Psychics

nikewall

Ever just want to punch them in the face? I know a women who spent 300 on calls to them. Was mystified when she got the bill. Amount of ****e they spew is unreal

Eboggles

nikewall wrote: »

Ever just want to punch them in the face?

They'd probably see it coming .

The Backwards Man

Didn't see that coming.

NegativeCreep

I can't fathom how in this day and age people still believe in them!

Peregrine

I didn't think people actually believed that crap..

That and astrology

donvito99

Just watched that episode of Only Fools And Horses, where they have the séance. Brilliant.

nikewall

thee glitz

Is it just me that has the astrology ad there v

frank reynolds

i personally think they're ridiculous, BUT:

i know one or two people who go to them regularly enough (maybe 5 times a year). they do this because they say it's like a form of therapy, and is cheaper than going to a councillor, who are full of sh!t themselves, so it's probably less "they believe" and more like "it's cheaper and a bit more of a laugh than going to therapy"

tin79

Physics is ok.

Its chemistry that really annoys me. Chemistry deserves to be punched in the face.

Now as for biology...

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I went to one a few months after my mother died, I was 18 and really distraught like I wasn't dealing with it at all. Fifty euro she charged me but I swear to god it was the best 50 euro ever spent. I cried for hours afterwards but genuinely felt much better afterwards. I am skeptical of them, I'm not entirely sure they can actually see the dead or see the future, but at the time I needed to hear what she had to say, even if it was lies. She told me my mom didnt blame me/she loved me/she was happy and all that kind of nonsense, and it actually helped me so much, and I tortured myself a lot less afterwards. Money well spent tbh

humbert

A fool and his money are easily parted. They are too much tolerated by the law though as the are simply con-artists.

When I read threads here about creepy supernatural things that have happened I despair at the crap quite a few people seem to believe.

tin79

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I went to one a few months after my mother died, I was 18 and really distraught like I wasn't dealing with it at all. Fifty euro she charged me but I swear to god it was the best 50 euro ever spent. I cried for hours afterwards but genuinely felt much better afterwards. I am skeptical of them, I'm not entirely sure they can actually see the dead or see the future, but at the time I needed to hear what she had to say, even if it was lies. She told me my mom didnt blame me/she loved me/she was happy and all that kind of nonsense, and it actually helped me so much, and I tortured myself a lot less afterwards. Money well spent tbh

Money well spent kidding yourself tbh. Which is fine and all but lets be realistic.

o1s1n

nikewall wrote: »

Ever just want to punch them in the face? I know a women who spent 300 on calls to them. Was mystified when she got the bill. Amount of ****e they spew is unreal

Amazing that one of their 'premonitions' isn't one of a massive phone bill in the near future.

2Mad2BeMad

people like hearing what they wanna hear from people they dont know
cause then it makes us feel more secure or feel better

so its a form of therapy but really its utter crap :pac:

my cousin went to one because she was really over weight and ugly ( i hate my cousin )
the psychic said by the end of next year youll fit into a size 12 and be beautiful

my cousin replied " so you think im ugly too "

couldnt stop laughin haha

nikewall

nikewall wrote: »

Ever just want to punch them in the face? I know a women who spent 300 on calls to them. Was mystified when she got the bill. Amount of ****e they spew is unreal

Sex lines make more money and do the same thing.

Gorilla Rising

If people would just stop blindly believing in something that's yet to be proven and open THEIR minds a little they'd see that psychics/mediums etc are bullsh!t.

Mr Benevolent

Gorilla Rising wrote: »

If people would just stop blindly believing in something that's yet to be proven and open THEIR minds a little they'd see that psychics/mediums etc are bullsh!t.

Same could be said for democracy and a hundred other pervasive beliefs.

wendell borton

tin79 wrote: »

Physics is ok.

Its chemistry that really annoys me. Chemistry deserves to be punched in the face.

Now as for biology...

Organic chemistry needs a punch in face and a kick up its benzene ring.

NegativeCreep

wendell borton wrote: »

Organic chemistry needs a punch in face and a kick up its benzene ring.

Organic chemistry is so fun!

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

tin79 wrote: »

Money well spent kidding yourself tbh. Which is fine and all but lets be realistic.

Where did I suggest I wasn't being realistic? All I said was at the time it really helped me, despite me knowing in my heart that they really don't exist.

frank reynolds

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Where did I suggest I wasn't being realistic? All I said was at the time it really helped me, despite me knowing in my heart that they really don't exist.

