Deconstructing The Dead: Cross Over - One Last Time To Expose Medium John Edward

The Skeptic ^ | 4/02 | Michael Shermer

[Orual]

History is not just one damn thing after another, it is also the same damn thing over and over--time's arrow and time's cycle. Fads come and go, in clothing, cars, and psychics. In the 1970s it was Uri Geller, in the 1980s it was Shirley MacLaine, in the 1990s it was James Van Praagh, and to kick off the new millennium it is John Edward.

Rest of the article: CLICK HERE

[Orual]

You-do-that-voodoo flag.

[stands2reason]

It's funny how people who don't know con-men or magicians personally believe this crap. What gets me is this guy is not even a good con-man...yet he has his own show and also gets to edit the tapes to make him look better...I bet there are more than a few "psychics" who have to do live shows that are hopping mad...

[DouglasKC]

I was wondering why someone wasn't exposing this fraud for what he is...it's about time.

[stands2reason]

Cool site. Do you ever check out Skeptical Inquirer, CSICOP's journal? I am a huge fan of both James Randi and Martin Gardner, CSICOP board members.

[discostu]

You got that right. I've got a magician friend (that seems to be the only way to know this stuff huh) who lent me a book on cold reading. Everything Edwards does is from the prologue of that book. The prologue! He doesn't even use the real technique, just the part you could skim in the bookstore while deciding if you want to buy the book (no I don't remember the name, I do remember that the magic crowd says it's THE book on cold reading). And he sucks at it too. Every time I see him I wish I weren't so honest, I could do that shtick if only I were willing to sully myself.

[phil1750]

It has been widely reported that this "actor" was recruited by the programing director for this role. It is just that, a role for an actor. The really amazing part is that people actually believe his "readings".

[Brewer]

I see dead people....

[JSteff]

Is there a URL for that journal?

[BronzePencil]

embarrasingly enough, i work for the sci-fi channel and really hate the fact that this fraud is on TV

i also can't belive his books become best-sellers

something along the lines of 'give the people what they want' applies here i guess

also, he's not an actor hired by the programming director

[The Electrician]

I'd bet that it's a real channel-turner for most of the people who normally tune in to the SciFi channel. It sure is for me...

[Benrand]

Whatever happened to that guy with the silver pubic hair wig on those informercials?

[Brewer]

silver pubic hair wig

What?

[BronzePencil]

you'd think so, but his ratings were so good he got a syndicated show

i don't get it

[eddie willers]

embarrasingly enough, i work for the sci-fi channel and really hate the fact that this fraud is on TV

Me too...but thank you for Farscape.

[redhead]

Yep. Bring back Farscape! Or, the "V" series. I want my Sci-Fi!

[BronzePencil]

new episodes start in june (i think)

[Benrand]

That's what it looked like...

[stands2reason]

I wouldn't be surprised if James Randi was the writer--- I found his book "Flim-Flam" to be a real eye-opener.

These are some Gardner books that I feel are required reading for those interested in science:

The New Age : Notes of a Fringe-Watcher by Martin Gardner

Science : Good, Bad, and Bogus by Martin Gardner

Weird Water & Fuzzy Logic : More Notes of a Fringe Watcher by Martin Gardner

Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science by Martin Gardner

(The "fringe watcher" books are mostly anthologies of his columns in "Skeptical Inquirer")

[stands2reason]

There is, although it isn't free, at www.csicop.org/si I've read it by checking out back issues at the library. There are also compilations in book form of the best of the articles, like The Hundredth Monkey and other Paradigms of the Paranormal Ed. by Kendrick Frazier. Here's some others:

The Ufo Invasion : The Roswell Incident, Alien Abductions, and Government Coverups by Kendrick Frazier (Editor), et al (This book has articles specifically relating to debunking UFO's)

Paranormal Borderlands of Science by Kendrick Frazier (Editor)

Science Confronts the Paranormal by Kendrick Frazier (Editor)

Encounters With the Paranormal : Science, Knowledge, and Belief by Kendrick Frazier (Editor)