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6th March 2006, 09:25 AM | #281 |
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"I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier... A belief's a dangerous thing. People die for it. People kill for it." Rufus, the 13th apostle, Dogma "You can't prove air." Sylvia Browne John Kardel |
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6th March 2006, 09:26 AM | #282 |
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None of this answers any of my questions.
In fact, this is the same pathetic drivel we hear, each time people like you tries to perpetuate the myth of psychics being able to talk to the dead. We hear the grand claims, yes. Boy, do we hear them. But when you and the likes of you are asked - ever so politely - to provide evidence, we hear the same heartless excuses. No, you don't "want" to identify these psychics. No, you want to "protect" their identity. Don't you understand how much pain you cause people in deep grief, by making these claims you are utterly unable to back up with evidence? Don't you understand how little credibility you have, when you claim that this person doesn't want to draw "too much attention" to himself, despite the fact that the very same person seeks attention by appearing the the media? You refuse to identify this psychic, not out of concern for him or the grieving family, but because you know damn well that your claim will be torn apart, if you allow skeptics to investigate your claim. You know that these psychics can't talk to the dead. Go on, start your whining. Begin to tell us how mean we are, simply because we want to check your claim. Tell your friends, too. We have heard it all before, and we are not impressed. Not at all. You are the reason why people like Sylvia Browne, James van Praagh, John Edward and Carla Baron can continue to bilk poor, grieving people out of their money, while sucking on their grief. You protect these scumbags, because you would rather prefer to have your own beliefs untouched, regardless of the consequences. "There are no greater liars in the world than quacks — except for their patients." Benjamin Franklin |
6th March 2006, 09:32 AM | #283 |
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6th March 2006, 09:42 AM | #284 |
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Would you like me to start the thread for you to disscuss this or would you be good enough to do this on your own?
JPK |
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"I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier... A belief's a dangerous thing. People die for it. People kill for it." Rufus, the 13th apostle, Dogma "You can't prove air." Sylvia Browne John Kardel |
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6th March 2006, 09:44 AM | #285 |
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Well, if he has any credibility, let's see him go for the million. If he wins, he's the real deal. If not, we know he's a scammer.
Since he has yet to try, I go with scammer. He may not get rich from using his "gifts," but he seems to get something from it. Why else would he do it? |
6th March 2006, 09:47 AM | #286 |
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6th March 2006, 09:53 AM | #287 |
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6th March 2006, 10:03 AM | #288 |
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6th March 2006, 10:05 AM | #289 |
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6th March 2006, 10:12 AM | #290 |
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Done. I have started a new thread just for you Hardenbergh. Please continue this disscusion there.
JPK |
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"I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier... A belief's a dangerous thing. People die for it. People kill for it." Rufus, the 13th apostle, Dogma "You can't prove air." Sylvia Browne John Kardel |
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6th March 2006, 10:40 AM | #291 |
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You are attributing thoughts and motivations to other people that you cannot know if they are true. You don't know what Hardenbergh believes regarding whether psychics can or cannot talk to the dead, therefore you do not know what s/he knows regarding that fact. Further, it's directly contradictory with the next statement I've included. If Hardenbergh knows that psychics can't talk to the dead, there would be no motivation to "protect" that belief regardless of the consequences.
While you may consider reasons of wanting to 'protect' the identity of non-professional self-described pyschics bogus, the truth is that many such psychics do not care to discuss their experiences or even be named as a psychic in a public forum such as this. Thus, if discussing a personal friend who feels that way, such a revelation would be tantamount to betrayal of the friendship and expecting someone to do so despite the objections of their friend is unrealistic and inappropriate. So basically, I think you've made a bunch of unfounded accusations designed to incite an emotional response or drive the poster away from this forum rather than sparking further conversation and discussion of the matter. You come across as mean and vindictive rather than knowledge seeking. Is this the image you wish to portray? |
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6th March 2006, 10:47 AM | #292 |
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Kindly take this little bashfest to the proper thread. ALL of you!
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If anyone told you that I'm a nice person, they were either from a different level of existance, lying through their teeth or mentally instable. "We? That better be you and that invisible aardwarck in your pocket you are talking about, because I KNOW you are not stupid enough to open a giant can of whoop ass by claiming you know what I think." Stop Sylvia Browne |
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6th March 2006, 11:01 AM | #293 |
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So moved. And done.
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6th March 2006, 11:25 AM | #294 |
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Oh, yes, there would: Belief in the supernatural is so captivating that it is impossible to relinquish. Almost. We do see examples, but as a rule, people are not willing to abandon their beliefs.