Lexie, dont bother with some of these posters.

i dont think i would ever spend money on it, but saying that, if i was in a bad place in life, then who knows.

i know that some people use psychics for therapeutic reasons, even if it is to talk something through like you did, and as you said, it worked for you and you felt better about things afterwards.

it's the same as going to a "qualified" therapist. that's nonsense in my estimations too, and just because they go to university to get a degree in psychology or whatever, doesnt make the opinion of a therapist/councillor any more valid than that of someone who claims to be a psychic, when, in the end, the result is the same: the client feeling better about themselves.

i think there is a lot of people on threads like this, that just say they "dont believe" or it's a crock of sh!te to make themselves look sorted and intelligent.

lahalane

If people can extract some kind of therapy from them then that's grand. It's the same as religion in that respect.

One small difference is that a priest believes in their work and I don't see how a psychic could unless they were crazy.

OldGoat

6 of spades: I forsee a Godwin'ed thread in AH
8 of clubs: Oh dear. Someone close to you is going to get bad news.
Jack of heart: A Beers is in the offing!
Jack of clubs: Woohoo, a pair of Jacks.
Jack of diamonds: All in!

chris_ie

I remember my mother or someone going to one about 10 years or so ago. Something about a can/can opener and blood. Thought it was pretty stupid.

Although.....was crushing used can yesterday and cut my finger.....it bled....:eek:

Shenshen

lahalane wrote: »

If people can extract some kind of therapy from them then that's grand. It's the same as religion in that respect.

One small difference is that a priest believes in their work and I don't see how a psychic could unless they were crazy.

While I don't think I would want to judge anybody who does consult a psychic, I do see quite a lot of danger in trying to put them on the same level as a therapist or a counsellor.
It's rather similar to treating homeopathy as if it was actual medicine.
Yes, it will work well in some cases. There's the placebo effect, there's the fact that people will usually go and contact a homeopath/psychic and have when they're feeling at their worst, which can be an indication that they were about to feel better anyway, etc.

What's worrying me is that for the small number of cases who do feel better afterwards, a rather larger number will not. And they may well continue to consult a psychic rather than seek professional help for their psychological problems with the GP and/or a counsellor. Which can end very badly indeed.

lahalane

Shenshen wrote: »

Why I don't think I would want to judge anybody who does consult a psychic, I do see quite a lot of danger in trying to put them on the same level as a therapist or a counsellor.
It's rather similar to treating homeopathy as if it was actual medicine.
Yes, it will work well in some cases. There's the placebo effect, there's the fact that people will usually go and contact a homeopath/psychic and have when they're feeling at their worst, which can be an indication that they were about to feel better anyway, etc.

What's worrying me is that for the small number of cases who do feel better afterwards, a rather larger number will not. And they may well continue to consult a psychic rather than seek professional help for their psychological problems with the GP and/or a counsellor. Which can end very badly indeed.

I didn't mean to compare them to therapists or counsellors, who actually have training and knowledge in their fields. I should probably have used the word 'comfort' where I used 'therapy'.

I do agree that there is a definite downside to people's faith in psychics, as there is with people's faith in religion. Therapy and Counsellors are obviously the smarter route to solving your problems.

Duggy747

frank reynolds wrote: »

it's the same as going to a "qualified" therapist. that's nonsense in my estimations too, and just because they go to university to get a degree in psychology or whatever, doesnt make the opinion of a therapist/councillor any more valid than that of someone who claims to be a psychic, when, in the end, the result is the same: the client feeling better about themselves.

i think there is a lot of people on threads like this, that just say they "dont believe" or it's a crock of sh!te to make themselves look sorted and intelligent.

Bit hypocritical, no?

You can't put a therapist on the same level as a psychic for help. One has qualifications, experience, and knowledge while the other claims to have supernatural powers.

patmac

We used to have some investment company in the USA that rang our office looking for one of our employees to invest in some portfolio or other. Anyway they persistently rang every day and despite being told that the person involved wasn't interested and to remove him from their data base they still continued to call. So one day I offered them the mobile number of the employee and gave them the psychic helpline instead, haven't heard from them since, so they are useful for some things.

KKkitty

A relative went to one and told her bullsh1t like I wasn't happy in my relationship and other things. Psychics don't know me and how come they can't tell what the winning lotto numbers are.

chris_ie

As people have said they could be dangerous in a way. Some people are in to them in a big way. These people could be happy in their relationships and have a great life. If a psychic was to tell them that there was something wrong with their relationship or that difficult times were ahead if could have a negative affect on their life. So they think something bad is down the line and end up creating it themselves.

Of course there is that pyschic in the states who told a few people their missing kids were dead (including the one that escaped from the house she was held in).,Some girl also asked what her father said to her right before he died, he whispered and she couldn't understand him, this psychic said that the father had told her he was not her real dad!

eyescreamcone

Mr Benevolent wrote: »

Same could be said for democracy and a hundred other pervasive beliefs.

How is democracy like believing in psychic mumbojumbo, ghosts or gods?

I have evidence that democracy exists.

There is no evidence of the others being real.

None whatsoever!!!

None!!!

Zip!!!

