talkmagic.co.uk

Extraordinary People: The Million Dollar Mind Reader

Thursday 25 September
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Five

From the Radio Times:

"You may remember a dubious series from 2006 called The Baby Mind Reader. It featured a glib "psychic supernanny" called Derek Ogilvie, who claimed to understand toddlers via telepathy. Only four episodes of The Baby Mind Reader were ever made, but now Derek's back and in this intriguing documentary he undergoes scientific tests, hoping to prove that his powers are real and he's not just, consciously or unconsciously, using other methods. You have to admire Derek's willingness to submit to stringent experiments in London and Miami (in the latter, under the venerable James Randi) to prove, as he wails tearfully on camera, "I'm not a liar!" But that's about all you have to admire about him. The programme affects to keep an open mind about his powers - and if he convinces James Randi, he'll win a million dollars. I've written previously in RT that Derek is, in my view, "about as psychic as my stapler," but I'd hate to spoil the outcome of the programme, so I'll leave you to guess whether he wins the money and shames my stapler." RT reviewer - David Butcher

Should be good for a giggle...

Fantastic. All I need now is a telly

Marvo Marky wrote:Fantastic. All I need now is a telly

No telly? What's all your furniture pointed at?

Tomo wrote:

Marvo Marky wrote:Fantastic. All I need now is a telly

No telly? What's all your furniture pointed at?

the computer

naquada wrote:

Tomo wrote:

Marvo Marky wrote:Fantastic. All I need now is a telly

No telly? What's all your furniture pointed at?

the computer

I dont' have a computer either. Go figure.

Tomo I can't remember what my furniture is pointed towards since it's been that long since I've used it. Most furniture is used for watching telly anyways. I use my bed a lot, however. Mostly for eating curry in.
Incidentally I live on my own.

Marvo Marky wrote:I use my bed a lot, however. Mostly for eating curry in.
Incidentally I live on my own.

That sounds like an excellent way of life to me, if you substitute Chinese food for curry

Tomo wrote:

Marvo Marky wrote:Fantastic. All I need now is a telly

No telly? What's all your furniture pointed at?

That is the funniest thing I've read in ages. I just had to share that with all my colleagues.

Also mentioned at http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/sutra264155.php#264155

Well, that was really fascinating, wasn't it? My personal, and quite obviously unimpressed opinion:

Derek Ogilvie came across as a hyperactive person, very focussed on proving that he wasn't a liar so he's obviously been accused of it and it hurts. I have no doubt that he believes he has some sort of gift and could be oblivious to the cold reading methods he was using. Sadly it was quite clear that his psychic communicating to children wasn't all that convincing and he relies on cold reading the parents. To try and cold read the child minder was a bit off but it showed he can get up to speed under those circumstances. The finger flicking, pacing up and down was extremely irritating and on more than one occasion I felt like shouting at the screen for him to sit down and behave - as you would to a child who was attention seeking and misbehaving.

The James Randi tests were exactly as expected, no better than pure chance, even though Derek had spent time tuning in with the child being used in the tests. I was somewhat shocked to see how old James Randi now looks, he sees to have aged a decade in a couple of years.

The doctor doing the brain scans seemed to be pre-convinced of some sort of special gift but was fairly neutral in his assessment - 'He's using the parts of the brain he says he's using and processes are going one which he says are going on'. Not all that impressive as the features of the frontal lobe can be found in a few seconds by using your favourite search engine. At no time did anyone say, 'Yes, he's psychic'.

If there was a message to this programme it might be, 'Mums, please don't take your children to see and be 'read' by Derek, he might be well-intentioned but why submit your child to this kind of chicanery?'. The other message would be that David Butcher's stapler certainly wasn't shamed.

Recorded it. Can't wait to watch it.

In which case, don't read my post above!