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Best Cold Reading demo?

Ed said:

I will pay you if you can find a case where ome phony came up with "Byron Robert Posilthwaite" a "B" name perhaps. Also nothing ethnic... ever hear of a "Balthezzar Aristotle Thucydidies"? No. never will. I did describe in rather bloody detail the death of a loved one. Pretty simple if you nail a symptom, jut make it sound as bad as they "recall". Recall also, the words of Master Topcliffe to the unfortunate Antony Babington:

Your name strawman aside, will you pay me if I find an 'ethnic' name?

:)
 
Clancie said:
In fact, I found skeptics' focus on "style" in discussing ersby's cold reading thread very puzzling for the same reason. Yes, we all need to recognize the style. But the important thing is to look at the content, the evidential information. That is the only important thing.

It is interesting to see, however, that you dismissed Sylvia Browne as a cold reader, simply because you didn't like her style. Oh, well...just making the argument fit the circumstances again, I guess.

I am a little surprised, though, that you can dismiss style as something not that important. Rowland's book very much deals with the "setup" of a reading. Pages 24-29. I know you read the book, but check it again. Style is very important.


T'ai Chi said:
As I already said, provide whatever evidence you want, your idea of the best cold reading examples, using your best judgement. Using your best judgement means hopefully you chose not to be stupid and post copyrighted material, obviously.

You have not answered the question.

T'ai Chi said:
Can you find the best cold reading transcripts that are not copyrighted?

renata posted some very good ones here.

T'ai Chi said:
That's your evidence? That's it??

You asked for evidence. If you don't want to look at it, that is your problem.

T'ai Chi said:
I'm only interested in what skeptics (this might apply to you) consider the best examples of cold reading, and the actual transcripts and videos of it. I'm interested in the actual evidence, not your questions.

You have refused to answer any of my questions.

You are not interested in the actual evidence, because you refuse to look at it.

Have a nice day.


magicflute,

Can you email me at webmaster@skepticreport.com?
 
CFLarsen said:

You have not answered the question.

You asked for evidence. If you don't want to look at it, that is your problem.

You have refused to answer any of my questions.

You are not interested in the actual evidence, because you refuse to look at it.



Claus please quit focusing on me. The word "you" occurs much too often above.

I'm asking for what skeptics consider the best example of cold reading. Some people posted what they consider the best example of mediumship. The difference is that that was something that was written about, not some chatroom reading that may or may not have happened. Rowland's book is fine, and again, I ask if that is considered that the best example of cold reading? Also, again, does anybody have videos of the best example of cold reading?
 
T'ai Chi said:
Claus please quit focusing on me. The word "you" occurs much too often above.

I am not focusing on you. I am pointing out that you have not answered the questions.

T'ai Chi said:
I'm asking for what skeptics consider the best example of cold reading. Some people posted what they consider the best example of mediumship. The difference is that that was something that was written about, not some chatroom reading that may or may not have happened. Rowland's book is fine, and again, I ask if that is considered that the best example of cold reading? Also, again, does anybody have videos of the best example of cold reading?

It will always be subjective which is "the best", but I consider the Rowland transcripts very impressive examples of cold reading.

Which is what you asked for, and I told you. But you are clearly not interested.

You ask for evidence, but cannot be bothered to look at it. You ask questions, but don't answer questions put to you.
 
CFLarsen said:

I am not focusing on you. I am pointing out that you have not answered the questions.

It will always be subjective which is "the best", but I consider the Rowland transcripts very impressive examples of cold reading.

Which is what you asked for, and I told you. But you are clearly not interested.

You ask for evidence, but cannot be bothered to look at it. You ask questions, but don't answer questions put to you.

Ok, I'll chalk that up as saying the Rowland transcripts are candidates for impressive examples.

Does anyone have video examples of cold reading which they consider impressive?

By the way, best will be objective, not subjective, after transcripts of readings are analyzed.
 
T'ai Chi said:
By the way, best will be objective, not subjective, after transcripts of readings are analyzed.

How will you judge them objectively? What criteria?
 
CFLarsen said:

How will you judge them objectively? What criteria?

No judging required, just descriptive statistics.

I started a thread where I proposed a project to undertake this if there is enough interest.

Everyone is invited.
 
T'ai Chi said:


Your name strawman aside, will you pay me if I find an 'ethnic' name?

:)

Try it yourself. It is hard to be a believer when you see that the emperor has no clothes.
 
T'ai Chi said:
Who said I'd rule them completely useless and without merit?
Seeing as how you labelled them sub-par without even reading them, or looking at our analysis of them, I figured it was a pretty safe assumption.

Anyone can post some transcript that was supposedly actually recorded from a real live event when it actuality we don't know if it was or not. There has to be stronger evidence than some chatroom reading that may have really occured. Also, is there a video? With current mediums we get videos, with cold readers this doesn't seem too common.
Not too common now because there's less of an audience for it, but there are videos. I believe there are a few UK mentalists with websites and videos, Derren Brown is one I can think of. As others have mentioned and if you'd been reading there is TV footage of others doing short cold reading sessions. Video's are out there, whether their the "best" is open to debate. It just seems to me you're narrowing your search here to force us into a video format, something that is well known to not have very much content cold reader wise. You want the best example, but you want it in video. And if we don't have it you'll say hah! Just like you complain about certain skeptics doing.

