Examples of Skeptics Cold Reading?

[TheBoyPaj]

Mind you, now that I see my words have indirectly prompted Ian's departure, I really don't mind a little confusion!

(Shall we open a sweepstake on how long it lasts?)

 

[Tricky]

Mind you, now that I see my words have indirectly prompted Ian's departure, I really don't mind a little confusion!

(Shall we open a sweepstake on how long it lasts?)

I vote for "half an hour after the pubs close".

 

[Nigel]

I vote for "half an hour after the pubs close".

You think it'd take him that long to get home?

 

[CFLarsen]

You think it'd take him that long to get home?

With the help of the police. I'm sure they know where he lives by now.

 

[Kerberos]

You'll be back.

Still, don't I get a prize for earning us a temporary respite?

 

[Nigel]

With the help of the police. I'm sure they know where he lives by now.

I was thinking he'd make it easier on himself. Say....renting a room upstairs from a pub.

 

[UnTrickaBLe]

Ha, this thread is turning into an epic.

 

[Nigel]

Still, don't I get a prize for earning us a temporary respite?

Sure. Name it. But if he comes back, you lose the prize. So be careful. You know how wishes turn out.

 

[Upchurch]

With the help of the police. I'm sure they know where he lives by now.

[modu]This post has been reported.

Personal attacks are not against forum rules anywhere other than on the CT board. It isn't the moderators' job to make sure posters play nice with one another*. If anyone has a problem with what CFLarsen is saying, they are more than welcome to ignore what he says.

No action will be taken at this time. [/modu]


* yet. After the proposed forum split, who knows?

 

[Clancie]

Posted by Upchurch

Personal attacks are not against forum rules anywhere other than on the CT board

Yes, and that's the reason why the claimed desire for "civility" is just lip service and will never be the reality here.

When personal attacks are allowed and even encouraged by some people, you will -never- have a board with civility.

If the new board really decides to enforce civility--i.e. no personal insults, just discussion of the topic-- imo, it will be all for the better.

 

[Nigel]

Yes, and that's the reason why the claimed desire for "civility" is just lip service and will never be the reality here.

When personal attacks are allowed and even encouraged by some people, you will -never- have a board with civility.

If the new board really decides to enforce civility--i.e. no personal insults, just discussion of the topic-- imo, it will be all for the better.

I didn't see the comment as a personal attack. In fact, it could have been taken any number of ways. Besides, if civility is enforced, Ian wouldn't last long, now would he? Just a thought.

 

[Upchurch]

Yes, and that's the reason why the claimed desire for "civility" is just lip service and will never be the reality here.

Damned if we do and damned if we don't, huh?

When personal attacks are allowed and even encouraged by some people, you will -never- have a board with civility.

If the new board really decides to enforce civility--i.e. no personal insults, just discussion of the topic-- imo, it will be all for the better.

That's one side of the equation. The other side is worried about censorship and free speech. We've not yet found the happy medium and, for some people, I think we never will.

Oh, well.

 

[CFLarsen]

If the new board really decides to enforce civility--i.e. no personal insults, just discussion of the topic-- imo, it will be all for the better.

A discussion of a topic requires people to listen to what the other party has to say. You have no intention of doing that.

I didn't see the comment as a personal attack. In fact, it could have been taken any number of ways. Besides, if civility is enforced, Ian wouldn't last long, now would he? Just a thought.

Exactly. I find it interesting that Clancie finds it necessary to comment on my post (and yes, it could be seen as a personal attack), while keeping totally silent whenever Ian has been rude. Which, as we know, happened with almost every post he made.

Hypocrisy comes to mind.

 

[Clancie]

Posted by Nigel

I didn't see the comment as a personal attack.

I was just referring to what Upchurch posted, Nigel.

Posted by Upchurch

Damned if we do and damned if we don't, huh?

Well, yes. I think that's probably pretty well expected by now, isn't it? The spectrum on this issue (moderation...or "censorship"...or completely free expression) is pretty wide around here (and, fyi, my "read" is that my viewpoint on the issue of civility is distinctly in the minority...what a surprise! )

 

[CFLarsen]

Well, yes. I think that's probably pretty well expected by now, isn't it? The spectrum on this issue (moderation...or "censorship"...or completely free expression) is pretty wide around here (and, fyi, my "read" is that my viewpoint on the issue of civility is distinctly in the minority...what a surprise! )

No, it isn't. You can stop that feeble attempt of painting this forum as a forum that encourages incivility. I doubt if there are that many people who wouldn't want a more civil tone here. However, if some people insist on lying, misrepresenting other people's posts, or just ignoring the evidence put before the, sure, you will have the occasional outburst of emotion.

Because it is a very natural, and humane response to this seemingly never-ending feed of deception. Yes, it gets annoying to listen to the same lies, over and over again. Yes, it gets frustrating, when evidence is ignored. Yes, it gets tiresome, when no real progress is achieved.

Ask yourself this, Clancie: Who are the posters preventing progress? Who are not interested in finding knowledge, in rooting out the crooks? Who ignores evidence? Who refuses to listen to other people? Who prevents humanity from moving from ignorance to enlightenment?

Ask yourself this, Clancie: What have you done to encourage that humanity knows more than it did yesterday?

 

[Loki]

{Hmmm.... seems to be a huge intellectual vacuum in here this morning - has something changed? It's almost as if someone (or something?) has left. Well, whatever it was, I guess I'll just have to get over it somehow. Now, where did I put my copy of "Encyclopedia of Proven Paranormal Events"? }

Ian,

Since you'll be lurking anyway...