--Kaiser--

I have no problem with so-called psychics extracting money from gullible idiots. If they didn't give it to psychics they'd give it to a homoeopath or a snake-oil salesman or a priest

frank reynolds

chris_ie wrote: »

As people have said they could be dangerous in a way. Some people are in to them in a big way. These people could be happy in their relationships and have a great life. If a psychic was to tell them that there was something wrong with their relationship or that difficult times were ahead if could have a negative affect on their life. So they think something bad is down the line and end up creating it themselves.

Of course there is that pyschic in the states who told a few people their missing kids were dead (including the one that escaped from the house she was held in).,Some girl also asked what her father said to her right before he died, he whispered and she couldn't understand him, this psychic said that the father had told her he was not her real dad!

hahaha maybe he wasnt?!

Gorilla Rising

Mr Benevolent wrote: »

Same could be said for democracy and a hundred other pervasive beliefs.

And you can use the same 'the same could be said for argument' for anything.

In the context of psychics and mediums, which this is thread is about, it's a valid statement.

People are too willing to attribute something to the supernatural without giving it an ounce of thought. It's insane.

These people (the ones I feel sorry for - grieving and looking for answers) are taken advantage of by the likes of John Edwards, Sally Morgan, James Van Praagh etc. And it's just plain despicable.

chris_ie

frank reynolds wrote: »

hahaha maybe he wasnt?!

Ha, quite possible I suppose! Imagine being told that! I'll see if I can dig up the video at some point.

Gorilla Rising

frank reynolds wrote: »

i know that some people use psychics for therapeutic reasons

These people are kidding themselves and trot out that line to make themselves seem less stupid for going to the psychic. Have they no family or friends to talk to? Failing that, speaking to a professional would be of more help.

frank reynolds wrote: »

it's the same as going to a "qualified" therapist. that's nonsense in my estimations too, and just because they go to university to get a degree in psychology or whatever, doesnt make the opinion of a therapist/councillor any more valid than that of someone who claims to be a psychic, when, in the end, the result is the same: the client feeling better about themselves.

I'm no expert, but I'm sure psychology etc is more about getting to the bottom of why a person feels a certain way and working through it. To say it's just and opinion is oversimplifying it. There are methods to it.

frank reynolds wrote: »

i think there is a lot of people on threads like this, that just say they "dont believe" or it's a crock of sh!te to make themselves look sorted and intelligent.

Weak argument. It's akin to the rubbish "you're just jealous" retort.

frank reynolds

Gorilla Rising wrote: »

And you can use the same 'the same could be said for argument' for anything.

In the context of psychics and mediums, which this is thread is about, it's a valid statement.

People are too willing to attribute something to the supernatural without giving it an ounce of thought. It's insane.

These people (the ones I feel sorry for - grieving and looking for answers) are taken advantage of by the likes of John Edwards, Sally Morgan, James Van Praagh etc. And it's just plain despicable.

that's not necessarily true though. the people in the audience pay a couple of quid to go and see these psychics, and they come out, on the most part, feeling better, and having gotten "answers" of some sort, even if they're made up, they still make the grieving people feel better to a certain degree, so whats wrong with that?

i dont believe any of it is real for a second, but i think that they are given a bad rep from people because they think they're taking advantage.

i would actually love to do some sort of experiment, using a "real" therapist or councillor as a control and see what differences there is, in terms of satisfaction of the client after the session....

leave them spend their money on them if they wish

FTA69

they still make the grieving people feel better to a certain degree, so whats wrong with that?

They're preying on vulnerable people in order to get money off them and become rich. That's wrong on a moral level. If you had a vulnerable relative in the throes of grief and he/she started siphoning off cash to a predator who thrived on their weakness would you be happy about it?

It's a form of con-artistry. Some people "smash and grab" with their cons and run off with a sum of money, others string a person along with manipulation and take money off them gradually. They're lying bastards, parasites who sponge on those in difficulty.

The "bit of comfort" reasoning is nonsesne to be honest.

frank reynolds

FTA69 wrote: »

They're preying on vulnerable people in order to get money off them and become rich. That's wrong on a moral level. If you had a vulnerable relative in the throes of grief and he/she started siphoning off cash to a predator who thrived on their weakness would you be happy about it?

It's a form of con-artistry. Some people "smash and grab" with their cons and run off with a sum of money, others string a person along with manipulation and take money off them gradually. They're lying bastards, parasites who sponge on those in difficulty.

The "bit of comfort" reasoning is nonsesne to be honest.

yeah i agree that some of them are snakey like that. i'm more talking along the lines of a gypsy fortune teller or something like that, that you would visit, and not these tv psychics.

would you prefer a vulnerable grieving relative to hit the bottle instead?

Duggy747

frank reynolds wrote: »

i would actually love to do some sort of experiment, using a "real" therapist or councillor as a control and see what differences there is, in terms of satisfaction of the client after the session....

