Psychics

ColeTrain

Just saw an advert this morning for a psychic phone company. They were using the slogan "we all have a path in life". Basically it was telling us that it could predict if you were going to get married or get a job promotion, even the sex of your unborn child.

Obviously there must be a market for this or else they wouldn't be able to afford to advertise on a major TV station.

Does anyone on here use this? I think the majority would agree that it's complete nonsense. I also think they should not be able to advertise. Surely it's preying on the weak and vulnerable in society who are desperate for answers but end up paying hundreds and if not thousands to scam artists.

Sunnyisland

I wonder if that phone company is based in leinster house ?.

Paparazzo

They're a tax on the stupid

Dan133269

There's a sucker born every minute. Sometimes it's difficult to feel sorry for these people if they are so stupid to allow themselves be taken advantage of like that.

mathie

Paparazzo wrote: »

They're a tax on the stupid

Between that and the lottery they're fuwbared.

Ghost Buster

ColeTrain wrote: »

Just saw an advert this morning for a psychic phone company. They were using the slogan "we all have a path in life". Basically it was telling us that it could predict if you were going to get married or get a job promotion, even the sex of your unborn child.

Obviously there must be a market for this or else they wouldn't be able to afford to advertise on a major TV station.

Does anyone on here use this? I think the majority would agree that it's complete nonsense. I also think they should not be able to advertise. Surely it's preying on the weak and vulnerable in society who are desperate for answers but end up paying hundreds and if not thousands to scam artists.

Nah. Most people here send psychic messages to The Zombie Boy, His Daddy, The Holy Ghost and their army of super powered men and Wimmin in the sky for help with such matters. But thats ok cos ITS RELIGION!!!!!!!

chin_grin

Reminds me of a quote.

"Those who believe in telekinesis raise my hand." Steven Wright.

I've never called one, but I'd love to just for the laugh. If I was on one and had to answer I'd always go "Oh, it's you again?"

ger vallely

I've heard people say'ah sure if it makes you happy,then where's the harm?'By that token-if theft makes you happy,then where's the harm in that! i've also been invited along to a session in a house. psychics come along-charge €50 p.p and talk with up to 15 people! Think I need to change profession.

mackg

Was talking to a cousin of mine from england a few years ago, she would have been in her thirties married with a kid and she told me she made at least one call a day to telephone psychics, I'm pretty sure she said the calls lasted roughly an hour but I am not certain about that, still one short call a day is still a lot to be throwing away on this nonsense. If this was a friend I would have seriously questioned why, but since it was a family get together and a cousin I rarely see I just left it off.

I would be certain that I was fairly wrong with my recollection but she told my sister about it as well.

ColeTrain

At least psychics gave us a great scene in The Sopranos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqgoXVB20W4

conorhal

"we all have a path in life".... really?


Their tagline should read:

"The Psychic Hotline, they've seen you comming.."

or perhaps

"The Psychic Hotline, because there's one born every minute, now call find out which one!"

and finally:

"The Psychic Hotline, because we want to put the first s$$hole in space!"

FatherLen

i can predict the sex of your unborn baby.
its gonna be a boy.
that'l be 50 quid please.

mackg

I think its interesting when you compare the reactions of people when you mention people handing over large sums of money to fraud psychics and the story about the old man who handed over his life savings to a man who came to his door claiming to be some sort of government official.

Both stories involve people being conned out of their money by people taking advantage of their naivety, the only difference is the old man was singled out wheras the psychics are casting their net far wider. However in one case the purpitraitor is cast down as scum(I agree completely with this) but in the other you get this idiots get what they deserve attitude. What is this huge difference I am not seeing? I had this reaction to both scenarios originally as well until I thought about it a little.

danniemcq

haha there is an ad for psychics at the bottom of this thread, way to go google ads.

and before i go on about psychics can i say the lotto is not a tax on the poor. its a tax on people who believe that they are def gonna win it this week or next week. most people know the stats behind it and hey if someone is gonna win it it could be them. really slim odds but there is always the chance.

