to think that Derek Acorah is either mad or bad?

[thatisall]

I've just seen that Derek Acorah is claiming to have been advised by the spirit world that Madeline McCann is no longer alive.

I have an open mind when it comes to psychics but I have heard in the past that Acorah has been discredited on numerous occasions.

To me, this is just a cruel thing to do. I have my own opinions about the tragedy of the disappearance of Madeline and I have often wondered whether her parents would prefer to know if she had sadly passed away, closure? Who knows what it is like to be in their position? But some bloke, claiming that 'Sam' told him she's dead is not closure, it's just cruel IMO.

If this had come from a well respected psychic, I think I might give it more credence (as I said Im open-minded), but it comes from a man who is widely considered a charleton.

Is he a bad man, who is using the grief of parents to make a few quid from the papers or is he crazy enough to think that this really was helpful?

I wouldn't trust him - anyway isn't there a clip of Yvette Fielding laughing at him on Most Haunted because she thought he was faking?

As far as I know psychics usually have a policy of not disclosing anything bad. How awful to think he's just trying to get air time in the media.

He's an idiot

And anyone who believes he's anything other than a fake, money grabbing idiot is also an idiot too.

HTH

In the words of Grampa Simpson 'A little from column A, a little from column B'.

Also what Worra said.

I agree with you. I reckon he's more bad than mad unfortunately. Google "derek acorah kreed kafer"

What a cheap, sensationalist thing to say.

He is a charlatan with morals akin to Rebeckah Woods.

The guy is ab exploititve jerk. I think this is just his latest bit of wanting self publicity.

bad

he presents himself as being a little mad but he is not he is a horrible conman

i do beleive that few have this gift but they do not use it to propel themselves into showbiz

didn't he do a seance with Michael Jackson?

He's a conman and a liar.

Makes me so angry!!

Worra what is HTH ?

Tacky and vile thing to do. Pick a name that'll give you maximum sensationalist press coverage and tell the world you have communicated with her spirit.

Absolutely disgusting and exploitative.

I don't believe in mediums at all. There is no reason to, given that none of them, ever, in the history of the world, can ever do what they claim to be able to do WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHEAT IS REMOVED.

I do believe that some of them genuinely believe they can do what they claim to be able to do. They are deluded, certainly, but their intentions are good and therefore I reserve my disgust for the ones like Derek Acorah, Sylvia Browne, John Edward et al who, I have no doubt, know perfectly well that they are frauds. They're in it for the money and the fame and the adulation.

If there DOES turn out to be a hell, there is surely a special place reserved for people like Derek and Sylvia, who get so carried away with themselves that they start making pronouncements about missing/dead children.

In the case of Sylvia Browne, footage of her making spectacular gaffes (eg telling a missing girl's grandmother that the girl was abducted and sold into sex slavery, and a woman whose fiance died in the WTC that he drowned) would be funny if it weren't so evil.

How the hell people still believe in Derek when he's been proved to be a liar is beyond me.

Vile shit of a man but very very funny on most haunted.

How nasty.

Every time I hear MMcC's name mentioned I make a little wish that she is ok. Wherever she might be.

Don't get me started on Most Haunted. Bloody Yvette bloody Fielding pushing glasses during ouija board sessions and those other bloody goons throwing stuff around.

I don't know how they get away with it. Maybelline have to put "Lashes Enhanced With Inserts" on bloody mascara commercials - but shows like Most Haunted get away with pretending it's all real. Pfft.

"Is he a bad man, who is using the grief of parents to make a few quid from the papers"

That one.

A fake and a charlatan of the highest order.

How low can he stoop?

He's definitely a con man but I do believe some psychics are real. Those ones are far more ethical in their approach to what they do.

Oh and to answer the question in the OP - I think it's a bit of both.

Being charitable - because I don't actually like to think of these people as pure evil, despite the evidence - I think that the likes of the aforementioned fakes, and ones like Sally Morgan, KNOW that they're fake but crucially, I think that they probably don't like to think about what they're doing. So they sort of convince themselves that they're not.

It's like when I have a piece of cake, and tell myself it'll just be the one slice; but leave the cake and the knife out on the worktop. I'm telling myself I'll stop at one, but at the same time I know full well I'll go back for another so there's no point putting it away.

HTH = Happy To Help

Yuk, that's horrible. I didn't think they were allowed to disclose information like that (assuming that they have a genuine gift - I'm firmly on the fence with this one with massive splinters to show for it).

Personally, I don't think any genuine medium would seek to exploit their talents in the way he has so my feeling is he is a total fake that believes his own hype and he's just doing this to create a controversial sensation.

He should be ashamed of himsel but of course he won't be.

Hexgirl at 'splinters'

They are a tad uncomfortable I'll have you know

He's a fake.
He was discredited by someone working on most haunted, its all online if you google him. I can't believe he's been given more tv time to be honest.

How dare he make money out of something so terrible, makes my blood boil.

He was fired from Most haunted, they set him up. He is a con artist.