Question for the eternal skeptics out there

[snapppyd]

You have to believe in mediums in order to participate. I have relatives in Louisiana who seriously believe in Vodoo. I mean highly intelligent, college educated, lawyers and business owners who know the Voodoo lady. And who will argue you down on how it's no different than a belief in a god you can't see.

It seemed to me that the people he was reading were planted. It was not spontaneous the way the tv show appeared to be.

 

[msjprincess]

I don't know what to believe. I went to see a well known psychic years ago. He told me very specific things that he had no way of knowing. It was before the internet so he had no way to research me. A co-worker had made the appointment after her daughter died. At the last minute she changed her mind and asked if I wanted her appointment. So the appointment wasn't even in my name but he still knew my name and my grandmother's name. There were a lot of very specific things.

My sister went to see a psychic a few months ago. Some of the things the woman told her were so spot on. I don't know how she did it.

 

[KatheeME]

How can she believe it? She may in her head, heck it got her a tv show didn't it? John Edwards is all about himself, what a jerk.

 

[dakcp2001]

When you lose someone close to you, you get a certain feeling of desperation where you are willing to believe anything. That is what makes this line of work sos cary, people are willing to get ripped off because they are hurting so badly. It clouds their judgement. I think if what she does gives people a sense of closure and makes them feel better or more at peace than good! That being said, I am very skeptical and not a believer in most of these types of things. I do think Teresa is telling the truth. I do not think she is ripping people off or lying. I really think she has some sort of gift. And it seems to help people, and she seems to be a very kind person.

 

[lakelandgal70]

Personally I don't believe in this sort of thing. Makes for some interesting entertainment but nothing I would want to watch or go to a show. My aunt and uncle went to one of her shows and I told my hubby if they say she talked to one of our dead relatives it will be very hard for me not to say something.

 

[sunshinehighway]

When you lose someone close to you, you get a certain feeling of desperation where you are willing to believe anything. That is what makes this line of work sos cary, people are willing to get ripped off because they are hurting so badly. It clouds their judgement. I think if what she does gives people a sense of closure and makes them feel better or more at peace than good! That being said, I am very skeptical and not a believer in most of these types of things. I do think Teresa is telling the truth. I do not think she is ripping people off or lying. I really think she has some sort of gift. And it seems to help people, and she seems to be a very kind person.

That's how I feel about some of the physic readings too. Of course that's if it's a one time thing. .. like someone paying for tickets to one of their shows or something. If it helps them heal, it's worth the ticket. If it's a continual thing where the person is repeatedly going to a psychic, I think it's different. That I find to be a big scam and taking advantage of the desperation people have.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Check out the first episode of Penn & Teller's BS show that used to be on Showtime and you'll see them crack open this scam, lay it out on the table, and reveal the sheer evil behind it.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think if what she does gives people a sense of closure and makes them feel better or more at peace than good! .

I have to respectfully disagree, because it leaves you with false memories. Memories that were made up by a charlatan. I feel like that is so disrespectful to the deceased in question.

 

[ebtbmom]

I have to respectfully disagree, because it leaves you with false memories. Memories that were made up by a charlatan. I feel like that is so disrespectful to the deceased in question.

I agree with you, believing lies to make you feel better is doing yourself a disservice. I'd rather have a cold hard truth any day.

I don't know what to think about it to be honest. I am a skeptic of all things.

At some point if you are that huge and making large profits there has to be a disingenuous aspect to her business statistically speaking.

Good point. I guess people that really believe they are talking to dead people are sometimes considered psychotic. DH is an ER nurse and when pts come in saying they are seeing dead relatives there's a psych consult put in and inpatient treatment considered. The staff doesn't pull up a chair and ask if the pt can see their grandma too! These professionals have to know what they are doing to make themselves seem legit but not psychotic.

Check out the first episode of Penn & Teller's BS show that used to be on Showtime and you'll see them crack open this scam, lay it out on the table, and reveal the sheer evil behind it.

I love this series! Was this the one with the witches from Salem? P&T had the Ouija board turned upside down while the witches were blindfolded, they had no idea and kept pushing the pointer thing to where the yes and no we're supposed to be.

 

[Robinrs]

Check out the first episode of Penn & Teller's BS show that used to be on Showtime and you'll see them crack open this scam, lay it out on the table, and reveal the sheer evil behind it.

Thanks I just watched it!

This should be the ONLY post on this thread after the OP!

 

[Fortuosity]

This should be the ONLY post on this thread after the OP!

oh, I dunno... thread made me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdIANRlu3fM

 

[princesspiglet]

I wasn't going to post....only because it is very hard to change a skeptics mind once it is made up ( I know, I was one!), but anyway, here is my story.

My friend had 2 tickets to see TC in Hershey back at the beginning of April. She is a huge fan and was hoping she would get "read" because she recently lost her sister in an accident. She was planning on taking her mother, but mom ended up being too sick to attend. She called me 2 hours before the show and asked if I wanted to go, I begrudgingly said yes.

So during the "show" Theresa asked, "Is there an Elisabeth here..Elisabeth with an "a" not a "z"? I looked around and no one raised their hand...so she asked again. I finally raised my hand..thinking this was a joke. I don't go by Elisabeth, I go by Lisa. Then this was our conversation:

TC: You're named after your grandma, right?
Me: yes
TC: she says you don't like it....
Me: correct (audience laughter)
TC: spirit says she and.....paw? Paw? is that correct?
Me: my grandpa was called paw
TC: she says she and paw are drinking lemonade and eating grilled cheese everyday
Me: oh my god...
TC: does that mean something to you?
Me: yes, that was my favorite meal when I was a kid...she used to make it for me everyday after school ( I then almost lost it and starting crying)
TC: (chuckling) I have no idea what they are saying most of the time...something about ..... your mom, her mom...its definitely mom. Spirit says she's ok, not to worry, not her time yet. Does that mean something?
Me: My mom recently went through some testing...possibly for breast cancer, we haven't gotten the results back yet
TC: well, spirit says, she's ok, take a deep breath, it's all good.