Right yes psychics

psychics are all a crock of sh*te, my GFs sister is crazy about them though buying all the magazines and sh*t like that. its one of the main reasons i hate talking to her, or being around her. if someone believes in this my respect for them drops off a cliff. And when she invited a palm reader to the house i went bat **** crazy and left the house. she told me later that he said i was in a loving realtionship for a while and that i was in a good job and was into tech but was sceptical about the whole thing....

I'm living with my girlfirend ---- loving relationship
LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE ---- means its been a while
good job ---- id card for work on table
into tech ---- 300 DVDs on the stands in the sitting room along with , xbox, xbox 360, wii, DS, and a pc all around where he was sitting
was sceptical about this ---- I left the f*cking house cause i can't stand people like him

all this the GFs sister took as an amazing ability.

If someone is truely gifted with the ability to see the future etc then bet on the horses (and if they can't read horses try the jockys which one of them will get a windfall eh?) and use their talents to help people and not charge them or do nothing with it. But when you play with peoples emotions for your own gain you are a con artist and i hope there is a special place for them wherever people believe we go after we die.

chin_grin

conorhal wrote: »

"we all have a path in life".... really?


Their tagline should read:

"The Psychic Hotline, they've seen you comming.."

or perhaps

"The Psychic Hotline, because there's one born every minute, now call find out which one!"

and finally:

"The Psychic Hotline, because we want to put the first s$$hole in space!"

Wha?

Orando Broom

danniemcq wrote: »

haha there is an ad for psychics at the bottom of this thread, way to go google ads.

and before i go on about psychics can i say the lotto is not a tax on the poor. its a tax on people who believe that they are def gonna win it this week or next week. most people know the stats behind it and hey if someone is gonna win it it could be them. really slim odds but there is always the chance.

Right yes psychics

psychics are all a crock of sh*te, my GFs sister is crazy about them though buying all the magazines and sh*t like that. its one of the main reasons i hate talking to her, or being around her. if someone believes in this my respect for them drops off a cliff. And when she invited a palm reader to the house i went bat **** crazy and left the house. she told me later that he said i was in a loving realtionship for a while and that i was in a good job and was into tech but was sceptical about the whole thing....

I'm living with my girlfirend ---- loving relationship
LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE ---- means its been a while
good job ---- id card for work on table
into tech ---- 300 DVDs on the stands in the sitting room along with , xbox, xbox 360, wii, DS, and a pc all around where he was sitting
was sceptical about this ---- I left the f*cking house cause i can't stand people like him

all this the GFs sister took as an amazing ability.

If someone is truely gifted with the ability to see the future etc then bet on the horses (and if they can't read horses try the jockys which one of them will get a windfall eh?) and use their talents to help people and not charge them or do nothing with it. But when you play with peoples emotions for your own gain you are a con artist and i hope there is a special place for them wherever people believe we go after we die.

Be under no doubt that these 'psychics' are gifted. They can read body language like a book. That is how they work their 'magic', combine that with the right type of questions and they get you to inadvertently spill your guts without you knowing. If you, as a sceptic, went into a room with a good 'psychic' you'd be astounded what information you'd give him.

The merest flicker of the eye gives a well trained operator all the information he needs. There are dozens (the ones you'll hear people say are no good) who are just chancers and grifters but there are a few practicioners who are lethal.

ger vallely

I agree Danniemcq- psychics my sister had in the house basically read the house. Told my mother she had 2 granddaughters(pictures of them all over the house) said my father(deceased)had been very happy and proud of his home(very obvious again by the picures and condition of the house)of course they said dad was very 'present' in the house. the people I know who pay good money to these people are a wide and varied bunch. Young,old, well educated, left school early many years ago, but all seem more that willing to part with hard earned cash. In fairness these 'psychics' do hit on the odd gem of information, that they could 'never have guessed'. These are the titbits people cling onto. They disregard the irrelevant information and focus only on the bits that are of some meaning to them. I find my family who go to these psychic parties have an air of pity when I am sceptical about it!I guess each to their own but I can't just sit idly by while they are being ripped of by opportunists.

hightower1

Wake up one morning with the ability to tell the fututre.....

