QuoteThomas John, the Seatbelt Psychic was caught cheating and was exposed by Susan Gerbic and Mark Edward in Operation Pizza Roll, as published in the New York Times. Enjoy this short documentary of how Thomas John was busted doing a hot reading and why we should all be skeptical of psychic mediums. Thomas John was caught gleaning information from the sitters' Facebook accounts prior to the show and he got caught red-handed. And this comes right on the tail of John Oliver's brilliant coverage exposing psychic scams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBIIFA5wng
Psychics are just another brand of con artist, charlatans who are smart enough to scam money out of vulnerable people. Just like the mediums that Houdini exposed. He worked for years busting those thieves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POFaDJ5IJHg
At least in the late 19th century, people still believed in "something", even if it was false ;-)
Did you ever see the historical expose, how the whole "spiritualism" aka "seance" business was started by two teen sisters in upstate NY, who could snap their toes (not their fingers)?
https://gizmodo.com/the-sisters-who-talked-to-the-dead-and-sparked-americ-1718100628
Tarot cards were originally used for a European card game, not for oracles.
Still, I did enjoy "Ghost" with Whoopi Goldberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uubih798tg
The most meaningful movie of this type, for me ... Field Of Dreams ;-)
Yeah, I've heard of the Fox sisters, must've been the precursors of Fox News.
The movie Ghost had good music, too, like 'Enery the Eight I am! LOL
My grandmother's generation practiced divination with regular playing cards. And table tapping (think Oija, but larger, and in yes/no format).
My tarot cards were a gift from my grandmother ... they didn't "speak" to her as they do to others. Basically it is a creative probe of the sub-conscious. There could be mediums who do something like that, based on internal clues (aka channeling), but I don't know it. Spontaneous writing and spontaneous speech have been noted in history. Pentecostalism is something like that.
Good. I hate psychics
Remember Jean Dixon? What a scam she had going!
Well, I never had any need for disproof. The entire idea is idiotic from the get-go...
Quote from: Cavebear on March 14, 2019, 10:18:40 AM
Well, I never had any need for disproof. The entire idea is idiotic from the get-go...
But you put all your investments into little pieces of paper backed by financial people? Gullible much?
Peter Popoff was a "faith healer" who was exposed publicly in the 1980s and continues deceiving people to this day. It's certainly unfortunate that these type of fraudulent schemes exist which deceive people and reward fraudsters for their trickery. Unfortunately, getting caught doesn't ensure they will lose their capability to continue deceiving vulnerable and desperate people. Fraudsters are remarkably resilient and capable.
Quote from: mathetes on April 13, 2019, 03:45:30 PM
Peter Popoff was a "faith healer" who was exposed publicly in the 1980s and continues deceiving people to this day. It's certainly unfortunate that these type of fraudulent schemes exist which deceive people and reward fraudsters for their trickery. Unfortunately, getting caught doesn't ensure they will lose their capability to continue deceiving vulnerable and desperate people. Fraudsters are remarkably resilient and capable.
It seems that fraudulent, huckster, snake oil salesman, minister, priest, religion are all one and the same. Religion in general, deals with and uses lies. But they are lies that appeal to the emotions and not reason, which is why it is impossible to bring the idiot believer to the light--reasoning is of the devil.
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 13, 2019, 10:43:28 PM
It seems that fraudulent, huckster, snake oil salesman, minister, priest, religion are all one and the same. Religion in general, deals with and uses lies. But they are lies that appeal to the emotions and not reason, which is why it is impossible to bring the idiot believer to the light--reasoning is of the devil.
I think there is a significant difference between intentional fraudsters and those who may spread misinformation without malicious intent. One is intentionally predatory.
Quote from: mathetes on April 13, 2019, 11:02:28 PM
I think there is a significant difference between intentional fraudsters and those who may spread misinformation without malicious intent. One is intentionally predatory.
And religions are intentionally predatory.
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 14, 2019, 12:00:05 AM
And religions are intentionally predatory.
Some, perhaps.
