The Museum of Hoaxes
sylvia browne
Posted By:
padego
Apr 04, 2005
 Just thought I'd peruse Ms. Browne's site for news of the pope, oddly theres no mention....

http://www.sylvia.org/home/index.cfm
Category: Prophecy-Psychic; Replies: 765

Comments
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Kelly S. S.
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 | 11:09 PM
Almost forgot! Yes! I was not only dianogst with 'FIBERMYOLOGIA' BUT ALSO FULL; that's 100% FULL R.A. RUMORTOID ARTHRITIS.
AND YES!! SHE WAS CORRECT ABOUT THE 'TOUGH LOVE' STUFF, MOTHER WAS NEVER EVER TOUGH ON HER TWO LAST BOYS, THEY LOOKED TOO MUCH LIKE DADDY, AND HE DIED IN '72. LEAVING US AS POOR AS WE ARE TODAY!! BRYAN......WE CALL HIM 'TRAIN BOY' For he was HIT by a train and survived it. He sued the Train station, stating it was going too fast..... And should've slowed down when they saw he was DRUNK and STUCK on the tracks.
So you see, he's been in Trouble all of his adult and childhood life. Though with enough PRAYERS he is doing a little bit better these days.
Later Gators,
Kelly.
Charybdis
in Hell
 Member
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 | 09:27 AM
Tough love?

Hell Kelly, it's the same advice any of us would have given. Are you not aware of the concept of 'common sense'?
dave
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 | 01:05 PM
If she is really a fraud like some of you claim then how does she help the police finding missing dead children bodies? You think she is just a good guesser?
Carter S
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 | 05:29 PM
I see Kelly's back. Ello Kelly

Anyway, I always tell people who believe in psychics to prepare to be devastated. I mean, if you believe in something, you should always know that being wrong about something or someone is a possibility. I mean, how stupid are you going to feel if the psychic that you have been following for years comes out and admits that they're a fraud. I would feel stupid. But I don't follow any psychics, so I don't have to worry about that.

So go ahead and believe. But just be sure that you know that you might be wrong.

That's what this site has taught me.

phhhht. sorry a little gased.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 | 05:40 PM
Dave in Boston said:

"If she is really a fraud like some of you claim then how does she help the police finding missing dead children bodies? You think she is just a good guesser?"

Dave, here's a suggestion for you: read some postings on any discussion group before you try to add to the conversation. If you had done that, you would have seen that we've dealt with the notion that Sylvia has "assisted the police" with crime investigations.

Here's the Reader's Digest version: she hasn't. Not in any meaningful sense, anyway.
Kelly S. S.
Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 | 01:20 PM
Hey Carter! I Missed ya!!
I no all about LET DOWNS! Hell I am 45 yrs. old, with dead dreams, and living with my elderly mother, I tried to comit suicide since I was SEVEN for GOD'S SAKE. SO I know about let downs, believe me. I am SO USED TO IT, I am 24/7 prepared for it. I don't think I was meant to be born anyways so. And now I am Ill with no Cure.
So believe Guys, I know about LET DOWNS. And who ever it was that told me HELL, ANYONE COULD HAVE GIVEN YOU THAT ADVICE? No they couldn't not for YEARS. I suffered with R.A. and FIBERMYOLGIA, And ANXIETY ATTACKS My whole damn life!! I guess it was being locked in All those Closests all of my childhood. Who knows? BUT YOU R WRONG, WHO EVER YOU ARE? I do NOT believe in EVERY FREAKIN' THING MS. BROWNE WRITES, OR SAYS, But what she had to say about us that fateful day was 100% correct.
We would have NEVER in a million years moved, we are too poor for that, never thought my dumb brother would marry someone with good CREDIT!!
So, there you go.
Kelly.
Charybdis
in Hell
 Member
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 | 11:06 AM
Kelly S.S., you don't help your case by using capitals every other sentence. In fact, it makes you seem less intelligent and therefore, less reliable a witness to Sylvia's 'readings'.

Face it, she's been shown to be a fraud many, many times. How can you believe anything she says? The very few times she actually gets something completely right, as opposed to manuevering you into believing she did (which is very likely the case, whether you accept it or not), can be explained as either foreknowledge or coincidence. If I start throwing enough facts out there eventually I'll get some right, too.
nobody
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 | 10:47 PM
I have a challenge for you skeptics....oh by the way,it's arrogant of those people who responded to critique someone elses style of writing. so the he## what if they misspelled their words! Is this elementary school? As for my challenge, why don't you people who are so skeptical realize that none of us know the real answers so it is fair for both sides to have an opinion and to seek guidance from someone who has a gift from God like Sylvia Browne. NOBODY is perfect...not even Sylvia but she is more gifted with spiritual knowledge than most of us. Sylvia can not be expected to know everything but I do not think she get's her gifts from the devil like some of you suggested.Also, I would also charge people this high fee if I was her because she can turn around the whole course of people's lives when they are at rock-bottom and has on several occasions.personally, syvia's books and lectures have tremendously given me more faith in god!Maybe you all should read her books before you declare her a fruitcake.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 | 02:24 AM
So, Nobody, what is your "challenge?" You don't seem to have gotten around to it in your posting.

As for this not being grade school, you are correct. I think it's fair to assume that everyone here has graduated from grammar school so it is reasonable to also assume that we were all taught the rules of spelling and grammar. Why are you so willing to dismiss illiteracy?

As for Sylvia, not only does she NOT "have all the answers," the answers she APPEARS to have are essentially pulled out of her ample ass.

Her "psychic" act which seems to impress you so much is composed of a trick called "cold reading" well understood by magicians and others who have bothered to inform themselves on the subject. Trust me, those of us who know how it works are NOT impressed with her B.S. I can see that you are, however, and I know from experience that people like you aren't inclined to look below the surface of things like this. Enjoy your delusion.
9^6
Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 | 04:16 PM
Well, I do agree with what the skeptics on here have to say. They do have a right to be suspicious of Miss Sylvia Browne. Everyone should.

But I would like to point out that just because our human minds can't comprehend the existence of such powers, that doesn't necessarily mean that they do not exist.

For instance. At one point in time scientists never thought that Bacteria could live in the stomach. Two scientists, however, believed other wise. They were ostracized for even thinking it, until they actually proved that bacteria could in fact live in the stomach. They later won a Nobel Prize. How about the Wright Brothers, or even flying to the moon and sending satellites into orbit. Those were all impossible at one time.

The main thing is that we are a growing society, whose main importance in life is technology. (Let's face it, we are dependent on technology, For the majority of the world at least)

By saying that something is impossible, just because our human minds can't comprehend such a task to be performed, is, in my humble opinion, a very poor statement at that. In all my years of life, I have seen the impossible happen, to many a fluke, to me a beautiful knowing.

Many things in the past have been deemed impossible, only to find out that they were not. But the fact that there are people out there who find anything to be possible helps us evolve. If you find something to be possible, it may very well be so. If you find something to be impossible, well, just keep in mind that the impossible has turned into the possible many many many times in the past, and I'm sure we will find that to be true in the future as well.

It reminds me of children and Mathematics. They can't comprehend the rules of the Mathematics game, so they mark it as impossible.