Do I ...

1. Approcah a group of scientists , prove my ability and achieve world fame wth my new found powers.

2. Become a stocks trader and clean up, maintain my privacy and bank a lot of cash.

3. Work from home taking calls from wimminz all day and predict minor things like promotions or unborn childrens sex.


Hmmmmmmmm? Decisions decisions.

In fact, I think we should all beat the snot outta every physic we can find. Think of it this way, they claim to have powers to tell future events, think of the good they could do, the evil they could help the world avoid but NOOOO they decide to flog their "powers" for €50 a pop to no bodies! wtf. Selffish b***ards

danniemcq

Orando Broom wrote: »

Be under no doubt that these 'psychics' are gifted. They can read body language like a book. That is how they work their 'magic', combine that with the right type of questions and they get you to inadvertently spill your guts without you knowing. If you, as a sceptic, went into a room with a good 'psychic' you'd be astounded what information you'd give him.

The merest flicker of the eye gives a well trained operator all the information he needs. There are dozens (the ones you'll hear people say are no good) who are just chancers and grifters but there are a few practicioners who are lethal.

Oh i have no doubt, look at the wedding finger. is there a ring? is there a tan line? is there a mark at all?

infact actually for anyone who believes thats its supernatural goings on this is from wikihow

Want to be a hit at the next party? Perform a cold reading, and you can amaze - maybe even frighten - people with your psychic abilities. Don't worry though; no actual psychic ability is required. Cold reading is a classic trick used by magicians, soothsayers, TV psychics, and other entertainers and charlatans. By asking a person the right questions, listening carefully, and making a guess or two, you can convince even many skeptics that you really are able to communicate with the spirit world.

Steps
1) Choose a subject. The "subject" is the person on whom you will perform the cold reading.
Sometimes cold readers will choose a subject well in advance based on information they know about that person but which that person does not know they know. Select the person you will "cold read" ahead of time if possible. The more time you have to learn about your subject, the better. Some cold readers actually have accomplices visit or interview the subject prior to the cold reading so that the cold reader can then use this information to dazzle the subject and the audience.

Asking for a volunteer is also a good way to choose someone, as volunteers are likely to be receptive and, more importantly, will likely want to believe that you can communicate with the dead or that you can see things about them that you should have no way of knowing. However, watch out for skeptics (see Warnings below).

Shotgun" the audience."Shotgun" the audience. Shotgunning is a technique in which you make one or more broad general statement, such as "I'm sensing someone who has had some marital problems recently," or "There's someone named, I think, Billy, that's asking to communicate with his granddaughter." As you address these statements to the audience, watch for reactions. There's almost certainly someone who has recently had marital problems or whose grandfather went by the name Billy. You, of course, don't yet know who, but people's reactions - especially their body language - will give them away. You can try to refine your "knowledge" by then making more specific assertions, such as, "This Billy, he lived a long life. He used to enjoy fishing, no hunting maybe - being in the outdoors." Focus on the people who reacted to your very broad first statement, and then look for further reactions. When you're pretty sure you've hit the mark with someone, call them up (if they haven't already run up to you jumping and screaming, "It's me!"). Using this technique allows you to gain the subject's confidence and to amaze the audience before the reading has even begun.

2) Observe your subject.
Even if you have only a little time to get to know your subject, you can still learn a lot by "profiling" your subject.
Look at readily available visual clues about the person that will tell you something about them. Their age, the way they dress, whether they have any deformities or unusual features, their height and weight, the presence or absence of a wedding ring - there are a multitude of clues that can help you immediately learn more about the person.
Read the subject's body language. Before the reading starts and throughout your cold reading, watch the subject's body language carefully. Involuntary gestures, facial expressions, and changes in posture can tell you whether the person is becoming anxious, which is usually a good sign that you have said something that is correct or are about to do so. Looks of disappointment can signal that you've said something wrong, and if you correct yourself slyly and quickly, the person and the audience (if there is an audience present) will be amazed at your correction. Learn as much as you can about body language, but most importantly, just pay attention.

