Comments on: Ambush Skepticism http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: frank http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-19654 frank Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:51:59 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-19654 "Call Sylvia Browne collect and ask to make an appointment. When they ask for pre-payment tell them you are her dead ancestor from Latvia and she owes you twenty bucks. Stay with this as long as you can keep them wondering." priceless “Call Sylvia Browne collect and ask to make an appointment. When they ask for pre-payment tell them you are her dead ancestor from Latvia and she owes you twenty bucks. Stay with this as long as you can keep them wondering.”

priceless

]]> By: free tarot advice http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-9091 free tarot advice Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:03:09 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-9091 I found tarot card reading pretty fascinating. I even recently picked up a book and started learning it myself. I found tarot card reading pretty fascinating. I even recently picked up a book and started learning it myself.

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8910 kabol Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:48:21 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8910 i was googling "psychic fraud" in google's news section (there is always something new popping up) and ran across the words "psychic fair" in one of the articles. this place sure seems to cover everything but the beekeeping and zumba (in other happenings/events on that page). i'm not sure where mansfield is (connecticut? mass.? someplace in new england) but check out all of the "uplifting connections" happenings. what a hoot. (i'm leaving off their contact info, but go here if you want to see their website, address, phone number etc) http://www.wickedlocal.com/mansfield/fun/entertainment/arts/x124630425/Out-and-About-June-17-28 and if anyone goes there to ambush, please report back! :) ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- Three Powerful Strategies to Maximize Your Health and Longevity led by Bill Finn every second Wednesday of each month. 7 to 9 p.m. at Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Psychic Fair second Saturday of every month. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Readings are $1 per minute. Appointments are first-come, first-served on day of fair. Free monthly health seminars with Noelle Armstrong every third Wednesday of each month. 7 to 8 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Learn how to take charge of your and your family’s health. Topics will vary each month. What in the Heck Is...? Night every fourth Wednesday of each month. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Free seminar. Learn about whatever topics are on tap. Animal Communication Development Circle led by Karen Rando. Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Bring a picture. Cost is $7. Spirit Communication Development Circle led by Karen Rando. Every Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Uplifting Connections, Bridgewater. Meditation followed by exercises to help develop confidence in intuitive abilities. Cost is $7. Spirituality Book Club led by Interfaith Minister Kerry Lyn first Sunday of every month. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Donation of $5 to $10 appreciated. --------------------- --------------------- sadly, i don't doubt that there are places like this in just about every town/city. i was googling “psychic fraud” in google’s news section (there is always something new popping up) and ran across the words “psychic fair” in one of the articles.

this place sure seems to cover everything but the beekeeping and zumba (in other happenings/events on that page). i’m not sure where mansfield is (connecticut? mass.? someplace in new england) but check out all of the “uplifting connections” happenings.

what a hoot.

(i’m leaving off their contact info, but go here if you want to see their website, address, phone number etc)
http://www.wickedlocal.com/mansfield/fun/entertainment/arts/x124630425/Out-and-About-June-17-28

and if anyone goes there to ambush, please report back! :)

———————————–
———————————–

Three Powerful Strategies to Maximize Your Health and Longevity led by Bill Finn every second Wednesday of each month. 7 to 9 p.m. at Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater.

Psychic Fair second Saturday of every month. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Readings are $1 per minute. Appointments are first-come, first-served on day of fair.

Free monthly health seminars with Noelle Armstrong every third Wednesday of each month. 7 to 8 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Learn how to take charge of your and your family’s health. Topics will vary each month.

What in the Heck Is…? Night every fourth Wednesday of each month. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Free seminar. Learn about whatever topics are on tap.

Animal Communication Development Circle led by Karen Rando. Fourth Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Bring a picture. Cost is $7.

Spirit Communication Development Circle led by Karen Rando. Every Wednesday, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Uplifting Connections, Bridgewater. Meditation followed by exercises to help develop confidence in intuitive abilities. Cost is $7.

Spirituality Book Club led by Interfaith Minister Kerry Lyn first Sunday of every month. 7 to 8:30 p.m., Uplifting Connections, 1355 Pleasant St., Bridgewater. Donation of $5 to $10 appreciated.

———————

———————

sadly, i don’t doubt that there are places like this in just about every town/city.

]]> By: Casarojo http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8815 Casarojo Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:11:04 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8815 To all skeptics: Simply pick some course of action that is reasonable, legal and that you're comfortable with and do *something* on the order of direct confrontation. I've been posting (countering the assholes) at forums for paranormal TV shows now for a year and a half. It may not be much but it's something. If everyone was active in some way, however small, somewhere that you're at least visible, then maybe we'll get some satisfaction. Go team Skeptic!!! :-) To all skeptics: Simply pick some course of action that is reasonable, legal and that you’re comfortable with and do *something* on the order of direct confrontation. I’ve been posting (countering the assholes) at forums for paranormal TV shows now for a year and a half. It may not be much but it’s something. If everyone was active in some way, however small, somewhere that you’re at least visible, then maybe we’ll get some satisfaction. Go team Skeptic!!! :-)

