Page 88 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - Febrary/March 2020 Edition

88 Telling ‘Real’ from ‘Fake’ Psychics

Telling ‘Real’ from quoted in The New York Times.
Within a day or two psychics were
‘Fake’ Psychics commenting about the skepticism and the whole
fiasco—including a famous TV psychic named
By Benjamin Radford Carla Baron, who fumed on her blog.
She wrote that the woman “falsely
reported a crime. She falsely claimed she had
‘psychic’ ability. THIS is precisely the
Skeptics are known for warning the public about
irresponsible behavior I have pointed out
the perils of psychics (ranging from exploitation
previously in my official blog. Those who wish
to fraud), but it may surprise you to know that
“real” psychics sometimes join in as well, to ‘help’ – those that feel they have some sort of
intuitive ability, those that are just simply
offering advice about how to avoid those “fake
lunatics looking for a little attention. This
psychics.”
‘psychic’ who called in the false tips to law
A recent article explained, “Every day
enforcement is, in fact, not a psychic at all…..
thousands of people look to psychics for advice,
information and insight on their lives. There’s This behavior threatens to tear at the very fabric
of any credibility displayed by AUTHENTIC
little doubt that some psychics can help people
psychics, mediums, and psychic profilers such
find peace of mind [sic], but it’s unfortunate that
as myself.” Baron then railed against journalists
amongst the truly gifted psychics around [sic]
and skeptics—including myself—who
there are also several fakes. People who at best
have zero or very limited psychic ability but mentioned her name in recent news articles
about the failure of psychic detectives. She asks,
want to help others, or at worst set out to con
“Why is it that most MEDIA outlets (and many
their audience from the start – whether for
lesser media – i.e., blogs, discussion forums,
payment or because they crave attention and
individual websites) find it necessary to use my
they need to feel special.”
This article is interesting for several famous name to promote their articles,
commentary, and news pieces?”
reasons including its pseudoskeptical and
The obvious answer is that if the subject
special pleading fallacy approaches. Here’s quickly, while others don’t. The idea that fake
some of the tips it offers: psychics speak slowly to give them time to react of the news piece is psychic detectives who
“True psychics are able to give you and redirect responses is rarely true; a skilled cannot solve cases and give false and useless
accurate and relevant information on specific speaker can do it in a second or less and doesn’t information, then she is Exhibit A.
things which are not obvious, for example, they need to draw out the words or statements fishing Baron was part of the TruTV show
may mention the exact full name of a person for time. In fact most psychics speak quickly Haunting Evidence, in which she and two other
from your past, or a place you spent a vacation. precisely because the more they say, the more investigators tackled real-life unsolved murders.
Fake psychics cannot do that, instead they make potential bits of information and guesses they The show was cancelled after 22 episodes
general claims like: ‘I have an older man here, throw out, the more likely it is that something without any of the cases having been solved;
he passed due to a heart problem’, knowing that will catch someone’s attention and perceive it as two were later closed through police work. The
statistically it’s likely that a good number of meaningful. This is especially effective in a Independent Investigations Group did an
people in the audience have lost someone who large audience, where the psychic on stage may excellent analysis of Baron’s claims and found a
fits the bill.” not be close enough to the person (or the place near-spotless track record of failure. Baron’s
This reasonably accurate description of may not be well lit enough) to read the question would be like Tiger Woods wondering
cold reading is followed up with, “In microexpressions and body language. Speaking why he’s being mention in a news article on
comparison, a real psychic may mention an slowly would be of no help in those golfing.
older man, but they would add detail such as he circumstances, so they adopt a faster, rapid-fire Baron was concerned that all this
passed on several years ago from a heart patter technique (I saw this first hand at several negative publicity about psychic failures is
problem which he had known about but never readings by Edward). leading to a modern witch hunt reminiscent of
told anyone. He says that’s the reason he quit And finally, “Fake psychics demand the Salem Witch Trials. No, seriously: “My
driving, even though he blamed it on his cash to remove curses or spells. This is one of mind is beseiged at the moment with images of
eyesight.” But this still doesn’t really solve the the ugliest aspects of fakery in the psychic the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. From June
problem, for various reasons. Merely adding the sphere. People who feel they may be cursed through September of 1692, nineteen men and
qualifier “he knew about but never told anyone” following endless bad luck are vulnerable to women, all having been convicted of witchcraft,
doesn’t help; how could a person know that the suggestions that they could escape it if they pay were carted to Gallows Hill, a barren slope near
deceased knew about his heart problem if he for the curse or spell to be removed.” This is an Salem Village, for hanging…..Is history not only
never told anyone, or that that was the real excellent and valuable warning, though of repeating itself, but mutating into ardent new
reason he quit driving? It’s all more plausible course the best way to avoid these unethical ways of witch burning’?”
speculation than confirmable fact, and because “fake psychics” is to avoid all psychics…. Baron was apparently fearful that she
of flexible interpretation, the psychic’s client and other “real psychics” may be abducted by
angry mobs, put on mock trials, and possibly
may think, “Well, he didn’t stop driving, but he Carla Baron Fumes at Fake Psychics
may have thought about it,” thus seeming to hung or pressed to death in a public place. It’s
not clear whether Baron was worried about
confirm the information.
Sometimes well-known psychics themselves
The article goes on: “Fake psychics help “warn” the public. In 2011 police outside of “fake psychics,” like the woman who led police
speak slowly because they are fishing for clues.” to the Texas house. Presumably the best proof of
Houston, Texas, surrounded a rural farmhouse psychic powers (or witchcraft) would be a track
This is incorrect, but the reason the author gives
with guns drawn. They were acting on a tip from
is correct in some circumstances: “They make a record of amazing success and accurate
a psychic who told them that the property was
statement and then either read your body information; in that case I don’t think Baron has
the scene of a grisly mass murder: dozens of
language or wait for your response to adjust dismembered bodies would be found there, she much to worry about. []
their ‘insights’; making statements like: I can
insisted—including those of children. It all
sense you have had heartbreak in your life.
turned out to be false, and the story made
(Who hasn’t? If you are suddenly emotional or
international news. The Committee for Skeptical
anxious they will ramp it up.) It’s very recent,
Inquiry was on the story almost immediately,
but you have spirits with you, supporting you. getting the skeptical perspective out. I wrote a
(If you look blank they try a different tactic.)”
piece that appeared on MSNBC and the
Christian Science Monitor, and Joe Nickell was
Many psychics, such as John Edward, speak