I then completely lost it, starting bawling and the audience started clapping.

I honestly don't remember the rest of the show, I was so overwhelmed with emotion! The ironic thing is, my mom called me the next morning to tell me her text results came back benign.

So from someone who was a total skeptic and non-believer...I totally believe in TC now!!

( I did feel bad for my friend who didn't get "picked", but she was very happy for me)

 

[ebtbmom]

I wasn't going to post....only because it is very hard to change a skeptics mind once it is made up ( I know, I was one!), but anyway, here is my story.

My friend had 2 tickets to see TC in Hershey back at the beginning of April. She is a huge fan and was hoping she would get "read" because she recently lost her sister in an accident. She was planning on taking her mother, but mom ended up being too sick to attend. She called me 2 hours before the show and asked if I wanted to go, I begrudgingly said yes.

So during the "show" Theresa asked, "Is there an Elisabeth here..Elisabeth with an "a" not a "z"? I looked around and no one raised their hand...so she asked again. I finally raised my hand..thinking this was a joke. I don't go by Elisabeth, I go by Lisa. Then this was our conversation:

TC: You're named after your grandma, right?
Me: yes
TC: she says you don't like it....
Me: correct (audience laughter)
TC: spirit says she and.....paw? Paw? is that correct?
Me: my grandpa was called paw
TC: she says she and paw are drinking lemonade and eating grilled cheese everyday
Me: oh my god...
TC: does that mean something to you?
Me: yes, that was my favorite meal when I was a kid...she used to make it for me everyday after school ( I then almost lost it and starting crying)
TC: (chuckling) I have no idea what they are saying most of the time...something about ..... your mom, her mom...its definitely mom. Spirit says she's ok, not to worry, not her time yet. Does that mean something?
Me: My mom recently went through some testing...possibly for breast cancer, we haven't gotten the results back yet
TC: well, spirit says, she's ok, take a deep breath, it's all good.

I then completely lost it, starting bawling and the audience started clapping.

I honestly don't remember the rest of the show, I was so overwhelmed with emotion! The ironic thing is, my mom called me the next morning to tell me her text results came back benign.

So from someone who was a total skeptic and non-believer...I totally believe in TC now!!

( I did feel bad for my friend who didn't get "picked", but she was very happy for me)

Interesting story, I'm glad that you shared it. For me to stop being a skeptic I'd have to personally experience something and then over analyze it and mull it over forever and then probably still be skeptical!

Was there any possibility that you guys had been discussing this before the show and were overheard? Was your friend punking you?

 

[princesspiglet]

Interesting story, I'm glad that you shared it. For me to stop being a skeptic I'd have to personally experience something and then over analyze it and mull it over forever and then probably still be skeptical!

Was there any possibility that you guys had been discussing this before the show and were overheard? Was your friend punking you?

No, absolutely not. No one knew what was happening with my mom...only my DH. I didn't discuss it with anyone else. And absolutely no one knew what my grandma made me for my after school snack everyday...except for her and my grandpa! And only my DH knows my full name is elisabeth.. and that I hate it!!

And I can't blame anything on DH...as he was out of town that day and had been for the past two weeks (army).

 

[DWGal210]

I believe in God, in angels, I believe that the spirits of my passed friends and relatives are around me and show themselves, in their way, from time to time.

However, I am VERY skeptical about mediums.

I saw John Edward last year; my aunt and her friend had tickets, and at the last minute her friend canceled so I went along. I didn't care for him; just something about him, he didn't seem sincere. Came off as kind of a jerk.

The other thing I didn't like was he trash-talked TC. Didn't say her name outright, but everyone in the room knew who he was referring to based on his comments. I just thought that was gross - no need to smear the competition, buddy, people came here to see you, not get your 2 cents on others in your industry.

I will have to look up that Penn and Teller episode - is it on YouTube?

 

[ebtbmom]

No, absolutely not. No one knew what was happening with my mom...only my DH. I didn't discuss it with anyone else. And absolutely no one knew what my grandma made me for my after school snack everyday...except for her and my grandpa! And only my DH knows my full name is elisabeth.. and that I hate it!!

And I can't blame anything on DH...as he was out of town that day and had been for the past two weeks (army).

Wow, I can see how this experience turned you from a skeptic into a believer!

I believe in God, in angels, I believe that the spirits of my passed friends and relatives are around me and show themselves, in their way, from time to time.

However, I am VERY skeptical about mediums.

I saw John Edward last year; my aunt and her friend had tickets, and at the last minute her friend canceled so I went along. I didn't care for him; just something about him, he didn't seem sincere. Came off as kind of a jerk.

The other thing I didn't like was he trash-talked TC. Didn't say her name outright, but everyone in the room knew who he was referring to based on his comments. I just thought that was gross - no need to smear the competition, buddy, people came here to see you, not get your 2 cents on others in your industry.

I will have to look up that Penn and Teller episode - is it on YouTube?

Yes, it's on YouTube. Very informative, also filled with profanity if that kinda thing doesn't bother you. Of course since the name of the program is BS, I guess you figured that!