Comments on Better Than SylviaTypePad2007-12-17T08:01:00ZSkepticohttps://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2007/12/better-than-syl/comments/atom.xml/cathetel commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e551ffd02a88332008-04-28T02:06:30Z2011-01-31T19:09:17Zcathetelhttp://profile.typekey.com/cathetel/I always wondered why celebrity pregnancies were so important. Still don't get it. Nor for Political ambitions or calamities. If...<p>I always wondered why celebrity pregnancies were so important. Still don't get it. Nor for Political ambitions or calamities. If you're getting messages from Higher Entities, I'd like to see a little bit more on earth survival and what we can do about it.</p>genewitch commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fd06cf288342008-01-03T00:11:18Z2008-01-03T00:11:19Zgenewitchhttp://genewitch.blogspot.comI often wondered what would happen if a skeptic wrote a new age spiritual book, became the latest guru, made...<p><b>I often wondered what would happen if a skeptic wrote a new age spiritual book, became the latest guru, made a packet, then publicly disclosed the trickery, donating the money to cancer research. What do you think the skeptic/guru's followers would do? Become skeptics? Keep the faith (even without the guru)?</b></p>
<p>For examples of this please see other: Scientology, UFO sightings, and the witch hunt positive feedback loop phenomenon.</p>
<p>Stuff which is 100% pure unadulterated horse-<br />
radish and doesn't deserve to be discussed at all, yet people are making money off of them (except the witch hunts, excepting maybe historians, but that's ok).</p>
<p>People will believe in the face of overwhelming evidence.</p>
<p>To paraphrase the movie Dogma: "Beliefs are bad. It's better to have ideas, ideas can change." </p>Techskeptic commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbd4e7388332008-01-02T22:44:28Z2008-01-25T02:40:06ZTechskeptichttp://profile.typekey.com/Techskeptic/BTW, randi's carlos scheme was detailed pretty well in Sagans Demon Haunted world. Debbyo, please pick up that book if...<p>BTW,</p>
<p>randi's carlos scheme was detailed pretty well in Sagans Demon Haunted world.</p>
<p>Debbyo, please pick up that book if you havent already. Its a great, great foundation for skeptical thinking. Then give it to someone (your mother perhaps). </p>
<p>I sent it to 15 people as solstice gifts. Not that they needed it for the most part, but its just a great. I'm hoping to get enough people to read it to convince them that it should be required reading for high school.</p>
<p>:) cheers and happy new year to all!</p>Skeptico commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fd0404388342008-01-02T21:11:33Z2008-01-02T21:11:33ZSkepticoI knew you were going to say that.<p>I knew you were going to say that.</p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbcf89c88332008-01-02T18:30:17Z2008-01-02T18:30:17ZJimmy_BlueTalking of psychics I recieved an e-mail from someone called Ron Ray claiming to be a clairvoyant the other day....<p>Talking of psychics I recieved an e-mail from someone called Ron Ray claiming to be a clairvoyant the other day. He wanted to start a database of links of like minded individuals/astrologers/business people with their own websites.</p>
<p>I replied that if he was clairvoyant, he would have known I wasn't psychic; or an astrologer; nor did I believe in any of that junk; that I don't have my own website and that I am not a businessman.</p>
<p>The reply simply apologised for bothering me and wished me a pleasant 2008.</p>
<p>I thought Ron Ray maybe needed a little practise so I looked up his website. He's been doing this for nearly 20 years apparently.</p>
<p>Maybe you could talk to him and give him a few hints Skeptico?</p>kozmetik commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbb7c2388332008-01-01T16:09:33Z2008-01-01T16:09:33Zkozmetikhttp://www.koz-metik.comskeptico. the spirits are sometimes hard to hear, as they mutter.<p>skeptico. the spirits are sometimes hard to hear, as they mutter.</p>geciktirici commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fce606888342008-01-01T15:15:16Z2008-01-01T15:15:16Zgeciktiricihttp://www.hepzinde.comExcelent!Psychics do exist!<p>Excelent!Psychics do exist!</p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbb205988332008-01-01T05:27:30Z2008-01-01T05:27:30ZdebbyoPerhaps we should be looking more closely at why people need to believe in fantasies. In fact, why so many...<p>Perhaps we should be looking more closely at why people need to believe in fantasies. In fact, why so many people want to escape reality. Is it akin to a drug? Was Marx right when he said that religion was the "opiate of the masses"?</p>
