Psychic reading?

[Zico]

My partner had a psychic reading at the weekend and it has completely changed my mind about them.
I had always been fiercely sceptical of such things putting it all down to 'reading' people and the belief that vague statements could apply to nearly everyone but the psychic was very specific and both of us have been blown away by what she told her.

The psychic had never met her before and didn't know the names of any of the people she was to read. My partner just turned up at the address and went in. Her facebook is set to private.

She told her my first name, various private things that had happened in her life that only 2 people ever knew about, an idea i had been working on (she was quite specific on this) and a person we knew in Ireland with foreign connections that she would be visiting in March. We had actually arranged the previous day to visit a friend in Ireland in March who is marrying a portugese girl! She was also able to tell her that "law" kept coming up in her cards. She has just started her OU law degree. These are just a few examples.... there were only 2 things in the 20 min reading that we couldn't immediately relate to anything.
My partner who is also cynical, was expecting the reading to be very vague, could apply to any Joe Bloggs and just sat and listened with a poker face... she said she came out gobsmacked with the accuracy of it all.

I dont proffess to understand what it is these people are tuning into be it spirits or thought reading all I can say is Wow!

Your thoughts/opinions? Anyone on here had any similar experiences?

[BDunnell]

My honest opinion, even given what you've written — it's all nonsense. Sorry if that seems rude, but you did ask!

[Hondo]

Yeah. The past has happened and can't be undone so who cares? Without being there to watch the "read" it's hard to know what you telegraphed back on a cold read. There are masters of the cold read out there.

The most convincing argument against the value of psychic readings is the existence of games of chance like lotteries and professional gambling. If the future could be predicted accurately, a casino or sports book couldn't survive more than a day. General predictions can be done by anybody. Me saying that there will be an earthquake in California in 2011 isn't much of a prediction. I'll be 100% correct. However, If I predict an earthquake rated at 6.0 to hit San Diego on March 14, 2011 at 2:30 pm with the epicenter 6 blocks east of city hall and it happens, I might be on to something. If I do it for 3 events in a row, I'm going to a casino.

Enjoy your psychic read for the entertainment value you got from it but spend no more money with these people or at the behest of these people.

[Bob Riebe]

Another street hustler scam game.

If you ever find one that is point to point accurate, don't walk, run away, as fast as you can go.

[Dave B]

Cold reading, done well, is quite a skill in its own right. But it's not psychic or magic, and if a practicioner charges for a "reading" then in my book that's fraud.

[Zico]

My honest opinion, even given what you've written — it's all nonsense. Sorry if that seems rude, but you did ask!

No offence taken, that was my opinion also, I was the biggest sceptic, I dont believe in ghosts, spirits or anything paranormal at all but I just cant get my head round how someone could tell such specific and personal things through cold reading without our computer (scanned it today lol), house or phone bugged.
How do they do it?

[Dave B]

Three basic methods:

Prior knowledge: at shows the "psychic" will send helpers out to mingle with the audience at the bar or foyer, or if a reading is booked in advance they can easily do research online. Even if you think your Facebook profile is private, there's a ton of information out there in the public domain. A determined reader could trawl family records, the electoral roll, or even go to the trouble of sitting outside your house for a few days observing.

Selective memory: the subject wants to believe the reader, so they unwittingly filter out all the incorrect statements (some would say guesses) and only remember the correct information. I'd ask you if you know a Bob, a Frank, a Mary, a Joanne, but when I eventually - and randomly - stumble on the name of someone close to you it's a miracle and you forget all my wild stabs in the dark.

Barnum statements: phrases which sound specific to one person but in reality they're so vague they could be applied to almost anybody. If I told you that you're an independent thinker but pride yourself on listening to other peoples' opinions, you'd like to regard that as true, wouldn't you?

Derren Brown reproduced an experiment where he gave readings to dozens of students, written down and given to them in secret. They all agreed that the readings were accurate, yet Brown went on to reveal that they were all identical and had nothing to do with their individual personality traits.

Have a look at this site, you too can become "psychic"!
http://coldreader.web.officelive.com/stepbystepguidetobasiccoldreading.aspx


Like I said, done properly it's a skill in its own right. Showmen like Derren Brown can almost turn it into an art form. But psychic it ain't.

[Hondo]

An expansion on Brockman's "prior Knowledge". If a friend or acquaintance recommended the psychic to you, they may already have spoken freely in a conversational manner about you with the psychic. On a somewhat darker side, that same individual may be receiving a cash commission for bringing in new and repeat business.