Psychics and women...

...was talking to a woman today who was wittering on about her issues and her treatments, cupping therapy, homeopathy and life coaches and the like. She got indignant when I suggested she might be better off with people with qualifications, like psychologists. Anyway she brought up that she was thinking of going to see a psychic and I gently pointed out that of course the service they sell is utter nonsense, preying on the vulnerable. Inevitably she gave me the "yeah, I know...but this one is supposed to be really good".

I've heard that line before, but the thought struck me...I've never heard it said by a man. Are women more likely to use psychics, or more likely to talk about it? Are men a bit more cynical when it comes to this stuff?

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I love cupping, it's good for circulation. I love getting holistic massages done.
After both my parents died I went to physics. Deep down I know they're a pile of **** but I wanted someone to tell me what I wanted to hear and they fit the bill. I wouldn't be living my life on what they said to me but I would have taken comfort anywhere I could get it.

Exeggcute

Fraudsters always prey on vulnerable people and psychics are a particularly adept breed of scum

Samaris

Yes, our ovaries make us more susceptible to charlatans.

More seriously, no idea. There's certainly a stereotype of it, although most of the "alternative" (in terms of religion mostly, some spiritualism connections) people I know are male. Admittedly, not a great number over the 50% mark.

Tasden

LexieOnRale wrote: »

I love cupping, it's good for circulation. I love getting holistic massages done.
After both my parents died I went to physics. Deep down I know they're a pile of **** but I wanted someone to tell me what I wanted to hear and they fit the bill. I wouldn't be living my life on what they said to me but I would have taken comfort anywhere I could get it.

Same. I'm the most cynical person going and would call bull**** on psychics etc but in times of need I read horoscopes and when I missed a dead relative and felt a little lost without a belief in god i considered going to a psychic. It was too much money though so i didn't, I obviously wasn't that concerned!

kfallon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIU4-PWRyw4

Mr_Muffin

No different than going to the cinema, circus, a show etc. They are just a form of entertainment.

BreadnBuddha

Only a fool would give their attention, time and money to a psychic.

Absolute bolloxology.

kneemos

Just receiving the attention can have a positive effect.
Some go to their doctor with trivial ailments others have fancy stones put on their forehead.

LeinsterDub

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

No different than going to the cinema, circus, a show etc. They are just a form of entertainment.

Expect for some people they aren't they actually belive that is said to them.

suicide_circus

Cupping has no proven benefits whatsover. Some "ancient eastern wisdom" has merit, most is bollix.

runawaybishop

Never heard my dad, brother or any of my male friends indicate they would have any time for a medium but my wife, mum, sister and several female friends have been to one. Total nonsense.

Tasden

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Expect for some people they aren't they actually belive that is said to them.

I dunno, do they, or is it a case of deep down they know it's all bull**** but they find comfort in it so they almost humour themselves and will themselves to believe it?

Felix Jones is God

suicide_circus wrote: »

Cupping has no proven benefits whatsover. Some "ancient eastern wisdom" has merit, most is bollix.

I quite like having my balls cupped, it brings a smile to my face and puts a spring in my step, so I'm living proof it's bloody brilliant!!

howamidifferent

What's cupping?

LeinsterDub

Tasden wrote: »

I dunno, do they, or is it a case of deep down they know it's all bull**** but they find comfort in it so they almost humour themselves and will themselves to believe it?

Lots of cases of people making crazy life decisions or even dying based on what these frauds have said.

Pedro K

[Deleted User] wrote: »

...was talking to a woman today who was wittering on about her issues and her treatments, cupping therapy, homeopathy and life coaches and the like. She got indignant when I suggested she might be better off with people with qualifications, like psychologists. Anyway she brought up that she was thinking of going to see a psychic and I gently pointed out that of course the service they sell is utter nonsense, preying on the vulnerable. Inevitably she gave me the "yeah, I know...but this one is supposed to be really good".

