Help with explaining psychics

[brn2rnjk1]

Sorry for the intrusion. I am new here and have been ready the newsletters and books recommended. Certain members of my family believe a co-worker is psychic and I am having a problem having a critical discussion with them. Since the person is not making money from his predictions, they don't see any reason for him to be faking it and they say his predictions are uncanny. Any suggestions.

Jim

 

[Doc Dish]

Hi Jim,

Your family (and presumably others) are paying him attention if not money. Gaining attention seems to be a perfectly good reason for people to do odd things (See any reality TV show for proof )

As for how he does what he does: tell us what he does!

 

[steenkh]

He might not be a fake in the sense that he actually fakes it. he might believe in it himself.

I have an uncle who is a psychic and has suffered for it all his life. He always knew when something dreadful was going to happen - but unfortunately he only told about it afterwards. In my family, his abilities are in high regard, but he has never predicted anything, only postdicted it.

I believe that he is actually very often having dreadful premonitions, but those rare cases where they come true will be the ones that are remembered. And he always kept his thoughts for himself, because he feared what others would think.

I know nothing about your psychic. Maybe he fakes consciously, maybe not. But be careful with accusations. They may hurt a person that rather needs help.

Determine what are his claims, and suggest alternative explanations. Stress that it is important to have an open mind, and that it is not all psychics that are real (actually none at all!).

If he is the cocky type, you could mention the million dollars that just waits for him to take. Be prepared for the usual evasions like money isn't all, or Randi hasn't got the money, Randi is not a scientist, and the whole scheme is made to ensure that nobody can get the money (which is true, but not in the way that he implies).

Steen

 

[CFLarsen]

Jim,

It's power. Power to tell other people how to live their lives, power to manipulate their emotions.

Here are some articles on psychics, mediumship, and how it all works.

 

[brn2rnjk1]

He works with one of my relatives, I have not met him, so no accusation towards him. When my relatives say "Oh, so and so is a psychic, just yesterday he said....." they all go "misty eyed" It drives me crazy in that I am unable to articulate how he might have come up with it. (I have nothing against him, I think he may believe he is doing it).

 

[Ed]

Sorry for the intrusion. I am new here and have been ready the newsletters and books recommended. Certain members of my family believe a co-worker is psychic and I am having a problem having a critical discussion with them. Since the person is not making money from his predictions, they don't see any reason for him to be faking it and they say his predictions are uncanny. Any suggestions.

Jim

If the predictions are uncanny, this person should have no trouble telling which chamber holds the blank, right?

 

[BPSCG]

Sorry for the intrusion.

Why are you apologizing? Your question is perfectly appropriate. Welcome to the forum.

Since the person is not making money from his predictions, they don't see any reason for him to be faking it and they say his predictions are uncanny. Any suggestions.
Jim

You might want to ask them:

1) "So he's going to pop into your office from across the hall to warn you you're about to spill your coffee on your keyboard?"

2) "So he's going to warn you to stay away from the Buffalo chicken wings at happy hour Friday unless you want to spend the night bent over the toilet bowl?"

3) "So he's going to let you know that the guy at the next desk who always seems so nice has been privately stabbing you in the back in the boss's office?

4) "So he's going to tell you that at 5:37 next Friday afternoon, as you're driving home from work, some guy screaming at his kids in the back seat is going to run a red light at the intersection of King Street and Pickett Street, so be prepared to slam on the brakes?"

5) "So he's going to mention to you that you have this tumor that's just started growing on your pancreas and you'd better have it checked out fast?"

If they can't answer "yes" to all those questions, your next question should be,

6) "So what #$%^ing good are his #$%^ing psychic powers, then, huh?

 

[CurtC]

I think it would be fun for you and them to think of ways to test his abilities. First, you will probably have to convince them that if he actually has this gift, there will be a way to observe (measure) it. Think of what those are. Be enthusiastic in your conversations, not condescending or challenging. If you play it right, you can let them learn for themselves, which is the best way to do it.

 

[ShowMe]

He works with one of my relatives

...I think you just found the root of his "uncanny predictions" & any other knowledge he may have about your family.