|
Welcome to the International Skeptics Forum, where we discuss skepticism, critical thinking, the paranormal and science in a friendly but lively way. You are currently viewing the forum as a guest, which means you are missing out on discussing matters that are of interest to you. Please consider registering so you can gain full use of the forum features and interact with other Members. Registration is simple, fast and free! Click here to register today. |
![]() |
#1 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
How do Sylvia Browne’s 2008 “End of Days” predictions stand up in 2012?
Sylvia Browne’s “End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies About the End of the World” was released in hardcover in June 2008. As most people are aware, she turns books out at a quick rate with co-author Lindsay Harrison writing several a year.
Recently I was reading some of her books. They have a grandiose tone, large print, rarely contain narrative, and read quickly. In many cases, there are bullet points for some of her claims or as in the case of Browne’s “Messages from Spirit: An Open-At-Random Book of Guidance” there is one line per page so the reader blindly flips to a page and reads a sentence, such as “smiles are the only windows that show our souls are centered.” In the books I went through recently, there were few predictions. Rather, she’ll make claims about “Afterlives of the Rich and Famous” or make some non-specific claim about a past reading telling the reader such a prediction was validated. Browne’s “End of Days” stands out, however, because it’s about the 2012 end of the world (A big topic around the time, see: 2012 movie that made $770 million). At several points, Browne actually made predictions in the book. As you can tell from introduction, posted here, there aren’t any original ideas. However later Browne predicts about extraterrestrials:
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 242
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 243
Other ones include:
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 204
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 205
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 209
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
New Blood
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Yes. North Korea tested a nuclear weapon in 2006 it was huge international news (and tested a missile in 1993). For Browne to write in 2008 that an American president will have an "accurate belief that they actually are in possession of weapons of mass destruction" doesn't make sense when its been public knowledge for years before Browne published her book.
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
New Blood
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Guest
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,769
|
Not very good unfortunately........
This may be from that same book..........
"I predict we can truly say "goodbye" to the common cold in 2009 or 2010. The solution to the common cold involves heat. Keep in mind that the body's first response when we develop a cold is to come down with a fever. Many doctors today no longer rush to push patients to take temperature reducing medications when they come down with a fever, unless the fever is dangerous. They feel the immune system is the patient's best medicine and should be given a chance to fight back. So as the immune system fights a cold with heat, the cure for the common cold certainly may lie in this first signal to heal. I predict that a small cubicle will become available in doctor's offices sometime in 2009 and it will be heated to a very precise temperature. There may be a special vapor placed into the cubicle. Patients will stand in the cubicle for approximately five minutes and the rhinitis germ will be destroyed. Another wonderful bit of good news on the health front with this discovery - since this cubicle can easily take on the rhinitis germ, many people that have breathing problems with allergies and asthma complications will find some breakthroughs as well. We will see this cubicle discovery used for healing for those with breathing disorders. The cubicle will become available in 2009 or 2010." http://www.spiritnow.com/article/psy...2008__2009__67 |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
Struck me this morning that it's odd that someone in her position would write a book like this that is full of specific predictions that could/would eventually not come true.
Reminds me of what I have heard some of the people close to her say over the past decade - that she is manipulative, dishonest, and greedy, but also sincere to a certain extent and deluded. (I wasn't close enough to see this for myself. From my vantage point she seemed sincere). If she were completely deliberately fake, as opposed to somewhat deluded, wouldn't she have been clever enough NOT to have written a book like this, knowing she wasn't psychic and it would eventually incriminate her? |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,969
|
|
__________________
"I am a liar as well as a dwarf!" |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Master Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 2,138
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
I lost an avatar bet.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 25,926
|
|
__________________
I lost an avatar bet to Doghouse Reilly. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
Most of her contemporaries don't, though. Van Praagh, Edward, Dubois, Rosen, etc. They write spiritualistic philosophy books, books full of nonverifiable stories that reinforce to the public how psychic they are. They seem clever enough to stay away from actual predictions.
|
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
Yeah I agree these options exist.
Personally, when I realized she was faking the trance classes, I wrote her off as an insincere fraud. People much closer to her than I was have told me that she did fake trance classes and that she is manipulative and dishonest. BUT, they say, she is also sincere in believing herself to be psychic. The fact that she would actually write this kind of book would just seem to give that opinion a little more credibility. Then again, it's also possible that she is so narcissistic that at the time she wrote the book, during her years on Montel when her career was skyrocketing, she was trying to set herself up as an expert on everything and figured by the time the predictions started failing she'd be filthgy rich or dead. |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
NWO Litter Technician
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Looks like Finland. Smells like Finland. Quacks like Finland. Where the hell am I?
Posts: 12,632
|
|
__________________
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn't work that way. I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me. - Emo Philips
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
Well I always did. What's the point of having a reading with someone proven to be inaccurate?