3) Make a mental list of assumptions about the person.
As you observe the subject, think about certain things that you could reasonably guess about them. You don't actually want to make too many guesses, but it helps to sort of build a character in your mind. Some of your assumptions will be wrong, but you'll get around this little problem.

4) Prepare the subject.
When you meet the person, look in their eyes and tell them, if you haven't already, that you can communicate with the spirit world. Introduce yourself and get the subject's name. Try to make them comfortable talking to you, but at the same time try to make them a little nervous about what is to come. Explain that the person on the "other side" really wants to communicate with them, but that you are merely a vessel or a go-between, and you will need the subject's help. This makes the reading more dramatic, prepares the subject for the possibility of mistakes, and enlists their cooperation. Be modest about your abilities, but display a quiet confidence.

5)Go fishing.
If you're a professional, you may have studied statistical information about people, you may be trained to read body language, you may even have accomplices that help you, but let's face it: you still know hardly anything about the person sitting in front of you. If you just start making guesses, you'll almost certainly be wrong, but if you ask questions, you'll get the right answers from the subject himself. For example, you could clarify what you learned in shotgunning by asking, "Now, Billy, he's your grandfather?" Ask questions in such a way so that they can be perceived as statements. That way, if the subject affirms your question, it will seem as though you knew the answer. If the subject indicates that Billy was not his or her grandfather, however, it's okay--you were just asking a question.

6) Build on the answers to your questions.
Most of the time, the subject will volunteer more information than is necessary. He might say something like, "No, Billy was my uncle. He lived on a farm." You now actually know something about your subject, which is more than you could say before. By using this information to ask more questions you can give the impression that you actually know quite a bit about the subject. This, obviously, requires fast thinking, but if you're a good listener - the most important quality for cold readers - you'll get up to speed quickly.

7) Use Barnum statements. .
Barnum statements, named after the circus showman P.T. Barnum, are statements that will apply to just about anybody but which will give the impression that you know something about the subject. Using Barnum statements is like shotgunning except you're just dealing with one person. For example, you could say, "You're on the verge of making a big decision in your life." Most people, at any given time, are dealing with a big decision, or at least one that seems big at the time. Still the subject will likely be somewhat impressed that you knew that about them, and they may even volunteer more information.

8) Make the subject's answers your own.
Much of what a cold reader does is simply repeating back what the subject has said. Do this in such a way so that it appears you already knew the answer. If you manage to do this cleverly, the subject will tend to forget that it was he or she that gave you the information. Suppose the subject affirms that they are on the verge of making a big decision. You can simply say, "Yes, that's right," thereby claiming their answer as your own. You can even go further, by saying, "Yes, that's right. It's been troubling you for a while now." The more information the subject volunteers, the more information you can claim.

9) How did you know? Delve deeper.
Once you're on a fruitful line of questioning (or "reading"), keep going. So the subject is making a decision. You could follow that with another Barnum statement, such as, "But this decision involves another person, too." Most decisions do involve at least one other person to some extent or another. If you're observant and brave, you might notice the subject's wedding ring and say instead, "But this decision needs to be made with your husband." If you're right - because the statement is so obvious yet also targeted toward an observable attribute of the person, you probably are right - you'll be that much more impressive.

10) Use pregnant pauses.
One method of fishing around for information is to pause long enough for a reaction from your subject. If, for example, you mention that the decision needs to be made with her husband, you can wait a moment to see if the person has anything to say about that. He or she may immediately tell you you're right or wrong, or they may be expecting you to tell them more. In the latter case, watch their physical reaction. If you see some reaction that tells you you're on the right track, take up where you left off: "He's worried about the decision," for example.