Quote from: Baruch on March 14, 2019, 01:20:16 PM
But you put all your investments into little pieces of paper backed by financial people? Gullible much?
If my little pieces of paper fail, we have much more serious problems and I'll be hiding in the mountains trapping squirrels for food. But I don't expect that will happen in my lifetime.
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 14, 2019, 12:00:05 AM
And religions are intentionally predatory.
Because people are intentionally or systemically predatory, including Progressives ;-(
Quote from: Cavebear on April 14, 2019, 12:41:45 AM
If my little pieces of paper fail, we have much more serious problems and I'll be hiding in the mountains trapping squirrels for food. But I don't expect that will happen in my lifetime.
I am sorry to say, I suspect we have very serious problems indeed. May or may not happen in the time we have left. N Korea can take out N America with one EMP. Then you have no access to your digital pieces of paper. Also nothing much else, since everything depends on electronics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s7EXnPAS8o
I don't have to be a psychic to say ... an effective EMP attack, means that given our food transport system and JIT warehousing (we don't rely on warehouses like we used to) ... we have 3 days before people panic for real, because the clock starts on the die off of 80% of the population from starvation.
What do the other 20% die of?
Quote from: Unbeliever on April 14, 2019, 06:10:46 PM
What do the other 20% die of?
Spoiled meat (Soylent Green).
I always wondered why "psychics" spent their time telling people what they were holding in their hands instead of being down at the race track picking the winners or playing the stock market.
Seemed like they could have better used their talent..... if they had a talent.
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 14, 2019, 08:19:30 PM
Which ones are positive?
I think the issue was whether they were 'predatory'
Quote from: mathetes on April 16, 2019, 09:02:08 PM
I think the issue was whether they were 'predatory'
Which ones are not predatory?
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 16, 2019, 09:16:23 PM
Which ones are not predatory?
Let's go back to your original claim that religion itself is predatory. How so? How would one go about providing evidence and demonstrating that to be a factual claim to all, or even an overwhelming majority of, religions? There are literally thousands of religions, perhaps tens of thousands. While examples of predatory people can perhaps be found in all, as in any large group or community of people, I think it's much harder to try and apply and prove that broad of claim. Maybe you want to start by looking at some examples of specific religions you feel tend to be the most predatory by nature, system and/or philosophy.
Quote from: mathetes on April 17, 2019, 03:39:19 PM
Let's go back to your original claim that religion itself is predatory. How so? How would one go about providing evidence and demonstrating that to be a factual claim to all, or even an overwhelming majority of, religions? There are literally thousands of religions, perhaps tens of thousands. While examples of predatory people can perhaps be found in all, as in any large group or community of people, I think it's much harder to try and apply and prove that broad of claim. Maybe you want to start by looking at some examples of specific religions you feel tend to be the most predatory by nature, system and/or philosophy.
Islam ... therefore all Muslims must die
Christianity ... therefore all Christians must die
etc.
See some atheists here are really edgy characters. Even when posting digitally, they tend to get self inflicted paper cuts ;-)
Quote from: Minimalist on April 14, 2019, 08:00:03 PM
I always wondered why "psychics" spent their time telling people what they were holding in their hands instead of being down at the race track picking the winners or playing the stock market.
Seemed like they could have better used their talent..... if they had a talent.
That always seemed obvious. Why don't people recognize that?
Quote from: Mike Cl on April 14, 2019, 12:00:05 AM
And religions are intentionally predatory.
It's my view that "unintentionally predatory" is no less harmful. A person who is "unintentionally murdered" is just as dead.
Quote from: mordant on April 27, 2019, 02:42:59 PM
It's my view that "unintentionally predatory" is no less harmful. A person who is "unintentionally murdered" is just as dead.
In "Winning Thru Intimidation" from te 70s, there are three kinds of people. People who say they will hurt you, and do so. Those who say they won't hurt you, are lying, and hurt you. Those who say they won't hurt you, are not lying, but hurt you anyway. The third group is the most dangerous. This is why do-gooders are ... questionable.