<p>BTW, the Carlos story is great and does help to answer my query, thanks.</p>Skemono commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fb9913d88332007-12-30T23:10:20Z2007-12-30T23:10:20ZSkemonohttp://skemono.blogspot.com/Yeah, Carlos did that. And I also seem to recall that there were Carlos true-believers, too, but I can't find...<p>Yeah, Carlos did that. And I also seem to recall that there were Carlos true-believers, too, but I can't find a source for it.... I do know that there were some people who have insisted that James Randi himself has psychic powers, but he just wasn't aware of them.</p>
<p>So, yeah, some of them would insist that he was real, he just didn't know it. Some of them would probably go "Well, sure, <i>he's</i> a fake, but there are real ones out there!" And some, if you show them <i>how</i> they were deceived, and teach them to keep an eye out for those signs, might become skeptics.</p>
<p>Oh, and debbyo, if you don't know who "Carlos" is, <a href="http://www.skepdic.com/carlos.html" rel="nofollow">read this</a>.</p>Tom Foss commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fb98af588332007-12-30T22:44:43Z2007-12-30T22:44:43ZTom Fosshttp://dubitoergo.blogspot.comWhile it wasn't quite on that scale, wasn't Randi's "Carlos" hoax kind of like that? I seem to recall that...<p>While it wasn't quite on that scale, wasn't Randi's "Carlos" hoax kind of like that? I seem to recall that there were still Carlos true believers after that, as well. </p>Bronze Dog commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fb96e8188332007-12-30T20:34:15Z2007-12-30T20:34:15ZBronze Doghttp://rockstarramblings.blogspot.com/I suspect they'd go for the latter. Downside of such a case would be that'd we'd have to explain the...<p>I suspect they'd go for the latter. Downside of such a case would be that'd we'd have to explain the difference between a guy admitting he made the whole thing up without evidence and the fallacy of Darwin's/Pasteur's alleged deathbed recantations.</p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fcbd44f88342007-12-30T06:11:20Z2007-12-30T06:11:20ZdebbyoI often wondered what would happen if a skeptic wrote a new age spiritual book, became the latest guru, made...<p>I often wondered what would happen if a skeptic wrote a new age spiritual book, became the latest guru, made a packet, then publicly disclosed the trickery, donating the money to cancer research. What do you think the skeptic/guru's followers would do? Become skeptics? Keep the faith (even without the guru)? </p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fcb12e488342007-12-29T17:39:16Z2007-12-29T17:39:16ZJimmy_BlueWell, going by the current standard of a hit for psychics, that would make you 100% accurate Skeptico. Now, where's...<p>Well, going by the current standard of a hit for psychics, that would make you 100% accurate Skeptico.</p>
<p>Now, where's my bridge?</p>genewitch commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fb5942388332007-12-28T02:53:26Z2007-12-28T02:53:27Zgenewitchhttp://genewitch.blogspot.comobviously, skeptico. the spirits are sometimes hard to hear, as they mutter.<p>obviously, skeptico. the spirits are sometimes hard to hear, as they mutter.</p>Skeptico commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc8046c88342007-12-27T22:26:36Z2007-12-27T22:26:36ZSkepticoI predicted: Pakistan – there will be an assassination attempt on President Perez Musharraf ...Perhaps I was seeing the attack...<p>I predicted:</p>
<blockquote>Pakistan – there will be an assassination attempt on President Perez Musharraf </blockquote>
<p>...Perhaps I was seeing the attack on Bhutto and just mistook it for one on Musharraf?</p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc7faff88342007-12-27T21:58:44Z2007-12-27T21:58:44ZJimmy_BlueAn apple tree could have predicted Bhutto's eventual assassination.<p>An apple tree could have predicted Bhutto's eventual assassination.</p>archdukechocula commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc7f10a88342007-12-27T21:27:41Z2007-12-27T21:27:41ZarchdukechoculaCrap... Jeffrey Palmer's gonna say that he predicted Bhutto's assassination. Skeptico still has a crapload more hits though.<p>Crap... Jeffrey Palmer's gonna say that he predicted Bhutto's assassination. Skeptico still has a crapload more hits though.</p>Skemono commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc33c9888342007-12-24T20:14:49Z2007-12-24T20:14:49ZSkemonohttp://skemono.blogspot.com/You could always do what Uri Geller does, Mr. Lonergan--tell people that you accurately predicted something after the fact.<p>You could always do what Uri Geller does, Mr. Lonergan--tell people that you accurately predicted something <i>after</i> the fact.</p>Michael Lonergan commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc3000688342007-12-24T15:42:55Z2007-12-24T15:42:55ZMichael LonerganThis is my first post on this site. I am a psychic that is also a procrastinator, so I'll make...<p>This is my first post on this site. I am a psychic that is also a procrastinator, so I'll make my predictions tomorrow.</p>Michael Lonergan commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc2ffe588342007-12-24T15:42:23Z2007-12-24T15:42:23ZMichael LonerganThis is my first post on this site. I am a psychic that is also a procrastinator, so I'll make...