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Psychic Sally Morgan challenged to prove her powers

69 replies

Rational · 28/10/2011 17:08

Psychic Sally Morgan recently made the news after allegations she was being fed information during her stage shows. She has now been challenged by The Guardian to prove her powers in a test situation. It could be a step towards a claim for James Randi's $1,000,000 prize for anyone who can prove their 'gift' is real, but I doubt it.

My view is that all psychics, mediums etc should have to prove they are genuinely talking to the dead/feeling auras or whatever the hell their claim is, or, be charged with fraud.

www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/oct/27/sally-morgan-psychic-powers-halloween?INTCMP=SRCH

What do you think?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 28/10/2011 17:09

Interesting!!

BadgersPaws · 28/10/2011 17:17

If you really could talk to the dead wouldn't there be something more valuable, both to yourself and society, to do than trawl around theatres telling vulnerable grieving people that their Dad Dave, no hang on, Derrick, oh, no, Desmond, no, no, Dilbert, yes Dilbert, is fine and happy in the spirit world and he likes what you've done to your hair?

No scientific test has ever proved any of this what-so-ever, not once.

However....

"My view is that all psychics, mediums etc should have to prove they are genuinely talking to the dead/feeling auras or whatever the hell their claim is, or, be charged with fraud."

You can't "prove" religion either, so there's got to be some basis for allowing unprovable things. Personally I'd rather Psychic Sally label her shows as "lying manipulation of the vulnerable and grieving to fill my pockets" rather than "entertainment" but I'm sure it's horses for courses.

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 17:55

BadgersPaws

I think one of the saddest aspects of these psychics is that they make their cash, sometimes a hell of a lot of cash, from very vulnerable bereaved people. That's the part that angers me.

If any other scammer prayed on very vulnerable people in the same way the police would be all over them. For some reason this lot are allowed to make false claims and stick their posters up advertising the £30 a ticket shows.

It's time this was challenged. James Randi has had this $1,000,000 prize on offer since 1996, unclaimed.

They should have to prove the authenticity of their 'gift' in order to take people's money. The onus of proof is on them.

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Cheeptrickortreat · 28/10/2011 18:05

I think it depends on your view of what psychic ability you believe in and how reliable the "gift" is.

I could get one or two things right but not a lot more, it does not work on demand and anyone who said different imo is a fraud.

I dont believe that psyics should be paid or charge for what they can do and should have a real job like everyone else.

Cheeptrickortreat · 28/10/2011 18:06

I didn't know about the prize money, maybe it should be advertised better as i'm sure someone will want to try and get it.

nenevomito · 28/10/2011 18:09

Weeeellll I know many will disagree with me as they're entitled to do, but I do think that 'psychic' powers are a load of toilet swill.

The only thing I can't work out is which is more delusional: The person who thinks they're psychic or the person who believes the person who thinks they're psychic?

TethHearseEnd · 28/10/2011 18:13

"You can't "prove" religion either, so there's got to be some basis for allowing unprovable things"

Very true. It's the latter-day opiate of the people.

Cheeptrickortreat · 28/10/2011 18:14

The only thing I can't work out is which is more delusional: The person who thinks they're psychic or the person who believes the person who thinks they're psychic? Grin

Both?

So i call my mum just as my dad tells her to give me a call, then i told her i had a dream about my brother being in Scotland and he is in Scotland with work - my mum calls this psychic, i call it coincidence and chance - so it depends on the persons pov to a big extent. If you want to believe then you will make the bits fit cos thats what you want.

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 18:20

Cheeptrickortreat

The prize is well known in the right circles.

nenevomito

I think in some cases both parties are delusional, unfortunately in a lot of cases it's just plain scamming. Vulnerable people getting conned out of their cash by someone who claims they can talk to their dead loved one.

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susiedaisy · 28/10/2011 18:25

i have been to see Colin Fry and TJ Higgins or Higgs cant quitre remember and enjoyed the shows but i have often wondered why they dont have something more important to pass on, like where are they now? does god exist, have they met him? will the world end in 2012?? who killed them?what happened? so still none the wiser really!

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 18:26

"So i call my mum just as my dad tells her to give me a call, then i told her i had a dream about my brother being in Scotland and he is in Scotland with work - my mum calls this psychic, i call it coincidence and chance - so it depends on the persons pov to a big extent. If you want to believe then you will make the bits fit cos thats what you want."

Coincidences happen to me too, just as often as anyone else, I never think it's due to a supernatural power. I will agree that sometimes coincidences are freaky, but they are nonetheless just coincidences.