11) Cover your errors.
Since you are in fact just asking questions and repeating information back in a different way, you shouldn't really make mistakes as you would if you were guessing things. That said, sometimes a question will simply be off the mark, and this can ruin the illusion if you don't recover quickly and gracefully. Suppose, for example, that the person says they are not on the verge of making a big decision. There are myriad ways to handle this. One would be to say that poor, dead Uncle Bill (if you're communicating with the spirit world) must be talking about someone else that you both know, a relative perhaps. Another would be to change the time frame, to ask, "But you made a big decision in the past year, something of a new start." Still another way would be to subtly change the way the question is framed: "I'm sensing something new is happening in your life or is about to happen." You don't abandon the original line of questioning. Rather you twist it just a bit until it makes sense to the subject. After all, if they then admit that something new is happening in their life, they must feel a little foolish for not recognizing the psychic message you were getting about the decision.

12) Make a positive analysis of the situation.
Once you've helped the subject to open up and you have some idea of what you're talking about (or at least the subject believes you know what you're talking about), you can bring the reading to a satisfying end by relaying a message from the deceased friend or relative, or by simply giving some prognostication based on your ability to see the future. You don't need to be exact, and you don't need to give advice. Just tell the subject what he or she wants to hear: that everything will go well. You could say, for example, "Billy wants you to know that he's always watching over you, and he misses you. He's happy, and he wants you to be happy, too. And you will be. You're going to make the right decision." You may, of course, want to warn of challenges ahead to give a more realistic tinge to your reading, but when all is said and done you want the person to feel good.

Tips Keep the encounter brief and mysterious. If you know you will encounter the person again soon, develop other points based on future visual and response cues.
Props, such as a Tarot deck or tea leaves, can heighten the drama and take some of the attention off the actual process of cold reading. Props can help the subject suspend their disbelief.
You will be convincing as long as you make it seem like you know more than you do. Remember, the subject likely wants to believe in your "powers," and you just have to foster that belief. He or she will then attribute more knowledge to you than you actually displayed.
Practice your showmanship. Learn some buzzwords. Learn how to be a convincing actor. Set the mood.
Employees with name tags often forget that they have them on. A simple cold read is to guess the person's name. Most of the time, the person's mother will have been the primary name-giver. You can mention this, and it may reinforce their belief you have special powers.
The "rainbow ruse" is similar to Barnum statements. In a rainbow ruse, you make a general statement about a personality trait that the subject has, but you also hedge your bets (and invite the subject to open up) by also attributing the opposite trait to them. For example, you might say, "You like to make decisions carefully and patiently, but sometimes you're impulsive."

Warnings Be very careful whom you choose to use this technique on. There are people, for whatever reason, who will not respond well when you reveal this is just a trick (and you must always reveal it as a trick, do not lead people on to believing a cold reading was a real one) - If you pick the wrong mark, they may respond with anger or hurt. Be prepared to lose friends and respect by trying this on the wrong person! Messing with people's emotions in any way is cruel, and there will be consequences.
Some skeptics will volunteer just to make a spectacle of debunking the cold reading myth. If you hear someone talking proudly about his or her skepticism, or if a potential subject seems too haughty, choose someone else.
This should be used just for fun. As good as you get at this, it is simply a gimmick.
Be aware of the effects you may have on someone. A cold reading can be beneficial because it encourages the subject to think about certain situations that may be troubling him or her. Talking about these troubles may clarify things in the subject's mind and help the person find his or her own solution. Be very careful about giving advice, predicting bad news, or opening up emotional wounds. After the reading, let the subject know that it was just for entertainment and that you don't really have any special powers.
There are many unscrupulous cold readers and "psychics." While many just want to scam a little money, some are more dangerous. Cult leaders and criminals, for example, have been known to use these techniques to dazzle their victims.

CrazyRabbit

I knew someone was going to make a thread about this.

Orando Broom

CrazyRabbit wrote: »

I knew someone was going to make a thread about this.

I knew that someone would post indicating that they knew the thread would begin!!!!

danniemcq

and i predict that someone form Dublin will post in this thread

LeeHoffmann

and i predict that someone form Dublin will post in this thread

I'm from Dublin! :eek: how did you know?!