<p>This is my first post on this site. I am a psychic that is also a procrastinator, so I'll make my predictions tomorrow.</p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc0884188342007-12-22T04:45:52Z2007-12-22T04:45:52ZdebbyoPerhaps I should send her Skeptico's article. AND the one on "The Secret". The again - I don't want to...<p>Perhaps I should send her Skeptico's article. AND the one on "The Secret". The again - I don't want to be responsible for sending another woo to you. Then I'd have to watch my mum make a fool of herself on my favourite (Aust sp)blog. And watch while you all call my mum an embecile. Hmmm. BRB. </p>Greta Christina commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fc00acb88342007-12-21T18:25:59Z2007-12-21T18:25:59ZGreta Christinahttp://gretachristina.typepad.com/Astonishing, Skeptico! There's clearly only one explanation: You really ARE psychic, and just don't realize it! :-)<p>Astonishing, Skeptico! There's clearly only one explanation: You really ARE psychic, and just don't realize it! :-)</p>T&A commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbff70888342007-12-21T17:15:00Z2007-12-21T17:15:00ZT&Ahttp://americanscot.blogspot.comExcellent! Do you do birthday parties? ;)<p>Excellent! Do you do birthday parties? ;)</p>judy wyatt commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54facd07688332007-12-21T14:18:05Z2007-12-21T14:18:05Zjudy wyatthttp://blackcatwhiterabbit.com/blackcat/index.phpDebbyo, I don't think being callous is the way to go. Then she's lost two kids instead of one. If...<p>Debbyo,</p>
<p>I don't think being callous is the way to go. Then she's lost two kids instead of one. If I were dealing with such an emotional subject as messages from a dead son, I'd just say, "hey that's great, mom" and let her talk. Only when dealing with less emotional topics (the idiots on tv, for example) might I broach the illogic of what she's talking about. But sometimes it just isn't worth it. The question is, does it give her comfort? It might make me feel better to destroy someone's delusion, but it isn't necessarily the best thing for them. I guess I'm mellowing in my middle age.</p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fac64a088332007-12-21T02:17:28Z2007-12-21T02:17:28ZJimmy_BlueDebbyo: I apologise for being short with you then. I wouldn't say you had been unsuccessful though, it was late...<p>Debbyo:</p>
<p>I apologise for being short with you then. I wouldn't say you had been unsuccessful though, it was late when I posted and I'd had a beer or two so probably just didn't get what I should have!</p>
<p>Sometimes the callous asshole approach is what is needed. But I don't think you are being callous if you do tell someone that contact with the dead is bullshit.</p>
<p>The callous ones are the ones who exploit grief to make money from the grieving.</p>Tom Foss commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbe5a3788342007-12-20T06:12:34Z2007-12-20T06:12:34ZTom Fosshttp://dubitoergo.blogspot.comI think you just have to try to help them cope the same way you would with anyone. You might...<p>I think you just have to try to help them cope the same way you would with anyone. You might be blunt or use kid gloves, depending on your individual situation, but it's better for everyone when people are able to deal with reality <i>as</i> reality. </p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fab6d9d88332007-12-20T05:21:58Z2007-12-20T05:21:59ZdebbyoJimmy, clearly my attempt at irony was unsuccessful. Of course she is deluded. My question is: how do you say...<p>Jimmy, clearly my attempt at irony was unsuccessful. Of course she is deluded. My question is: how do you say this to a grieving mother without looking like a callous asshole? I mean, exactly how would you do it? </p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fab68bb88332007-12-20T04:57:05Z2007-12-20T04:57:05ZJimmy_BlueDebbyo: Do you believe she is psychic or not? It's not clear from your post. She is always just thinking...<p>Debbyo:</p>
<p>Do you believe she is psychic or not? It's not clear from your post.</p>
<p><b>She is always just thinking of me just before I call her even though she hasn't thought of me for ages.</b></p>
<p>And how many times does she tell you that you called but she wasn't thinking about you? Or that you didn't call when she was thinking about you?</p>
<p><b>She also knew I would have a girl</b></p>
<p>Wow, she got a 50/50 guess right. Must be psychic. Incidentally, so far I have guessed the sex of all my kids correctly as well. And the midwife guessed the sex of our first one too. She said she was pretty accurate generally speaking as well.</p>
<p><b>and she knows her son who died in an accident talks to her now and then.</b></p>
<p>Maybe she needs to let go. Accepting that death is the end is hard for everyone, but for a grieving parent I can't even imagine.</p>