I've heard that line before, but the thought struck me...I've never heard it said by a man. Are women more likely to use psychics, or more likely to talk about it? Are men a bit more cynical when it comes to this stuff?

Regarding the first part. Statistically speaking, middle aged women are much more likely to use CAM. So I don't think it's a massive stretch to suggest they may be more susceptible to psychics.

Mr_Muffin

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Expect for some people they aren't they actually belive that is said to them.

I've no doubt they do.

I know a girl who's sisters passed away. She received a friend request on Facebook a few days later from a woman who claimed to be able to talk to the girl who passed and could arrange a reading. All of the information the woman claimed to have received was available on the dead girls social media pages so it was obvious this woman was just praying on people who had recently suffered the death of a loved one.

I quickly pointed this out (in a nice way) and made her aware to she was being scammed but by then it was to late - an appointment was booked (50 euro for a half hour). She was told after the first reading she would need to some sort of 'ornament' (i didn't get to see it but i think it was some sort of candle stick holder) in order for the readings to have the best effect and that her friends sold these for 30 euro a piece.

Made me kinda sad but hey - it's her money!

Junkyard Tom

Men tend to use their psychic abilities to lose money betting on horses and football.

XR3i

YO U HAVE TO BE CARFUL WIT WOMEN, THEY AE CONNECTED TO THE DARK-SIDE, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WITH AMAZINGLY BRIGHT EYES

Tasden

LeinsterDub wrote: »

Lots of cases of people making crazy life decisions or even dying based on what these frauds have said.

True.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

howamidifferent wrote: »

What's cupping?

They use heat on a cup to create a vacuum, it's placed on the skin and it sucks your skin up. It's supposed to improve circulation and draw out toxins.

runawaybishop

LexieOnRale wrote: »

and draw out toxins.

No such thing though. Same as "detoxing", made up marketing designed to part fools from their money.

Tasden

LexieOnRale wrote: »

They use heat on a cup to create a vacuum, it's placed on the skin and it sucks your skin up. It's supposed to improve circulation and draw out toxins.

Isn't that what Phelps gets done?

runawaybishop

Tasden wrote: »

Isn't that what Phelps gets done?

Yes, to assist with blood flow and pushes antibodies into the areas. No real evidence that it does that though.

Tasden

runawaybishop wrote: »

Yes, to assist with blood flow and pushes antibodies into the areas. No real evidence that it does that though.

Hes a man

Wibbs

runawaybishop wrote: »

No such thing though. Same as "detoxing", made up marketing designed to part fools from their money.

Oh sure it's bollocks, but it could still work mind you. The placebo effect is very strong. There are quite the number of prescription medicines where placebo is as effective or not far off and minus the side effects. SSRI's for mild and medium depression for example.

Women are more likely to be religious and generally "spiritual" including physics and the like. A shed load of research and stats show this. There have been all sorts of theories put forward as to the why, from brain biology to culture and depending on who is asked different answers come along.

runawaybishop

Tasden wrote: »

Hes a man

Yeah so? He's not doing it for the detoxing, only the potential anti-inflammatory effects. As wibbs points out above the placebo effect is quite powerful.

LeinsterDub

Tasden wrote: »

Hes a man

By God your right! That certaintly goes someway to explaining his lack of medals in the women's competitions in rio.

Tasden

runawaybishop wrote: »

Yeah so? He's not doing it for the detoxing, only the potential anti-inflammatory effects. As wibbs points out above the placebo effect is quite powerful.

Some would argue placebo effect is at play with psychics. And it's a thread about women believing in all these things more than men tend to. He's a man. Just making the observation like!

runawaybishop

Tasden wrote: »

Some would argue placebo effect is at play with psychics. And it's a thread about women believing in all these things more than men tend to. He's a man. Just making the observation like!

Fair enough, though I wouldn't class cupping the same as a medium.

Tasden

LeinsterDub wrote: »

By God your right! That certaintly goes someway to explaining his lack of medals in the women's competitions in rio.

