Psychic Detectives

RocketManJames · #1 06-12-2005, 12:34 AM

I watch a lot of CourtTV. My favorite show is Forensic Files, and often after it is a show called Psychic Detectives. What do you all think about them? I don't know how much of it is fluff for TV and how much is real. But, if many of the stories are accurately portrayed, I must say it really makes me wonder.

-RMJ

Benal · #2 06-12-2005, 12:36 AM

Some detectives seek their help on cold cases, so there must be something to it...

Skipbidder · #3 06-12-2005, 12:58 AM

You do well to add the bit about "if the stories are accurately portrayed".

It's fun for a lot of people to believe in psychic phenomenon.

It's profitable for some unethical people to prey on the gullible.

You can read Joe Nickell talking about psychic detectives at:
http://www.csicop.org/specialarticle...-psychics.html

Someone able to demonstrate a psychic ability under controlled conditions would win the James Randi Education Foundation $1 million dollar prize. Nobody has ever come close.

Alobar · #4 06-12-2005, 01:11 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I watch a lot of CourtTV. My favorite show is Forensic Files, and often after it is a show called Psychic Detectives. What do you all think about them? I don't know how much of it is fluff for TV and how much is real. But, if many of the stories are accurately portrayed, I must say it really makes me wonder.

-RMJ

[/ QUOTE ]

go pic up a copy of "skeptic" or "skeptical inquirer" at your local newstand. Theres is usually at least one article about these hacks.

Dazarath · #5 06-12-2005, 02:10 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Someone able to demonstrate a psychic ability under controlled conditions would win the James Randi Education Foundation $1 million dollar prize. Nobody has ever come close.

[/ QUOTE ]

If I had a psychic ability, instead of letting the whole world know and winning a measley million dollars, I'd be cleaning up some vegas pros at the 1k/2k tables. [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

Skipbidder · #6 06-12-2005, 02:20 AM

Depends on what your psychic ability is, of course! Danny Nyugen is probably doing better using his psychic ability to foresee running 7s.

Most of the garden-variety psychics are making a lot less than a 7 figures and would see a big increase in their fees if they passed the test.

RocketManJames · #7 06-12-2005, 02:27 AM

I am a skeptic by nature. So, yes, of course I'm skeptical, and why I asked for others' opinions on them and their abilities.

But, here's something I thought about. What if they weren't truly psychic in the usual sense, but they simply had an edge. What if typical random guessing would yield say 1 in 1000 chance that a body would correctly be found near "pine trees AND near a dirt road that led upwards AND that road was near a creek." So, if random guessing yields a 1 in 1000 hit rate, but say a psychic were able to get you 1 in 250. Is that a possibility? And, I'm just trying to play devil's advocate (sorta).

-RMJ

Dazarath · #8 06-12-2005, 03:13 AM

Again, if I could just increase my edge, I'd be at some poker tables cleaning up some other players. Though, with only a slight edge, I'd have to settle for mid-stakes and not high-stakes. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Alobar · #9 06-12-2005, 03:20 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I am a skeptic by nature. So, yes, of course I'm skeptical, and why I asked for others' opinions on them and their abilities.

But, here's something I thought about. What if they weren't truly psychic in the usual sense, but they simply had an edge. What if typical random guessing would yield say 1 in 1000 chance that a body would correctly be found near "pine trees AND near a dirt road that led upwards AND that road was near a creek." So, if random guessing yields a 1 in 1000 hit rate, but say a psychic were able to get you 1 in 250. Is that a possibility? And, I'm just trying to play devil's advocate (sorta).

-RMJ

[/ QUOTE ]

no. Like I said, go pickup a copy of either of those magazines I mentioned, they argue this stuff all the time in there. Its good reading.

RocketManJames · #10 06-12-2005, 03:29 AM

[ QUOTE ]
no. Like I said, go pickup a copy of either of those magazines I mentioned, they argue this stuff all the time in there. Its good reading.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, I will. I have never seen these publications before, but then again, I never did look for them. I'll take a look.

-RMJ