As opposed to actual, medically approved methods of therapy that are known to work?

A psychic doesn't get to the root of the problem, help you process it, and ultimately build upon your coping mechanisms. They give answers the person wants to hear rather than what they need to hear.

If it were a choice between sending someone to a psychic or a therapist, then it would be incredibly naive to recommend the former for long-term beneficial results that will actually apply to their lives.

You wouldn't send someone with depression or an addiction to a psychic.

Shenshen

frank reynolds wrote: »

yeah i agree that some of them are snakey like that. i'm more talking along the lines of a gypsy fortune teller or something like that, that you would visit, and not these tv psychics.

would you prefer a vulnerable grieving relative to hit the bottle instead?

frank reynolds wrote:

they still make the grieving people feel better to a certain degree, so whats wrong with that?

Exactly.
Hey, how about we do a study where one group gets to see a psychic, and the other gets as much drink as they want. And then we check which group feels more satisfied afterwards.

frank reynolds

Duggy747 wrote: »

As opposed to actual, medically approved methods of therapy that are known to work?

A psychic doesn't get to the root of the problem, help you process it, and ultimately build upon your coping mechanisms. They give answers the person wants to hear rather than what they need to hear.

If it were a choice between sending someone to a psychic or a therapist, then it would be incredibly naive to recommend the former for long-term beneficial results that will actually apply to their lives.

You wouldn't send someone with depression or an addiction to a psychic.

yeah that's all well and good, but what about someone who can't afford to spend 150€ per hour with a therapist over the course of several weeks, months OR even years?

what if the person WANTS to hear some bullsh!t to feel better, knowing it is bullsh!t, but it does the trick at the time?

therapy IS nonsense, if you can't back it up with the money!

frank reynolds

Shenshen wrote: »

Exactly.
Hey, how about we do a study where one group gets to see a psychic, and the other gets as much drink as they want. And then we check which group feels more satisfied afterwards.

eh, the people who went to the psychic - they wont be hungover....

tigger123

frank reynolds wrote: »

yeah that's all well and good, but what about someone who can't afford to spend 150€ per hour with a therapist over the course of several weeks, months OR even years?

what if the person WANTS to hear some bullsh!t to feel better, knowing it is bullsh!t, but it does the trick at the time?

therapy IS nonsense, if you can't back it up with the money!

Why is therapy nonsense? Or counseling, or psychology?

Duggy747

frank reynolds wrote: »

yeah that's all well and good, but what about someone who can't afford to spend 150€ per hour with a therapist over the course of several weeks, months OR even years?

€150 an hour!?! Maybe if you were going to a celebrity therapist or a rip-off merchant which, in no matter what service, there'll always be a few.

what if the person WANTS to hear some bullsh!t to feel better, knowing it is bullsh!t, but it does the trick at the time?

It'll only be temporary and won't go any way towards helping whatever they're suffering from.

How would a psychic help someone with depression, suffering flashbacks from something traumatic, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, phobias, conditions like OCD, personality disorders, etc?

therapy IS nonsense, if you can't back it up with the money!

Why is it nonsense? What makes therapy nonsense in particular?

frank reynolds

Duggy747 wrote: »

€150 an hour!?! Maybe if you were going to a celebrity therapist or a rip-off merchant which, in no matter what service, there'll always be a few.



It'll only be temporary and won't go any way towards helping whatever they're suffering from.

How would a psychic help someone with depression, suffering flashbacks from something traumatic, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, phobias, conditions like OCD, personality disorders, etc?


Why is it nonsense? What makes therapy nonsense in particular?

ah look, i've been worn down to becoming a bit of a troll on this thread at this stage, so i'm going to opt out now.

just on the argument of; everyone to their own, dont be so irish and knowitall just because your opinion is different doesnt make it the right one.

nikewall

nikewall wrote: »

Ever just want to punch them in the face?

Only if they smile.

Because it is always good to strike a happy medium.

Cody Pomeray

tin79 wrote: »

Money well spent kidding yourself tbh. Which is fine and all but lets be realistic.

Who cares though? if something that ultimately has a therapeutic effect involves some degree of momentary personal deception?

What's with this self-congratulatory "lets do it the hard way" BS?

It reminds me of MDMA Therapy - the use of a psychoactive agent to trick the body into dealing with a stressor, and thereby allowing the individual to get on with their lives.

Seems fair enough.

I don't believe in astrology, but I can see that it might be of some comfort to people; it's possible it can do more good than harm in a number of specific situations.

Cody Pomeray

Duggy747 wrote: »

It'll only be temporary and won't go any way towards helping whatever they're suffering from.

How do you know?

Cody Pomeray

Cody Pomeray wrote: »

Who cares though? if something that ultimately has a therapeutic effect involves some degree of momentary personal deception?

I know this one!

Epidemiologists!