www.stopsylvia.com

[tkingdoll]

RSLancastr from the JREF forum has set up a site to refute some of popular US TV psychic Sylvia Browne's claims.

The site is www.stopsylvia.com (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com), it's under construction but will be very interesting when it's fully flowing if his stopkaz efforts are anything to go by.

[chillzero]

Ugh, I just caught the end of Montel today and a girl asked her for advice because she had just selected her majors at university, and everyone around her was advising her to change her choices, and do other things. Sylvia said "and I want you to go into therapy". She then leaned back and sucked her teeth while this girl kind of floundered there for a second, saying "Oh? oh, right" and looking thoroughly confused.

She began to say something, but then Sylvia leaned back in her chair and joked with the audience "that was easy, eh?" and then she made some terrible (imo) comment about how he (I assume the therapist) could probably use the client.

Then they left her hanging and started talking to someone else!

How the hell was that supposed to be remotely useful or helpful to this poor girl?

[Admin]

I was putting an entry together for the commentary for September earlier today so as soon as the website kicks off properly we'll have some support for it. O0

Sylvia is fairly well known here so it's worth covering it not only to support the site but from a UK interest as well.

[JonDonnis]

I have offered my support to this site, and offered a few articles/videos from my site.

Does anyone know which day she appears on Monetl in the UK.
If you do I can make sure to record it and then look out for cock ups

[Admin]

I don't know Jon, but ITV2 show a lot of this trash TV.

[chillzero]

Montel is on ITV2 every day before Judge Judy - around 5ish for Montel. Sylvia is not always guaranteed to be on, however, but I try to catch it if I get in early enough, mainly because I am interested in seeing the episode (not with Sylvia) where Kelly Jabrowski makes her appearance to highlight the plights of missing adults.

[Admin]

If you get forewarning Chilly, please let us know when it's on. O0

[JonDonnis]

Yes if anyone gets noticeshe is on please let me know.
I usually record Richard & Judy ince there is any mainstream UK psychic on there, so I cant blindly record Montel and its not repeated.

Oh how i wish i could afford a twin tuner PVR

[asthmatic camel]

Quick heads-up, Robert Lancaster now has the site up and running. Nice work.

[Hazen]

Check it out:
http://www.bsalert.com/artsearch.php?fn=2&as=1647&dt=1

"The family also claims the psychic then tried to cash in, which Browne vigorously denies."

Surprise, surprise.

ETA:
Oops, just seen the big splash over on the JREF site, should have expected that.

[kath23]

There is much more up on the 'stop sylvia' site now, including info about a previous conviction she has - for fraud :o

[asthmatic camel]

Ohhhhhhh! Perfect! I'd just love to see Sylvia in court over this. ;D

[Mongrel]

She's getting a bit pissy about it though ;D

Linkie (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/articles/images/browne_attempttosilence.pdf)

[kath23]

::)

[Admin]

I think Rob Lancaster has done a great job of using Sylvia's own words to incriminate herself.

I see there's a solicitor's letter moaning about her trademarked name being used but if that's the best she can come up with (which isn't much) it suggests that they've looked at Rob's site and can't find anything to sue him over.

He'll be fine as long as he sticks to the truth.

[asthmatic camel]

I think Rob Lancaster has done a great job of using Sylvia's own words to incriminate herself.

I see there's a solicitor's letter moaning about her trademarked name being used but if that's the best she can come up with (which isn't much) it suggests that they've looked at Rob's site and can't find anything to sue him over.

He'll be fine as long as he sticks to the truth.


Exactly my thoughts, John. Just by the way, may I draw everyones' attention to this (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/articles/openlettertomontel.shtml), requesting all skeptics to contact Montel Williams re. an open letter from Hal Bidlack? One email from me won't make any difference. Thousands of emails from all who support Robert in his campaign against Sylvia Browne might, if nothing else, help to keep the topic in the public eye; just what Sylvia doesn't want.

[tkingdoll]

John, maybe, but they could be testing the water cheaply before taking proper action. If they send a letter like that which has very little cost to them, it might work and Rob backs down, they lose nothing. Or he ignores it an carries on in which case they've still lost nothing but can move on to taking this seriously.

Of course, Rob isn't backing down. My psychic ability tells me that a bigger, fancier threat with more expensive lawyers is on its way very soon.

[Admin]

I agree Tracy. I'm sure they'll try something more threatening later on.

I do think that they'd have trouble making anything stick though as RSL has been very careful in what he uses against Sylvia.

I think it will boil down to whether SB & Co can intimidate RSL into closing his site.

If a libel action was taken by Sylvia Browne and she lost, could RSL make a counter-claim or get damages himself for the costs incurred in defending it?

I'm not too sure of the legalities of these things.

[Araneus]

"Abuse of trademarks" is a typical line of attack used to intimidate critics, but I don't think it has ever stood up in court. All of the cases I have heard involving "Such-and-such-sucks.com" type websites have been struck down as fair use; in particular most trademark infringement laws require that there is a reasonably chance that somebody would be confused when looking for the real site, which has been held to be implausible when the site's name and purpose obviously involves criticism.

[Cuddles]

This was mentioned in the JREF forums. There are laws in some states against frivolous lawsuits with the obvious purpose of trying to close down competition or criticism. There are even some groups set up to support people with these cases in case they can't afford to fight against big companies, and I'm pretty sure that Rob is in an area we he can take full advantage of this. Since he has been very careful with what he says it is fairly clear that the only person who would lose anything from a lawsuit would be Sylvia. Presumably she is hoping he will back down without ever anthing official happening, but since he obviously knows what he is doing there is no chance of this happening.

[kath23]

There is also the Electronic Freedom Foundation. http://www.eff.org/ I have a hobby of following cult activist battles, and they have been a lot of help to people who criticise destructive groups or publish damning footage of them online.