The reason I don't believe in psychics

[Daneel]

Despite my love of SF/F, I've always been very skeptical about supernatural stuff, including psychics. It all just seems very hard to swallow.

My grandmother used to make semi-regular visits to a psychic, who of course told her everything she wanted to hear (i.e. that my sister and I would both be great successes). Of course, she got a number of things wrong: she told my grandmother that I would become a writer and a lecturer (not entirely impossible, but it doesn't look like it'll be happening any time soon), and that I would live with my parents until I was 30 (I moved out at 25). She also said that my sister, at the time in high school, should look for work in a pet store -- never mind that she's allergic to cats.

I always found it rather amusing that my grandmother went in for this sort of stuff -- particularly since, in my Catholic school, we had been taught that the Church takes a negative view of people who claim to be affected with such phenomena.

 

[KimMH]

fwiw, the Bible says not to consult mediums; possibly because of an undue influence or persuasion. That the Bible is against it indicates the Christian faith acknowledges their existence and the possibilities of precognition. Might the number of posters here who do not believe in psychics be in part related to the number of Athiests here?

As a believer I also accept there are those who are gifted with things I don't understand. I don't give them any of my money but I don't doubt they exist and receive info I am not privy to.

 

[iguana_tonante]

I was just reading about this show on TV the other day called America's Psychic Challenge. Here is the description:

Lifetime's reality competition features 16 unique individuals from across the country who claim to have the gift of clairvoyance. They're going to battle it out for the coveted title of America's #1 Psychic. In each episode, contestants must prove their abilities by participating in carefully designed tests like searching for a man hidden in a hospital, doing a reading for someone without knowing their identity, precisely identifying specific details of an investigation at a murder scene and much more. The competitors are awarded points based on the number of successful predictions they make. At the conclusion of each episode, the two psychics with the fewest points are eliminated and the two with the most points will advance to the next round — all leading to the exciting season finale, where one winner will be declared!

I think it originally aired sometime last year. I never saw the show but it sounds like some people in this thread might find it mildly entertaining.

So they all will be eliminated in the first episode with 0 points?

 

[AstroSmurf]

As a believer I also accept there are those who are gifted with things I don't understand. I don't give them any of my money but I don't doubt they exist and receive info I am not privy to.

And any psychic who was truly interested in helping someone would NEVER ask for money in the first place. I won't and believe others shouldn't either. It's a gift that should be shared not bartered for.

I also have another story to tell. Please understand I am NOT trying to convince anyone of the validity of psychic powers. I just thought some of you would find this interesting... and would keep the thread moving.

I was having dinner with a friend one night in a restaurant. It was a Saturday night and the place was packed to the rafters. We managed to be seated in an area along the outside wall and was, to some degree, separated from the hustle and bustle going on in the middle of the establishment. About midway through our main course, this waitress I had not noticed passed by our table with a pitcher of water. I stopped her and asked her to refill my glass. When she turned and looked at me, I caught her eyes. At that moment my mind was flooded with a torrent of emotions, none of them mine. It was like being slapped in the face. But then I suddenly had something I had to tell her. It was like I was being compelled. And I put my hand on hers and repeated to her what had popped into my head... "You don't need to worry. Beth is going to be alright." This waitress almost dropped her water pitcher. And before I knew what was happening, she had slid into the booth beside of me asking me how I knew Beth. I had to explain to her I didn't and that I had no idea who Beth was or even who she was for that matter, except her name which was on her apron. She started crying, thanked me and ran off into the kitchen.

To this day, I have no idea who Beth was or why that waitress was worried about her. I just knew that I had a message that needed to be delivered. Where it came from or why I received it is beyond me. And this is not an isolated incident. It happens all the time to me. And I will be bluntly honest. This shit scares me. I don't want it and would love for someone to take it back. I am terrified someone is going to think I am out of head and put me in a padded room one day.

(And if a psychic starts "fishing" for a name by saying "it starts with the letter G", they are a fraud. I get names clear as a bell all the time.)