Watch the youtube video about cold reading below. It's a technique psychics use to fool their audiences, and even themselves. Silvia Brown comes into mind. Browse around a bit and you can find several skeptical examinations of many psychics. Leading skeptics you might want to look into are James Randi, Michael Shermer, Derren Brown and many others.

In the video, you might want to skip ahead to 1:45 to get to the point. Also, notice how the reading had an 8 in 9 success rate; that is, 8 of 9 people report higher than a 50% accuracy in their readings.



This experiment was also done to test the validity of astrological predictions or readings (horoscopes). A group of people were given an envelop containing what they believed to be their individual horoscopes. They rated the accuracy of the horoscopes and were then asked to swap their envelops with a neiboring person. They all, of course, have the same horoscope.

Here's one on astrology:




Note that these experiments don't tell us that all psychics and astrologers are bunk, but that the evidence for the powers or abilities they claim to have is dubious at best. There's great reason for doubt in these cases.
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Things to remember in Debate:
"People are not stupid. They believe things for reasons. The last way for skeptics to get the attention of bright, curious, intelligent people is to belittle or condescend or to show arrogance toward their beliefs."
- Carl Sagan

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
- Voltaire

Today, try to be more generous in your assessment of people who just don't seem to get it. Not everyone can be as on top of things as you are right now, and the sooner you realize that, the better. They are just working at their own pace, and at their own level of abilities. Instead of getting frustrated waiting for people to ***ch up with you, go off and take care of other things. They'll feel less pressure, and you'll feel less restricted. It's okay to go off on your own -- it shows people that you trust them.

I consulted the tea leaves, the chicken entrails, and the smoke of burnt hair. I can now predict that this thread will have 2 replies at this point in time.

And wow...if Video #1 gets out, singles bars are going to be hit hard.

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