John Edward - psychic or what?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Okay .... but that doesn't affect my point. Perhaps the name Edward actually called out was more popular?

-- Roger

Did you even bother to read the OP?

 

[jadebox]

Did you even bother to read the OP?

Yes, I read it ... and I corrected my post.

Since we don't know what the original name is, we don't know how popular it, or names similar to it, are.

-- Roger

 

[jadebox]

Wow, this thread sort of passed you by in both lanes, didn't it?

Oh ... I see.

[plonk]

-- Roger

 

[Garrette]

When I saw there was no #6, I dismissed the rest of your post.

Well, at least you read to the part I hadn't written. It's more than I deserve.

 

[RemieV]

This is one of the more amusing threads I've seen lately.

For the ten billionth time, I am a skeptic. A professional skeptic. I worked for the JREF for three years. I have my own skeptical organization. I have written on the subject, lectured on the subject, been interviewed on the subject, and consulted as an expert on the subject. Freakin' BOGGLE, people.

This thread is, however, definitely inclining me toward making out with Scrut.

Look, I've already said that with the Oliver reading, I accept the non-paranormal explanation. I merely feel that I'm missing an important step in determining HOW he did it. I accept the non-paranormal explanation for basically everything. Leaving a door open to the possibility is NOT an acceptance that anything paranormal is real. It is the acceptance that some people believe in that stuff, and that I am taking everything on a case-by-case basis. In fact, being the Challenge administrator for three years rather REQUIRED that I believe in the possibility - otherwise negotiating claims and building protocols would've been impossible because it would've all had a neon sign over it that read "WHAT'S THE POINT?"

To Koch:

It is possible that he could have stationed someone next to the box office desk, and it could've worked with Liam (potentially) because Liam bought his ticket the day prior to the show. However, most people who purchase tickets for shows do so online in advance of their trip. Of the remaining, very few are going to purchase theirs at the box office immediately prior to the show's commencement. In other words, whoever was stationed there would have to be there all hours of the day, every day, or risk not running into anyone who was going.

So, while possible, it too seems unlikely.

Now, one thing that occurred to me is that some people might be randomly surveyed (on paper) with the claim that the survey is for something else. Clearly, they don't offer said survey to everyone (as I would've had it on multiple occasions). It might not appear to be because they are attending the show, and might seem totally unrelated. The thing is, the box office folk more than likely would not get in trouble for not exercising discretion if this was the method - since the customer would be filling out the paper by choice.

 

[patchbunny]

This screams to me that the likely source of Edward's information was a glance by someone at Liam's license.

I think it's possible that someone who works for Edward happened to see Liam's license - perhaps through a transparent window of his wallet - when Liam opened his wallet to do anything from paying for a drink to checking that he had cash to making sure he had his identification just in case it was required for entry to putting his ticket away after entering.

I've been scrolling through since post #1 to make this very point. He pays for the ticket, and while opening his wallet to make the transaction leaves his wallet open enough that the ticket seller is able to gleen information off the license, which is now exposed. That information is then passed along to JE staff, along with the seating location. Don't see why it needs to be any more complicated than that.

 

[desertgal]

So, important facts garnered there:

1) I know that Joshua introduced himself as Liam, because that is how he introduced himself to me. He never intimated in any way that it was his middle name.

Presumably, Liam introduced himself to his tablemates in the same way.

2) Edward pulled, out of thin air, not only the guy's real name, but also the fact that the man wasn't using his real name.

My guess is that Edwards was quick to pick up, through body language and facial expressions, that "Liam's" tablemates were bemused by the fact that he stood up as "Joshua" when he had introduced himself to them as "Liam", and Edwards spontaneously adjusted his "reading" to include the possibility of a nickname or alternate name. (After all, if I'm sitting at a table with someone who introduced himself as "Fred" and then he stands in response to a "Herbert", I imagine I'd look rather confused myself.)

