Tarot cards, they are AMAZING!

[MrErisian]

Also - we need someone who has the answers ie which reading is actually designed for which person. An independent skeptic who can verify success or failure. Any takers?

 

[arthwollipot]

Also - we need someone who has the answers ie which reading is actually designed for which person. An independent skeptic who can verify success or failure. Any takers?

I volunteer for this duty.

 

[MrErisian]

Ok. Maybe you and Sun Countess then. You both get a copy of the readings with the correct names at the top. Obviously you mustn't reveal them until the end of the month. Not even if Uri Geller tells you to.

 

[arthwollipot]

Ok. Maybe you and Sun Countess then. You both get a copy of the readings with the correct names at the top. Obviously you mustn't reveal them until the end of the month. Not even if Uri Geller tells you to.

Trust me, I've never done anything Uri Geller has told me to do.

 

[Foolmewunz]

We've now got six volunteers for the test.

I think we need to agree a standard question. It has to be one that all six could ask for in a normal reading. I was thinking something like - What's the situation with my love life over the next month?

Any thoughts?

It's not a question I'd even remotely consider asking. Could we come up with, like, a "grown up" question?

 

[Akhenaten]

ditto

 

[Pup]

ditto

Thritto. Or whatever cute word would be used in this case, instead of "me three."

 

[Marduk]

It's not a question I'd even remotely consider asking. Could we come up with, like, a "grown up" question?

if whats happening with your love life over the next month isn't a grown up question then youre doing it wrong

 

[Robert Oz]

I would like to volunteer to take part as well.

Can I suggest we make the protocol clear before we begin posting readings though?

What does everyone think of this:

1. We get ten volunteers (better than three originally suggested and we're almost there already). Since arthwollipot volunteered to control the test, can you - artwollipot - please make a list of the ten selected?

2. I suggest arthwollipot make a list of six questions suitable for a tarot reading and then select one randomly, based on the roll of a die. I think with the sitters selecting questions, clues are already being provided that make the test less controlled (e.g. big decision relating to love life in the next 45 days for Foolmewunz).

3. I'm not all that familiar with the tarot. Is it possible to do a reading of what has happened in the past month rather than the next month? This way, the results are immediately available rather than waiting a month.

4. MrErisian does a reading for each of the ten volunteers arthwollipot has chosen and sends these readings (with the names on top) to arthwollipot via PM.

5. Arthwollipot randomly assigns numbers (1 to 10) to the readings and arranges them in numerical order. He then PMs the full list of ten readings to each of the ten sitters.

6. The sitters read the ten readings and select the one they think most represents themselves and send a response to arthwollipot via PM with their selection.

7. Arthwollipot counts the successes and failures and posts them on the board.

Feel free to make changes to the protocol, and arthwollipot can make the final call on what he feels is a fair protocol. Any suggestions for what would consitute overall success?

 

[Careyp74]

I know that the likely hood of anyone cheating is rare here, but I think that in order to use this experience as reference when someone else is talking about their Tarot reading experiences, we should come up with as tight a protocol as possible. I don't know what exactly, but does anyone see any holes in the test as it is spelled out so far?

 

[Robert Oz]

MrErisian,

I just tried to respond to a PM from you, but your inbox seems to be full and PMs can't go through until you delete some of your messages.

So, I'll just say it here:

Good luck on this test. People who show a sincere willingness to be tested, deservedly, get a lot of respect on the JREF forums. Whether you succeed or fail in these readings, you have my respect.

 

[Akhenaten]

if whats happening with your love life over the next month isn't a grown up question then youre doing it wrong

Some of us are the other side of grown up. I've already got one foot in the gra



ETA: I'm just being undead for a minute to say that I'm good with the test so far.

 

[Pup]

What does everyone think of this:

Sounds good to me.

 

[Robert Oz]

Can I also suggest updates to be posted in the thread, so everyone can keep track of where we are?

e.g.