Psychic hotline: they know where you live

Resi12

GORGOYLES, PSYCHICS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nXbCnGL-TY

Forest Master

This is a great documentary about all that bollox:
http://youtu.be/gyQ57X3YhH4

Derren Brown did one too.

ScumLord

Have we learned nothing from our religious debates? If people want to believe in and become psychics then it's their right and just because they believe in the psychic powers means you all have to accept it may be true and in no way try to intervene in their believes. If some con artists make money of the believers that's fine too because the people being conned believe they're not being conned.

Is it not now illegal to say anything negative about psychics due to the blasphemy laws? Are you all not trampling on their believes and thusly the believes of every other religious person.

DonkeyStyle \o/

ScumLord wrote: »

Is it not now illegal to say anything negative about psychics due to the blasphemy laws? Are you all not trampling on their believes and thusly the believes of every other religious person.

It's my catholic right to call it the work of Satan.
http://www.staycatholic.com/divination.htm

Forest Master

ScumLord wrote: »

because they believe in the psychic powers means you all have to accept it may be true

Guide me through the logical thought process of that statement.

ScumLord wrote: »

thusly

LOL - making up words in order to sound biblical.

ScumLord

Forest Master wrote: »

Guide me through the logical thought process of that statement.

I can't do that, I'm just letting you know how it is. When people believe things they automatically become true. If you look back over the previous religious threads you'll see the discussions explaining it all.

Forest Master

ScumLord wrote: »

I can't do that, I'm just letting you know how it is. When people believe things they automatically become true. If you look back over the previous religious threads you'll see the discussions explaining it all.

Right, so you acknowledge you can't even substantiate your statements. Must be great having a discussion with you... "it just is, right!" :rolleyes:

Orando Broom

Forest Master wrote: »

Right, so you acknowledge you can't substantiate your statements. Must be great having a discussion with you... "it just is, right!" :rolleyes:

Scumlord's posts work in mysterious ways.

LeeHoffmann

I like thusly. Thusly I am going to start using it in my posting

DonkeyStyle \o/

LeeHoffmann wrote: »

I like thusly. Thusly I am going to start using it in my posting

Some nice use of thusly in this clip... also thrice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohOIIh8YjSs

Penn

ScumLord wrote: »

When people believe things they automatically become true.

I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck. I have a huge d*ck.


IT WORKS!

ColeTrain

ScumLord wrote: »

Have we learned nothing from our religious debates? If people want to believe in and become psychics then it's their right and just because they believe in the psychic powers means you all have to accept it may be true and in no way try to intervene in their believes. If some con artists make money of the believers that's fine too because the people being conned believe they're not being conned.

Is it not now illegal to say anything negative about psychics due to the blasphemy laws? Are you all not trampling on their believes and thusly the believes of every other religious person.

It's not fine at all. The person charging €50 per session or €2 per minute on the phone obviously know well they do not have any psychic abilities.
They're taking money off weak and vulnerable people who aren't thinking right and who might be struggling to cope after losing a loved one for instance.

What's the difference between that and say the fraudsters that ring up about your computer pretending to fix it when there is nothing wrong with it and then charging a fee. Sure people might feel better that they've just paid for their computer to be fixed but it's fraud, it doesn't matter if the victim doesn't know any better.

LeeHoffmann

I'd say some of them really believe they do have psychic abilities, Coletrain

ColeTrain

LeeHoffmann wrote: »

I'd say some of them really believe they do have psychic abilities, Coletrain

I believe most know what they're at. Out to rob as money people as they can and get away with it.

ger vallely

Like someone previously said-if these people are in possession of psychic powers why don't they let the world know..Go on national tv,radio,youtube,boards, the whole lot. Shout it from the rooftops and show beyond a shadow of doubt that they have powers. They could help in solving so many hearbreaking crimes. Finding missing children and helping countries prepare for and possibly prevent some natural disasters. It's theft,yes of emotionally weak people,but theft non the less. The practice should be made illeagal, or at least regulated!!I can hear it now, 'we saw that coming!'Sure it gives emotionally unstable people a lift but counselling would be far more beneficial.