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Thousands, hundreds or dozens? -- Sylvia Browne

Questioninggeller

Illuminator
Q
Joined
May 11, 2002
Messages
3,048
JOHN STOSSEL: (Voice Over) We asked Browne to talk us to about this. She agreed but then backed out. She told us she solved thousands of cases. But several years ago, a magazine examined 35 cases that Browne had been involved with. They couldn't find proof she'd solved any of them. At least Browne doesn't ask grieving families for money. Nor did the next psychic Kathy tried, Carl Petry. He took her to this hazardous waste facility where he said Kristine was inside this manhole.
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May 2005, A statement made to John Stossel of 20/20: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2005/05/25/psychics_break_hearts
or: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=124301&page=4

"Sylvia has never charged a fee to any law enforcement person, agency, or any individual for her work on a missing-persons case, and has worked on hundreds of such cases over the years, with positive results."
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January 19, 2007, A statement made by Browne as read on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/and...1/psychic-told-parents-that-son-was-dead.html

Her work with law enforcement agencies has contributed to solving dozens of missing person and homicide cases.
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April/May 2007, The official Sylvia Browne "fan"page: http://www.gosylviabrowne.com/home.html

Let's put aside the changing statements. In her 30 year career, Browne claims she has "helped thousands". Don't you think that someone who can see the future and transcend reality is capable of solving more than just dozens of cases?

We anxiously await confirmable evidence of these claims... thousands, hundreds, dozens, or one.
 
What's the problem? Sylvia is just refining her answer so she can be more accurate.

Shortly she will be at ZERO, which is the exact number.
 
The exact numbers don't ever have any significance to the scammers as they know the facts. They say whatever is suitable for them at the moment because they are sure that whoever their potential audience are will never require proof of that.
It's only us, the skeptics who don't believe the scammers anyway, who require proof, but since we are not their audience they need not give us any proof (because they have none).

Regards,
Yair
 
yairhol said:
The exact numbers don't ever have any significance to the scammers as they know the facts. They say whatever is suitable for them at the moment because they are sure that whoever their potential audience are will never require proof of that.
It's only us, the skeptics who don't believe the scammers anyway, who require proof, but since we are not their audience they need not give us any proof (because they have none).

Regards,
Yair
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Note however how, under the scrutiny of skeptics, suitable numbers tend to become smaller and smaller ... just like those paranormal exploits between 100 years ago and now (from moving tables to mere molecules).
 
yairhol said:
The exact numbers don't ever have any significance to the scammers as they know the facts. They say whatever is suitable for them at the moment because they are sure that whoever their potential audience are will never require proof of that.
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And they are right. Average Sylvia fans largely do not want to hear the hard facts. They want magic and warm fuzzies.
 
Note however how, under the scrutiny of skeptics, suitable numbers tend to become smaller and smaller ... just like those paranormal exploits between 100 years ago and now (from moving tables to mere molecules).
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Yes but does it really matter to the woo followers if they hear their idols say they have solved thousands or dozens of cases? in any case it falls in the category of paranormal ability and definately better than what they themselves can do => their idols have good enough a record to believe in their abilities.

And they are right. Average Sylvia fans largely do not want to hear the hard facts. They want magic and warm fuzzies.
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Exactly! It is much more comfortable to believe that there is magic and that we are able to predict the future and that our loved deceased ones are happy and smiling to us from the heavens.

Regards,
Yair
 
yairhol said:
Yes but does it really matter to the woo followers if they hear their idols say they have solved thousands or dozens of cases? in any case it falls in the category of paranormal ability and definately better than what they themselves can do => their idols have good enough a record to believe in their abilities.


Exactly! It is much more comfortable to believe that there is magic and that we are able to predict the future and that our loved deceased ones are happy and smiling to us from the heavens.

Regards,
Yair
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Oh, I'm under no delusion that credophiles everywhere would stop believing should their favorite scammers actually confess of defrauding them (Cottingley fairies, anywone ?).
 
In this recent interview with Browne, the number again changes:

Head games: Psychic Sylvia Browne speaks her clairvoyant mind
By Ben Fulton
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 12/04/2009 04:08:37 PM MST

...
Brill's Content stated after examining your claims of helping solve many criminal cases that in most the details were too vague to be clarified, and that in others law-enforcement officers said you played no useful role. Other critics contend that psychics never speak in specifics, only generalities. That makes it difficult for skeptics to find fault.