This isn't just evident in belief in psychics. We see it in all forms of supernatural beliefs: Homeopaths (Dr. MAS and Dr. Sheik), Astrologers (Karen Boesen), Magnetism Healers (Roger Coghill) - you name it: All refuse to provide evidence of their claims, all refuse to have their claims examined, all refuse to give up their false beliefs. Sorry, but this psychic is already out in the open. Even if this was not so, the nature of the claim makes it imperative that we investigate it. We are talking about the ability to locate lost children. We simply cannot just let such a claim go untested or unchallenged. If this person can find them, then we can save lives. If this person can not find them, then he has to be stopped from preying on grieving people. By investigating these claims, we have everything to win. If we don't investigate them, we have everything to lose. Excuse me if I get a bit upset about the reality of psychics scamming grieving people. Why did you not address that aspect at all? All you did was protect the scammers. |
6th March 2006, 02:55 PM | #295 |
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Responded in the other thread per request to move this discussion elsewhere.
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Beth "You are not the stuff of which you are made." Richard Dawkins, July 2005, 10:45 http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_daw..._universe.html |
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6th March 2006, 03:01 PM | #296 |
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Thanks, Beth.
I've been working on a question I want to ask about the relationship between "psychics" and families that have a missing family memeber. I can't get the words or phrases the way I want them yet, but that is the direction we should be moving. You're right Beth, let's stay on topic. |
6th March 2006, 05:06 PM | #297 |
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SkepticWiki now has an article.
[swiki]Psychic Detectives[/swiki] I found the links by searching this forum for threads with the word "detective" in them. Ah, yes, I remember Lucianarchy ... oh the fun we had ... Here's a good bit from one of the links:
Quote:
Professionals Against Confidence Crime is a nice authoritative source. Please let me know when the projected website is up and running, and about the Tony Youens article when it materializes, and I can add links. Is there anything else I should add? |
6th March 2006, 05:29 PM | #298 |
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Just about anything involving Dennis Mackenzie.
A nasty piece of work who everyone should be warned about. http://www.internationalskeptics.com...nnis+mackenzie Another old thread: http://www.internationalskeptics.com...nnis+mackenzie I wish psychics could help police. Oh how I wish that. I just no longer understand how anyone can believe they do. |
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6th March 2006, 05:46 PM | #299 |
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I think you would be better situated to come up with what kind of sales pitch a psychic makes to the family of a missing person. I'm kind of curious myself. It must take incredible nerve for someone to initiate contact with a grieving family.
Quote:
Quote:
Kelly, I told you in a PM that every time I hear of a psychic on the news being given any credibility, I write to the reporter or editor of the story to give them hell. I am going to link to a topic on Skeptical Community in which I used some pretty strong language, so you are forewarned. The topic is here, and I deconstruct the story that was on the news, and then post what I wrote to the reporter. If you would like me to write a short article about this story to show how the media allows itself to be manipulated and gives psychics validity, as well as an excellent example of how it makes it look like even law enforcement is validating the psychic, I'd be very happy to do so. ETA: It appears that the Fox web site removed the video which I make reference to. Fortunately, I copied some of the transcript into my post in the aforelinked topic. |
6th March 2006, 06:01 PM | #300 |
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Kelly, if you can ask someone who has been solicited by a psychic to find their missing loved one to recollect as accurately as possible what was said/claimed by the psychic in the conversation, I will be happy to write a Self-Defense Course on how to handle such calls. The more input you can collect from various people, the better. That way we can get an idea of the typical sales pitch.
I imagine the psychics claim to have worked with the police and to have "helped" find missing children/loved ones, and so on. I would write such an article along these lines: If a psychic calls you to offer their services, here are the following steps you should take... 1. Hang up. Of course, I would go into more than that. I would arm them with questions to ask the psychic. Name the children you found. Name the police you helped. Dates, places, etc. Were you credited in any media reports? Which ones? Dates. Do you have ANY references at all, you freaking creep? You get the idea. |
6th March 2006, 06:07 PM | #301 |
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Kelly, I told you in a PM that every time I hear of a psychic on the news being given any credibility, I write to the reporter or editor of the story to give them hell.
Oh yes, yes. Would that we would ALL do that. Oh, let's. LET'S!!!! |
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6th March 2006, 06:10 PM | #302 |
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Here's the really sick part, Kelly, which I am sure you know: Psychics count on the missing person and person who took them never being found. The odds are in their favor. They can make all kinds of wild claims about activities that occurred surrounding the disappearance with the knowledge that the odds are in their favor. And even if the missing person is found, or the kidnapper caught, no one will remember how far off the psychic was except the immediate family and they aren't going to have the resources to make that knowledge public.
That's what makes the Elizabeth Smart Psi-Tch case so great. She was found alive and none of the events Psi-Tech remotely viewed were remotely correct. It was a spectacular and public failure. And boy did they scurry to cover it up! To no avail. So use it. Like a hammer. |
6th March 2006, 07:13 PM | #303 |
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Okay, Kelly. I have just written a two page article on the Kimberly Forbes missing person case and the psychic hired by the TV station.
