<snip for brevity> Like I said, this is just my opinion, but it certainly explains a lot of things. I don't think she's being majorly deceptive to anyone but herself. Minor stuff? Sure, we're all guilty of that. But overall she wants to believe and finds way to make things fit. When they don't fit, she gets sick, backs off, and heads in a direction where she's less likely to hear what she doesn't want to hear.
Well, as I said before, I don't believe she is being deliberately deceptive with other people, either, although she is to herself. And I'll agree that her friends and family have probably just elected to humor her - given the stubbornness she has shown on this very thread about being correct 100%, it wouldn't be worth the argument to question her.
For example, my great aunt Tilly, at family gatherings, always used to regale us kids with her conviction that we were descended from Abraham Lincoln. It wasn't true, we knew it wasn't true, and, given that she was about 197, it would have made her Lincoln's daughter-but it was easier to nod and then roll our eyes out of her sight. Arguing with her just meant that she would pop her teeth out and lisp a fictitious genealogical tree. It wasn't worth the effort, or the spit shower, or my grandmother telling us to leave Aunt Tilly alone.
BUT, Aunt Tilly's tale of our log cutting ancestor was limited to family, and a few friends and neighbors. She wasn't getting on the Internet and telling complete strangers.
In summary, to save everyone having to read back through pages of threads, Anita has claimed:
To have communicated telepathically with an unseen, mythical creature. (Apparently, some sort of European Bigfoot - EuroFoot, I'll call him.)
To confidently predict that she could walk into American Bigfoot territory, with a camera, and telepathically locate the creature, communicate with it, earn its trust, and, if she sensed it was safe, meet up with it.
To be able to connect mind to mind with beings, communicate with them, always know what to say and how they will respond, and how to win their trust. (Not sure if she means humans here - judging from this thread, I'm guessing not.)
To be able to perceive what creatures perceive and do, and to enjoy looking at the thoughts and perceptions of various animals, including frogs and vultures, who have especially beautiful thoughts. (Vultures? Who knew?)
Can observe the ghosts of dinosaurs, and perceive them as they really were (appearance, eating habits, mating rituals, etc) - and their appearances are always contrary to the beliefs and educated opinions of paleontologists worldwide.
To be able to perceive what others perceive from their point of view, and to feel what others are feeling.
To be able to communicate with angry ghosts, soothe them, and, apparently, leave them in a better mood, as well as irritate the hell out of some other ones.
To have physically connected with a ghost pushing her out of a chair, and others clinging to her and asking her for help.
To have seen the ghosts of a boy who drowned, Vikings, ancient homeless people, men attending a crematory, an old lady and her youthful lover, a non scary executioner and his medieval axe, and prisoners in the same castle.
Has woken up to find a ghost in her room.
Never sees ghosts without a friend present.
Has been the first to address the presence of a ghost.
Waits for friends to bring up the presence of a ghost.
To be able to see the past as it took place.
To confidently predict that she could visit haunted scenes across America as a psychic guide, and speak with the historical ghosts, and see the historical events as they happened there.
To confidently predict that she could visit the White House and see and communicate with the ghost of Abraham Lincoln.
To know that dogs and cats and animals can also see ghosts and perceive past events as they happened.
To see and feel and interact with a non material world that is superimposed on this material one.
She can solve crime scenes within seconds, even as a child.
She is the extraterrestrial incarnation of a white dwarf star near Arcturus (a belief she also alleged to the two webmasters of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe website, who posted in this thread to confirm that.) Her Arcturian origin in the basis for her abilities.
Now, for her "main" ability:
Via various posts:
Does not believe in her alleged ability.
Will not continue to believe in her alleged ability whatever the outcome of a test.
Will continue to have perceptions whatever the outcome of a test.
Does believe in her ability, has taken it for granted, and does not need confirmation of its authenticity.
Can detect chemicals without ill effect.
Can only detect chemicals sometimes.
Can only detect chemicals sometimes with apparent ill effects of nausea and headache.
Can detect ailments via photographs.