(Not insinuating that skeptics are children)

With only a few readings on this site I know I will get a lot of sarcastic remarks about this post, along with a bunch of disrespectful ones too. It seems here, on this forum, that many people can't keep their cool, or just find it fun to humiliate or even upset a person. I guess some people just get extremely amused at this, it seems to be their main fuel. Maybe a low self-esteem drives them to look elsewhere, like a computer system, where no one can see them. But it shows how small minded, and cruel people can be in this world.

Thanks for your time.

Stay civilized, stay tolerant, stay knowledgeable, and stay classy.

Maybe we will be connected on here again soon. Good bye.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 | 01:09 AM
P^6 said:

"I would like to point out that just because our human minds can't comprehend the existence of such powers, that doesn't necessarily mean that they do not exist."

The exact same argument, in almost the exact same words, has been made on this board several times previously.

It isn't because we "can't comprehend the existence of such powers" that we are skeptical of them. It's because what Sylvia Browne and other professional "psychics" do can be duplicated using tricks and techniques that do NOT rely on any way on supernatural abilities. In fact, there are a number of people who earn a living as mentalist performers who do exactly that all the time.

The unfortunate fact is that when "psychics" are tested in a way that eliminates their ability to cheat, they inevitably fail. Badly.

All Sylvia Browne or any other "psychic" has to do to turn us around is to demonstrate their "powers" under controlled conditions. NOT ONE OF THEM has ever been able to do that. Most of them aren't even willing to try. One has to wonder why. Actually, one can figure out why pretty easily. All you have to do is have an open mind to the possibility that they are full of shit. You don't have a closed mind, do you?
Lawnboy
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 | 08:11 PM
I really Don't know what to think about Sylvia Browne. Even IF she is a fraud, her work is helping people. She was right about the TSunami.

This is what I REMEMBER her saying on the Montel Williams show " Try and Stay away from india, something about flooding, around December" She didn't give an exact date, but she did predict a disaster involving water and flooding in the area.

As for the Challenge Sylvia was offered on The Larry King Show,...why would she take that challenge anyway? I don't get how people are automatically saying " she's a fraud" because she is not taking that test. What about faith? What if she does have this ability, and takes the test " Yep, these things are true, the afterlife DOES exist" really think about it, it was never meant to be revealed to us; Fraud or not.
Lawnboy
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 | 08:36 PM
Cranky Media Guy wrote

" All Sylvia Browne or any other "psychic" has to do to turn us around is to demonstrate their "powers" under controlled conditions. NOT ONE OF THEM has ever been able to do that. Most of them aren't even willing to try. One has to wonder why. Actually, one can figure out why pretty easily. All you have to do is have an open mind to the possibility that they are full of shit. You don't have a closed mind, do you?"

Even if they were to be genuine, do you really think the truth would be revealed to us? of course not,If she aced that test the people organizing it would say she's a fraud.

World Governments are dedicated to keeping us in the dark when it comes to things we don't
understand.
So the Earth is flat.Humans DO NOT have a soul. we fart out into nothing when we die. Ufo sightings are mass hallucinations.Somethings can not be proven.
Give me scientific evidence that you love someone.Can't prove it? Must be a fraud.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 12:55 AM
Lawnboy said:

"Even if they were to be genuine, do you really think the truth would be revealed to us? of course not,If she aced that test the people organizing it would say she's a fraud."

Utter nonsense, Lawnboy. Just for starters, what would keep Sylvia (or whatever "psychic" passed the test) from telling everyone what had happened? If you actually knew anything about the JREF Million Dollar Test, you'd know that the rules clearly state that the test will be conducted in such a way that there can be no ambiguity about the outcome. In other words, the "psychic" who takes the test either passes or doesn't pass in a non-arguable way.

If you have any actual FACTS to back up your contention that a successful outcome of the test would be hidden somehow, please present it.

"World Governments are dedicated to keeping us in the dark when it comes to things we don't
understand."

What do "World Governments" have to do with whether Sylvia Browne is a "psychic" or not?

"So the Earth is flat.Humans DO NOT have a soul. we fart out into nothing when we die. Ufo sightings are mass hallucinations.Somethings can not be proven."

What is the relevance of any of that to the debate at hand?

"Give me scientific evidence that you love someone.Can't prove it? Must be a fraud."

Whether or not I love someone is NOT a scientific question. The reality of "psychic" powers, on the other hand, IS. It CAN be tested, except that the people who claim such powers won't submit themselves to such testing. Gee, I wonder why.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 01:04 AM
Lawnboy said:

"I really Don't know what to think about Sylvia Browne. Even IF she is a fraud, her work is helping people. She was right about the TSunami."

Um, Lawnboy, how can Sylvia "help" people by being a fraud? I can't follow your logic on that one at all.

"This is what I REMEMBER her saying on the Montel Williams show " Try and Stay away from india, something about flooding, around December" She didn't give an exact date, but she did predict a disaster involving water and flooding in the area."

Funny thing about that "prediction": India was NOT one of the most-affected areas by the tsunami. Sylvia didn't mention the areas that WERE the most affected. Oops.

Also, you ARE aware, are you not, of a thing called "Tsunami Season?" Give me about five minutes to do a little research on Google and I can make a vague "psychic prediction" about when a tsunami might strike. I guess, using your logic, my local TV weatherman is "psychic," too. After all, just the other day, I saw him predict that it was going to rain and damned if it didn't.

"As for the Challenge Sylvia was offered on The Larry King Show,...why would she take that challenge anyway?"

Funny thing about the Challenge Sylvia was offered on The Larry King Show: SHE ACCEPTED IT on the air! Yes, Sylvia said that she WOULD take the Challenge, then broke her promise. Golly, why would she do a thing like that, I wonder.

"I don't get how people are automatically saying " she's a fraud" because she is not taking that test."

Um, we're saying she's a fraud, in part because she said she WOULD take the Challenge, then broke the promise.

"What about faith? What if she does have this ability, and takes the test " Yep, these things are true, the afterlife DOES exist" really think about it, it was never meant to be revealed to us; Fraud or not."

Why do you seem to be defending her, even if she IS a fraud? Why would a presumably intelligent person defend a fake who makes her living fleecing those who trust and believe her?

If the "Afterlife" was never meant to be revealed to us, why does Sylvia make a handsome living by claiming to be able to make contact with those who reside there? If we're not meant to know the details of the Afterlife, why does Sylvia describe those details during her lectures as I saw her do on a pay-per-view show? If we're "not meant" to know about the Afterlife, shouldn't she shut her pie hole about it?
I
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 03:35 PM
And with those fingernails, it's obvious she's sold her soul to the Devil.



🐍 Sylvia doesnt believe in demons and the devil....But get this sylvia once said something like "I dont need 1 million dolllars etc...." :lol:Yeah sure I mean just pass up,a million bucks no big loss...
9^6
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 08:35 PM
"The exact same argument, in almost the exact same words, has been made on this board several times previously."

Yes, I know.


"It isn't because we "can't comprehend the existence of such powers" that we are skeptical of them....."

In many cases it is to some individuals.

".......It's because what Sylvia Browne and other professional "psychics" do can be duplicated using tricks and techniques that do NOT rely on any way on supernatural abilities. In fact, there are a number of people who earn a living as mentalist performers who do exactly that all the time"

You are correct. But the fact that there are frauds out there does not make these so called powers false.

"The unfortunate fact is that when "psychics" are tested in a way that eliminates their ability to cheat, they inevitably fail. Badly."

Yes, unfortunately. I direct you to my previous statement.