- arthwollipot posts the ten volunteers

- MrErisian accepts the ten volunteers selected

- arthwollipot posts his list of six questions, and the question chosen for the test by die-roll

- MrErisian accepts the selected question

- arthwollipot announces his receipt of the ten readings and that he has numbered them randomly

- arthwollipot announces he has sent the readings via PM to the ten sitters

- arthwollipot announces receipt of the chosen readings from the ten sitters

- arthwollipot post results of the test

 

[Fiona]

This seems pretty good to me. I can't see any holes in it

 

[Akhenaten]

Well, we can't have that, now can we?

 

[Marduk]

yup, we can't have someone not asking me about my sex life, the idea is just preposterous

 

[MrErisian]

MrErisian,

I just tried to respond to a PM from you, but your inbox seems to be full

Yep - was keeping track of all the volunteers and PMing them to say they were part of it. Basically anyone who has expressed an interest so far.

So, I'll just say it here:

Good luck on this test. People who show a sincere willingness to be tested, deservedly, get a lot of respect on the JREF forums. Whether you succeed or fail in these readings, you have my respect.

Thanks! I don't really feel like I'm personally being tested I'm just curious to see what the outcome will be. These Tarot cards have genuinely impressed me and I sort of want to snap out of it a bit.

I would like to volunteer to take part as well.

Can I suggest we make the protocol clear before we begin posting readings though?

What does everyone think of this:

1. We get ten volunteers (better than three originally suggested and we're almost there already).

No problems with that but it does mean the whole process will take a lot longer. I'm going to try and make these readings the best I can and, like I said, I'm very new to doing them.

Since arthwollipot volunteered to control the test, can you - artwollipot - please make a list of the ten selected?

Would be good to post names up here on this string. I also think the (unnamed) readings should be posted here as well. On condition that they don't get too mercilessly ripped to bits. Await results before we pick apart how vague or cold reading they are, so to speak...

I'd prefer analysis of them in retrospect.

2. I suggest arthwollipot make a list of six questions suitable for a tarot reading and then select one randomly, based on the roll of a die. I think with the sitters selecting questions, clues are already being provided that make the test less controlled (e.g. big decision relating to love life in the next 45 days for Foolmewunz).

Fair point. I'm not intending to twist the meanings of the cards but it is of course possible that I'd do that without thinking. I think the questions bit is quite important. The sorts of questions I've done so far are:

What's going to happen with x's career?
How will the book x is writing work out?
What is the situation with x?
How should x approach their job interview?
Should x take early redundancy?

Please note, all these readings were done with a sense of fun and requested by the person in question. Furthermore they were all friends and family.

The questions we decide upon should all have an inbuilt month long time limit.

3. I'm not all that familiar with the tarot. Is it possible to do a reading of what has happened in the past month rather than the next month? This way, the results are immediately available rather than waiting a month.

The sort of reading I'm keen to test is called a Celtic Cross reading. It's the one that has given me the most pause for thought. It gives you more information about your past and present than it does the future.

4. MrErisian does a reading for each of the ten volunteers arthwollipot has chosen and sends these readings (with the names on top) to arthwollipot via PM.

As I mentioned earlier, I'd rather post them up on this thread as well. Either that or I PM them to Arthwollipot and he posts them up?

5. Arthwollipot randomly assigns numbers (1 to 10) to the readings and arranges them in numerical order. He then PMs the full list of ten readings to each of the ten sitters.

That then dispenses with the need for the above.

6. The sitters read the ten readings and select the one they think most represents themselves and send a response to arthwollipot via PM with their selection.

I guess for it to play out completely we need to await the 'prediction' bit.

7. Arthwollipot counts the successes and failures and posts them on the board.

Feel free to make changes to the protocol, and arthwollipot can make the final call on what he feels is a fair protocol. Any suggestions for what would consitute overall success?

Good final question. I think it might even be worth dividing into two categories. The first one being did the sitter pick his or her reading out correctly and the second being what happened as regards predicting their future. Anything more than 6 out of ten accuracy? Or do we say 7 out of 10? Obviously it'd have to be over 5. Dunno, not an expert on that kind of thing.

