Click HERE to see this thread with all of the graphics, features, and links.

Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

Will you marry me on February 8th, 2008?

I'll give you 1,000,000 ****ing bucks for it.

Originally posted by Reverend Axel
Will you marry me on February 8th, 2008?

I'll give you 1,000,000 ****ing bucks for it. well mystery solved. sure, why not? But I get to be the butch.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?
"My dear, you have the GRIM!", said Professor Trelawney.

Originally posted by Disturbed Angel
"My dear, you have the GRIM!", said Professor Trelawney. I have the GRUMherbnone

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

**** a pornstar raw or spend the evening with mama?

Originally posted by MR.Grum
I have the GRUMherbnone

Originally posted by Grinning Goku
**** a pornstar raw or spend the evening with mama? I dunno....when I asked her about the romance thing, she said it will involve a past love, or a potential new one. I cant imagine what the $$$ could be, unless it involves a promotion.

Originally posted by Disturbed Angel
~bites toe~

Those things are stupid. I could've sat here and told you that in a year.....you'll get hungry!

Originally posted by Scythe
Those things are stupid. I could've sat here and told you that in a year.....you'll get hungry! you will pee in then next hours or two

Originally posted by Scythe
Those things are stupid. I could've sat here and told you that in a year.....you'll get hungry! well, I'm hungry now, yoda.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
well, I'm hungry now, yoda.

Dude, I just realized I'd do Sarah Silverman. She just needs to wax them motherfuc.kin' muttonchops.

Originally posted by Grinning Goku
Dude, I just realized I'd do Sarah Silverman. She just needs to wax them motherfuc.kin' muttonchops.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

It's a complete farce.

They use a technique called cold reading. They make a lot of generalized statements, and eventually they hit on something. Usually the person receiving the "prediction" gives off signals that indicate a "hit" (a prediction that seems like it could be true) and the person goes with it. The large number of statements ensures that there will be some hits, although many misses. In a situation with only a brief reading, there will be a few blanket statements that are vague and usually positive. This allows for the human mind to interpret the prediction to suit what happens to them, giving the psychic a higher chance of (perceived) success. Your "big decision involving money and/or romance" is a perfect example of this.

And human minds remember the hits better. Think of a crazy coincidence you've had. You remember it, but not the ridiculous number of times when nothing happened. So if a psychic says 20 things, most of them vague, and a person wants to believe...they'll find ways for nearly half of the predictions to seem true, and will consider the psychic reading authentic. Or if they get 1 solid hit in those, and it seems unlikely to them that it is something that could be easily predicted, people will be awed.

Cold readers are great at working statistical averages, so that the things they say have a high chance of being true. For example, if I were to sit in a room with 5 people and say "I'm sensing someone that died of a heart attack. This person is contacting me." I have a good chance of getting a "hit". Add cancer to that list and it's nearly a statistical certainty that someone will have had an immediate family member that died of one of these ailments.

Penn and Teller, James ("The Amazing" Randi, Michael Shermer, and others have all formally debunked everything from TV psychics (that "Crossing Over" dude that claims to talk to the dead), as well as astrologists and other commercially successful paranormalists. It's all just a big lie, or the people are fooling even themselves into thinking they have strange powers of precognition.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
It's a complete farce.

They use a technique called cold reading. They make a lot of generalized statements, and eventually they hit on something. Usually the person receiving the "prediction" gives off signals that indicate a "hit" (a prediction that seems like it could be true) and the person goes with it. The large number of statements ensures that there will be some hits, although many misses. In a situation with only a brief reading, there will be a few blanket statements that are vague and usually positive. This allows for the human mind to interpret the prediction to suit what happens to them, giving the psychic a higher chance of (perceived) success. Your "big decision involving money and/or romance" is a perfect example of this.

And human minds remember the hits better. Think of a crazy coincidence you've had. You remember it, but not the ridiculous number of times when nothing happened. So if a psychic says 20 things, most of them vague, and a person wants to believe...they'll find ways for nearly half of the predictions to seem true, and will consider the psychic reading authentic. Or if they get 1 solid hit in those, people will be awed.

Penn and Teller, James ("The Amazing" Randi, Michael Shermer, and others have all formally debunked everything from TV psychics (that "Crossing Over" dude that claims to talk to the dead), as well as astrologists and other commercially successful paranormalists. It's all just a big lie, or the people are fooling even themselves into thinking they have strange powers of precognition.

I just masturbated with antibacterial soap.