The sad thing about these tests, is that many people go into studies and research in a bias way. Many unknowingly. If they ("psychics") succeed in a test, a more probable event would happen, in which the scientists become skeptical of there own tests. Many other tests would be done, until they are satisfied with their results. If anyone does pass Mr. James Randi's challenge, then I wouldn't expect for them to see even a penny.

I understand, through reading, that you are quite the fan of Mr. James Randi. I think that is absolutely magnificent. He is a great mind in our world today. A man that deserves respect. I am not calling him a dishonest man in anyway. But, I find it hard to believe such a devoted scientist would throw One-Million Dollars out to someone who has humiliated him. As a scientist myself, I would also have a hard time giving out such a prize to something/one that has smashed every atom of my scientific world. (Data, research, observations, my own understanding)

I will say, us scientists, or what have you, are quite the stubborn folk. We don't like to be proven wrong. It crushes the core of our lifes into a devastating reminder of how little we really know.

Continuous Post......................
9^6
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 08:36 PM
Continued Post.......

"All Sylvia Browne or any other "psychic" has to do to turn us around is to demonstrate their "powers" under controlled conditions."

Yes, a magnificent way to determine validity! But, I must say, that there are errors in even controlled studies. You can get up to a 40%-100% conclusion. But, one must go into a study with an attempt, not to disprove, or even prove an ability, but to discover. Science is about attempting discover, discovering, then evolving with that discovery. It's just fascinating isn't it?

"NOT ONE OF THEM has ever been able to do that."

Not to our knowledge, No.


"Most of them aren't even willing to try. One has to wonder why. Actually, one can figure out why pretty easily. All you have to do is have an open mind to the possibility that they are full of shit."

Of course the most reasonable reaction is a quarrel of quandary. The thing that one must realize is that not all people are willing to give up a priceless artifact just for the money, one also doesn't like to put their pride on the line, as well as their own well-being.

"....full of shit."

Feces is matter that I have yet to analyze. Sorry for joking.......

But of course you're right Sir (not to say that I'm wrong). So far, this is the correct way to evaluate such speculation. I have not read Mr. Randi's official contract to his challenge, and I apologize for that. But I do have to say, that this study should be observed by Many, not just by him and his scientists. They should be the People that have no opinion at all on this matter. Also the Non-Religious and religious...etc. Something this controversial should not be observed by the narrow minded Only. With that being said, it would eliminate any kind of "trickery", as you will, by scientists and the challenger. Again, I apologize that I haven't read his contract. So if that is in the agreement, then I agree with this experiment.

"You don't have a closed mind, do you?"

Well, if I were close-minded, then I would not have gotten as far as I have. But not everyone is 100% Open-minded. In this matter, I am.
I may come off as a believer, but I am merely questioning a few thoughts and feelings on this matter from some intellectual individuals on this website that I happen to cross paths with.

Mr. Cranky Media Guy,

I thank you for your response. It contained neither of the characteristics that I mentioned in my previous posting. I would like to thank you for your generous thoughts that you have shared. You seem quite perceivable in this world that we live in. I am glad that your comments were not meant offensively, because I do not respond to any kind of agression, nor do I respond to arrogance or -the Very mature Sarcasm-
........

I await your comments......
9^6
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 | 08:39 PM
I apologize. The statement that I made, "You can get up to a 40%-100% conclusion" is based on my own studies.

You can get from 0%-100% of your study.

Thank you.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 | 12:57 AM
9^6, thanks for the kind words. Trust me, I can be as sarcastic as the next person, but that didn't seem warranted in response to you.

Um, as far as the JREF Challenge goes, I'm not looking at the rules at the moment, but I don't think there's any prohibition against other observers, so long as they don't interfere with the testing, of course.

Remember that the rules DO clearly state that the outcome of the testing has to be unambiguous. There's not supposed to be any "reading between the lines" in favor of passing or failing. In other words, anyone seeing the test would immediately know whether or not the "psychic" had accomplished what they claimed they could.

Sylvia Browne said on the Larry King Show that she WOULD take the test, then she promptly evaded taking it. I believe this is because she knows full well that she cannot pass such a test. I could be wrong, of course, but since she broke her word, I guess we'll never know, huh?
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 | 01:09 AM
9^6 said:

""It isn't because we "can't comprehend the existence of such powers" that we are skeptical of them.....""

"In many cases it is to some individuals."

Like who? Can you name some of these individuals?

"".......It's because what Sylvia Browne and other professional "psychics" do can be duplicated using tricks and techniques that do NOT rely on any way on supernatural abilities. In fact, there are a number of people who earn a living as mentalist performers who do exactly that all the time""

"You are correct. But the fact that there are frauds out there does not make these so called powers false."

No, you're correct that what I said does not absolutely PROVE that "psychic" powers do not exist, but if the exact same things can be done by perfectly natural means, why should anyone assume that "psychic" ability is involved when one of these "wonders" is performed?

If I can perform a magic trick and tell you what card you picked without using any supernatural power at all, why would you assume that I HAD such power?

""The unfortunate fact is that when "psychics" are tested in a way that eliminates their ability to cheat, they inevitably fail. Badly.""

"Yes, unfortunately. I direct you to my previous statement."

Understood, but if you concede that these things can be done by simple trick (and some skill, admittedly), why do you seem to want to believe that such things EVER involve supernatural ability? Why not just assume that there is a trick or tricks involved and require the "psychic" to prove otherwise? The burden of proof is on them, I'd say.

"The sad thing about these tests, is that many people go into studies and research in a bias way."

A properly designed, properly conducted study would eliminate bias. That's what "double blind" tests are designed to do. If anything, poorly designed tests have tended to validate claims of "psychic" ability.

"Many unknowingly. If they ("psychics") succeed in a test, a more probable event would happen, in which the scientists become skeptical of there own tests. Many other tests would be done, until they are satisfied with their results. If anyone does pass Mr. James Randi's challenge, then I wouldn't expect for them to see even a penny."

The rules for Randi's Challenge state clearly that the claimant only has to pass the test ONCE to collect the money. If he were to require the claimant to take additional tests to get their money, he would be in violation of his own contract and subject to lawsuit.

"I find it hard to believe such a devoted scientist would throw One-Million Dollars out to someone who has humiliated him. As a scientist myself, I would also have a hard time giving out such a prize to something/one that has smashed every atom of my scientific world. (Data, research, observations, my own understanding)"

I'm sorry if this sounds like I'm being nasty; that isn't my intent. That statement, however, makes you sound like a poor scientist to me. Science is the pursuit of TRUTH. If you are conducting your testing, etc. with the desire to force it to produce the outcome you want, you are engaging in biased testing. The test should produce whatever result it produces. Period.

"I will say, us scientists, or what have you, are quite the stubborn folk. We don't like to be proven wrong. It crushes the core of our lifes into a devastating reminder of how little we really know."

I don't know ANY human who LIKES to be proven wrong. A scientist should be prepared to find out new, even startling, things. If you are so hidebound to your prejudices that you can't handle the possibility of unexpected results, perhaps you have chosen the wrong career. Again, I am honestly not trying to attack you; I am just truly dismayed by your statements on this.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 | 01:17 AM
I said:

"Sylvia doesnt believe in demons and the devil....But get this sylvia once said something like "I dont need 1 million dolllars etc...." Yeah sure I mean just pass up,a million bucks no big loss..."

