01 THE TRUTH ABOUT PSYCHIC DETECTIVES

This is part 1 of an 11-part talk given by Benjamin Radford at an event sponsored by the National Capital Area Skeptics on April 14, 2009.

Psychic detectives seem to be everywhere on TV. Many of them claim to find missing persons, and solve cases for police and the FBI. But how good is the evidence for their claims? Drawing on a decade of personal investigations and case studies, Benjamin Radford will reveal a side of psychic detectives that you won't see on Medium or Larry King Live.

Benjamin Radford is the managing editor of Skeptical Inquirer Magazine.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Skeptic
• Skepticism
• Psychic
• Ben Radford

[sporran66]

I see that there are still plenty of people who believe in this psychic bullshit. Us skeptics would believe too if we were given appropriate evidence, gathered in a genuine scientific manner. But my guess would be that believers, no matter what evidence was presented to them, will generally not change their beliefs ... a bit like the religious zealots out there.

[xChuckNorrisKickx]

@tiffsaver You're a delsional, clownish loser. Government agencies are well known for falling for bullshit. No "experiments" that any government agency has ever engaged in regarding psychics has ever yielded anything other than an affirmation of the complete waste of time the "paranormal" truly is. Once again, the argument from authority fallacy gets you nowhere. You need actual proof; there is none. You clearly need inpatient mental health treatment.

[tiffsaver]

@xChuckNorrisKickx

DID YOU READ THE BOOK I MENTIONED, GOOGLE INFORMATION ON THE CIA'S EXPERIMENTS INTO THE PARANORMAL, OR CALL THE DEPARTMENT HEAD AT UCLA TO CONFIRM MY STATEMENTS, GENIUS??? NO, I DIDN'T THINK SO. IT TAKES THE INTELLIGENCE OF A FIRST GRADER TO TAKE SIMPLE DIRECTIONS. PLEASE, PLEASE, REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING TO ME IN THE FUTURE.

[xChuckNorrisKickx]

@tiffsaver In your case, I'm certain that you were born with your brain defects and intellectual deficiencies. The argument from authority is a logical fallacy; look it up. None of the organizations you've mentioned have ever provided any credible proof of these claims. "Paranormal" research is a complete waste of time; it is pseudoscience of the worst kind.

[tiffsaver]

@xChuckNorrisKickx

How many times do you have to get kicked in the head to realize how stupid you are?

If you can actually read, check out "Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain," then look into the CIA's mulit-million dollar research into psychic spying during their "remote viewing" experiments. Then talk with the Psychic Research Department at UCLA and tell them that they're all "idiot, mystified believers." Once you've done this, come back here so I can kick you in the head again.

[xChuckNorrisKickx]

@tiffsaver Anyone who "puts down" the "psychic or paranormal field of research" is doing everyone a favor. These two "fields of research" are a complete waste of time. Only a clown like you would think otherwise.

[xChuckNorrisKickx]

@tiffsaver It's simple really. Blind belief in fantasy is a strong indicator of delusion. In other words, these idiot, mystified believers and believing psychics are not perceiving reality according to its normalized and material manifestation. They therefore need psychatric help to hopefully overcome their delusions. Of course, you're one of those people and also highly paranoid so I imagine you'll rant a bit against this.

[tiffsaver]

@barbarotico

Dear Einstein:

You are so incredibly stupid that you can't even spell. First graduate the first grade, then get yourself into a Remedial Writing Class For Dummies so we can understand you. Interesting, my dim witted friend, it's people exactly like you who are the first to put down

anything in the psychic or paranormal field of research. Ever notice that?

[tiffsaver]

@xChuckNorrisKickx

How the hell do YOU know if someone is "delusional" and "needs psychiatric help"? I mean, what exactly are your professional credentials to make a definitive, dumb ass statement as moronic as that?? Me thinks that old Chuck Norris has kicked you in the head one too many times...

[TheEalessandro215]

"I question,( when will the dead ever ask questions)....If i were dead, and the living were to ask me questions, Id ask the living why, what, who when where ..and how...