Have You Ever Been Tricked By Someone Claiming To Be Able To Contact The Dead?

[naomi24]

Driving home today I was listening to Jeremy Vine interviewing A J West about his new book, 'The Spirit Engineer', which examines, among other things, the reality or otherwise of the spirit world and the trickery used by charlatans to convince people that they are actually contacting the dearly departed. Mr West threw out a couple of 'cold' readings and asked listeners to phone in if they thought anything he said referred to them personally. I arrived home before anyone called so I've no idea of the outcome. Interesting nonetheless.

So … have you ever been tricked by a trickster - and when did you realise you had?

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-spirit-engineer/a-j-west/9780715654330

[Ken4155]

Personally i think it's a load of old hogwash. However, if i ever witness any minor miracles, i may just change my opinion. Though i won't be holding my breath:-/

[AuntPG]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2f/14/f0/2f14f0f137cdc3ab39dc6c754f652c7f.jpg

[ToraToraTora]

I will believe anything if I can repeat it, test it and verify it. Next!

[jno]

TTT, I have told you everything that happened. I can guarantee this because I was there and remember it very clearly; you can't guarantee anything because you were not. I have made no claim to it being a supernatural experience - in fact I've said explicitly it wasn't (and he made no such claim either, nor did he ask to be paid for the diagnosis).

I don't "want" it to be true, I simply know it happened exactly as I've said it, and invited an explanation that met the facts. I would still like to hear one, but so far all I've got is bluster.

[JimF]

Some people are born with perfect pitch, others aren't. They can name any note just by hearing it, the others can't. This is 100% verifiable and repeatable. Those without this ability cannot understand how it happens. But it does.

Surely it's not a huge leap of faith to imagine that other similar abilities exist.

[AuntPG]

JimF Fantastic analogy.

[burlyshirley]

Of course they do Jim and I'm glad I have that opinion and have experienced things.

[ToraToraTora]

yes jimf but I can verify that, the WWOTB requires only human gullibility. Like the magician with and "impossible" trick they may con many people into thinking they actually do have some powers, but we all know it's a trick.

[ToraToraTora]

anyway, I don't expect either of us will change our minds as a result of this discussion. It's ultimately futile I suppose. The deluded will continue with their delusions. Have fun.

[ToraToraTora]

anyway naomi, thanks for this post, it was welcome relief from fielding the constant barrage of anti British BS. Also TBF it helped me also understand why some of the posters have no idea what's going on in the real world so very useful.

[naomi24]

TTT, millions of people the world over have experienced that which they cannot explain. They are not all deluded, they are not all liars, and they know that if they speak out they will encounter dismissive reactions like yours. Why then do they speak out?

Odd things happen, TTT. End of - as you would say.

[ToraToraTora]

yes odd things happen, there are lots of unexplained things, I don't dispute that. Why has no member of the WWOTB ever passed any sort of scientific test? Why has nothing like that ever happened to me? Why do these "psychic phenomena" only happen to "believers" not scientists or sceptics? Why do aliens only visit stoned yanks in the middle of nowhere that no one will ever believe? The truth is out there.

[jno]

Why has nothing like that ever happened to me?

ah now, *that* is the real mystery...

[ToraToraTora]

this one's a cracker:

[ToraToraTora]

note how his power is taken away by some light plastic strips!

[naomi24]

It would help if I knew what you’re talking about, TTT. What’s the WWOTB -
and who are its members?

These things don’t only happen to believers - but they have been known to turn the most avid sceptics into believers.

Claimed alien encounters don’t belong with this topic.

[ToraToraTora]

...but wait it's the lights + the styrofoam...Randi took away his special "power" - PMSL!

[ToraToraTora]

WWOTB - Wonderful World Of Total Bowlocks, the place the charlatans inhabit.

[naomi24]

Oh, ok.

[Mozz71]

Naomi - //It would help if I knew what you’re talking about, TTT.//

Don't be so certain.

//What’s the WWOTB -
and who are its members?//

Good question, Google says it's the Working Women of Tampa Bay. I'm guessing that it's a Tora special.