Well, even if Sylvia can afford to pass up a million dollars for herself, since according to her followers she's such a "humanitarian," why doesn't she just win the million bucks and give it to poor or sick people? There's no rule that says she has to keep it for herself, after all.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri May 19, 2006 | 06:09 PM
Here's some new stuff on Sylvia. No, don't thank me; keeping the pot stirred is thanks enough for me.

http://randi.org/jr/2006-05/051906sylvia.html#i1
Inquisitor
Member
Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 | 01:02 PM
Hello,

Unfortunately, Sylvia may be steering people away from legitimate psychics because there may be a tendency to throw out the baby with the bath water.

Inquisitor
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 | 02:16 AM
Inquisitor said:

"Unfortunately, Sylvia may be steering people away from legitimate psychics because there may be a tendency to throw out the baby with the bath water."

You seem to be making the assumption that there ARE real "psychics." That has never been proven scientifically. Whenever "psychic" abilities have been properly tested, they have failed. The Big Name "Psychics," of course, won't submit themselves to testing even when, as in the case of Sylvia Browne, they PROMISED to take a test.
charlotte
Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 | 01:27 AM
please if you have such a problem with such a wonderful person like sylivia browne then get a life and dont talk smack about someone you dont know,why dont you put all this anger into something else like calling bush and asking him to bring our solgers home and not in body bags as far as i am consirned sylvia is my hero.everyone needs to beleive in something and how can you go wrong with someone who loves god as much as she does and montel i love him to, use you mind have a personal thought.if you ran down a hill and fell whos fault would it be ?
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 | 02:36 PM
Charlotte, you obviously have not read much of this thread. We've explained in detail why we oppose Sylvia's fraud.

I realize you want to believe in her and will continue to do so, despite any and all evidence that she is nothing more than a simple "cold reader." You will continue to make excuses for the fact that nothing she does requires any sort of "psychic ability" and that she said on national TV that she WOULD take the Million Dollar Challenge and then weaseled out.

Unfortunately, because you are blinded by your desire to believe despite the evidence, you will continue to make excuses for a woman who takes money from the sick by pretending to be able to "help" them. That's sad. Your life would be greatly enhanced if you could stop putting your trust in those who take advantage of you.

The only person Sylvia helps is herself.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 | 05:16 PM
Oh, those wacky, wacky "psychic doctors":

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/052306/POL_B9T2SSKH.048.shtml
Ems
Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 | 11:03 PM
Look people. I understand the need for skeptism. BUT, where is your faith? Sylvia Browne has said numerous times that psychics can be wrong. She has never claimed to be %100. I have read many of her books, and have kept an open mind to the possibility that she could be right on some things. Of course science hasnt come up with a way to actually prove whether or not these psychics are right, how can they when psychics arent always right. Also, why would someone base all of their life decisions on what a psychic tells them? C'mon.
I am open to the "possibility" that she could be right. I would like to believe what she says in regard to The Other Side is true. How wonderful would that be?
Also, give her a break...she is like 67 years old now. She doesnt need the pressure from people like Randi anyways. His million dollars doenst mean anything to her. Of course she charges so much for her readings, people are willing to pay that!!!!!
There have been many accounts of her actually helping people. She has helped solve crimes with police departments and such. She also doesnt charge any of them for her help.

I'm not trying to be on my soap box about Sylvia, but give me a break people. I have went back and read a lot of the postings, and most of them are so immature.
Open your hearts and minds to something different. sheesh.
Inquisitor
Member
Posted: Thu May 25, 2006 | 11:10 PM
Hi Forum,

I forgot to mention in that post that Sylvia read for my mom in 1984 before she was famous. Mom thought she was psychic. It could be that Sylvia lost her power because of a strong desire for money.

Inquisitor
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 | 12:32 AM
EMS said:

"Look people. I understand the need for skeptism. BUT, where is your faith?"

Why would anyone "need faith" to determine whether or not Sylvia Browne is a fake. She can be tested easily and the results will tell us what the deal really is. No faith required.

"Sylvia Browne has said numerous times that psychics can be wrong. She has never claimed to be %100."

So what? Who, exactly, is expecting her to be 100% correct about everything? Where have you EVER seen anyone require that of her? You are employing a red herring here.

"I have read many of her books, and have kept an open mind to the possibility that she could be right on some things. Of course science hasnt come up with a way to actually prove whether or not these psychics are right, how can they when psychics arent always right."

Nonsense. She wouldn't have to be 100% about a number of different things to pass Randi's Challenge. She would have to pass a test the parameters of which she would agree to in advance. What could be more fair than that?

"Also, why would someone base all of their life decisions on what a psychic tells them?"

It would be virtually impossible for a person to base ALL of their life decisions on what a "psychic" told them. So what? If Sylvia is a fake--and she is--why should she derive a living from advising people at all?

"I am open to the "possibility" that she could be right. I would like to believe what she says in regard to The Other Side is true. How wonderful would that be?"

It would be VERY wonderful. Unfortunately, there is NO evidence that "psychic" powers exist.

I think you have described the problem in that single paragraph. Because you WANT to believe in "psychic" powers, nothing anyone can say will cause you to consider that the "psychics" you believe in are mere fakes. The fact is that when "psychic" powers are properly tested, they fail. Every time. I honestly feel sorry for you because you have allowed your desire to believe blind you to that simple fact. The fact that it would be a more interesting world IF "psychic" powers existed in no way means that you should invest your belief in them.

"Also, give her a break...she is like 67 years old now. She doesnt need the pressure from people like Randi anyways. His million dollars doenst mean anything to her. Of course she charges so much for her readings, people are willing to pay that!!!!!"

Like other supporters of Sylvia Browne, you have either not bothered to read some of the postings on this thread or you choose to ignore the fact that, as has been stated numerous times here, Sylvia said on the Larry King Show that she WOULD take Randi's Challenge, then she weaseled out of it. OK, did you get that? She PROMISED to take the Challenge, but she lied, as she has since avoided any and all attempts to get her to make good on that promise.

Also, as I said in a message here just the other day, why wouldn't she take the Challenge, AS SHE PROMISED TO, and donate the money to charity, since you say SHE doesn't need it? Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing for her to do?

"There have been many accounts of her actually helping people. She has helped solve crimes with police departments and such. She also doesnt charge any of them for her help."

Again, you have either not bothered to read this thread or you are deliberately ignoring the fact that this has been addressed previously.

Since you say unequivocally that she has helped more than one police department solve a crime, you must know the name of at least one of them, right? Would you please back that claim up by calling one of those departments, speaking to a member of that department who will admit that Sylvia has helped them solve a crime and posting that person's name here? Thank you.
Ems
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 | 11:05 AM
actually media guy, you are assuming a lot of what I am thinking, and there for that makes you an a**. Look, my faith is strong in god, I'm not saying I need a psychic to strengthen that. maybe there is someone out there who may need that or her to guide them closer to God. I HAVE read all of the previous posts and am suprised the amount of verbal crap that people have taken from you. Just because you dont agree in something, doesnt give you the right to TRY and make someone look or feel stupid. Give me a break. You spend a lot of time debating syliva. I agree that she should take that test. I would love to see it happen. but if she isnt, who cares.
Of course, I would like to believe in psychics. also, there are a lot of people out there that do base life decisions unfortunately on what a psychic tells them.
and another instance of you being rude, i didnt say that i knew of a particular person that she helped, im just stating things I have read. I told you already that I am an open person. I think you need to pick a new subject to deal with, you are really too emotional in this.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 | 01:36 PM
ems said:

"actually media guy, you are assuming a lot of what I am thinking, and there for that makes you an a**."