]]> By: Roy Edmunds http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8808 Roy Edmunds Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:24:32 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8808 I believe that when one human being confronts another, there is an enormous, unmeasureable amount of communication taking place between the two people. We are, first and foremost, animals. We retain to greater or lesser degrees or proportions or character depending on the individual, a billion years of communication for survival type 'hard ware' evolution in our makeup. Deep within our brains, totally hidden and unquantifiable at present, are undoubtedly millions of functions which were present in order for our evolving being, whatever form it took over the millenia, to survive until this day. Today a person who is sensitive to the body language of the person standing before them may interpret unconsciously any number of things about the person. Do I trust this person. Is this person wanting to do me harm. Is this person above me or below me in the pecking order of strength or intelligence. Could I mate with this person, is this person one of mine, wil this person obey me. Other complex cultural and learned behaviour patterns overlay or qualify our instinctive reactions but the animal is still there. We are the most amazing, and the most dangerous creature now on earth. Sometimes you think about a person after meeting them and think about first impressions. You may double think the first gut reactions or feelings you have. You may be right, you may be wrong. Here is an experience I once had. With a small group of friends I walked into a cafe, sat down and examined the menu preparing to order morning tea. The waitress came over to take our order. Without hesitation, without thinking I said to her that I knew why she was working this job. I said that it was because she was putting an extension on her existing home. She looked at me and asked me if I was a builder. I said no. But I was wearing a dust coat at the time. She then asked if I worked for the council. No again. She queried how I knew that was why she was in fact working there as a waitress. I had no answer. There are lots of possibilities there. But the main thing was I didn't consciously think about her, it was a snap thing. A hit. My brain may have calculated at a rapid rate her age, her family possibilities, the need for space, the fact that she may not really have fitted the usual full time permanent waitress 'type' and that she must therefore have some ulterior motive for being there. Who knows? But the thing is, my unconscious brain did the work and thru up a hit. I don't practice psychic stuff, because I don't believe in it. I just think we have powers of observation and calculation we developed to size up a situation and avoid death and achieve a whole range of behaviours for millions of years when huge animals and creepy crawlies could devour us in one bite. And the functions remain, although our present cultural situation modifies our reactions.And since evolution continues, who knows what things we are losing each generation by some unmeasureable degree. But for the moment there are still lots of folk who love to hunt. Others love to grow their own food. No doubt they all get some sense of accomplishment from taking an active role in their survival instead of being wholly reliant on others. But most of our survival has relied on being part of a tribe, or group. And the relationships within the group are complex and often conflicting while at the same time being necessary for survival. In short I would say that success in any activity is a combination of wishful thinking and hard work. The wishful thinking, or creative inspirational disatisfaction with the status quo is a driving force which lubricates the gears of 'hard work' to bring about change. Thinking about other people is therefore not such a bad thing. Psychologists do it all the time, and sometimes make leaps of intuitive thought. Only to have their theories exploded or confirmed in time through trial and measurement. But some things are difficult to measure. You cannot set up trials for stuff that happens spontaneously with people, thats the problem. Thats the magic. Some people have more 'magic' about them than do others. Its a cruel fact of life. With some stuff you either have it or you don't. I believe that when one human being confronts another, there is an enormous, unmeasureable amount of communication taking place between the two people. We are, first and foremost, animals.
We retain to greater or lesser degrees or proportions or character depending on the individual, a billion years of communication for survival type ‘hard ware’ evolution in our makeup. Deep within our brains, totally hidden and unquantifiable at present, are undoubtedly millions of functions which were present in order for our evolving being, whatever form it took over the millenia, to survive until this day. Today a person who is sensitive to the body language of the person standing before them may interpret unconsciously any number of things about the person. Do I trust this person. Is this person wanting to do me harm. Is this person above me or below me in the pecking order of strength or intelligence. Could I mate with this person, is this person one of mine, wil this person obey me. Other complex cultural and learned behaviour patterns overlay or qualify our instinctive reactions but the animal is still there. We are the most amazing, and the most dangerous creature now on earth.
Sometimes you think about a person after meeting them and think about first impressions. You may double think the first gut reactions or feelings you have. You may be right, you may be wrong.
Here is an experience I once had. With a small group of friends I walked into a cafe, sat down and examined the menu preparing to order morning tea.
The waitress came over to take our order. Without hesitation, without thinking I said to her that I knew why she was working this job. I said that it was because she was putting an extension on her existing home. She looked at me and asked me if I was a builder. I said no. But I was wearing a dust coat at the time. She then asked if I worked for the council. No again.
She queried how I knew that was why she was in fact working there as a waitress. I had no answer. There are lots of possibilities there. But the main thing was I didn’t consciously think about her, it was a snap thing. A hit. My brain may have calculated at a rapid rate her age, her family possibilities, the need for space, the fact that she may not really have fitted the usual full time permanent waitress ‘type’ and that she must therefore have some ulterior motive for being there. Who knows? But the thing is, my unconscious brain did the work and thru up a hit. I don’t practice psychic stuff, because I don’t believe in it. I just think we have powers of observation and calculation we developed to size up a situation and avoid death and achieve a whole range of behaviours for millions of years when huge animals and creepy crawlies could devour us in one bite. And the functions remain, although our present cultural situation modifies our reactions.And since evolution continues, who knows what things we are losing each generation by some unmeasureable degree. But for the moment there are still lots of folk who love to hunt. Others love to grow their own food. No doubt they all get some sense of accomplishment from taking an active role in their survival instead of being wholly reliant on others. But most of our survival has relied on being part of a tribe, or group. And the relationships within the group are complex and often conflicting while at the same time being necessary for survival. In short I would say that success in any activity is a combination of wishful thinking and hard work. The wishful thinking, or creative inspirational disatisfaction with the status quo is a driving force which lubricates the gears of ‘hard work’ to bring about change. Thinking about other people is therefore not such a bad thing. Psychologists do it all the time, and sometimes make leaps of intuitive thought. Only to have their theories exploded or confirmed in time through trial and measurement. But some things are difficult to measure. You cannot set up trials for stuff that happens spontaneously with people, thats the problem. Thats the magic. Some people have more ‘magic’ about them than do others. Its a cruel fact of life. With some stuff you either have it or you don’t.

