John Edward - psychic or what?

[RemieV]

Some can and it isn't.

I saw a mentalist's act at the first The Amazing Meeting. His act was much more impressive than anything I've seen of John Edward's and the mentalist didn't claim any paranomal powers.

-- Roger

Every time I talk about mentalism, I get real close to that line of telling people how tricks are done. It isn't really reading people. Telling the audience that is misdirection so you won't be looking for how the trick is really done.

 

[Old man]

It was like this, so far as I can remember:

JE pointed at Liam's table and said "I am getting the name whatever-fake-one-I-made-up-to-protect-the-guy's-identity" and Liam raised his hand immediately thereafter. I turned to look at where JE was pointing when he began the sentence, because the pointing was specific even though I was in the same general area as Liam's table, just not on the same level.

Thank you.

 

[pakeha]

Pakeha, Dr. Jill Taylor is a Harvard trained brain scientist, not a woo scientist.
Stands to reason a brain scientist , actually a neuroanatomist , might know more about the brain than any regular woo or skeptic.

Oh, Robin, I bet you didn't bother to read up on recent takes on left brain-right brain theories, did you?
Even a Harvard trained 'brain scientist' can have ideas which are discarded over time as a result of on-going research.

Yes, it would be quite fair to say that Dr Tayler is probably more credible than any old woo.

It might interest you to read some reviews of her talk from other brain scientists, physiologists, and the like, though.

Here's one link:

http://westallen.typepad.com/idealawg/2008/04/some-critical-t.html

Thanks for the link, it illustrates my point admirably.

 

[John Jones]

My interpretation would be Dr.Taylor was well aware of current theories about the way the brain works but her personal experience made her realize that the old way of thinking did indeed have merit. Don't know much about interconnections in the brain...is that something scientists disagree on maybe? Or did she try to oversimplify for audience? The fact the person who wrote that didn't understand that DR.Taylor may have used right brain left brain as I tried to explain, makes me wonder about the validity of the rest of what he wrote.

Did you deliberately delete all the context of my post? That right brain/left brain excuse is woo-woo. Don't make appeals to false/antiquated science. That annoys me more than appeals to the God of the Gaps. You'll get called on it every time.

Did you read any of the other critics on that thread? Jesus, the lengths you will go to in support of your 'gut' are astonishing.

 

[Robin1]

John Jones, I didn't deliberately delete it. I pressed reply and checked quote box but that is way it turned out, Guessing it has something to do with the fact that it was something you attached maybe.

 

[Old man]

Did you deliberately delete all the context of my post? That right brain/left brain excuse is woo-woo. Don't make appeals to false/antiquated science. That annoys me more than appeals to the God of the Gaps. You'll get called on it every time.

Did you read any of the other critics on that thread? Jesus, the lengths you will go to in support of your 'gut' are astonishing.

John Jones, I didn't deliberately delete it. I pressed reply and checked quote box but that is way it turned out, Guessing it has something to do with the fact that it was something you attached maybe.

John, the quote button automatically quotes only the text you type, not the embedded quote. You need to go to a little extra effort to include those.

Robin, no, that's just how the quote button works.

 

[Robin1]

John, the quote button automatically quotes only the text you type, not the embedded quote. You need to go to a little extra effort to include those.

Robin, no, that's just how the quote button works.

K, thanks for explaining.

 

[Robin1]

Just saw the kids movie "ParaNorman" last night. Interesting how the idea of being able to communicate with the dead is way more mainstream now than in earlier years. Was actually quite a good movie. Although, I do realize most here will not be running out to rent it tonight : )

 

[FluffyPersian]

Thanks to whoever posted that clip of JE doing the cold reading. Until then, because I had never seen him, I kept picturing him looking and sounding like the candidate John Edwards, with sandy blonde hair and a southern accent.

 

[fromdownunder]

Just saw the kids movie "ParaNorman" last night. Interesting how the idea of being able to communicate with the dead is way more mainstream now than in earlier years . Was actually quite a good movie. Although, I do realize most here will not be running out to rent it tonight : )

You have to be joking. This sort of thing has been a movie standard for over 80 years. Would you like a list?

Norm

 

[Robin1]

You have to be joking. This sort of thing has been a movie standard for over 80 years. Would you like a list?

