Rosemary Altea

[Jackalgirl]

Our top poker players . . .

ROFL! Yes! : )

 

[SezMe]

Psychics aren't held to any set of standards that I know of -- not by "legitimates", as you point out, and certainly not by any professonal psychic association, with a published set up ethics and a review board. Haven't heard of "psychical" licenses, either; at least none issued by a government-recognized board.

American Association of Professional Psychics. From their certification page:

The American Association of Professional Psychics® administers the only objective Certification Program for professional psychics in America today.

All of our members have been tested and Certified for ethics, professionalism, and proven psychic ability.

We seek to maintain the highest standards of ethics and credibility in our field.

WARNING: You may want to cover your keyboard/monitor with barf-proof material before going to that site.

ETA: This has already been discussed here.

 

[SezMe]

Or go here to see a psychic training program that is claimed to be certified by the government of Australia.

And to think just yesterday Zep told me Australia was a nation of skeptics. Ouch!

 

[Zep]

Or go here to see a psychic training program that is claimed to be certified by the government of Australia.

And to think just yesterday Zep told me Australia was a nation of skeptics. Ouch!

Perhaps not down to the last person. After all, Australians head up both Answers In Genesis (USA) and its equivalent here in Australia.

The actual wording used on the referenced website, in a number of places, is "government accredited". On closer inspection, that is obviously referring to the government of Queensland, not the Australian Federal government. Another point is that this course is available via a mailing centre on the Gold Coast (south-east Queensland).

Now, just a few points of interest here:

1) The Gold Coast, being Australia's equivalent to Miami, is rife with these types of New Age con-artists. The more well-known ones include Answers in Genesis and Breatharianism. More hucksters per cubic fortnight than you can poke a stick at. So this scheme is one of the milder ones!

2) Nearly every mail-based huckster scheme in Australia is handled through the Gold Coast. They have a virtual monopoly on it!

3) The words "Government accredited" can mean anything in the context of that website. The most likely true meaning is that the operation is a genuinely registered business for legal purposes, etc. Also most likely, it does NOT mean the government approves of or endorses the product or "training". I suspect the Qld Education Dept. knows nothing whatever about it!

So the words are true in what they say, but definitely not in what they mean. It is, in effect, misleading wording in advertising, and really should be followed up with the Queensland state consumer protection authority. However Queensland has a reputation for being very lax in that regard...so the scammers try to get away with this sort of stuff.


In summary, this is a weak immitation of Sylvia Browne, with el cheapo crystals and crapola going for hundreds of dollars.

Now, how many can I sell you?

 

[Drudgewire]

The American Association of Professional Psychics® administers the only objective Certification Program for professional psychics in America today.

All of our members have been tested and Certified for ethics, professionalism, and proven psychic ability.

We seek to maintain the highest standards of ethics and credibility in our field.

That might not be quite as laughable if I'd never read The Psychic Mafia (H. Lamar Keene in the JREF library)

 

[Jackalgirl]

American Association of Professional Psychics.

Urp! I stand corrected! Thanks very much for the link -- hmmmm...wonder what their thoughts are regarding Sylvia Browne, whether they've actually ever revoked someone's license, and whether they're working towards legistlatory standards? I shall have to ask. Thanks again!

 

[grayman]

I wonder if they issue a Doctorate in Metaphysics like the one earned by Virginia Wade?

 

[T'ai Chi]

Newsflash, T'ai Chi, and this will brighten your day without a doubt. It turns out that James Randi--not NMJ--is in charge of the JREF Million Dollar Challenge. It's somewhat disconcerting that someone with so many posts as you is unaware of this fact, but there it is.

So buck up, ChiChi! Randi is quite open to the possibilities. Yea, he is so enthused toward finding demonstrable paranormal phenomena that he's willing to pay $1M te see it! Isn't that exciting?

But "phyz", it was already explained that once paranormal is done, it is no longer paranormal. So why would a paranormal challenge with rules addressing the paranormal, still apply? Even if they money is paid it wouldn't mean a thing.

 

[T'ai Chi]

The problem is that there is SOOOOO much tangible, real evidence that psychic ability is bunk... and not so much as a single documented account of even a personal anecdote about any psychic ever that has held up to any scrutiny once the facts were looked at objectively.

Not ONE!

I fail to believe you have heard and researched all things, including personal anedcotes, all over the world. In fact, I'm atheist to that idea.

When no one in the profession is pointing out the fraud going on right in front of their eyes and instead do nothing but blindly bash those who point it out, it doesn't take Scotland Yard to figure out it's because they're committing the same fraud.