Oh, really? If you notice, I take great care to quote people, using cut and paste, so that I DON'T misconstrue what they say. In that way, I'd say I'm much more careful than a lot of people. Exactly how did I "assume" anything about you?

"I HAVE read all of the previous posts and am suprised the amount of verbal crap that people have taken from you."

Would you please cite some examples of me doing that? I said that you had either not read many of the previous postings OR were ignoring them, as you had repeated things which had been responded to already. How was I wrong about that?

"Just because you dont agree in something, doesnt give you the right to TRY and make someone look or feel stupid."

At the risk of stating the obvious, if you feel stupid after reading something I've written, it may not be MY fault.

"Give me a break. You spend a lot of time debating syliva. I agree that she should take that test. I would love to see it happen. but if she isnt, who cares."

A "lot of time" is subjective, I'd say. Objectively, I spend perhaps ten minutes every few days or so on this topic. Is that a "lot?"

So now you AGREE that Sylvia should take the test? Interesting, since you previous said, "Also, give her a break...she is like 67 years old now. She doesnt need the pressure from people like Randi anyways. His million dollars doenst mean anything to her." That would seem to suggest that you thought that she SHOULDN'T take the Challenge. Also, you don't address the inconvenient fact that she PROMISED to take it, then reneged. What is she afraid of?

"and another instance of you being rude, i didnt say that i knew of a particular person that she helped, im just stating things I have read."

Here's what you actually said:

"There have been many accounts of her actually helping people. She has helped solve crimes with police departments and such. She also doesnt charge any of them for her help."

You certainly stated that as if you knew it for a fact. How is it "rude" of me to ask you to back it up? Are you now admitting that you didn't know what you were talking about?

"I told you already that I am an open person. I think you need to pick a new subject to deal with, you are really too emotional in this."

Really? I'm "emotional" because I'm challenging you, using actual FACTS? Funny, I'm sitting here feeling rather rational, not emotional. It seems to me that YOU are the one who is taking things personally.

As I said, I think you really, really WANT to believe in Sylvia, no matter what, even if you are forced to withdraw statements when it's demonstrated that they don't really make sense. I've asked you repeatedly for facts to back up your statements. You are either unwilling or unable to provide them. Shouldn't that cause you to reconsider your blind faith in Sylvia "Fraud" Browne?
Carter S
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 | 07:29 PM
Cranky Media Guy- 1,000

Me- 1,001(jk)

Everyone Else-0

Cranky, you are stopping everyone dead in their tracks.

Keep up the good work dude!
Carter S
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 | 07:35 PM
Why the hell are there advertisements for Psychic readings?

Isn't this site for setting the record straight, and helping people NOT get screwed and conned? Isn't this only encouraging some people to get a reading?

Seems weird to me.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 | 01:00 AM
Gee, thanks, Carter. I'm not convinced no one else here makes a contribution. In fact, I'm often humbled by the scholaship many of the resident skeptics bring to the board.

Hey, lookie here, it's some new stuff on "police psychics":

http://randi.org/jr/2006-05/052606action.html#i4
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 | 01:02 AM
Oh, as for the Google Ads, well, the way Google works is that it detects keywords and inserts links relevant to their apparent subject. Alex has no control over that; it's just Google doing its robotic thing.
Carter S
Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 | 04:06 PM
Ahh, thanks for the info on that. I assumed that from the beginning, but wasn't quite sure.

Later
Ems
Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 | 11:55 PM
Ok. It's obvious that you are a smart person, who thinks that you are smarter than everrrryone else. Fine. I cannot compete with that. All I am going to say is that you are way too involved in this, and you do spend a lot of time debating. I have read previous posts. For some reason you have an axe to grind with Sylvia. You have made it clear that no one can have an opposing opinion.

And here are some examples of your "not being rude, or superior":

"As I said, I think you really, really WANT to believe in Sylvia, no matter what, even if you are forced to withdraw statements when it's demonstrated that they don't really make sense. I've asked you repeatedly for facts to back up your statements. You are either unwilling or unable to provide them. Shouldn't that cause you to reconsider your blind faith in Sylvia "Fraud" Browne?"
first of all, my FAITH is in God.

"I realize you want to believe in her and will continue to do so, despite any and all evidence that she is nothing more than a simple "cold reader." You will continue to make excuses for the fact that nothing she does requires any sort of "psychic ability" and that she said on national TV that she WOULD take the Million Dollar Challenge and then weaseled out. "

"Unfortunately, because you are blinded by your desire to believe despite the evidence, you will continue to make excuses for a woman who takes money from the sick by pretending to be able to "help" them. That's sad. Your life would be greatly enhanced if you could stop putting your trust in those who take advantage of you."

"Dave, here's a suggestion for you: read some postings on any discussion group before you try to add to the conversation. If you had done that, you would have seen that we've dealt with the notion that Sylvia has "assisted the police" with crime investigations.

Here's the Reader's Digest version: she hasn't. Not in any meaningful sense, anyway"

"There are two kinds of "psychics." One is self-deluded. The other is a crook. That's it, there is no more to it, unfortunately"

"Yes, I think ALL right-thinking people know that Jesus died from a lethal injection given by the Romans after he was found guilty of inciting the public against their rule. Duh"

I feel sorry for you. You may think that you are well read, but maybe you should look at what path you are going that leads you to research such things like that about Jesus.




"I'm most certainly NOT a believer but I DO think that people have the right to believe whatever they want to. Unfortunately, that First Amendment right gives some scam artists a convenient loophole. At least part of the answer would be for the government to actually enforce that whole "separation of church and state" thing and take taxes from churches. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for THAT to happen, though."

YOU SAID IT RIGHT THERE MEDIA GUY, YOU ARE NOT A BELIEVER. THAT TELLS ME A LOT ABOUT YOU. IT DEFINETELY EXPLAINS WHY YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SMARTER, YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT
THAT. NO WONDER YOU ARE SO ANTI-EVERYTHING! I WILL PRAY FOR YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT KIND OF LIFE. I dont know what happened in your life that made you follow such a bitter path in life with no faith, but I am truly sorry that you have to live like that.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 | 05:22 AM
EMS said:

"YOU SAID IT RIGHT THERE MEDIA GUY, YOU ARE NOT A BELIEVER. THAT TELLS ME A LOT ABOUT YOU. IT DEFINETELY EXPLAINS WHY YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE SMARTER, YOU SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT
THAT. NO WONDER YOU ARE SO ANTI-EVERYTHING! I WILL PRAY FOR YOU. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT KIND OF LIFE. I dont know what happened in your life that made you follow such a bitter path in life with no faith, but I am truly sorry that you have to live like that."

On what do you base the accusation that I "follow such a bitter path in life with no faith"? Sorry, Dude, but my life is NOT bitter. Actually, these days, thanks mostly to my wife, I'm very happy.

I've seen this kind of condescention before from those who WANT to believe in nonsense that has NO factual basis. You had to resort to ad hominem attack because you can't give rational answers to the many questions the skeptics here, including me, have raised about Sylvia. For a guy who is claiming to be so content in life, you sure seem defensive.