I reckon it was all this hocus pocus messing about with cups. Just get back to the swimming

Tasden

runawaybishop wrote: »

Fair enough, though I wouldn't class cupping the same as a medium.

Nah me neither but it'd be more "alternative" which women tend to be more accepting of than men which was mentioned in the thread.
I wasn't just making random observations about things, I thought the links would be self explanatory, obviously not :pac:

mzungu

Interesting study about it here:

Conclusions

Use of a spiritual healer is not due, on average, to poor education, marginal racial/ethnic or socioeconomic status, dire health straits, or lack of other healthcare options. To some extent, the opposite appears to be true. Use of a spiritual healer is not associated with fewer social and personal resources or limitations in health or healthcare.

Levin, J., Taylor, R. J., & Chatters, L. M. (2011). Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of spiritual healer use: findings from the National Survey of American Life. Complementary therapies in medicine, 19(2), 63-70. Chicago .

finooola

I've definitely heard more women discussing going to psychics at work or even as far back as school than men. There seems to be a bit of an attitude of "I don't really believe in it, but I've heard this one is very good" which I find odd. I've heard equal numbers of men and women discussing "faith healers" and seventh sons of seventh sons and the like in a positive manner.

Junkyard Tom

Wibbs wrote: »

There are quite the number of prescription medicines where placebo is as effective or not far off and minus the side effects. SSRI's for mild and medium depression for example.

And for severe depression they're not tested against any other psychoactive substance so it could just be masking symptoms.

The whole depression pill thing is itself built on the 'unbalanced chemicals' theory which, aside from being stupidly reductive, is completely unproven.

Tasden

finooola wrote: »

I've definitely heard more women discussing going to psychics at work or even as far back as school than men. There seems to be a bit of an attitude of "I don't really believe in it, but I've heard this one is very good" which I find odd. I've heard equal numbers of men and women discussing "faith healers" and seventh sons of seventh sons and the like in a positive manner.

Women tend to make recommendations more so than men I find. If im planning a trip it will be mainly women that advise me where to go. And so many women will say "thanks, pennys, five euro" when you compliment their top, compared to men who just say "thanks". Its interesting. Or maybe I just happen to know lots of women who like to advise and recommend.

fatknacker

Probably the same reason women are more likely to go to the doctor and be religious at a later stage.
Reassurance that everything's in order.

Jimbob1977

Near my home, there's a psychic who does readings in her own car. There is no office or studio.

People will drive to her home and wait their turn. One day, she had six customers in the queue. They were all women.

Women tend to utilise emotion and feelings more than men.

Once, my wife visited a psychic. Afterwards, she berated me for 'something nasty I was going to do in the future'. WTF!

How do you respond to that? Laughing in her face didn't help.

Jimbob1977

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Once, my wife visited a psychic. Afterwards, she berated me for 'something nasty I was going to do in the future'. WTF!

How do you respond to that? Laughing in her face didn't help.

Roll eyes, pick up jacket, head to the pub, and on the way out the door say "if by nasty you mean get roaring drunk and crawl home around sunrise, consider it prophecy fulfilled"

mzungu

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

Near my home, there's a psychic who does readings in her own car. There is no office or studio.

People will drive to her home and wait their turn. One day, she had six customers in the queue. They were all women.

Women tend to utilise emotion and feelings more than men.

Once, my wife visited a psychic. Afterwards, she berated me for 'something nasty I was going to do in the future'. WTF!

How do you respond to that? Laughing in her face didn't help.

The psychic was right!!!

*Mind blown*

Widdershins

I don't think women are more likely to go for it. I'm reminded of a so-called healer in this area. When my boyfriend was injured, many of his male friends recommended the healer. It's a laying-on of hands kind of thing. No fee as such but people leave a donation on the mantelpiece or somewhere like that.

And it's not all rubbish. People can be too sceptical just as they can be too gullible.

