StopJVP: RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 4: "JVP's New Best Buddy"

RSLancastr · 2nd July 2010, 04:27 PM

Please read earlier threads tagged with "JVPLand" before reading this one.

STOPJAMESVANPRAAGH ========== RSL IN JVPLAND - CHAPTER 4: "JVP'S NEW BEST BUDDY" ==========

When I decided to visit Van Praagh's site, I fully expected to run into people who would

be angry with my skepticism. I even expected (perhaps "hoped" is more accurate) to be

hesitantly "liked" by some there. Both would echo my experience with the now-defunct

"Friends of John Edward" forum back in 2001/2002. I never expected for a moment the

friendly reception (real or feigned) that I received from JVP himself, nor the jealousy

from some of his followers that resulted from it.

Frequently, people in chat would ask me what I thought of JVP now. I would

always tell them that he had been very kind to me. If they pressed me on what I thought

of his "abilities," I would tell them that I still had no reason to believe that he was

actually communicating with the dead. I know that there are some JREFers who would have

preferred that I use more blunt and direct words. But I felt that such words would

bring up a believer's defenses, and keep them from listening to me. Such words may also

have gotten me tossed from the site. Neither of these things would have helped

copnvince anyone of the validity of my position. And, even though I was not there

primarily to change anyone's mind (I was there primarily for research), I tried to

conduct myself there in a way which might leave people open to the possibility that I

was right. It is an approach which has served me well in the past - YMMV.

About that "jealousy" (which may be too strong a word for it): I received messages from

some on the site telling me to ignore those who were being negative towards me. Those

people were, the messages told me, just jealous of me. It was not something which had

occurred to me, but I soon started seeing things which seemed to support this. I

received a message from someone saying "I have been coming to this site for twelve years

now and have yet to work up the courage to speak with JVP. But you were here for - what

- ten minutes? and you were chatting with him alone in the Quiet Room!

Others told me that JVP had never been in the chat rooms much until I showed up, and

that his chatting one-on-one in a seperate room was unheard of!

Another time in theChat Lobby, someone asked "RSL, is it true that JVP sent you an

autographed book?"

I said "yes that is true - why, where did you hear that?"

She replied "Everyone is talking about it! - didn't you know that?"

Another time in the lobby, one user was being very negative towards me, and when I asked

her what the problem was,she said "I am just so tired of having to kiss your ***!!"

Evidently she had been warned about earlier things she had said to me.

Another time I entered the chat Lobby and looked up to see what was being discussed.

The last line contained the phrase "JVP's new best buddy - RSLancastr"

Not a title I ever expected to have bestowed upon me.

Thread closed; for continued discussion see: http://www.internationalskeptics.com...d.php?t=179581

Posted By:Locknar

ExMinister · 2nd July 2010, 05:07 PM

How long of a timespan is this? Were you there for a week, a few weeks, a month?

Please keep going! I admit to being extremely curious why you did not receive the audio version of the meditations book (if I understood that right!).

Yes, I imagine the regulars there were VERY jealous of you. To them, he is not only a celebrity but a psychic and spiritual guru, someone they have mostly had to be content to discuss and admire from a distance, and here you come along and get to know him, just like that. Worse, you're not even a believer!

RSLancastr · 2nd July 2010, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by ExMinister

How long of a timespan is this? Were you there for a week, a few weeks, a month?

As I said in Chapter 0, it was about a month. It was from about May 17th to June 20th.

Quote:

Please keep going! I admit to being extremely curious why you did not receive the audio version of the meditations book (if I understood that right!).

There's not much left to go. I don't know why he never sent the audio. There was plenty of time between his saying he would and the incident which led to my no longer being there. Your guess is as good as mine.

Quote:

Yes, I imagine the regulars there were VERY jealous of you. To them, he is not only a celebrity but a psychic and spiritual guru, someone they have mostly had to be content to discuss and admire from a distance, and here you come along and get to know him, just like that. Worse, you're not even a believer!

In hindsight it makes perfect sense that some would feel that way. Guess I just wasn't psychic enough to foresee it!

Empress · 2nd July 2010, 08:17 PM

Wow. I'm finding this series fascinating. And once again you prove yourself to be the quintessential gentleman, Robert, regardless of the situation. Great job and looking forward to the next installment.

RSLancastr · 2nd July 2010, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Empress

Wow. I'm finding this series fascinating. And once again you prove yourself to be the quintessential gentleman, Robert, regardless of the situation. Great job and looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks, Empress! Of course, you are calling me a gentleman based solely on my description of events! JVP - and others there - might well describe it all differently.