Norm

Norm, I could be wrong, but the only movie I remember where the main character was a kid as well as a medium is "Sixth Sense."

 

[kerikiwi]

Just saw the kids movie "ParaNorman" last night. Interesting how the idea of being able to communicate with the dead is way more mainstream now than in earlier years. Was actually quite a good movie. Although, I do realize most here will not be running out to rent it tonight : )

Why is it interesting?
Do you think that because it is in the movies it must somehow be more true?

 

[RemieV]

Just saw the kids movie "ParaNorman" last night. Interesting how the idea of being able to communicate with the dead is way more mainstream now than in earlier years. Was actually quite a good movie. Although, I do realize most here will not be running out to rent it tonight : )

ParaNorman was a great film. Really well-written. What a person believes about reality doesn't have anything to do with what they find good in fiction, so far as I know. I mean, come on, nerds like us are the ones who play D&D, and no one actually believes that they are an elf mage wielding the helm of invisibility.

 

[Robin1]

Norm, I could be wrong, but the only movie I remember where the main character was a kid as well as a medium is "Sixth Sense."

Really interesting though ( to me) is that "ParaNorman" featuring a kid as a medium, was actually written for kids whereas the same is not true for "Sixth Sense." I loved "Sixth Sense!" Also cool that the kids movie "ParaNorman" attempted to give a thumbs up to homosexuality and increase awareness.

 

[Robin1]

ParaNorman was a great film. Really well-written. What a person believes about reality doesn't have anything to do with what they find good in fiction, so far as I know. I mean, come on, nerds like us are the ones who play D&D, and no one actually believes that they are an elf mage wielding the helm of invisibility.

Remie, I agree. I think , though, that actually writing a movie specifically for children that features a main character who is a child and a medium does indicate views of people today are more open. Although, I'm not sure it is the first children's movie that has done this, but I think so.

 

[Nay_Sayer]

Remie, I agree. I think , though, that actually writing a movie specifically for children that features a main character who is a child and a medium does indicate views of people today are more open. Although, I'm not sure it is the first children's movie that has done this, but I think so.

Or it could indicate that a movie with a good sound plot (Anything coherent usually) often ends up getting OK'd for production.

 

[kerikiwi]

Remie, I agree. I think , though, that actually writing a movie specifically for children that features a main character who is a child and a medium does indicate views of people today are more open. Although, I'm not sure it is the first children's movie that has done this, but I think so.

Rather like the Harry Potter books/films?
Are they some kind of indication that it's all real?

 

[pakeha]

It absolutely amazes me how much power skeptics are willing to give to cold reading. If people were really able to cold read the way folks here are suggesting, it would be paranormal. It's like you think 'Lie To Me' and 'The Mentalist' are documentaries. ....

Every time I talk about mentalism, I get real close to that line of telling people how tricks are done. It isn't really reading people. Telling the audience that is misdirection so you won't be looking for how the trick is really done.

by telly tarot readers, some of whom are very good indeed.


Point taken, Rem.
As far as I'm concerned, the bar for professional cold reading is set by telly tarotists, some of whom are very good indeed-
However he did it, JE is no medium but an entertainer, that we can agree.

Remie, I agree. I think , though, that actually writing a movie specifically for children that features a main character who is a child and a medium does indicate views of people today are more open. Although, I'm not sure it is the first children's movie that has done this, but I think so.

Are you deliberately diverting the convo from your last embarrassment about your belief in left/right brain 'usage' with this chatter about films?

 

[Robin1]

Rather like the Harry Potter books/films?
Are they some kind of indication that it's all real?

Kerikiwi, sure, exactly like that, if Harry Potter was a medium. But he wasn't. So , no.

 

[Robin1]

by telly tarot readers, some of whom are very good indeed.


Point taken, Rem.
As far as I'm concerned, the bar for professional cold reading is set by telly tarotists, some of whom are very good indeed-
However he did it, JE is no medium but an entertainer, that we can agree.



Are you deliberately diverting the convo from your last embarrassment about your belief in left/right brain 'usage' with this chatter about films?

Pakeha, I stand by all my right brain/left brain comments. And, Dr. Jill Taylor, that Harvard trained brain scientist with all the personal experience, is standing right behind me.