C'mon. This is what Edwards does for a living. He's had a lot of practice.

Edward then did a reading for Liam. And it was a good reading - really good. At the very least, an excellent exercise in cold reading.

From a "mentalist" experienced in cold reading. There ya go.

 

[ynot]

Let’s look at the “unverifiables” to see how impressive they might have been . . .

6) Oliver said my uncle had gastrointestinal issues.

Many people have, especially the elderly. Very safe “fishing“. If he did and you knew it would be an “impressive hit”. Even if you said “No he didn’t” have he could have said he kept quite about it.

9) Oliver said that my uncle is dead.

Very safe bet, but no better than abducted by aliens without proof.

10) Oliver said that the body is in the woods.

It’s always - Woods, water or a dark place. But what woods?

11) Oliver said that my uncle shot himself.

Did your Uncle carry a gun when he went missing? If not where did the gun come from?

Not even anything potentially "impressive".

 

[ynot]

This is one of the more amusing threads I've seen lately.

For the ten billionth time, I am a skeptic. A professional skeptic. I worked for the JREF for three years. I have my own skeptical organization. I have written on the subject, lectured on the subject, been interviewed on the subject, and consulted as an expert on the subject. Freakin' BOGGLE, people.

Perhaps when you say things like - “I err on the side of not-psychic” as if it’s a 50/50 choice it doesn’t reflect the above.

 

[Garrette]

I've been scrolling through since post #1 to make this very point. He pays for the ticket, and while opening his wallet to make the transaction leaves his wallet open enough that the ticket seller is able to gleen information off the license, which is now exposed. That information is then passed along to JE staff, along with the seating location. Don't see why it needs to be any more complicated than that.

You haven't been ignored. It's been stated in different ways. Some of us re-stating it have actually read your original point.

 

[Garrette]

This is one of the more amusing threads I've seen lately.

For the ten billionth time, I am a skeptic. A professional skeptic. I worked for the JREF for three years. I have my own skeptical organization. I have written on the subject, lectured on the subject, been interviewed on the subject, and consulted as an expert on the subject. Freakin' BOGGLE, people.

Look. Maybe you were born in Hawaii and maybe you were born in Kenya, but it isn't unreasonable to ask that you provide a freaking copy of your Skeptics card. Not the short version, but the long form. Verified by the Governor. And just because you're black, it doesn't mean I believe in psi.

This thread is, however, definitely inclining me toward making out with Scrut.

Not me?

Carry on. I'll just be in my usual corner crying as usual.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

This thread is, however, definitely inclining me toward making out with Scrut.

I have won the thread.

 

[ynot]

RemieV - Why do you find it “crazy impressive” that a person only gives you information that was already known and you already knew? Would it be “crazy impressive” if I gave you last week’s Lotto numbers?

What was “given” was obviously more vague fishing than specific information.

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Not me?

Carry on. I'll just be in my usual corner crying as usual.

Well, second place isn't that bad.

 

[Garrette]

Well, second place isn't that bad.

Have you seen your butt lately?

 

[JoeyDonuts]

I have won the thread.

This entire thread was obviously a long-winded setup on Remie's part to flush out potential suitors.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Guess who "Guy" just happens to work for? It was a stroke of luck that he sat next to Liam. That's why it didn't happen again, or at least doesn't happen regulary.

Heck, he doesn't even have to be employed by Edward. He may simply know how Vegas works. Give Edward's crew a call and offer some information.

It's Vegas. Everyone who lives there is in on it.

~~ Paul

 

[JoeyDonuts]

It's Vegas. Everyone who lives there is in on it.

Which would include Remie. Curses, we've been had!

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

C'mon. This is what Edwards does for a living. He's had a lot of practice.

Lest we forget.

~~ Paul

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

This entire thread was obviously a long-winded setup on Remie's part to flush out potential suitors.

I'm not even sure how I won. If I was, I'd bottle it and become a millionaire.