talkmagic.co.uk

Monday 10 May
10:00pm - 11:05pm
Channel 4

The Man Who Contacts The Dead

Derren Brown finds out if extraordinary claims from around the world are actually true. Joe Power from Liverpool believes he can communicate with the dead and alleges that he has made contact with the spirit of John Lennon.

Just seen the trailer. It looks rather good.

Thanksssss!

Oooh, is he talking up the James Randi mantle?

Arkesus wrote:Oooh, is he talking up the James Randi mantle?

It's got the potential to become oh so very Houdini, in more ways than a couple of ways.

Edit: I mean Mr Brown in general, not just this show.

Arkesus wrote:Oooh, is he talking up the James Randi mantle?

I do hope not. Have you ever been on the JREF forum? My word, there are some angry, intolerant people out there. I even read one post where they accused DB of being a fraud and challenging him to prove his claims of using "body-language, psychology etc"!!

themagicwand wrote:I even read one post where they accused DB of being a fraud and challenging him to prove his claims of using "body-language, psychology etc"!!

Ok, that just hurts my tiny little brain...

themagicwand wrote:I do hope not. Have you ever been on the JREF forum? My word, there are some angry, intolerant people out there. I even read one post where they accused DB of being a fraud and challenging him to prove his claims of using "body-language, psychology etc"!!

Now, that's funny! How exactly do you challenge someone to prove a claim they've never actually made?

I posted a reply which simply said "You don't really understand magic do you?"

So... they attack entertainers who claim to use psychic powers, and now they attack an entertainer because he claims not to use psychic powers? What do they want?

I'd have thought the JREF bunch would be delighted about the implied promotion of rational scientific thought -- psychology and so on.

I think the author of the post got in a bit of a huff about the claims that DB was making - being able to influence people's choices etc. It amused me greatly that a forum dedicated to debunking "woo" had a thread attacking a magician who has stated many times that he is a) not remotely psychic and b) spends a lot of time debunking paranormal claims himself.

In all fairness though I must point out that the original poster was, I believe, American had had caught a clip of DB on YouTube.

themagicwand wrote:In all fairness though I must point out that the original poster was, I believe, American

Ah, that explains it then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

I agree with themagicwand. On youtube a while back I found this video of a typically intolerant, pessimistic skeptic which made me laugh. I wrote a quite detailed rebuttal in the comments But hoenstly? Who on earth said skeptics had friends?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeDbP_-JoYM
and tut tut Derren.. how dare you be dishonest? You... You magician, you!! Lying to people!! That's fraud!

SamGurney wrote:I agree with themagicwand. On youtube a while back I found this video of a typically intolerant, pessimistic skeptic which made me laugh. I wrote a quite detailed rebuttal in the comments But hoenstly? Who on earth said skeptics had friends?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeDbP_-JoYM
and tut tut Derren.. how dare you be dishonest? You... You magician, you!! Lying to people!! That's fraud!

That bloke needs to get out a bit more. Seriously.

Beardy wrote:

themagicwand wrote:In all fairness though I must point out that the original poster was, I believe, American

Ah, that explains it then...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

In all fairness though most Americans were amused by her response as well.

And surely it's more of a blond thing than an American one.

To get back on topic, i am really looking forward to these documentaries.

I've had the most interesting and heated debates with people over the existence of ghosts / paranormal happenings.

I admire anyone that defends their position passionately, and many do if they've been to a psychic and been told things they want to hear. A friend of mine often bangs on about someone called 'Psychic Sally', though i must confess i have no clue who or what that is. Apprently she's very good though, and can reveal things the subjects haven't told another living soul.

If i were Derren, I'm not sure how i'd approach the subject of Mediumship / Psychic powers etc. I know some people find great solace and comfort in it, and who are YOU.....or me....to deprive them of that? If they want to find peace with what they believe to be God then hey, at least they found peace right? Wish i could. If they become happier believing their dead Mother has gone on to a better place, where would i get off telling them otherwise?

The flip side of course, is that it's a rather awful thing to tell bereaved strangers lies about members of their family.

Oh yes, roll on May 10th.