Amapola · 2nd July 2010, 09:40 PM

This is really interesting. It must give you a great perspective on JVP to be able to talk to his followers like that. I'm sorry, but not surprised, that it came to an end.

RSLancastr · 2nd July 2010, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Amapola

This is really interesting. It must give you a great perspective on JVP to be able to talk to his followers like that.

It definitely gave me a different perspective.

Quote:

I'm sorry, but not surprised, that it came to an end.

Yes, but I went out in a blaze of...something.

Aepervius · 5th July 2010, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by RSLancastr

all chapter in 1 post.

RSLancastr · 5th July 2010, 10:20 AM

Thanks, Aepervius!

I wish I could edit the OP to add that at the top - sort of a table of contents!

2nd July 2010, 05:07 PM	#2
ExMinister RSL Acolyte Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,982	How long of a timespan is this? Were you there for a week, a few weeks, a month? Please keep going! I admit to being extremely curious why you did not receive the audio version of the meditations book (if I understood that right!). Yes, I imagine the regulars there were VERY jealous of you. To them, he is not only a celebrity but a psychic and spiritual guru, someone they have mostly had to be content to discuss and admire from a distance, and here you come along and get to know him, just like that. Worse, you're not even a believer!
ExMinister RSL Acolyte Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,982	__________________ www.stopsylvia.com

2nd July 2010, 06:53 PM	#3
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 17,135	Originally Posted by ExMinister How long of a timespan is this? Were you there for a week, a few weeks, a month? As I said in Chapter 0, it was about a month. It was from about May 17th to June 20th. Quote: Please keep going! I admit to being extremely curious why you did not receive the audio version of the meditations book (if I understood that right!). There's not much left to go. I don't know why he never sent the audio. There was plenty of time between his saying he would and the incident which led to my no longer being there. Your guess is as good as mine. Quote: Yes, I imagine the regulars there were VERY jealous of you. To them, he is not only a celebrity but a psychic and spiritual guru, someone they have mostly had to be content to discuss and admire from a distance, and here you come along and get to know him, just like that. Worse, you're not even a believer! In hindsight it makes perfect sense that some would feel that way. Guess I just wasn't psychic enough to foresee it!
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

2nd July 2010, 08:17 PM	#4
Empress Piggish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Blandings Castle Posts: 2,210	Wow. I'm finding this series fascinating. And once again you prove yourself to be the quintessential gentleman, Robert, regardless of the situation. Great job and looking forward to the next installment.
	__________________ One prefers, of course, on all occasions to be stainless and above reproach, but, failing that, the next best thing is unquestionably to have got rid of the body. ― P.G. Wodehouse

2nd July 2010, 08:26 PM	#5
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 17,135	Originally Posted by Empress Wow. I'm finding this series fascinating. And once again you prove yourself to be the quintessential gentleman, Robert, regardless of the situation. Great job and looking forward to the next installment. Thanks, Empress! Of course, you are calling me a gentleman based solely on my description of events! JVP - and others there - might well describe it all differently.
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

2nd July 2010, 09:40 PM	#6
Amapola Guest Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,254	This is really interesting. It must give you a great perspective on JVP to be able to talk to his followers like that. I'm sorry, but not surprised, that it came to an end.
Amapola Guest Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 8,254

2nd July 2010, 09:53 PM	#7
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 17,135	Originally Posted by Amapola This is really interesting. It must give you a great perspective on JVP to be able to talk to his followers like that. It definitely gave me a different perspective. Quote: I'm sorry, but not surprised, that it came to an end. Yes, but I went out in a blaze of...something.
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

5th July 2010, 01:34 AM	#8
Aepervius Non credunt, semper verificare Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sigil, the city of doors Posts: 14,571	Originally Posted by RSLancastr By popular demand (translation: One or two people suggested it), here are links to all of the "RSL in JVPLand" threads in order: StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 0: Prologue StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 1: Down The Rabbit Hole StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 2: RSLQ&A StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 3: Meditations StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 4: "JVP's New Best Buddy" StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 5: The Two Jameses StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 6: Grant's Pass? StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 7a: The "Pink Panther" Reading StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 7b: The "Pink Panther" Anther? StopJVP - RSL in JVPLand - Chapter 8: Epilogue all chapter in 1 post.
	Last edited by Aepervius; 5th July 2010 at 01:43 AM.

5th July 2010, 10:20 AM	#9
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 17,135	Thanks, Aepervius! I wish I could edit the OP to add that at the top - sort of a table of contents!
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?