How can one discuss with skeptics what OBE's might be if they simply scream in your ear that no-one has ever had such an experience??

You might have a point if that was what was being said to you. But this is classic "strawman" material. The discussion is about the interpretation of the experience, not the existence of the experience. I can't believe you don't know this, which immediately suggests to me that you are either (a) unable to follow a simple discussion or (b) deliberately engaged in point scoring rather than debate. The later, I think.

What can one say? How does one respond to such an outrageous suggestion?? If you point to the huge colossal amount of evidence of personal stories of people who have undergone these experiences, they scream 'anecdotes which constitute no evidence or reasons whatsoever that they have ever happened!'

Colossal evidence such as Fatima?

At this point you know when to call it a day. There is truly nothing I can do.

Correct - there is NOTHING that you can offer to a sensible discussion, it would appear.

Well, it's certainly been a jaw dropper communicating on these forums. I now realise that for many people absolutely nothing will alter their beliefs or non-beliefs.

This from the man who happily declares :

"I've always known there is an ultimate purpose to life and the Universe, and a life after death. I'm also pretty convinced that reincarnation occurs. Yeah. Seems like I'm different from everyone else. Other believers always seem to claim they started to believe due to something or other. Not me. I've always known"

People are too firmly entrenched in their own belief systems and scream and shout hysterically when you plead for them to open their eyes.

Perhaps by "plead for them to open their eyes" you really mean "swear and abuse them for disagreeing"?

But still, I plead for you and others to open their eyes.

You've been the least effective poster I've ever seen Ian. over 8,000 posts, and I can only thing of a few points you've raised that have made me re-examine something. Signal to noise ratio is appalling.

Bye.

 

[Loki]

Nigel,

I've read in various threads that several posters here have had readings (cold or otherwise).

I've been to an "aura reader" who communicated with my "higher self" by reading patterns and flows within my 'aura'. I went because I had challeged some "believer" friends of mine about the credibility of this person. They firmly believed that she was/is genuine, and they wanted to convince me. So they paid for the reading.

I suppose those who have spent money to get the readings. Would you do it again?

My wife and I have discussed getting a reading for her from the same woman, and then comparing results. But it's not worth the effort or cash really. Of course, my beliveer friends claim the woman is "amazingly" accurate - just not with me. Damn negative skeptical vibes I guess.

Part of the reason I haven't is I don't want to spend my hard earned money on rubbish. Thoughts?

It is rubbish, and you are wasting your money. Try to get a believer to pay!

If you thought they were cold readings, why? Why not?

Nope, not cold reading. Why? Because she told me not to say anything! The reading lasted about an hour and a half, and I spoke for 2 minutes, tops. I have a recording. Most of the reading was pretty awful - vague, generalised rambling that sounded good but had little content. But she nailed one part with stunning accuracy. If nothing else, the reading was good value simply because it left me with an understanding of how hard a "good hit" can affect you.

 

[voidx]

Yes, and that's the reason why the claimed desire for "civility" is just lip service and will never be the reality here.

When personal attacks are allowed and even encouraged by some people, you will -never- have a board with civility.

If the new board really decides to enforce civility--i.e. no personal insults, just discussion of the topic-- imo, it will be all for the better.

It was hardly much of a personal attack, and even if you think it was, was tame in comparison to the verbal crap Ian spews at anyone that disagree's with him. Or is it another poster that routinely uses "thick as f*ck", "f*cktards", "utterly f*ckin stupid" in his repetoire? So far as I've ever seen the moderators have been quite neutral and consistent in their enforcement of these rules. If civility ruled here, Ian would be the first one out the damned door.

 

[Clancie]

Posted by voidx

It was hardly much of a personal attack

voidx,

One...more...time.....

I was referring to this comment by Upchurch (a mod):

Posted by Upchurch

Personal attacks are not against forum rules anywhere other than on the CT board. It isn't the moderators' job to make sure posters play nice with one another.

That was the context of my comment. He says personal attacks are not against forum rules outside CT (and, of course, he's right). I think they should be.

My post was in response to this comment/philosophy, period. Personally, I would like to have a "no personal attacks" rule here--let the chips fall where they may, that would still be my preference.

But it won't happen. (And Hal's answer to me on the "Community" thread makes it pretty clear that the new Official forum won't be changing this either...not that I'm surprised. As I say, I believe it to be a minority view).

 

[Nigel]

Nigel,


I've been to an "aura reader" who communicated with my "higher self" by reading patterns and flows within my 'aura'. I went because I had challeged some "believer" friends of mine about the credibility of this person. They firmly believed that she was/is genuine, and they wanted to convince me. So they paid for the reading.


My wife and I have discussed getting a reading for her from the same woman, and then comparing results. But it's not worth the effort or cash really. Of course, my beliveer friends claim the woman is "amazingly" accurate - just not with me. Damn negative skeptical vibes I guess.


It is rubbish, and you are wasting your money. Try to get a believer to pay!


Nope, not cold reading. Why? Because she told me not to say anything! The reading lasted about an hour and a half, and I spoke for 2 minutes, tops. I have a recording. Most of the reading was pretty awful - vague, generalised rambling that sounded good but had little content. But she nailed one part with stunning accuracy. If nothing else, the reading was good value simply because it left me with an understanding of how hard a "good hit" can affect you.

Thanks for the info Loki. The closest I ever came to a reading was when I was in the fourth grade, and a teacher played a fortune teller at a school fair. Hardly the same as what we're talking about here. I've also driven past the fortune tellers storefronts (and will continue to!) in my town. But you've pretty well confirmed what I thought/read. 'Preciate it.