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8803 kabol Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:18:30 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8803 LOL! if you're a guy, i think you should wear lipstick, too. LOL!

if you’re a guy, i think you should wear lipstick, too.

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8802 kabol Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:15:44 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8802 you left off skin their cat. (like that teen-aged future serial killer in the news) but seriously, i'm curious why you look so kindly on <em>scam artists otherwise known as psychics</em>. if anyone deserves petty harassment, it'd be them. what they really deserve is some jail time. you left off skin their cat. (like that teen-aged future serial killer in the news)

but seriously, i’m curious why you look so kindly on scam artists otherwise known as psychics.

if anyone deserves petty harassment, it’d be them.

what they really deserve is some jail time.

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8801 kabol Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:12:16 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8801 <em>That’s sure to promote rational thinking, elevate the image of skepticism, and make the psychics look like criminals rather than victims.</em> well, do you have another suggestion? as for "crazy, irrational things" -- i don't really see how ambushing psychics is either. it's just a more comical and attention-getting means to an end. throwing away money on psychics is what's crazy and irrational. That’s sure to promote rational thinking, elevate the image of skepticism, and make the psychics look like criminals rather than victims.

well, do you have another suggestion?

as for “crazy, irrational things” — i don’t really see how ambushing psychics is either. it’s just a more comical and attention-getting means to an end.

throwing away money on psychics is what’s crazy and irrational.

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8800 kabol Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:06:02 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8800 oooh! very cool! it's interesting how very little media attention gets paid to showing up psychics. perhaps it's BECAUSE their networks make so much money off of the psychic want ads and commercials. (not to mention paranormal crap TV shows) ambush skepticism reminds me of that story about some guy going up to chip coffey during one of his "gallery style" readings. i believe this was prior to coffey's appearances on the "paranormal state" farce of a TV show. anyway, the guy handed chip a sealed envelop and politely asked for chip to tell him what was written on the paper -- evidently chip screamed at the guy, "I WILL NOT BE CHALLENGED!" oooh! very cool!

it’s interesting how very little media attention gets paid to showing up psychics. perhaps it’s BECAUSE their networks make so much money off of the psychic want ads and commercials. (not to mention paranormal crap TV shows)

ambush skepticism reminds me of that story about some guy going up to chip coffey during one of his “gallery style” readings. i believe this was prior to coffey’s appearances on the “paranormal state” farce of a TV show.

anyway, the guy handed chip a sealed envelop and politely asked for chip to tell him what was written on the paper — evidently chip screamed at the guy, “I WILL NOT BE CHALLENGED!”

]]> By: kabol http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/08/ambush-skepticicm/#comment-8799 kabol Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:57:31 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2849#comment-8799 funny article! maybe skeptics need some infomercials. i just saw one last night about "californiapsychics.com, only a dollar a minute! the BEST or it's FREE!!" <em>I’d love to simply give out a little booklet on cold reading, and have information about various skeptic groups. But I suppose I would be quickly kicked OUT, because they make money by selling spaces.</em> couldn't one just go with a few fellow skeptics just as guests, armed with skeptical handouts and flyers, spread out and hand out/leave flyers willy nilly? funny article!

maybe skeptics need some infomercials.

i just saw one last night about “californiapsychics.com, only a dollar a minute! the BEST or it’s FREE!!”

I’d love to simply give out a little booklet on cold reading, and have information about various skeptic groups. But I suppose I would be quickly kicked OUT, because they make money by selling spaces.

couldn’t one just go with a few fellow skeptics just as guests, armed with skeptical handouts and flyers, spread out and hand out/leave flyers willy nilly?

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