Can only sometimes detect ailments via photographs.
Can only sometimes detect ailments via photographs in real life, but not images over the Internet.
Can detect the health problems of celebrities over the television.
Can only sometimes detect the health problems of celebrities over the television.
Has no interest in sharing her ability with the public at large.
Is tempted to share her ability with the public at large.
Would like forum members to help her prepare a list of do's and dont's for sharing her ability with the public at large.
Would never share her ability for money.
Would like to have a radio show.
Her perceptions are based on vibrational algebra. Well, not mathematical algebra-more like peanut butter cup algebra.
She has shared examples of this algebra here which no one can find.
She hasn't learned the proper scientific terminology to describe it.
She will not share examples of this algebra here because she doesn't want them stolen.
Is interested in applying her concepts of vibrational aspects to conventional mathematics, but hasn't done it yet - probably because she hasn't studied maths.
The existing optical devices that could test her theories is secret.
The optical devices that could test her theories hasn't been built yet.
She is working on the design of those yet to be built optical devices, but those designs are secret, too.
Her theories are secret, and we can read about them in future scientific journals like everyone else.
Her theories were stolen and are now in the public domain.
She "forbids" involving her university in her study of her paranormal ability.
She has told three professors at her university of her ability.
She was, apparently, the victim of an unethical or absent minded professor.
Does not objectively chronicle her diagnoses, but she is always accurate.
Does not eliminate variables, but she is always accurate.
Does not eliminate variables, but her ability is not a result of cold reading or retained knowledge.
Or it might be a result of subconscious cold reading and/or retained knowledge.
Does not keep a journal of her medical perceptions, but always remembers them accurately and in detail.
Would like to explore whether she has synesthesia.
Her ability is remarkably similar to synesthesia.
She does have synesthesia. Not confirmed by a neurologist, but by an easily manipulated test over the Internet.
She has 'objectively' considered that she might be delusional, but doesn't consider that any of her behavior is consistent with delusions.
Only shares her abilities with family and "close" friends.
Shares her abilities with a man she met that day whom she knew would be a lifelong friend. Shares her abilities with two skeptics forums, a skeptics group, IIG, her existing website, three Professors, a "ghostly" website currently in development, a local paranormal society, and a future paranormal society.
Her claims are not "interfering" with her real life, even though she has posted thousands upon thousands of words here, in the other forum, and on her website, is pursuing a study based on one possibly delusional claim, and building a paranormal group and website based on other possibly delusional claims.
She can objectively self diagnose herself and be completely accurate.
Is the most extraordinary being (or extraterrestrial incarnation) to occupy the planet in the history of mankind, yet is relatively unimpressed with her abilities, and, despite having most of them all her life, was not interested in testing even one of them until now.
(And, somehow, I am not 'reliable' to discern whether she is delusional, because I have a treated personality disorder, and she isn't sure if you are 'serious' about her being delusional?)
The problem, as I see it, is twofold. Anita's behavior is escalating. She's sharing her claims with more and more people, and having to constantly manipulate her claims to fit the questions that arise. As well, as you said, she repeatedly has to back off, and change course to avoid hearing what she doesn't want to hear.
The second part of the problem is that, if she doesn't get help, and she continues spreading these claims even wider, she's going to run afoul of people who won't take the time to consider that she might be delusional. They will deem her a pathological liar. This is going to affect her friendships, her romantic life, and, more significantly, her professional life. She says it won't, but it's a very small world, word gets around fast, and the more attention she receives, the more she will crave, the more she will have to bend and manipulate her claims to fit, and the more fantastic her delusions will become. If there is one thing that most people cannot abide, it is being lied to. Delusional or not, what isn't true isn't true, and it won't matter if she is being deliberately deceptive. People have limits, and they do not like being played for fools.
Anita is on the road to disaster, and a whole lot of hurt and sorrow for herself and others.
Sounds like the night I lost my virginity.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
I know I have no formal evidence, I've never refused to admit that and instead I've consistently stated it myself. I accept criticism, but I do not accept incorrect garbage from you. 