Originally posted by Grinning Goku
I just masturbated with antibacterial soap.
hysterical

Originally posted by Grinning Goku
I just masturbated with antibacterial soap.

Ha, an attempt to undermine an intelligent post. How cliche and OTF of you.



I can masturbate too, but no soap. I like the friction.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
Ha, an attempt to undermine an intelligent post. How cliche and OTF of you.



I can masturbate too, but no soap. I like the friction.

Thanks, Digi. A nod from you is one I'll cherish while I'm beating my dick like it owes me money to pictures of Sarah Silverman.

And the friction? WTF??? You a masochist or something, bro?

Originally posted by Disturbed Angel
"My dear, you have the GRIM!", said Professor Trelawney.

vin

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
well, I'm hungry now, yoda.

Hey, Yoda is the shit!

Originally posted by DigiMark007
It's a complete farce.

They use a technique called cold reading. They make a lot of generalized statements, and eventually they hit on something. Usually the person receiving the "prediction" gives off signals that indicate a "hit" (a prediction that seems like it could be true) and the person goes with it. The large number of statements ensures that there will be some hits, although many misses. In a situation with only a brief reading, there will be a few blanket statements that are vague and usually positive. This allows for the human mind to interpret the prediction to suit what happens to them, giving the psychic a higher chance of (perceived) success. Your "big decision involving money and/or romance" is a perfect example of this.

And human minds remember the hits better. Think of a crazy coincidence you've had. You remember it, but not the ridiculous number of times when nothing happened. So if a psychic says 20 things, most of them vague, and a person wants to believe...they'll find ways for nearly half of the predictions to seem true, and will consider the psychic reading authentic. Or if they get 1 solid hit in those, and it seems unlikely to them that it is something that could be easily predicted, people will be awed.

Cold readers are great at working statistical averages, so that the things they say have a high chance of being true. For example, if I were to sit in a room with 5 people and say "I'm sensing someone that died of a heart attack. This person is contacting me." I have a good chance of getting a "hit". Add cancer to that list and it's nearly a statistical certainty that someone will have had an immediate family member that died of one of these ailments.

Penn and Teller, James ("The Amazing" Randi, Michael Shermer, and others have all formally debunked everything from TV psychics (that "Crossing Over" dude that claims to talk to the dead), as well as astrologists and other commercially successful paranormalists. It's all just a big lie, or the people are fooling even themselves into thinking they have strange powers of precognition. well, she also told me detailed info on my personal life, things I would rather not share here in the open.

that particular one sounds bull.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know? We'll see, won't we?

That's actually my 20th birthday


I kind of want to get read by a "psychic" sometime in my life; could be fun.

the only reason id go see a physic is because i want to know if the hand thing tickles

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
I dunno....when I asked her about the romance thing, she said it will involve a past love, or a potential new one. I cant imagine what the $$$ could be, unless it involves a promotion.

That narrows it down

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

You met a lunatic.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
well, she also told me detailed info on my personal life, things I would rather not share here in the open.

...well then I can't comment on them, can I?

It's obvious you want to remain at least a little bit credulous about it, and that's your prerogative. Personal experiences are the most-cited cause for belief in anything paranormal, and simultaneously the least effective in convincing others (for good reason). But once you step outside yourself, watch others falling for the same tricks and practices, and find the scientific and practical research into such things, it becomes nearly impossible to believe. Rightly so, as well, because so far no psychic has ever been able to prove their power in a controlled setting. The bevy of outstanding million+ dollar rewards for proving such phenemenon is proof enough of that...if they were real, would they be on psychic hotlines and at state fairs? No, they'd go to any number of educational and/or research institutes, prove their powers, and retire in luxury.

And beyond that, the formal debunking and explanations of the techniques are well-established and repeatable. I gave a brief list in my last post of high-profile people who have done so, and there's doubtless others as well.

Buy a book on cold reading...by the end you'll likely be able to convince people that even you have similar powers. It's not hard, given a little work, and always seems convincing when experienced personally.

...wanted to edit, but it was past 15 minutes. Anyway:

If you want to turn a skeptical eye to your reading, ask yourself, did she know anything about you beforehand? Did you give her verbal or visual cues when she got a "hit" (smiling, nodding, shaking your head no, frowning, lookingconfused, etc.)? Did you confirm it when she got a hit, and described the person/events involved? Did she have a lot of misses mixed in with the hits? How vague were the predictions? Was she only specific after she got a hit with something vague, then narrowed it down? Are there multiple ways to interpret the predictions to make them seem true? Even if it was a specific hit, is it something that is likely to be true for many people? Chances are, those sorts of analyses will begin to undermine the reading. And this only scratches the surface, since many of their methods are very subtle and they have much more experience getting people to believe than I do with attempting to debunk them. But material exists to continue studying these ideas, which I've already mentioned.

