Psychic or Charlatan?

[Rodney]

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=446979&in_page_id=1879

Excerpt:

"She tells me that my husband’s name is Simon. ‘Wrong!’ I say, quite relieved that she’s screwed up so spectacularly and I can go back to disbelieving all this nonsense.

"Only later, when rubbishing her talents to my husband, does he tell me that his confirmation name — chosen when he took his first communion at the age of ten, then promptly forgotten about — is indeed Simon."

 

[SRW]

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=446979&in_page_id=1879

Excerpt:

"She tells me that my husband’s name is Simon. ‘Wrong!’ I say, quite relieved that she’s screwed up so spectacularly and I can go back to disbelieving all this nonsense.

"Only later, when rubbishing her talents to my husband, does he tell me that his confirmation name — chosen when he took his first communion at the age of ten, then promptly forgotten about — is indeed Simon."

I'll go out on a limb here, and go with Charlatan.

 

[EeneyMinnieMoe]

Thank goodness no one in the world is ever gonna guess my confirmation name. It's Bogumila. I can hardly remember if it's Bogumila or Boguslawa but Im fairly certain it's indeed Bogumila.

 

[thaiboxerken]

Has she proven herself in a controlled environment? If not, she's a charlatan.

 

[Kopji]

...Then I’d instantly know if she was a genuine medium, with extraordinary powers, or a dangerous quack out to make a quick buck from those gullible enough to pay her.

What about her own future? Does she see a long and happy life ahead?

Of course she does. In the more immediate future she sees — surprise! — serious fame and fortune coming her way.

‘Do you know, I genuinely do see my TV show being a big success. I think it is going to win awards. I am seeing that. I think I’m on the verge of something big.’

I think that both the writer and 'psychic' are forms of an 'unreliable narrator'. They both would agree that she is either a charlatan or 'for real'. The reality is more complex because there are more choices than just the two. She could honestly think she has a 'psychic gift', but in reality has something else - a skill in reading faces, emotions, situations.

I've seen some amazing cold readings, but they go with a client who wants to believe, or many 'misses' are just forgotten - like a gambler who only remembers his wins and not the losses.

She does not need to be evil or dishonest, but Randi's challenge does sort of stand in her face. If she can truly see the future, there may be a million dollars in it. She certainly cannot claim to have a moral qualm about applying, since she already has her own TV show.

 

[grayman]

Most have never heard of my given name.

I vote for charlatan.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

Most have never heard of my given name.

Is it Rumpelstiltskin?

 

[Ravenwood]

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=446979&in_page_id=1879

Excerpt:

"She tells me that my husband’s name is Simon. ‘Wrong!’ I say, quite relieved that she’s screwed up so spectacularly and I can go back to disbelieving all this nonsense.

"Only later, when rubbishing her talents to my husband, does he tell me that his confirmation name — chosen when he took his first communion at the age of ten, then promptly forgotten about — is indeed Simon."

As a former Catholic, I can tell you that your confirmation name is taken at the sacrament of confirmation, not first communion, & not at the age of 10...
I vote charlatan.

 

[Azrael 5]

When I saw Dialy Mail in the link I immediately groaned.Then I thought "Mia Dolan" as she hasd recently done a spate of media.But it's dear old Sally Morgan,and yes she is a charlatan.

 

[Big Les]

1) She told her that her husband's name was Simon. Not his confirmation name, not his middle name, not his bloody nickname, his name.
2) We don't have the transcript; the final statement appears as "his name is Simon", but the actual reading could have involved the usual "S-name", "Steve or Simon or Sasperalla" BS.
3) Morgan appears to make great use of warm and hot reading in some cases. How is she so vague in some instances, and yet so apparently specific in others (edited TV footage mainly)?
4) She has not submitted to scientific testing, which if she is as insightful as she appears on face value (disregarding cold and hot reading), ought to show results better than chance, net her even more fame and money, not to mention a Nobel prize.
5) I wouldn't trust the Daily Mail to tell me what the weather was like last week, let alone objectively report on the paranormal.
6) This is dung.

 

[baron]

‘She’s a very large lady, very tall and imposing,’ she said confidently. ‘Nope,’ I replied. ‘My grandmother was five foot nothing and built like a whippet.’


She barely drew breath. ‘When I say large, I mean large in heart.’

Does she have a tall heart too? What a total crock.

 

[joesixpack]

As a former Catholic, I can tell you that your confirmation name is taken at the sacrament of confirmation, not first communion, & not at the age of 10...
I vote charlatan.

Good catch, I skimmed right past that.

 

[Azrael 5]

Whenever I approach these psychics to interview or get a reading I get short shrift(probably as I call them frauds from the off lol),
Why is it always women? WHy not a hard faced war journalist who wouldn't be swayed by tricks?

 

[Stellafane]

See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=446979&in_page_id=1879

Excerpt:

"She tells me that my husband’s name is Simon. ‘Wrong!’ I say, quite relieved that she’s screwed up so spectacularly and I can go back to disbelieving all this nonsense.

"Only later, when rubbishing her talents to my husband, does he tell me that his confirmation name — chosen when he took his first communion at the age of ten, then promptly forgotten about — is indeed Simon."

If this "hit" overrides her history of "disbelieving all this nonsense," then her disbelief didn't run very deeply in the first place. The question was her husband's name. "Simon" isn't it. No one knew him as Simon, not his wife or even himself. "Simon" is just some name that happens to be vaguely associated with his past. I myself have had a number of names by which I've been called at various points in my life, including "Daisy," "Boston," "Arizona," "Doc," and "Fingers" (don't ask). If some psychic told me my name is "Boston," it wouldn't shake my disbelief one iota, since it would be wrong.

So back to your original question: most definitely charlatan.

 

[Tricky]

Is it Rumpelstiltskin?

LOL. One of the earliest examples in literature of a "hot reading".

 

[Moochie]

When I saw Dialy Mail in the link I immediately groaned.Then I thought "Mia Dolan" as she hasd recently done a spate of media.But it's dear old Sally Morgan,and yes she is a charlatan.

And she's bound to be enormously successful.

S I G H.

M.

 

[Ladewig]

I'm prepared to call her psychic as soon as she proves herself under controlled conditions. I'd love to see her apply for the JREF prize. She already charges money for her readings so there won't be any "I am above performing for money" stuff.

 

[fuelair]

Charlatan for 30 quid, Chuck!

 

[Azrael 5]

I'm prepared to call her psychic as soon as she proves herself under controlled conditions. I'd love to see her apply for the JREF prize. She alread
y charges money for her readings so there won't be any "I am above performing for money" stuff.

Asked her already,and posted her reply on here.
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61708&highlight=sally+morgan

What evidence do you have that i am a fraud? surely that is what i might ask. Why on earth should i spend my life (i am 55 years old and have run this gauntlet ALL my life) proving myself to pricks like you.

Why don't you get a life and look beyond your own self importance? Just be a sceptic for crying out loud and be done with it, relax honey there is more to this life than narrow minds like yours.

Oh dear now you have got me going on one, this hasn't happened for a long while, let me have your address and when my book is published in Feb. i will send you a copy, you need it.

 

[Rrose Selavy]

I'd say her assumed name is Psychic but her confirmation name is Charlatan....