Your right about making things fit if that's what you want. That's why the bereaved are prime candidates for these people.

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Cheeptrickortreat · 28/10/2011 18:30

Susiedaisy - i have always woundered that. What if some one turned up and told the polic or the media or put on the internet that there will be a big metor show at night in a big scity and a lot of people will died. Whould you beleve them? Laugh? Put them in prision?

What if they were right and it happened, whould you call the person a witch and burn them at the stake or say they started it?

It always seems like they should say nothing as they could not win evther way.

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 18:43

"i have been to see Colin Fry and TJ Higgins or Higgs cant quitre remember and enjoyed the shows but i have often wondered why they dont have something more important to pass on, like where are they now? does god exist, have they met him? will the world end in 2012?? who killed them?what happened? so still none the wiser really!"

I'll have a guess as to why they don't tell about what heaven's like, what god's like etc, and that's because they would start contradicting each other. It's not in their best interest to contradict each other because that would throw doubt on the whole lot of them by even their faithful followers. They can't afford to do that or it's all over.

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Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 18:46

"Susiedaisy - i have always woundered that. What if some one turned up and told the polic or the media or put on the internet that there will be a big metor show at night in a big scity and a lot of people will died. Whould you beleve them? Laugh? Put them in prision?

What if they were right and it happened, whould you call the person a witch and burn them at the stake or say they started it?
"

The police and media will be approached by nutcases with all sorts of claims ALL the time, occasionally a coincidence will occur and the nutter who foretold of the earthquake or whatever will appear to be right. The several thousand other claims which remained fruitless will be forgotten by some in order to see the validity of the one.

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Cheeptrickortreat · 28/10/2011 18:49

But you only need one to be right to save a lot of people! Is that why people keep an opened mind on the subject?

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 18:53

Cheeptrickortreat

My point is, the probability of them being right is practically non-existent, it's a coincidence.

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ScarlettIsWalking · 28/10/2011 18:58

I do think some people are more intuitive than others and pick up on "messages".

However she is a charlatan of the worst kind IMO. Really transparently awful with her personality plus shows occluding any real signifigance. And the poor sad audience. It's just awful.

ScapeGoat · 28/10/2011 18:58

Maybe she should travel around the UK and offer her services for free - a charitable 'service'.

I don't believe for one minute she has a 'gift' for talking to the dead - she is clever/shamless to make loads of money out of those who are mourning for loved ones.

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 19:33

I'd just really like to see her accept the challenge from The Guardian.

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BadgersPaws · 28/10/2011 20:14

"What if they were right and it happened, whould you call the person a witch and burn them at the stake or say they started it?"

Won't happen.

She could take the challenge, prove herself, discredit the news reports of her faking it, validate her profession, give comfort to millions all over the globe that there is life after death, claim Randi's million dollar prize, never have to work again and then be in a position to help anyone no matter whether they can afford one of her shows or not.

Or she could continue to be labelled a vulture preying on the vulnerable, continue to face accusations of being a fake and continue to help only those few who can afford it and are selected.

Now surely anyone would choose that first path. Help and comfort the many rather than be labelled a thieving con artist who takes money under false pretences from the grieving.

I wonder what she will do...

Original poster
Rational · 28/10/2011 20:24

"Now surely anyone would choose that first path. Help and comfort the many rather than be labelled a thieving con artist who takes money under false pretences from the grieving."

you would think so wouldn't you.

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susiedaisy · 28/10/2011 20:34

So the 'audience' that receive messages are regulars employed by the physic? Just wondering why we never read about one of them blabbing to the media about how they went all over world pretending to be a member if the audience? Not saying I am a believer but the subject does intrigue me.

hocuspontas · 28/10/2011 20:37

Some bereaved vulnerable people turn to psychics. Some bereaved vulnerable people turn to the church. If it makes them feel better I can't see any harm in either of them.

BadgersPaws · 28/10/2011 20:41

"So the 'audience' that receive messages are regulars employed by the physic"

There have been many studies showing how people can be tricked into believing in a psychic reading.

There has never been one single scientific study that backs up the claims of a psychic, as has already been mentioned there's a million dollars waiting for the first one who can do it.

So come on Sally. Claim the prize, dismiss those who claim that you're a parasitic con artist and help people the whole world over!

TheOriginalFAB · 28/10/2011 20:44

I have been to one of her shows. She said some things she couldn't possibly have known. The only thing she didn't get was that it was about me, not the woman 2 spaces down from me.

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