Help wanted - collecting evidence against psychics

[tkingdoll]

Hi all,

In another forum, a skeptic wrote something about the psychological damage done by TV psychics, which fits in with a current project I am looking for help with.

Simply, it's this:

Skeptics often claim that psychics, mediums, spiritualists are damaging to society or the individual, particularly the grieving.

I am looking for evidence of this. Yes, anecdotes are fine but they must be true, ideally backed up with a source or permission from that person to use their story.

Anything you can post in this thread would be extremely useful, or PM me if you'd prefer. If anyone can put me in contact with people who have been damaged by their involvement with psychics or mediums, that would also be helpful. All parties may remain anonymous if they wish.

This work is extremely important as it will contribute to a project tackling the prevalence of psychics and mediums on TV, in the media generally, and in stores.

Many thanks,

TK

[vbloke]

Feel free to use the Selfridges story about how the "Psychic Sister" told me to spend more time with my dad even though he's been dead for 5 years.

[tkingdoll]

Cool, thanks Veeb.

[Admin]

There are quite a few reports of financial harm done by psychics in the news archives such as on the BBC. Mainly because the 'psychics' have been prosecuted for bilking people out of large sums of money.

The worst cases IMO are where psychics involve themselves with the grieving or with families of missing persons where they act like parasites feeding off other people's misfortune.

The big problem with this type of research is that people are unwilling to come forward and tell their story. And there's not much in the way of examples or previous research to fall back on.

I wonder if Chris French or Richard Wiseman have come across any research in this area. They might be worth contacting.

[Mojo]

Here's one that was discussed over at JREF earlier this year.

[tkingdoll]

There are quite a few reports of financial harm done by psychics in the news archives such as on the BBC. Mainly because the 'psychics' have been prosecuted for bilking people out of large sums of money.

The worst cases IMO are where psychics involve themselves with the grieving or with families of missing persons where they act like parasites feeding off other people's misfortune.

The big problem with this type of research is that people are unwilling to come forward and tell their story. And there's not much in the way of examples or previous research to fall back on.

I wonder if Chris French or Richard Wiseman have come across any research in this area. They might be worth contacting.

I can confirm that there isn't any existing reseearch in this area...until now :)

[gadgetboy]

My Step Father passed away in August this year, my Mother turned to psychics to try to contact him only weeks after his passing. After having seen these psychics she took her own life only 1 week later in an attempt to goin him as she 'now knows for certain that there is life after death'. I have a recording of the sessions with these mediums.

[Nettles]

I'd call that damage.

[tkingdoll]

My Step Father passed away in August this year, my Mother turned to psychics to try to contact him only weeks after his passing. After having seen these psychics she took her own life only 1 week later in an attempt to goin him as she 'now knows for certain that there is life after death'. I have a recording of the sessions with these mediums.

That's a tragic story, I'm very sorry for your loss.

[gadgetboy]

Thankyou, but is this information any use to you? I have a recording of the session, a transcript of it as well as a suicide not stating 'I will say goodbye for now but not forever, as I now know without a doubt that there is existance after death'.

She was obviously traumatized already and there were a lot of things happening in her life that contributed to this but I feel very strongly that the proof of the afterlife was given by the psychics and that they should not be poking around inside the head of anyone who's suffered a loss less than four weeks previously.

[vbloke]

I'd also like to say that I'm sorry for your loss.

[kath23]

That's terrible, I'm really sorry for your loss.

[Admin]

Gadgetboy,

I too am sorry for your loss.

In order to use this case we can't just use the tapes and the note. We'll have to investigate it properly which means obtaining as much information as we can: names and addresses of those involved, official reports and documents relating to the case, relevant background info, etc.

None of this information needs to be published but we will need it. That's how investigations need to be done.

We will probably not be able to prove that the psychic caused your mother to commit suicide (i.e. evidence that would stand up in a court of law) but, as you say, we may be able to show that their involvement was not exactly benign.

If you feel that you can provide us with this personal information, let us know.

Don't post it on here though, just let us know that you're prepared to provide the info.

[gadgetboy]

I would like to thank everybody for their sentiments.

I would be more than happy to provide all the details that I have.
How would I provide this? Ideally I would like to discuss what has happened so far with someone over the phone. Please get back to me with instructions.

Many thanks
Gareth

[tkingdoll]

Hi Gareth,

I'm going to send you a PM with some details in, following on from John's last post. We'll take it from there, I appreciate this is a sensitive subject for you.