I titled it "But The News Said Psychics Are Real!" Just tell me where to email it if you want it. You can do whatever you want with it. All rights, etc., etc., are yours. All I ask is that if you credit it to me, that the byline say "Luke T." I don't use my whole name in public venues for personal security reasons. |
6th March 2006, 07:26 PM | #304 |
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I found a piece by Tony Youens about him and have put in a link.
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6th March 2006, 07:37 PM | #305 |
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Wow!
I leave for the evening and come back to find all of this wonderful help! I just came back from the wrap-up meeting from the search I was assisting with this past 3 days. Let me unwind and catch up with urgent emails, and I will be back to reply. (Maybe I should leave again??) Thank you all! |
6th March 2006, 07:38 PM | #306 |
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Hurry up, Kell!
You're getting Left Behind! |
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6th March 2006, 07:45 PM | #307 |
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Oh for pete's sake.
Mckenzie's own website includes: (1) One of the three different pictures he made of BTK: (2) A photograph of BTK: (3) A claim that he was "incredibly accurate and correct". So it turns out he's insane ... but it's a profitable sort of insanity. Meanwhile here am I stuck with this crazy urge to howl and bang my head against a wall, and can I make a thin dime out of that? |
6th March 2006, 07:47 PM | #308 |
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6th March 2006, 08:06 PM | #309 |
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I'm sorry, I didn't see the post where Kelly said she believed in the rapture. Perhaps you could point that one out? Or how that joke is relevant to this thread's purpose and discussion?
Kelly enjoys a little humor every once in a while. She told me so in a PM. I've helped her plenty, myself. |
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6th March 2006, 08:22 PM | #310 |
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While I am not opposed to a little humor, I am a bit sensitive about the appearance of attacking's someone's beliefs off topic from their purpose in posting here. Kelly was rather nervous posting on a board with so many athiests that she would be under attack for her religion. I just wanted to be sure it was clear to her that no one's intent is attacking beliefs off topic or without the invitation of debate. I apologize for the rash response, and I hope you understand my concern. Kelly's contributions here are important and welcome, and I want to be sure she knows that her religion is not under attack. |
6th March 2006, 08:29 PM | #311 |
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From the article I just wrote, an excerpt:
Quote:
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6th March 2006, 08:31 PM | #312 |
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6th March 2006, 08:34 PM | #313 |
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I believe Kelly knows I'm THE LAST person who would ridicule her beliefs, and here, of all places.
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6th March 2006, 08:36 PM | #314 |
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OK, so it's kiss and make up time, and then back on track. Right?
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Boynott everything! If only health care was like video games. Then the ones who could pay for it would get it, and the ones who couldn't would die, like nature intended for people without money. A perfect system, right? RIGHT? |
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6th March 2006, 08:37 PM | #315 |
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6th March 2006, 08:49 PM | #316 |
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Seriously... there's nothing worse than a "butthead for Jesus".
??? |
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6th March 2006, 08:51 PM | #317 |
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6th March 2006, 09:02 PM | #318 |
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Ok, I'm back and will work to catch up with everyone here.
Just to set the record straight, I have conversed with several of you about my beliefs, and yes, that nervousness about being in the "lion's den". Those fears were unfounded, and no one has fired a volley my way. The lions ended up being pussycats. You guys will really get a kick out of this, but I had posted the same post#1 on a major Catholic forum, and only had a few responses! Sometimes people just don't know what to say, I guess. I make them nervous in a different way. No one wants to be me, and sometimes it seems like having a missing child might be contagious. I do indeed have a sense of humor. Check out the humor thread if you don't believe it. Oh, and Left Behind is a silly, overwrought brand of Christian literature which has no basis in truth. Catholics do not believe in the "Rapture" in that way. I did find humor in Mariah's post. I was also very touched by FowlSound's care of my feelings. Everyone here has just been really wonderful to me. Thank you. Back to work for me now........ |
6th March 2006, 09:07 PM | #319 |
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We're nowhere near as cute as pussycats. I do, however, enjoy a ball of yarn occasionally... I can empathise with the feeling that it may be contagious. I have a post in my blog about ridiculous reactions to cancer that is similar. I am surprised though, that the Catholic forum did not offer a big response. I can't imagine that they wouldn't see this as the opportunity this forum has to do something to make a difference for the better. Oh well. Where's my yarn? |
6th March 2006, 09:15 PM | #320 |
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Both good links.
I really liked the second one as it is LE (Law Enforcement) related. This is the first I have seen of this type of article. I think it also plays a part in adding credibilty to the voices of reason. The last line of the article said it all. Thanks, Dr. A. |
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