As for me allegedly being "a smart person, who thinks that [I am] smarter than everrrryone else," uh, I think you're projecting your own insecurities onto me. You're going to have to work that problem out with your therapist.
Ems
Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 | 09:56 PM
Well, for one...I am a woman. I am not defensive. I was just responding to the superior way you address people. Obviously, I'm somewhat "skeptic" or I wouldnt be on this website. It is very evident that you support that randi person, so that is why you are so stuck on proving Sylvia wrong. Also, I'm NOT insecure just because I think you come off pompus.

you wrote:
I've seen this kind of condescention before from those who WANT to believe in nonsense that has NO factual basis. You had to resort to ad hominem attack because you can't give rational answers to the many questions the skeptics here, including me, have raised about Sylvia. For a guy who is claiming to be so content in life, you sure seem defensive.

If I had answers, I wouldnt be on this website now would I? I dont WANT to believe in nonsense. I told you I believe in God, you are the one who said you were a non-believer. And I'm glad that you can live the rest of your life with just your wife making you happy and nothing else, because without God, that is ALL you will have. I'm not saying that makes you a bad person at all.

Also, you say you are a skeptic, skeptics usually leave some room to be open-minded. You are awfully sure that you are right. I pray someone proves to you what you are looking for. It's just so clear that whatever anyone says on here, you will try and stifle what they say, so why should anyone even try and debate the issue?

Good Luck in life media guy. I hope that you get what you want.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 | 12:25 AM
EMS, I really don't want to make this thread about me. Since you've decided to MAKE it about me, I guess I have no choice but to respond, at least for the short-term.

You said:

"It is very evident that you support that randi person, so that is why you are so stuck on proving Sylvia wrong. Also, I'm NOT insecure just because I think you come off pompus."

Well, I certainly support James Randi's work, no question about it. No, that is NOT why I am "so stuck on proving Sylvia wrong," though. I just oppose people who prey on gullible, scared, and/or bereaved people by taking their money.

It's not my job to prove that Sylvia is a fake. It's HER job to prove that she is what she claims to be. She PROMISED that she would take Randi's Challenge and then she dodged keeping that promise. If she'd only keep her promise, we might actually have an answer to the question of her legitimacy.

"you wrote:
I've seen this kind of condescention before from those who WANT to believe in nonsense that has NO factual basis. You had to resort to ad hominem attack because you can't give rational answers to the many questions the skeptics here, including me, have raised about Sylvia. For a guy who is claiming to be so content in life, you sure seem defensive."

Yes, I DID write that. Other than referring to you as a "guy" (for which I apologize), I stand by that paragraph. You HAVE resorted to ad hominem attack and you haven't responded to the legitimate questions I, along with others here, have raised about Sylvia.

"If I had answers, I wouldnt be on this website now would I? I dont WANT to believe in nonsense. I told you I believe in God, you are the one who said you were a non-believer. And I'm glad that you can live the rest of your life with just your wife making you happy and nothing else, because without God, that is ALL you will have. I'm not saying that makes you a bad person at all."

That is your opinion. Trust me, my lack of belief in a deity does NOT cause me any sorrow. The fact that you may find that difficult, or impossible, to believe doesn't mean that it isn't true. I function just fine without having to believe in a Big Guy in the Sky who is going to condemn me to eternal damnation, because he loves me so much.

"Also, you say you are a skeptic, skeptics usually leave some room to be open-minded. You are awfully sure that you are right. I pray someone proves to you what you are looking for. It's just so clear that whatever anyone says on here, you will try and stifle what they say, so why should anyone even try and debate the issue?"

Um, exactly HOW have I "stifled" any debate? I respond to almost everything you say, don't I? If by "stifling," you mean that I don't agree with you, well, guilty as charged.

As for my "open-mindedness," all Sylvia Browne (or any self-described "psychic") has to do to convince me is PROVE that they can do the things they claim they can. What's wrong with that? "Open-minded" shouldn't be a synonym for "gullible."

"Good Luck in life media guy. I hope that you get what you want."

Other than hitting the Powerball lottery (and you might be amused by reading the thread on this site about how I pretended to be a winner back in February), I have pretty much everything I ever really wanted in life.
Ems
Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 | 07:16 AM
actually media guy, this thread really isnt all about you. I have tried to make it clear to you that you come off pompus. I also wish someone would prove their psychic abilities. As far as eternal damnation, that depends on what kind of a God you believe in. But this thread isnt about what kind of a God we believe in. If I have made it about that, well that's on me. I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt like you were being a little "know it all" in previous debates. I never said that were a "bad" person because of it. All I can say is that, I think Sylvia will never take that test, only because I dont think she feels like she "needs" to prove herself. She has enough followers I guess.

I do wish you well.
Carter S
Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 | 05:39 PM
Hey Cranky!

I have a suggestion for your new hoax (If you're planning one).

Maybe you can pull a hoax on Sylvia. Get it live on TV or something. Ask questions that aren't even relevant to you. Say something like "Where has my wife gone to, she has been missing for months now?" Ask a series of questions that.

But it would have to be caught on tape of course. But have a lot of people do it too, so she can't pull the "Oh well, sometimes I mis-interpret things". I know what I said isn't full proof, but I'm sure you can think of something.

By her getting things right, I know, won't prove her right at all. But gettings things wrong, on all accounts, would prove her wrong once and for all.

I'm thinking it should be done on different occasions, many times.

I don't know, what do you think?
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 | 03:14 AM
Ems said:

"actually media guy, this thread really isnt all about you. I have tried to make it clear to you that you come off pompus."

Would you please provide me with some examples of my alleged "pomposity?"

"I also wish someone would prove their psychic abilities."

That's a good start. OK, now would you join me in asking Sylvia to keep her public promise to take Randi's Challenge?

"As far as eternal damnation, that depends on what kind of a God you believe in."

I was making specific reference to the kind of God I was taught about in Catholic school. Since Catholicism is the largest single denomination in America, it seemed like a good version to cite.

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt like you were being a little "know it all" in previous debates."

Hmm, I'm not sure if I've been accused of that in previous debates on this site or not. Maybe I was and I just don't recall it at the moment. Again, I would ask you cite specific instances of me acting like a "know-it-all."

"All I can say is that, I think Sylvia will never take that test, only because I dont think she feels like she "needs" to prove herself. She has enough followers I guess."

We come back to the question, "If she doesn't feel the need to prove herself, why did she PROMISE to take the test on the Larry King Show?" My guess is that she felt put on the spot at the time and agreed to take the Challenge to climb out of the hole, then realized later that there is no way she could pass it.

"I do wish you well."

Right back atcha, Slick. 😊
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 | 03:20 AM
Carter S. said:

"Maybe you can pull a hoax on Sylvia. Get it live on TV or something. Ask questions that aren't even relevant to you. Say something like "Where has my wife gone to, she has been missing for months now?" Ask a series of questions that."

The only problems I can see with this idea is that, first, you'd have to know when she was going to be on TV and second, you'd have to get past the screeners to get on the air with her. Of course, we could possibly get over those hurdles by having a LOT of people call in to whatever show she was on. With any luck, one or more of the volunteers would get through.

It would also be a good idea to recruit these people in secret so that Sylvia didn't get wind of the plan.