Widdershins

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

And for severe depression they're not tested against any other psychoactive substance so it could just be masking symptoms.

The whole depression pill thing is itself built on the 'unbalanced chemicals' theory which, aside from being stupidly reductive, is completely unproven.

Antidepressants can work very well.

Widdershins

I had a tarot card reading recently and everything the reader told me applied to her. I know a fair bit about what's going on in her life, I've known her for years. Not one bit of it relevant to me. It was interesting.

bmwguy

A few women in the office go to them, they believe a psychic knows what life has in store for them. These women believe their whole life is mapped out by a higher power and there is nothing they can do to change that.

What a sad outlook, nothing you can do will change your destiny, you have no control. Very pathetic and defeatist outlook. And don't get me started on talking to dead relatives, some of them believe that too and 1 woman in particular goes to talk to all her deceased family regularly.

Just to go back to the thread title, 1 of the men does too. Comes out with the vaguest, most made up tripe I have ever heard and passes off as the psychic connecting with the dead. She said she is having visions of the number 3 having big significance in his life, he then blurted out "my dad died nearly 3 years ago". Back at work he says "how could she know 3 was so important to me, I was only thinking the other week my dad died 3 years ago this year and it still seems like yesterday".

Eh....she didn't know, you told her so off she went with it. This guys brother also died young so when the medium said "your dad says he is not lonely, he has company, don't grieve for him" he said "oh that must be my brother" so she had more info......

Ok, he is a bit of a dope and it made him feel better but when he came back into work telling grown men it was all true it's a bit difficult to tell him he was duped and it's all b@ll@cks.

Leg kick Trick

Leg kick Trick wrote: »

Women tend to be much more into horoscopes and woo woo type stuff.

I like that, "woo woo type stuff"!

meeeeh

Psychics are probably more popular with women. Men (in my experience) are more likely practice dowsing, hydrotherapy and similar nonsense. Oh and Herbalife (it's a religion).

Tasden

bmwguy wrote: »

A few women in the office go to them, they believe a psychic knows what life has in store for them. These women believe their whole life is mapped out by a higher power and there is nothing they can do to change that.

What a sad outlook, nothing you can do will change your destiny, you have no control. Very pathetic and defeatist outlook. And don't get me started on talking to dead relatives, some of them believe that too and 1 woman in particular goes to talk to all her deceased family regularly.

A bit like people believing in God's plan.

God is a man.

And his son was a man who predicted he would rise from the dead.

All priests are men.

Think I'm on to something.

Psychics... nah! not my sort of thing. I dabbled with it as a teenager and found it to be rubbish. Although, my sisters does "bio-energy" which is a lot like faith healing, and I have seen people cured from it. But personally I'm way too skeptical about it. Still, the power of the brain for healing is not to be underestimated.

However, the other treatments, yes.. I have essential tremor, and apart from surgery (no thanks), or heavy dosages of meds (turn me into a vegetable) western medicine can do little. I regularly get massage, cupping, accupuncture, guided meditation, and self-hypnosis (recordings for guided). All of which I have found extremely helpful for my tremors and for other issues I've "developed" in life.

buckwheat

Widdershins wrote: »

I don't think women are more likely to go for it. I'm reminded of a so-called healer in this area. When my boyfriend was injured, many of his male friends recommended the healer. It's a laying-on of hands kind of thing. No fee as such but people leave a donation on the mantelpiece or somewhere like that.

And it's not all rubbish. People can be too sceptical just as they can be too gullible.

It is absolutely definitely 100% complete and utter rubbish. The sort of rubbish only a person with an IQ of a piece of wood would believe. And I don't mean a clever piece of wood.

Widdershins

buckwheat wrote: »

It is absolutely definitely 100% complete and utter rubbish. The sort of rubbish only a person with an IQ of a piece of wood would believe. And I don't mean a clever piece of wood.

I mean, not everything alternative is rubbish. I didn't mean psychics