Psychic pair fail scientific test. - Polidicks

[quote] [quote] [IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63806000/jpg/_63806133_dsc_6379.jpg.jpg[/IMG] =================== The experiment asked the mediums to provide readings for unseen volunteers [/quote] [B]A scientific experiment has found that two mediums were unable to demonstrate that they had special psychic powers.[/B] The test by researchers at Goldsmiths, University of London, tried to establish whether mediums could use psychic abilities to identify something about five unseen volunteers. The results, carried out under test conditions, did not show evidence of any unexplained powers of insight. But medium Patricia Putt said this experiment "doesn't prove a thing". This Halloween challenge was an attempt to investigate whether professional mediums could demonstrate their psychic powers in a controlled setting - by inviting them to deduce something about people they had never met and could not see or hear. [B]'Psychic energy'[/B] The experiment, designed by Chris French, head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths, asked two professional mediums to write something about five individuals who were concealed behind a screen. These five volunteers were then asked to try to identify themselves from these psychic readings - with a success rate of only one in five. This was a result that was "entirely consistent with the operation of chance alone", said Professor French. But one of the mediums, Patricia Putt, rejected the suggestion that this showed any absence of psychic powers - saying that she needed to work face-to-face with people or to hear their voice, so that a connection could be established. "Psychic energy" was not likely to work in the setting created for the experiment, she said, and her success rate was usually very high. Ms Putt said the experiment was designed to confirm the researchers' pre-conceptions - rather than examine the nature of her psychic ability. "Scientists are very closed-minded," she said. She said there were fraudsters operating as psychic mediums - but that it was wrong for scientists to think that such mediums "were all the same". But Michael Marshall of the Merseyside Skeptics Society, who helped to organise the test, said it showed that claims to have special abilities "aren't based in reality". ================================================= Source: [URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-20145664[/URL] [/quote] I foresaw this result -- Therefore, I am psychic.

[quote]"Scientists are very closed-minded," she said.[/quote] [quote]but that it was wrong for scientists to think that such mediums "were all the same".[/quote]

"But one of the mediums, Patricia Putt, rejected the suggestion that this showed any absence of psychic powers - [B]saying that she needed to work face-to-face with people or to hear their voice, so that a connection could be established.[/B]" Also known as psychology i.e. reading a person's facial expressions, mannerism and their voice. Too often fraudsters use psychology, magic tricks and other things to dupe people.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;38260641]"But one of the mediums, Patricia Putt, rejected the suggestion that this showed any absence of psychic powers - [B]saying that she needed to work face-to-face with people or to hear their voice, so that a connection could be established.[/B]" Also known as psychology i.e. reading a person's facial expressions, mannerism and their voice. Too often fraudsters use psychology, magic tricks and other things to dupe people.[/QUOTE] That, or they're confusing their own intuition as psychic powers.

[quote]But medium Patricia Putt said this experiment "doesn't prove a thing".[/quote] Because anyone with sense already knows that mediums are full of shit and anyone who believes they are real are too stupid to read BBC anyway.

What a surprise

there's a billboard for a psychic medium near my house it's fucking stupid

[QUOTE=Key_in_skillee;38260780]That, or they're confusing their own intuition as psychic powers.[/QUOTE]That's what he is saying. Its simple social engineering, and they aren't confusing anything they know full well. They read a person based on what they see and hear, ask a few questions to get certain information, then tie it all together in to a broad and general enough statement that it could apply to almost anyone, while still sounding specific enough that it seems personal.

People who go to mediums are stupid and will believe anything they are told. It doesn't matter to them whether the medium gets anything right, they already believe that it's real so they accept it.

Many also attract a specific clientele that they can study and learn easily, meaning they can make certain assumptions immediately. Take psychics who supposedly talk to the dead. They know an overwhelming majority of their clients are people looking for emotional comfort and a connection to a lost loved one, typically a family member. They almost certainly had a good relationship with each other, and likely followed certain tropes that made the relationship more intimate. Then they can just target a general area and start naming off various supposed attributes in an effort to get a reaction out of someone by using traits that apply to a wide range. When they get a response, they start to narrow it down but continue following the same general procedure. [editline]31st October 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=King Tiger;38260962]People who go to mediums are stupid and will believe anything they are told. It doesn't matter to them whether the medium gets anything right, they already believe that it's real so they accept it.[/QUOTE]They target people who emotionally weak and desperate. People who want it to be real.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;38260969]They target people who emotionally weak and desperate. People who want it to be real.[/QUOTE] That's how hypnosis works as well. That's why people say "you have to want it to work in order to be hypnotized."

