John Edwards does kind of suck at it too. Most of his older episodes were just dubbed in and edited to make it look like he got everything right. Funny thing is that there was a Interview with him and he did a reading for like 5 people, and ended up getting everything wrong
Firstly, where on earth did you get that information? I can assure you that it is far from fact even though the JREF barfed up a hand full of THEORIES (even inventing a few) leading up to the big People Magazine “expos’” (a.k.a. Randi chasing another headline). I believe JE addressed every single one of the assumptions in a follow-up episode pointing out that if he were to be using all the techniques Randi & Co. were insisting upon, he’d need his own surveillance team of at least a few hundred people, all of whom would keep their mouths shut and be as corrupt as he supposedly is and that would include his production team.
Skeptics don’t want to believe in anything and so like certain Evangelic types, they want to force the world to see things through their typically arrogant eyes. I say it this way because of the tone we find in this and other posts, in which the “magician” is being cocky and mocking something the know little to nothing about when it comes to first-hand experience vs. book knowledge and the church of St. Randi, neither of which can give you a proper sense of perspective let alone the feedback that you require as an individual for making a WISE assessment on things vs. a biased assumption.
UNDERSTAND; there are many people of faith within this very forum, including believers in things psychic/paranormal, who deliberately stay out of these ‘discussions’ because of how frustrated they get with the intellectual bullies/skeptics and the many games they play. But I’ve gotten fed-up with the school jock mentality these pseudo-intellects not only encourage, but present in the same exact manner as the muscle boys and sports figures in their schools that picked on them for being geeks… in this case they have chosen to prey upon others they believe to be beneath them because of perceptions and belief and thus, place themselves on some ivory pillar of superiority, giving no respect nor consideration to anyone hosting a contrary way of looking at things.
I was kind of hinting at his ethics rather than effectiveness though
“Ethics” is a matter of how you want to look at something; there are people in this world today that see all of stage magic as unethical and immoral just as there are those that believe big business operates by some very high ethical and moral standards (even while screwing the hell out of the consumer & tax payer). I’ve never thought it very “ethical” to condemn one small group for doing something that several massive organizations do daily in exactly the same if not crueler ways, including the invention of laws that protect their right to step beyond the common lines of what ethics and morality is supposed to be.
When one works within an industry rife with anal retentive characters that seem to find an ethics violation at every turn, it’s only natural to conclude that those who haven’t the balls or talent for selling ‘the act” as it were, will demean the action, forgetting that (in this case) 90% of the major players within Mentalism have historically and still do, do Readings both, from the stage and in private for pay. The reason for this is quite simple; the public don’t give a rat’s ass if you can bend a spoon or key, they come to see a “Psychic” so they can learn (and hear) about themselves. You will find that fact echoed in the books penned generations before the term “Cold Reading” was invented and it is a position still sustained by people such as Webster, Finley, Riggs, Martin and others.
The Delusion that all Readers (especially mediums) are evil, unethical, immoral minions of the devil comes from two key sources; misinterpretation of history i.e. the Kellar and later Houdini investigations, court room grandstanding, etc. and how that sensationalism elicited political support from the general public to pressure local authorities into passing laws pertaining to “fortunetelling” … laws very much akin to the many witchcraft laws passed a century or more previous.
The other reason for this is the skeptic’s unwillingness to consider a person’s nature; if one is born and has the sort of character in which they are empathetic, charitable, courteous, kind, and giving then it doesn’t matter why vocation they step into, this is how they are going to be. On the other hand, someone that shows a penchant for mischief young in life and who expands upon that essence as they move into adulthood, seeing now personal wrong in preying on others for the sake of personal gain… such a person will perpetuate these same actions & attitudes NO MATTER WHAT vocation he/she takes up.
Doing Readings is NOT Evil or immoral or unethical, it’s what you do with them and your personal sense of integrity. It’s that simple.
There is a third point that some writers have hinted at and even shared in discussions; most that are so critical of Readers are such because they can’t do it… they are afraid of it and/or they simply don’t trust themselves enough to not be corrupted. That really does say a lot about the moral fiber of such individuals.
Sylvia Browne has a voice like she's been smoking 40 a day for many many years and a bad hairstyle to boot
You’re quite observant, I don’t know that she still is but from what I hear she used to be a chimney. Her table at Psychic events would have ashtray’s overflowing. But there is a reason (excuse) behind this and the fact that so many Psychics are “fat”… two reasons;
a.) (according to insiders) Both food & smoking grounds them and keeps them from getting “too” loopy.
b.) many Readers believe themselves a kind of “Sin Eater” that part of their job is to take on the negative karma of their sitters in order to heal them and thus, the Reader suffers that others might find peace. Tobacco and food are two of the most common “tranquilizers” going and thus, we find psychics suffering from a plethora of addictions; a trait that actually has very deep roots when it comes to tradition – especially alcohol & certain narcotics.
Sorry, I don't understand. Are you saying that he is not a manipulative and attention-seeking liar? Or are you agreeing that he is one, but claiming that he is at least more convincing than Sylvia? Or something else.
Firstly, are you saying that he is lying? Is this something you can prove or just personal assumption?
I’ve done Q&A bits in which I hit hard as hard gets and not even I can tell you how I manage to get such hits other than the fact that I listen to my gut when I’m doing such stuff. How can that be wrong? Manipulation? A deliberate Lie?
They might not be in literal contact with the deceased but it is their perception that such is the case; the explanation they’ve been given for decades. There are many “conditioning” factors that instill and sustain this kind of belief. But, as someone that believes he’s had a couple of experiences in which I was “overcome by the spirit” I’ll let you know that it is one of the most sickening encounters I’ve ever had. Ignoring the fact that I detest not being in control of my own world, the realization that some “other” influence is there and working through you is down-right disturbing. I was nauseous for hours after the first encounter; the second encounter wasn’t quite as dramatic but more interesting.
Because of those experiences I have to leave the door cracked a bit when it comes to the possibility of mediumistic ability. HOWEVER, just as I am with 90+% of those calling themselves “Psychic”, I know that most really aren’t. Of that group a very small handful qualify as being deliberate charlatans and predators, which is MY ISSUE when it comes to the skeptical contentions; they are pointing fingers at the minority and choosing to not see the majority… it’s a lot like the American Right-Wing around the Gay Rights issues; the see the jerks in drag & leather being drunks & junkies but not the greater bulk of that community, who typically live quiet 9-5 lives just like the rest of middle America, striving to have the same kind of happiness.
You may deduce correctly that I don't believe that the living can communicate with the dead in the way that John et al claim to do, and that people who so claim are not to be held with the greatest of esteem.
While I understand where you’re coming from and even the “why” to it, I must state that I’ve yet to meet a skeptic that wasn’t at least 25% a****le and 35% bigot … and that includes my various friends within that community.
