

I think he answered your question how he imagined you asked it rather than how you actually did.


Anyways.... awesome article. Fun to read.

huh, I like how "banned" gets automatically highlighted.
 
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