Psychics are bullshit and I don't see why people believe in them. Has a psychic won a lottery? Prevented someone from dying by saying Hey, before you Jaywalk tomorrow at 49th and 67th, look left twice? Even rubbed Randi's face in it and take his Million dollars? No. Fuck No. Not even close

[quote]But one of the mediums, Patricia Putt, rejected the suggestion that this showed any absence of psychic powers - saying that she needed to work face-to-face with people or to hear their voice, so that a connection could be established. [/quote] I'm psychic too, but it only works if you tell me what you're thinking about

I am also phsychic, but first, you must deposit 1000 GBP in to my paypal account for it to make any effect

I can be invisible when noone looks at me.

I can take a crap after eating food!

[QUOTE=Hamsterjuice;38260901]there's a billboard for a psychic medium near my house it's fucking stupid[/QUOTE] You should vandalize it at night.

Nigerian scammers should be psychics when their schemes stop working.

I once told a girl that psychics were all frauds and she got very upset at the thought that somebody was lying to her about her dead granny.

[QUOTE=TheTalon;38261976]Psychics are bullshit and I don't see why people believe in them. Has a psychic won a lottery? Prevented someone from dying by saying Hey, before you Jaywalk tomorrow at 49th and 67th, look left twice? Even rubbed Randi's face in it and take his Million dollars? No. Fuck No. Not even close[/QUOTE] People who say they'll win the lottery and do will be sensationalized people who say they'll win and don't will be ignored. Someone said Obama's wife will have twins... there's always a chance this shit will happen, just because they were right doesn't prove shit, because millions of them are also WRONG. also [video=youtube;-Y55WPJs-R4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y55WPJs-R4[/video]

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;38262729]I once told a girl that psychics were all frauds and she got very upset at the thought that somebody was lying to her about her dead granny.[/QUOTE] It always struck me as totally fucked in the head that people will accept money and pretend to hear someone's dead relatives, then bullshit to the grieving person pretending to be talking to their dead grandmothers. I mean, you'd have to be morally bankrupt to do it.

[QUOTE=Terminutter;38262753]It always struck me as totally fucked in the head that people will accept money and pretend to hear someone's dead relatives, then bullshit to the grieving person pretending to be talking to their dead grandmothers. I mean, you'd have to be morally bankrupt to do it.[/QUOTE] These people are on par with "Healers" and might as well be treated like thieves and liars.

[QUOTE=Terminutter;38262753]It always struck me as totally fucked in the head that people will accept money and pretend to hear someone's dead relatives, then bullshit to the grieving person pretending to be talking to their dead grandmothers. I mean, you'd have to be morally bankrupt to do it.[/QUOTE] I'm of the opinion that mediums and other such dicks of that ilk should be forced to do community service and have any money they make through such idiotic and malicious ways to be returned to the idiots that paid them. It's fucking ludicrous that these people are actually able to get away with that sort of shit, the same goes for homeopathy and other retarded shit.

I wish homeopathy was outlawed (Along with other alternative medicines) from being practiced on the basis it does not give medical aid.

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;38262946]I wish homeopathy was outlawed (Along with other alternative medicines) from being practiced on the basis it does not give medical aid.[/QUOTE]I wouldn't go that far tbh, but a large warning stating the fact they've never been scientifically proven to work would be good; along with banning doctors from prescribing them (if they aren't already)

[video=youtube;AX5imTBK-OY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX5imTBK-OY[/video] A famous UK psychic. You can see her removing an earpiece at 5:42.

[QUOTE=Sgt Doom;38263021]I wouldn't go that far tbh, but a large warning stating the fact they've never been scientifically proven to work would be good; along with banning doctors from prescribing them (if they aren't already)[/QUOTE] It's been scientifically proven to NOT work.

[QUOTE=Jookia;38263080]It's been scientifically proven to NOT work.[/QUOTE]A small but important distinction; hadn't thought of that.

I always cringe when I read about things like this because my mom is very much into mediums which kills me, because she's a very sensible woman about so many other things in her life. The worst part (or the funniest I can't tell) is that she's dragging her fiance into it and I'm not sure if he fully believes in it or not. I mean, come on, what kind of sensible Chicago native would believe in that bull!?

The reason I would support it being banned is its actually trying to hurt people (through either the therapies themselves or neglect of medical attention).