Providing evidence is hard, ain't it?
Obviously since you've just turned the gun around and asked us for it. Piper is often singled out as the big cheese in mediumship, yet all we have our text transcripts, we'd prefer video, but hey, we work with what we've got, however we take it with a grain of salt. I've seen enough short appearances by mentalists doing cold reading on TV shows to know that they resemble JE and JVP and others close enough that its entirely a possibility their cold reading. And also to see it as likely that say NoZed was able to do as well as he did in his transcript. No there's no video so I cannot verify it that way, but I don't see that as a problem as I take that factor with a grain of salt just like I do anyone else. You want to run around looking for the best video clip of cold reading, that's fine. I'll discuss it with others wiling to discuss it, knowing we have to work with the material and content we actually have.

I'm sure I'm on his mind more than he is on mine. Anyway, your opinions aside, you have any evidence in the form of the best cold reading transcripts or videos?
I've never claimed to have seen a cold reader that is on the same level or style as JE. I suggest you go ask for that from someone that has claimed it.
 
T'ai Chi said:


No judging required, just descriptive statistics.

I started a thread where I proposed a project to undertake this if there is enough interest.

Everyone is invited.
Hmmm but what are we describing here? What data are your stats based on? Hits? Well what constitutes a hit, or the quality of a hit is highly subjective. If you'd read the threads I linked you'd see how we had disagreements with Clancie on the quality of a "hit". So what will you be counting that will be 100% objective? I'm confused.
 
voidx said:

Hmmm but what are we describing here? What data are your stats based on? Hits? Well what constitutes a hit, or the quality of a hit is highly subjective. If you'd read the threads I linked you'd see how we had disagreements with Clancie on the quality of a "hit". So what will you be counting that will be 100% objective? I'm confused.

Look for signs of wiggle.
 
My reading for the 10 college kids (from memory, mind you)

-you've had a rough childhood growing up; you have several challenges to overcome. But you wanted to be more than an ordinary child, and you wanted the stregth to overcome those challenges.

-Failure isn't a comfortable feeling, but you're a worldly enough person to realize failure isn't a permanent set back. In fact, it's a point of pride when you can grow and become stronger

-your psycho X is still psycho. Don't ever get back together with him/her. They still have lots of issues and want to use you to cover up their wounds. This can include reigniting the old relationship, or causing you grief about the old relationship

-you're sensitive but not stupid. You want to help your friends, but not at the expense of your sanity. That's perfectly understandable. Sometimes you commit a bit too much, and it's important to remember to take a step back and rebalance YOURSELF. You can't help others if you're in flux.

-You value happiness and contentment over material wealth. This makes you a stronger person spiritually. If you're not blinded by material desire, it doesn't weaken you.

-That knee injury from the person you know... it'll get better. It might need physical therapy

-you've had contact with a pedophile or there's someone you know whos' had contact with a pedophile, maybe in your childhood. It could be you're not aware of it yet, but keep an eye out for signs of abuse among your close circle.

End reading.
 
LOL Suezoed!!
I can honestly say that I can select 9 out of the 10 as describing me in some manner.
 
Ed said:


Try it yourself. It is hard to be a believer when you see that the emperor has no clothes.

Ed, will you (YES) or will you not (NO) pay me if I find a reading where an enthic name was guessed/divined/offered?

Please, let me know. I need the lunch money.

Yes or no? OR would you like me to call the soccer team over to help you with those posts?
 
voidx said:

Seeing as how you labelled them sub-par without even reading them, or looking at our analysis of them, I figured it was a pretty safe assumption.


IF they are not the best, they are sub-par by definition. My question specifically asked what people consider the best examples.

Also not that not being the best doesn't equate with being worthless as you imply that I implied.


You want the best example, but you want it in video. And if we don't have it you'll say hah! Just like you complain about certain skeptics doing.


If you don't have it I'll just say 'OK, you don't have it or it doesn't exist.'


doing cold reading on TV shows to know that they resemble JE and JVP and others close enough that its entirely a possibility their cold reading.


It is one thing to say you "know". It is quite another to actually analyze the data.
 
voidx said:

Hmmm but what are we describing here? What data are your stats based on? Hits? Well what constitutes a hit, or the quality of a hit is highly subjective. If you'd read the threads I linked you'd see how we had disagreements with Clancie on the quality of a "hit". So what will you be counting that will be 100% objective? I'm confused.

The thead would decide and discuss what to look for in a given transcript. Hits might be out of the question given their subjective component as you've brought up. Things like letter/name counts, year of reading, if reader was a cold reader or a medium, if the transcript is from a TV session or not, and if the person being read is a celebrity or not are just some possibilities.
 
re: access to cr videos. Does anyone have any pull with Randi? If Penn would let us have the unedited video of Mark Edward's cold reading demo on "Bullsh*t", I'd be willing to transcribe it.

The one I'd like to see even more than that is Ian Rowland's 30 minute cold reading for "Prime Time Thursday" that was edited down to 5 minutes. I have -heard- (unconfirmed) that some of the better hits were left out of the broadcast snippet of readings. But...no way to get that. :(
 
T'ai Chi said:
It is one thing to say you "know". It is quite another to actually analyze the data.

Absolutely. So, how are you going to do that? Analyze data that you know is flawed?

Please be precise.
 
CFLarsen said:

Absolutely. So, how are you going to do that? Analyze data that you know is flawed?

Please be precise.

I already mentioned ideas several times. Your trolling is saved for posterity.

Your responses will be ignored.
 
T'ai Chi said:


I already mentioned ideas several times. Your trolling is saved for posterity.

Your responses will be ignored.

But your article on SkepticReport will not. Will you write it, yes or no?
 

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