<p><b>What do you say to grieving people who fall for this stuff? </b></p>
<p>That it's bullshit.</p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbe49d988342007-12-20T04:28:07Z2007-12-20T04:28:07ZdebbyoMy mum's a psychic. She is always just thinking of me just before I call her even though she hasn't...<p>My mum's a psychic. She is always just thinking of me just before I call her even though she hasn't thought of me for ages. She also knew I would have a girl (although she didn't want to say before she was born in case it "spooked me") and she knows her son who died in an accident talks to her now and then. What do you say to grieving people who fall for this stuff? </p>debbyo commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbe499f88342007-12-20T04:26:26Z2007-12-20T04:26:26ZdebbyoMy mum's a psychic. She is always just thinking of me just before I call her even though she hasn't...<p>My mum's a psychic. She is always just thinking of me just before I call her even though she hasn't thought of me for ages. She also knew I would have a girl (although she didn't want to say before she was born in case it "spooked me") and she knows her son who died in an accident talks to her now and then. What do you say to grieving people who fall for this stuff? </p>Adam Roberts commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa97ef788332007-12-18T21:02:55Z2007-12-18T21:02:56ZAdam Robertshttp://www.adamroberts.comPsst! Who's going to win the 2008 Superbowl! I need to know so I can put a bet down early...<p>Psst! Who's going to win the 2008 Superbowl! I need to know so I can put a bet down early ...</p>Joseph commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa87bf688332007-12-18T03:34:41Z2007-12-18T03:34:42ZJosephhttp://autismnaturalvariation.blogspot.comYou missed this one, BTW: Autism rates will not fall in 2007, despite the lack of thimerosal in childhood vaccines....<p>You missed this one, BTW:</p>
<p><i>Autism rates will not fall in 2007, despite the lack of thimerosal in childhood vaccines. However, this will not prevent the anti-vaccination groups from continuing to claim that vaccines are a cause of autism.</i></p>
<p>How in the world did you know that? :)<br />
</p>Joseph commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbbd7b988342007-12-18T03:20:06Z2007-12-18T03:20:06ZJosephhttp://autismnaturalvariation.blogspot.comDamn, you're good.<p>Damn, you're good.<br />
</p>Marcus Ranum commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa85c3c88332007-12-18T01:27:06Z2007-12-18T01:27:07ZMarcus Ranumhttp://www.ranum.comYou gonna take Randi's million!? Dude! That'd be badass!<p>You gonna take Randi's million!? Dude! That'd be badass!</p>Jimmy_Blue commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbb0a9e88342007-12-17T15:36:37Z2007-12-17T15:36:37ZJimmy_BlueI'll take that bridge. Do you accept Diner's Club?<p>I'll take that bridge.</p>
<p>Do you accept Diner's Club?</p>Bourgeois_Rage commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbaeeac88342007-12-17T14:10:13Z2007-12-17T14:10:13ZBourgeois_Ragehttp://www.cbourgeois.org/clint/htmlBefore I buy any bridge, I'll need to look into the cost of moving it to my river crossing of...<p>Before I buy any bridge, I'll need to look into the cost of moving it to my river crossing of choice. My people will be in contact with your people.</p>
<p>Oh and thank you for that critical information about Brangelina. I think that has been one of the few things keeping me going through 2007. Can you bring some good news to Jennifer Anniston next year?</p>Tom S. Fox commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa7814588332007-12-17T12:39:26Z2007-12-17T12:39:27ZTom S. FoxWow! Psychics do exist!<p>Wow! Psychics do exist!</p>Mytho commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa7665088332007-12-17T10:01:36Z2007-12-17T10:01:36ZMythohttp://www.guiaantropofagica.blogspot.comLOL Excelent! Just by using some pretty logical stuff and then some whild guesses you've bested them on their own...<p>LOL</p>
<p>Excelent! Just by using some pretty logical stuff and then some whild guesses you've bested them on their own game! xD</p>Maronan commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fa7493088332007-12-17T08:13:08Z2007-12-17T08:13:08ZMaronanhttp://minitruenews.blogspot.comYou can't sell the Brooklyn Bridge! I own the Brooklyn Bridge! I'll sell it to you, though, so you can...<p>You can't sell the Brooklyn Bridge! I own the Brooklyn Bridge! I'll sell it to you, though, so you can sell it to your marks! :)</p>TheNewAtheist commented on 'Better Than Sylvia'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d83451df0c69e200e54fbab6a288342007-12-17T06:46:49Z2007-12-17T06:46:49ZTheNewAtheisthttp://www.thenewatheist.orgI believe you are supposed to be selling the Brooklyn Bridge rather than the Golden Gate :-) Sorry, being pedantic...<p>I believe you are supposed to be selling the Brooklyn Bridge rather than the Golden Gate :-)</p>
<p>Sorry, being pedantic again.</p>