Sally Morgan - "Psychic"

[flip_flop]

Is anybody really surprised?

http://www.guardian.c...y-morgan-hears-voices

Everybody who holds themsevles out as being a psychic or a medium or a clairvoyant or any other similar nonsense is a charlatan - they are all con artists preying on the weak.

[bibblebub]

...but my watch started working again....

[abstibus]

I was told this last night, but I can't confirm - perhaps someone can. This 'Psychic' was at the Millennium Forum in Derry/Londonderry on her tour.
A woman in the audience said she had lost her 'wain' - a local word for a young child.
Sally Morgan closed her eyes, waved her arms in the air, and said 'I can feel Wayne.'
'Nuff said.

[naomi24]

^^^^ Haaaa! Love it! :o)

[andy-hughes]

There is an interesting feature in the Mail today about this - confirming how audience research is done in advance - and has been for years, in previous times, the clairvoyant's helper would arrive in town early and listen around for information, including checking out the cemetary for new graves.

I try and keep an open mind, but I do wonder about these people.

I would love to go to one of these evenings, and see if the medium could talk to me about an incident in my life (nothing bad!) that I never ever told anyone about. if they can tell me about that, I will be a believer on the spot, but to be honest, I remain sceptical.

[China Doll]

I think some of them really believe they have a 'gift' and I guess if you really believe something that I suppose it's hard to call them a con artist, (I don't actually think they have any 'gift'). However, if you make any money from it then you are an utter charlatan.

But that said, how many times do people like this have to be shown up for what they are and still people attend because they want to believe. That kind of stupidity I'm afraid makes me lose any sympathy when they eventually realise they've been duped.

[Count-A-Strong]

Ah come on Andy, everyone knows you were once Andrea.

[joggerjayne]

Surprised? No, of course not.

[EvianBaby]

I went to one a couple of years ago, can't remember the guys name.

I went in very open minded and actually wanted to believe. The people I was with were already convinced.

It is very true that the audience all gather in the foyer before the show starts and you can hear every single person in there share details of who they want to hear from, etc. And they do go into detail with complete strangers. A couple of ladies began talking to our group about what they wanted to happen.

The whole thing was fairly unremarkable. The phychic would on many occasions say he had a certain name with him then ask the audience if that was familiar, when nobody said yes he would come up with another and then come up with a little more info until he eventually established a link. By chance I believe.

There was one young girl in there, around 16 or 17. He convinved her that he had her Grandma next to him and said she was pleased that the girl was wearing her ring on a necklace. At the time that was pretty convincing. But looking back when you think of it, there is a good chance a girl of that age would have a deceased Grandma so its worth taking a lucky on that. The phycic then spots a ring on a chain around her neck and again takes another lucky guess that that ring happens to belong to the dead Granny.

From the experience I had, it's just people who know how to play a good game at the expense of others emotions.

[RATTER15]

The only surprise here is that mugs are still falling for this nonsense, it is about time this type of con was investigated on a legal footing where these people have to prove their abilities as factual or not be allowed to take money for these services.

What ever happened to false advertising? Taking money under false pretences?

Are these people above the law?

[jackthehat]

The law *was* recently changed, Ratter.

Now all such acts/shows have to carry the disclaimer *For entertainment purposes only*.........unfortunately, this seems to pass most grieving and bereaved people by.

[mungbeanz]

Is it a surprise that the James Randi Foundation still has the $1,000,000 that it will gladly give to anyone who proves psychic ability? There'a great clip on youtube of Sally Morgan clutching a photo she'd been given and talking about the 'man' in the picture, only to be told "That's my nan!" by the bemused girl in the audience. The woman is not even a very good cold reader.

My personal favourite uncovering of these idiots is when Colin Fry got caught waving a trumpet around, which was supposed to have been levitating.

If I think too much about pyschics, it makes my blood boill. They continually get caught out, but never hold their hands up and say "Fair cop." Self serving frauds the lot of them.

[RATTER15]

JTH, I was referring to the private tarot reader, clairvoyant, mystic meg types really, are they also covered by these laws?

I hope so, I was not aware of any changes in law to be honest.

[jackthehat]

There is a wealth of 'amateur' psychics floating around Blackpool........why do they all seem to have a Native American Spirit Guide - Grey Wolf, or similar?

[China Doll]

How do you legislate on behalf of the stupid though?! This is what I mean, some people want to believe desperately and nothing you say can convince them otherwise.

[jackthehat]

Yes, Ratter.

Gypsy Petrulengro (all of them) and her ilk have had to do the same here in Blackpool.

This article is a little dated but explains the lead-up to the Consumer Protection Act 2010.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/06/eu

[andy-hughes]

The concept is based on the audience's need to believe - to the point where they will facilitate the 'medium' in order to get the information the audience member wants to hear - to the point where they subconciously screen out the nonsense (the majority!) that goes around the little bit of info that they isolate.

[RATTER15]

JTH, I didnt know that!! thank you! Im sure they will still get around it though.

[cazzz1975]

I was never surprised, hopefully colin fry will be outed next..

[Tizzi24]

I have only ever seen two psychics who were believable (one being Doris Stokes).

I went to see Sally Morgan a couple of years ago, not impressed. Her show was padded out with her telling us her life story and where she lived as a child, with photos of the house etc - as if we're really interested!

[whiskeysheri]

I'm of the same mind as Andy. My dad's side of the family is very spiritual, though, and he, himself, has just started practising Reiki healing. He's had quite a few people go to him and he always refuses any kind of payment on principle, as he classes it as a "gift". I think I'll always be sceptical until something happens I can't argue with, though.

I did go and see SM a few years back, and was, by no means, blown away.