This is how it goes. I really believe that all psychics are not deliberately fraudulent; they just refuse to look at the truth of how it works. Orson Welles explains it very well here. Of those I have known (who were pretty convincing) I saw them miss on many more occasions than they hit. But of course that part is not amazing and is quickly lost to memory. Its the rare hits that are remembered and discussed constantly. I once saw a magician correctly predict the throw of a dice about 15 times in succession (it wasnt a throw but the details would lead to a long description and are not necessary). It was pure guesswork. I know this. He knew this (he was amazed). The people with me at the time knew this. But those that were not with me, the customers browsing in the magic shop all went away believing that this guy could see the future and I am willing to bet that they still tell their friends the story all these years later. I once had a young man run out my kitchen screaming Get the F*#K out of my head! after I had done a simple card trick (without cards) and shown him that I was right about the card he had chosen by turning it (nothing) towards him and telling him what it was. I then went on to take a wild guess at two other things and was right! The trick was a trick; the rest was pure chance but it freaked him right out. Its the same with miracle cures that many alternative therapies keep spouting about. The misses are never discussed, and the placebo effect is not even considered. On a positive note, for entertainment purposes (which I believe the law says that mediums have to say of their shows) it is a great show of skill. The problem comes when people who are going through emotional distress are fleeced of their cash by con-artists.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 11:23:55 +0000