Anyway, I hope you're wrong. Back when I was a Sylvia fan there was no Stop Sylvia site and it wasn't easy to find out about any of their track records. Now with the web it's easier, though we still could use more stop sites, and I would like to think it is having an impact on people's willingness to trust these fakes. |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
I lost an avatar bet.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 25,926
|
|
__________________
I lost an avatar bet to Doghouse Reilly. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Guest
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,769
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#16 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
Because if you want to stay in business, you avoid making specific predictions that could work against you in the future. They did, she didn't, so to me they are cleverer than she is. Unless, like I said, she was going for fame and glory and figured she wouldn't care about whether they failed by the time they were supposed to happen, in which case I agree it's not a matter of being less clever, as you said.
I disagree that only skeptics pay attention to the track records of psychics. I paid attention. And if that were true, Robert wouldn't receive the emails from people who believed until they read his site. |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#17 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
As a former client (not to mention minister) I find that a little bit insulting. Sometimes I can't remember why I walked into the next room or where I left my car keys, but still.
But I tend to think either she herself was deluded enough to think she was going to get them right, or she was riding the wave of fame she had on Montel and just completely unconcerned about the future. |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#18 |
NWO Litter Technician
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Looks like Finland. Smells like Finland. Quacks like Finland. Where the hell am I?
Posts: 12,632
|
That's true, I'm sure. However, Sylvia and other fraudsters don't have to win over everybody. All they need is a herd they can milk, and that herd doesn't pay attention to track records; some members might leave because they start to, but as long as they're replaced by new wallets, its business as usual. And since one hit trumps 100 misses, making a book with clear and fairly unambiguous predictions might actually be worth it because of the chance that you can say "As I predicted in my 2008 book..."
|
__________________
When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord, in his wisdom, doesn't work that way. I just stole one and asked Him to forgive me. - Emo Philips
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#19 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
|
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#20 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
If you think, for example, that there is a possibility in the last three months of 2012 that a manned mission to Mars will be planned and happen, then I have a bridge to sell you.
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#21 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Here are more silly statements from Browne:
On curing cancer:
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 208-209
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 209
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 211
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 212
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 214
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 215
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 216-217
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 219-220
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#22 |
I lost an avatar bet.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 25,926
|
|
__________________
I lost an avatar bet to Doghouse Reilly. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#23 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Central City, Colorado, USA
Posts: 7,860
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#24 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Yes, that was my typo. It should read "lapband surgeries."
You can search the text of the book on Amazon.com and double-check to compare: http://www.amazon.com/End-Days-Predi.../dp/B003P2VC34 |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#25 |
Goddess of Legaltainment™
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 35,518
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#26 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Looks like Sylvia Browne's predictions for 2012 fell flat.
Quote:
Quote:
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#27 |
I lost an avatar bet.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 25,926
|
Originally Posted by Sylvia
|
__________________
I lost an avatar bet to Doghouse Reilly. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#28 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Sylvia Browne is promoting her live appearance on The Drew Show for Friday, January 4th. I hope someone asks about her "End of Days" book.
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#29 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
|
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#30 |
Critical Thinker
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 435
|
Her predictions clearly transmit that she knows little or nothing about the topics of her predictions.
Which is, I guess, what you're going for if you want to be a prophet. |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#31 |
Do you want to date my Avatar?
Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,000
|
She predicted in 2008 that we'd have a manned expedition to Mars by 2012? Did she think NASA was already done testing the prototype? Did she think the mission was already underway?
|
__________________
I have the honor to be Your Obdt. St L. Leader |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#32 |
Grammaton Cleric
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,114
|
Are the information screens at my doctor's surgery lying to me, or can the sort of viruses that cause the common cold not be treated with antibiotics?
|
__________________
"The perfect haiku would have just two syllables: Airwolf" ~ Ernest Cline "Science knows it doesn't know everything, otherwise it would stop" ~ Dara O'Briain. |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#33 |
Illuminator
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,450
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#34 |
Illuminator
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 3,048
|
Pope
Regarding:
Originally Posted by Browne’s “End of Days” page 215
Quote:
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#35 |
RSL Acolyte
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,982
|
What a big bunch of hooey. Cure for the common cold and Lou Gehrigs diseaese, manned mission to Mars by 2012, cure for cancer and diabetes by 2010.
I wonder: How much of what she said in that book did she get right? |
__________________
www.stopsylvia.com |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#36 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,874
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#37 |
Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 152
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#38 |
Master Poster
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,874
|
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#39 |
Gentleman of leisure
Tagger
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Flying around in the sky
Posts: 23,545
|
We still exist. She got right. Maybe she is psychic. How many coin tosses can you get wrong in a row before you conclude you are psychic? Maybe that applies to SB?
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
#40 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,865
|
|
__________________
"Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken |
|
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
|
|