"But it would have to be caught on tape of course. But have a lot of people do it too, so she can't pull the "Oh well, sometimes I mis-interpret things". I know what I said isn't full proof, but I'm sure you can think of something."

Yup, it would take several people, at least. All of them should tape the show so that there are several copies floating around. Also, the things that the callers asked her about would have to be very specific, so that, as you say, she couldn't pull the old, "Well, I never claimed to be perfect" gag.

If she says your mother is in Heaven when she's sitting right next to you on the couch, that isn't the sort of thing that's subject to interpretation, which is what you'd need so she couldn't weasel her way out of it.

Definitely not the worst idea I've heard this month, Carter. 😊
Mirka
Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 | 02:29 PM
Wowww.... this conversation has gone on for a long long time.

I recently read Sylvia's book on .... ummm... "the Other Side"... something.

Anyway... some of that book seems very helpful... something encouraging for people to do. Like meditate and pray and such. That can really lift a spirit. The deeper you get into this book, though, the more far fetched and complicated and just unreal "The Other Side" becomes.

I read her book, as I have had quite a few strange things happen to me in life. Like having feelings whether something will happen or not. In example... A co-worker announced that his wife was pregnant and my very first thought was... not for long. Two or three weeks later she miscarried.

When I was a teenager I walked into a dark house and right as I went for the light switch and very cold hand grabbed my shoulder hard enough that I felt it's presence for days.

Anyway... I think a lot of people have some kind of "gift" but the more I read about Sylvia the more I come to believe that she is very self pro-claimed and full of herself.

Even in her book it was all me me me.

Anyway... that's my 5 cents.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 | 12:31 AM
Mirka said:
"recently read Sylvia's book on .... ummm... "the Other Side"... something.

"Anyway... some of that book seems very helpful... something encouraging for people to do. Like meditate and pray and such. That can really lift a spirit. The deeper you get into this book, though, the more far fetched and complicated and just unreal "The Other Side" becomes."

Well, I'm glad to see that you didn't swallow Sylvia's BS. If she was an ethical person and wanted to help people, all she would have to do is write a motivational book. She could even write a novel designed to inspire others and make it clear that it was fiction. Sylvia knows, however, that "first person" supernatural crap sells well.

"I read her book, as I have had quite a few strange things happen to me in life. Like having feelings whether something will happen or not. In example... A co-worker announced that his wife was pregnant and my very first thought was... not for long. Two or three weeks later she miscarried."

We've all had the experience of having a premonition. They in no way, however, "prove" that there is a life beyond this or that we have "psychic" powers.

We all have the tendency to remember the predictions and premonitions that turn out to be correct and forget the ones that don't. This is known as "confirmation bias" and it is one of the secrets to "psychics" have successful careers. They make a LOT of predictions and the clients tend to remember the few that turn out and forget the many that don't.

"When I was a teenager I walked into a dark house and right as I went for the light switch and very cold hand grabbed my shoulder hard enough that I felt it's presence for days."

Again, we've all had odd, creepy experiences but they don't prove in any way that there is any reality to the supernatural.

"Anyway... I think a lot of people have some kind of "gift" but the more I read about Sylvia the more I come to believe that she is very self pro-claimed and full of herself."

You're certainly correct about Sylvia being "full of herself." That's how you "get over" with the audience. There is always a market for larger-than-life personalities.

As for the "psychic" stuff, there just is NO proof that it exists, no matter how people who make their living fooling others may try to tell you there is. Whenever it's been tested scientifically, it has failed. EVERY TIME.
Patty from L.A.
Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 | 01:52 PM
Well, I was a skeptic of Sylvias for a while. But I got curious and ended up getting a reading from her (about three months ago) and she actually predicted everything.

She told me that my husband would get in a car accident and break his leg, which happened two days later, Two days! She said that it wouldn't be to good for that to happen since he has had soo many problems with that specific leg (being the left, and having multiple surgeries prior). Which she hit on the dot.

(I never told her anything) my question to her was, "Am I heading in the right direction?".
She told me to stop persuing dental and go into Art and Painting. I WAS persuing a degree in dental but was really starting to hate it and became less and less interested in it. So I did. When she said that I should start my life in Art I was astound because that's my favorite hobby and I am really good at it. I have already sold five of my seven paintings in the last month.

I never told her or even hinted to her that my Dad had passed, but she said that he was watching over me and that he was sorry for the way he treated Katie (My Mom). This is how she worded it "He says that he's sorry for treating Katie in the manner that he did".

i never mentioned my moms name or even hinted that my Dad was dead. I really could have cared less about how my dad was doing because I hated the way he treated my mother when he was alive. So I never bothered to ask, but she brought it up.

I know it has been said over and over again, but just because you can't see it, touch it or even prove that it exists, doesn't mean that it really doesn't exist. I mean maybe later we will be able to discover it's existence and how it works. We call it supernatural, but maybe there's nothing Super about it. It's just natural. It seems to me that anything that seems impossible is deemed as supernatural. Maybe it's just as natural as the tree outside your house.

I really wish that sylvia would take that test. Because she sure was accurate on my reading.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 | 12:49 AM
Patty, do you have a tape of your reading with Sylvia? What typically happens in cases like this is that, upon listening to a tape of the actual event, the sitter realizes that the "psychic" didn't actually give information nearly as specific as they remember.

Almost universally, the "psychic" throws out a lot of generic stuff and if any of it seems to come true after the fact, the sitter decides that the "psychic" was much more exact and correct than an objective view would suggest.

None of this makes you a bad person, I hope you understand. It's just how the human mind tends to work, a trait that "psychics" use to make a nice living.

So, Patty, do you have a recording of your reading? There are more than a few of us here, I'm sure, who would be fascinated to hear it.
ohline.
Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 | 04:30 PM
i, myself, believe her to be nothing more than a con artist.

the power of suggestion truly is.. well.. a powerful thing.

and somehow she manages to maintain doing what she's doing. and doing it semi-well.

90% of her predictions are generic, as it's already been said.
"a man is watching over you, a deceased family member. maybe a grandfather."
OMGZNOWAY?!?!!1
how many people have deceased GRANDPARENTS?
and if you don't, then it becomes this:
"well, then he's a great grandfather. he's an older man in a button down, and khaki pants. check your family tree."

wow, thanks sylvia. a really old, dead guy that i have no recollection of is watching over me. you're AMAZING!

then there's the ever-popular "will i ever meet someone?"

the response 99.99999% percent of the time?
"yes. this time next year you will have someone special in your life."

man, sylvia, you're a lifesaver.

blah, blah, blah.
i personally don't believe one can truly predict things. or 'see' random dead people everywhere they go..

i DO believe that in some instances, there's a residual energy left behind from traumatic experiences.
other than that, save your breath AND your time.
Patty
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 | 05:34 PM
Quoting Cranky Media Guy:

"None of this makes you a bad person,...."

...Why would I think that?

Yes. I do in fact have a tape.

But, I am not interested in giving out copies or or the actual tape. This tape is personal to me, and in fact not as generic as you might think. But because I am not distributing this tape around and proving to you how accurate it really is, you may think whatever you want. I have no interest in Proving or Disproving Sylvia. That's her job, not mine.

I do grasp the meaning of your concern regarding psychics. I do wish you well in your quest.

Thank you for your concerned response.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 | 01:08 AM
Patty said:

"Yes. I do in fact have a tape.