 

[Robert Oz]

No problems with that but it does mean the whole process will take a lot longer. I'm going to try and make these readings the best I can and, like I said, I'm very new to doing them.

I'm fine with the test taking longer. I'm sure everyone will be very patient and you could always post updates to let us know how far along you are (e.g. I've done three readings so far, seven to go, etc.). At this stage, however, please don't post any details about the readings you are giving.

Would be good to post names up here on this string. I also think the (unnamed) readings should be posted here as well. On condition that they don't get too mercilessly ripped to bits. Await results before we pick apart how vague or cold reading they are, so to speak...

I'd prefer analysis of them in retrospect.

I'm fine with arthwollipot postings the names in one post (in a different order to that sent to you) and the readings in another (AFTER they have been randomly numbered and re-ordered).

I, personally, will not comment on the readings until after the results are released. However, if you don't want anyone to comment, I strongly suggest the thread be put on moderated status until after the results are released.

Fair point. I'm not intending to twist the meanings of the cards but it is of course possible that I'd do that without thinking. I think the questions bit is quite important. The sorts of questions I've done so far are:

What's going to happen with x's career?
How will the book x is writing work out?
What is the situation with x?
How should x approach their job interview?
Should x take early redundancy?

Please note, all these readings were done with a sense of fun and requested by the person in question. Furthermore they were all friends and family.

The questions we decide upon should all have an inbuilt month long time limit.

The questions should be applicable to all readers. I think 'What is the situation with x?' is a great question! For the purposes of this test, questions that are more sitter-specific, such as 'Should x take early redundancy?' should be avoided.

The sort of reading I'm keen to test is called a Celtic Cross reading. It's the one that has given me the most pause for thought. It gives you more information about your past and present than it does the future.

Can you differentiate between what is past and present versus what is future? If so, can we make the test about past and present only. At least this way, the results will be immediately available rather than waiting a month.

However, if you are determined for the future prediction to be part of the test, I am happy to wait the full month for the results.

Good final question. I think it might even be worth dividing into two categories. The first one being did the sitter pick his or her reading out correctly and the second being what happened as regards predicting their future. Anything more than 6 out of ten accuracy? Or do we say 7 out of 10? Obviously it'd have to be over 5. Dunno, not an expert on that kind of thing.

If the future prediction is a necessary part of the test (see my comments above), I'm happy with the double-test (i.e. pick your reading, reveal accuracy of prediction).

I'd be happy with 7 out of 10.

 

[Pup]

What's going to happen with x's career?
How will the book x is writing work out?
What is the situation with x?
How should x approach their job interview?
Should x take early redundancy?

It goes without saying, but since this is the internet I'll say it anyway...

Of course questions like four and five are useless for this kind of test, since there's no way of knowing whether things would have turned out better or worse if x had approached their job interview another way, or x had (or hadn't) taken early redundancy. Even if X takes early redundancy following the cards' advice and gets hit by a runaway lorry on the golf course next day, that might have prevented him from suffering a more painful lingering death if he'd stayed at the office.

The sort of reading I'm keen to test is called a Celtic Cross reading. It's the one that has given me the most pause for thought. It gives you more information about your past and present than it does the future.

As others have mentioned, it would be nice to have a reading on the past and present and see the results sooner than a month, but whichever y'all want to go is fine with me.

and the second being what happened as regards predicting their future.

I'm still not sure how one can tell if a future prediction is accurate, unless it's totally binary. I mean, on the book for example, unless it's something like you will/will not sign a publishing contract within 30 days for more than $1,000, how does one judge a prediction like "your book writing will go well" or even "people will like your book"? (Does that count if it's your mother and a vanity publisher who like the book, or does it have to be people you wouldn't expect to praise every book?) Again, how specific are we talking?

But that's why the method of each person identifying their own reading works so well; it does get around the problem of generic readings that could be stretched to fit anything.