Psychic or Coincidence?

[Shirley]

It was December 2004 and two weeks before the Asian Tsunami happened and for a bit of a laugh and a joke I adopted a psychic sounding/prophet type of name, went on a psychics forum and posted that there would be an Earthquake, thousands would die and it would be in a tropical country just inside the southern hemisphere and I mentioned Indonesia and some islands would be flooded, and there would be Earth changes as a result. Imagine my utter surprise when two weeks later there was that dreadful disaster, I was horrified and gutted and there were all the psychics saying I'd had a hit etc etc. I felt partially responsible as well - can you believe it? Funny though, it honestly was a joke and not really a psychic prediction and yet it happened. Heh... of course it was a bit vague here and there which people did point out.

[HeyJupiter]

I guess the moral of the story is - don't joke about that sort of thing, because there's a good chance it might come true :-\

I would say that it is more likely that it is just a horrible coincidence, rather than some kind of psychic foresight on your behalf.

[Araneus]

A single data point like that does not afford any possibility of scientific analysis, period. The correct answer is therefore "unknown".

However, given the total absence of existing evidence for psychic powers, the fact that this was not perceived or intended by you as a "serious" psychic prediction, the fact that the prediction was (presumably) not time-limited, and the fact that earthquakes are very common in that part of the world and a serious one is bound to strike sooner or later, I would be quite happy with "coincidence".

[Matt]

It was December 2004 and two weeks before the Asian Tsunami happened and for a bit of a laugh and a joke I adopted a psychic sounding/prophet type of name, went on a psychics forum and posted that there would be an Earthquake, thousands would die and it would be in a tropical country just inside the southern hemisphere and I mentioned Indonesia and some islands would be flooded, and there would be Earth changes as a result. Imagine my utter surprise when two weeks later there was that dreadful disaster, I was horrified and gutted and there were all the psychics saying I'd had a hit etc etc. I felt partially responsible as well - can you believe it? Funny though, it honestly was a joke and not really a psychic prediction and yet it happened. Heh... of course it was a bit vague here and there which people did point out.

Don't feel responsible. The prediction was bound to come true sooner or later whether you suggested it or not.

You got a link?

[Admin]

This is a good example of how psychics occasionally get things right.

Predict an earthquake in the pacific 'ring of fire' and it stands a reasonable chance of coming true - it's only the timing that needs the coincidence.

In fact, a good prediction technique is to make the odd prediction that is highly unlikely ???

Let's say, "I predict a tornado will hit London in 2008". It's very unlikely to happen and if it doesn't the prediction will be forgotten but if it does come true, then it will be seen as truly amazing and milked for all it's worth by the 'psychic' who predicted it.

Predictions are really just about statistics or likelihoods of things occurring. Every now and then some of them will come true. It doesn't make them psychic however, unless a person can do it repeatedly and at a level well above chance.

[Shirley]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/11204...hquake+warning

This is the Earthquake warning I posted under the obviously prophetic name "Elijah"

I was kinda workin' it at the time so if you read that and my posts are all woo woo or wierd or anything I apologise.

I only did it to see if I could "out psychic" The psychics on there as none of them had predicted ANYTHING at all ever that I could see and the board was used mostly for counselling or "please help me" posts.

[Matt]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/11204...hquake+warning

This is the Earthquake warning I posted under the obviously prophetic name "Elijah"

I was kinda workin' it at the time so if you read that and my posts are all woo woo or wierd or anything I apologise.

I only did it to see if I could "out psychic" The psychics on there as none of them had predicted ANYTHING at all ever that I could see and the board was used mostly for counselling or "please help me" posts.

Thanks for that

The Southern Hemisphere.. tropical climate. There will be a disastrous Earthquake. Over a thousand will die. Heralds a series of Earthquakes that will reshape the globe and certain islands will disappear for good. The Maldives .. the Florida Keys and the Indonesian islands will be affected.

See, only a part of the prediction came true. No Series of earthquakes. Globe still globe shaped. No islands disappeared for good especially not the Maldives, the Florida keys, or Indonesian Islands. The maldives were affected and though some islands were described as totally destoryed, this refers to the habitation not the rock. The same goes for Indonesian Islands. The Keys were of course unaffected being in a totally different ocean.

Unfortunately the most inaccurate part of the prediction was "Over 1,000 will die." Technically correct but not very precise compared to the actual death toll of around 230 thousand.

No timescale was given, some part such a wide ranging prediction was bound to come true sooner or later.

Even if we'd been spared the Asian Tsunami the denizens of that site were ready to herald the prediction as a success on the basis of a much earlier earthquake.