"But, I am not interested in giving out copies or or the actual tape. This tape is personal to me, and in fact not as generic as you might think. But because I am not distributing this tape around and proving to you how accurate it really is, you may think whatever you want. I have no interest in Proving or Disproving Sylvia. That's her job, not mine."

You can understand why hearing exactly what Sylvia said, rather than what you REMEMBER her saying, would be of interest to skeptics, yes?

Obviously, you are under no obligation to let anyone hear the tape of your reading by Sylvia, but in its absence, we really can't analyze what techniques she used during it.

If you haven't read all of the earlier postings in this thread, you may be unaware, for example, that Sylvia has been caught using virtually identical "readings" on at least two unconnected clients of hers, at least a year apart.

Parts of the readings, as transcribed from tapes of the calls, were almost word-for-word identical. It is possible, therefore, that yours was ALSO off her standard script, at least in part. If you found that out, would THAT shake your belief in her "accuracy?"
caller
Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 | 04:46 PM
To what extent might Sylvia Browne and some people like her, not be 'frauds' in the classical sense but really, at least partially, believe themselves?

The fact that they beleive themselves doesn't make it an objective truth but it makes it more of a gray area than just fraud vs not-a-fraud.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 | 02:19 PM
Caller said:

"To what extent might Sylvia Browne and some people like her, not be 'frauds' in the classical sense but really, at least partially, believe themselves?

"The fact that they beleive themselves doesn't make it an objective truth but it makes it more of a gray area than just fraud vs not-a-fraud."

Well, yeah, that's a theoretical possibility. There are certainly a lot of examples throughout history of people who have bullshitted themselves. The reason I think this doesn't apply to Sylvia, though, is the fact that, as I cited above, Sylvia has been caught using the same script with at least two clients. She said the same things, almost 100% word for word. That simply cannot be accidental.

I do think that some "psychics" are self-deluded but I don't think that's the case with the "big names" in the business. They're just too calculating.
Andy
Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 | 01:06 PM
About Sylvia's nails...

She has a "tell" which ALWAY gives away her deception. Next time that old crow is on Montel, watch her closely. Whenever she starts to lie (i.e., revealing "psychic" info and giving specific details), her nails go right to her teeth, or close to her face. The more specific she is (names, locations), the closer they get to the teeth. But whenever she gives readings that are more like motherly advice or common sense ("My boyfriend of two years won't commit. Should I leave him?") those nails are nowhere to be seen. The tell always gives it away. ALWAYS.
Myrajune
Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 | 12:42 PM
I once believed in Sylvia and read most of her books. She may have some esp abilities but I think her gift, if she has one, has been corrupted by money. I have numerous esp experiences but always totally unexpected. I find you cannot have an esp experience on demand as she does. I don't believe a really spiritual person would cut people off and be smartmouthed with them, nor would they wear horribly long fingernails. The more I have listened to her and have seen her mistakes and watched her style, the more I doubt her having on-demand abilities.
kim morrow
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 | 07:35 PM
dear silvia my name is kim i have some questions i lost my mom in 95 nov she had cancer now i have it iv had the surgery now other problems with my health 1 did my mom make it to heaven 2will my health get better 3 is my mom watching over us 3 is her mom watched over 3 will things get better with my health and family wise 4 theres so much i need to now i never got to say goodbye dad came out at the hospital said she passed on please write to me [PLEASE DON'T PUT ADDRESSES IN - MOD] i need closer for my heart im haveing surgery will i be ok or leave message at www johns customz.comthanks your fan kim
Kam
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 | 08:17 AM
*sigh* at least you can be bothered answering back all these raving lunatics CMG. psychics? bogus. religon? bogus. its times like this im glad im not a complete moron like most of these people. but u neednt bother replying to them. if they are dumb enough to believe for a SECOND that its possible for psychics to exist, there is no way you are gonna shift them from that perspective.

they can watch numerous episodes of "penn and tellers bullshit", read heaps of books on the subject of "cold reading", and hell, you can even explain how they always film hours of "psychic" shows, where mostly they fail, and only show 30 mins of them getting it right...

you can even tell them about "hot reading", fishing for information before shows....you can reveal all of this to them, but they will NOT change their mind. they are stuck in this idiotic land of fantasy. even the fact that syliva just blurts out unverifiable things like "your dead son is buried in alaska" and these IDIOTS believe it!! how?!? its not like she said "he had a birthmark on his knee, when he was 4 he broke his arm, and he had a pet lizard names sphincter who got ran over by your neighbours red land cruiser"...

these people are lost.

let them stay that way. they can delude themselves all they want...if it makes them happy....its like trying to explain to a christian why there is no way anything in the bible is likely to be true...facts dont mean crap to people with "faith". faith involves the suspension of rational thought, you cant reason with someone who doesnt think rationally...goddamn i hate how an intelligent species can be so, so dumb.
Kam
Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 | 08:36 AM
Ok, i just said leave these people be, but i accidentaly saw this post and i CANT help myself but be an asshole...so here i go:


Ems said:
If I had answers, I wouldnt be on this website now would I? I dont WANT to believe in nonsense.

I say:
Then DONT

Ems said:
I told you I believe in God

I say:
Jewish/Christian/Islam??? doesnt matter, they all derive from the same texts anyway. thats what happens with fables

Ems said:
And I'm glad that you can live the rest of your life with just your wife making you happy and nothing else, because without God, that is ALL you will have.

I say:
So he should worship a non-existant diety, where there is no evidence whatsover to support a belief in?!? Oh sorry, theres the "bible"...oh yes...u forget it was written by about 50 different people, went though levels of editing, "approval", scores of texts were removed (hey, if its so important and true, why are things being taken out?!?)...wow...what a reliable book...not to mention most things have ALREADY been proved wrong:

a) the world is not flat.
b) the sun does not revolve around the earth
c) the earth cannot be 10,000 years old. see radiometric dating

the list goes on....oh but i forget...you christians "pick and choose" what you want to believe from the bible. if you hold the ability to pick and choose what you believe from such a "reliable" source, why even bother with it in the first place? its clear it is not reliable. stop taking it literally. its allegorical. its fiction. deal with it

Ems. educate yourself. normally i wud say "to each his own", but religion is a disease. being forced onto children who are simply born into the faith, and not yet able to make the choice for themselves. poisoning future generations with lies is dangerous. its dangerous because normally good people will perform TERRIBLE acts in the name of religion. if its truly what they believe is right. We have a "book" to follow. its called the laws of the state we reside in. obey them. there is no god, there is no heaven. there is no hell. deal with it. research where the bible came from. research where the "jesus myth" came from. educate yourself before you infect the next generatin with your bullshit.



<a href="http://www.quest.za.net/pages/readonline/app3/annx3A.html">Quest - the search for a historical jesus</a>

And Watch this documentary. it will educate you:
<a href="http://www.infidelguy.com/modules.php?name=Video&op=view&video_id=43">Who Wrote the Bible?</a>

i also suggest reading some books and watching some documentaries by this guy:

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins">Richard Dawkins</a>

hes smart. you arent.

i hope to god (turn of phrase) that you, and others like you, take heed, and actually follow those links. maybe one day you will wisen up and learn that the best way to figure out where we came from is a means of EVIDENCE and PROOF. not babble from a really old book. jesus christ grow a brain. for the love of god. (turn of phrase)

im out. and i probably wont be back for a few months again...just so i can read the comedic replies like i got last time.
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