You're free to contact the proper authorites to investigate what you believe is fraud.

 

[Soapy Sam]

"There are many, many people out there who have this very rare gift..."

It seems Ms. Altea cannot even make a simple declarative sentence without contradicting herself.

I wonder if this is a deliberate tactic, enabling her to claim that when people heard her talk nonsense she actually meant to talk sense.

 

[LostAngeles]

But "phyz", it was already explained that once paranormal is done, it is no longer paranormal. So why would a paranormal challenge with rules addressing the paranormal, still apply? Even if they money is paid it wouldn't mean a thing.

So we can't test it so it can keep its extra special name?

 

[Drudgewire]

You're free to contact the proper authorites to investigate what you believe is fraud.

Except to file a police report you pretty much have to be the victim.

 

[SkeptiKilt]

But "phyz", it was already explained that once paranormal is done, it is no longer paranormal. So why would a paranormal challenge with rules addressing the paranormal, still apply? Even if they money is paid it wouldn't mean a thing.

Could someone translate that for me? It loses something in the original.

 

[Soapy Sam]

It's about paradigm shifts and money.

 

[Curnir]

Ok, so you're brainwashed.

What Randi says is things like

"I simply do not find any evidence whatsoever that they do, so I don't believe there are any."

He certainly doesn't believe many things exist.

Yeah well... you probably don't believe in thr Jumping Purple Kangaroo of Southwest Minnesota.

So why should I listen to you? Huh? Can you tell me that?


*This has been a presentation of stoopid rule8-uped arguments theater.*

*Curnir takes his bows*

Thank you. Thank you.

 

[CFLarsen]

But "phyz", it was already explained that once paranormal is done, it is no longer paranormal. So why would a paranormal challenge with rules addressing the paranormal, still apply?

Very dishonest of you.

You know perfectly well that Randi is legally bound to pay the money. Once the phenomenon is described as paranormal and the test is done, there is no way Randi could get away with calling it "non-paranormal". If he didn't think it was paranormal, why agree to the test?

Even if they money is paid it wouldn't mean a thing.

Of course it would: It would mean the discovery of a whole new phenomenon. To Randi, it's worth it. To you, it's worth nothing.

You really aren't interested in discovering new things, are you?

 

[T'ai Chi]

Except to file a police report you pretty much have to be the victim.

Well surely this wouldn't be too difficult, given the claim by organized skeptical clubs that there are so so many victims around. You know, victims that willingly give their money to psychics, and know full-well there are no guarantees in a reading.

 

[T'ai Chi]

Yeah well... you probably don't believe in thr Jumping Purple Kangaroo of Southwest Minnesota.

So why should I listen to you? Huh? Can you tell me that?

That made no sense.

The issue was that it was claimed that Randi does not say he doesn't believe in it.

Yet, a breif search shows that Randi has said things like

"I simply do not find any evidence whatsoever that they do, so I don't believe there are any."

So he certainly doesn't believe many things exist.

So you shouldn't listen to me.. I agree. You should read what Randi actually wrote. And try to understand.

 

[CFLarsen]

Well surely this wouldn't be too difficult, given the claim by organized skeptical clubs

Yes, skepticism sounds less important and dangerous, if you describe it as "clubs", instead of your usual "organized skeptical movement".

that there are so so many victims around. You know, victims that willingly give their money to psychics, and know full-well there are no guarantees in a reading.

Wow. You put the whole blame on the victims, while allowing the scam artists to continue.

You think that the grief and anguish that Shawn Holbeck's parents felt is entirely their own fault. That is incredible callous of you.

That made no sense.

The issue was that it was claimed that Randi does not say he doesn't believe in it.

Yet, a breif search shows that Randi has said things like

"I simply do not find any evidence whatsoever that they do, so I don't believe there are any."

So he certainly doesn't believe many things exist.

So you shouldn't listen to me.. I agree. You should read what Randi actually wrote. And try to understand.

There is a huge difference between saying "I don't believe in X" and "I don't believe in X because there is no evidence of X".

 

[ARubberChickenWithAPulley]

So he certainly doesn't believe many things exist.

This is the second time in this thread that you have said that, and it doesn't make any more sense to me the second time.

I am pretty sure that Randi believes that quite a few things exist. Trillions of things, in fact. Like, for example, atoms, molecules, cells, insects, animals, trees, mountains, clouds, stars, planets, etc. etc. etc. Last I checked, we have evidence for the existence of all of those things, and quite a few more.