That's not true. I have 250 [criminal] cases that have come out, but they won't report it because police don't want people to know they work with psychics. There won't be need for me to have my name in the paper if I broke up a big drug ring -- which I did. But I'm not going to say which ring it was. That would be dangerous.
...
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Full: The Salt Lake Tribune
 
And again, QG, scammers like Sylvia will then say "well, the police don't want people to know" or "I can't say which drug ring," just as you quoted. RIIIIIGHT. Actually, I would think that if psychics were so helpful to police the police wouldn't mind the criminals knowing.

"OOOOOOHHHHH NOOOES! Sylvia Browne is after me! I may as well just turn myself in." :rolleyes:
 
Minarvia, you have a good point. :)

I have to say that evidence would have been important to me, even in my woo days. What I didn't do well in my younger years was pay close enough attention to the numbers to notice when they changed. I imagine Browne and others like her count on that. If you haven't got a background in skeptical thinking, you may listen loosely enough to these claims to come away with a sense that Sylvia Browne has solved or tried to help with a large number of cases without being able to recall exactly how many.

Some people will be swayed by evidence like the type QG is demonstrating in this thread. Some won't. We don't need to worry about the ones who won't. It's the ones who will that matter.
 
ExMinister said:
Minarvia, you have a good point. :)

I have to say that evidence would have been important to me, even in my woo days. What I didn't do well in my younger years was pay close enough attention to the numbers to notice when they changed. I imagine Browne and others like her count on that. If you haven't got a background in skeptical thinking, you may listen loosely enough to these claims to come away with a sense that Sylvia Browne has solved or tried to help with a large number of cases without being able to recall exactly how many.

Some people will be swayed by evidence like the type QG is demonstrating in this thread. Some won't. We don't need to worry about the ones who won't. It's the ones who will that matter.
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Very true.
 
Thanks, QG and Ex-Minister. I had my woo days, too. It was actually this site and some references a few years back before I joined that brought me back to reality. It was hard at first, but then it got better and I'm glad to be in reality and knowing that our acts here and now matter.

People ARE sometimes swayed by the evidence and yes, they do matter. For each person helped there may be more from that person who are helped, too. I love the letters on RSL's site when people write in and are glad they saved their money, didn't give up their life insurance policies, etc.

I'm sure lots of us are now glad that some of these harmful scammers know they are being scrutinized. They'll either quit, be stopped, or be even more careful what they say and brag about. Isn't the internet and forums wonderful? :)
 
Browne's latest statement:

Psychics don't just solve crimes, OK!?!‎
The Province
By Hans Ongsansoy
April 8, 2010

What can Sylvia Browne do for you?

Well, if you're the parents of a toddler suffering from seizures, for example, she says she could very well save your child's life.
...
"So that was really rewarding." Browne adds that at her book signings she has had people thank her for preventing them from committing suicide, for helping them to find God, and for nearly every other crisis one can think of associated with the human condition.

Psychics don't just solve crimes, she says -- contrary to what you see on TV.

"I think more and more [psychics] are coming out of the closet. Look at our TV now. Ghost Whisperer, Past Life, Medium -- 10 to 20 years ago no one ever did this."
...
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Full: The Province
 
They have a comment box at the bottom of this article - good chance to say something.
 
Nice to see someone posted the link to Robert's web site under the comments section.

That may not be enough to placate skeptics but Browne doesn't have time for them anyway
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What's sad is that her followers read that as "That may not be enough to placate the closed-minded-for-no-good-reason doubters and nay-sayers, but..."

It should translate as, "That may not be enough to placate scientific-minded people who require evidence and would like to see some facts, but Browne doesn't have time for them anyway..."
 
I just did. I asked the guy who thinks all skeptics "are a real piece of work" to email Robert with his reading from Sylvia. I doubt he/she will, tho.
 
Oh, and the article also says Sylvia doesn't have time for skeptics. Oh, no? What was that thing with Robert in Vegas, then? And what were her comments and Montel's about "lousy bloggers" trying to hurt her?

No time, my rear. And hiring a PV to dig up dirt on Robert? It seems she has PLENTY of time for skeptics.
 
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