Originally posted by the welsh one
the only reason id go see a physic is because i want to know if the hand thing tickles

I'd probably get kicked out because I'd be attempting to identify their tactics and trying to undermine them by giving conflicting stories or denying that they got any hits at all just to see them squirm.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
...wanted to edit, but it was past 15 minutes. Anyway:

If you want to turn a skeptical eye to your reading, ask yourself, did she know anything about you beforehand? Did you give her verbal or visual cues when she got a "hit" (smiling, nodding, shaking your head no, frowning, lookingconfused, etc.)? Did you confirm it when she got a hit, and described the person/events involved? Did she have a lot of misses mixed in with the hits? How vague were the predictions? Was she only specific after she got a hit with something vague, then narrowed it down? Are there multiple ways to interpret the predictions to make them seem true? Even if it was a specific hit, is it something that is likely to be true for many people? Chances are, those sorts of analyses will begin to undermine the reading. And this only scratches the surface, since many of their methods are very subtle and they have much more experience getting people to believe than I do with attempting to debunk them. But material exists to continue studying these ideas, which I've already mentioned.



I'd probably get kicked out because I'd be attempting to identify their tactics and trying to undermine them by giving conflicting stories or denying that they got any hits at all just to see them squirm.

I have been telling this same stuff that you have been posting to people all the time.

I even "performed" a crossing over type scenario with 10 people to prove how much of a load of crap this stuff is. This was back in highschool. I had been arguing with a group of people who thought that that stuff was real until one day, I was tired of it so I told them all to meet me at lunch and 10 of them showed up. I did the "crossing over" type of shit and "wowed" people with my "abilities". At the end I told them all that I do not have any special powers and that I just proved that it was all crap. A few of the saw my point and wizened up and still others said that I am foolish and that I have a gift that I should share with others.

Anyway, RJ, don't fall for this bullshit, man. Your IQ is too high.

Originally posted by dadudemon
I have been telling this same stuff that you have been posting to people all the time.

I even "performed" a crossing over type scenario with 10 people to prove how much of a load of crap this stuff is. This was back in highschool. I had been arguing with a group of people who thought that that stuff was real until one day, I was tired of it so I told them all to meet me at lunch and 10 of them showed up. I did the "crossing over" type of shit and "wowed" people with my "abilities". At the end I told them all that I do not have any special powers and that I just proved that it was all crap. A few of the saw my point and wizened up and still others said that I am foolish and that I have a gift that I should share with others.

Anyway, RJ, don't fall for this bullshit, man. Your IQ is too high.

That would be amusing if it wasn't unfortunate. Cool story though.

The scientist Michael Shermer encountered similar hostility when he exposed the techniques of John Edwards (Crossing Over). They thought it was cruel that he took away their sense of belief. They wanted to believe in Edwards, and felt cheated by anyone who said it wasn't real. So your scenario isn't unique, but is an unfortunate microcosm of the larger culture of belief that we have in the paranormal.

And it's interesting you bring up the idea of IQ. IQ can't be correlated to belief (or non-belief) in the paranormal, though the upper echelon of IQ does have more atheists than the general population. But surprisingly, higher IQ sometimes is found to have an inverse correlation to paranormal belief. One only needs to take a look at the New Age fads of chakras, past lives, spiritual essences, and paranormal phenomenon to understand that nearly anyone can be sucked into believing, especially when there's rarely someone around to debunk it for them.

Watch 'The Biggest Douche in the Universe' South Park episode.

P.S:- dadudemon, how's my I.Q? We don't get told here and tests are arduous.

Originally posted by DigiMark007
That would be amusing if it wasn't unfortunate. Cool story though.

The scientist Michael Shermer encountered similar hostility when he exposed the techniques of John Edwards (Crossing Over). They thought it was cruel that he took away their sense of belief. They wanted to believe in Edwards, and felt cheated by anyone who said it wasn't real. So your scenario isn't unique, but is an unfortunate microcosm of the larger culture of belief that we have in the paranormal.

And it's interesting you bring up the idea of IQ. IQ can't be correlated to belief (or non-belief) in the paranormal, though the upper echelon of IQ does have more atheists than the general population. But surprisingly, higher IQ sometimes is found to have an inverse correlation to paranormal belief. One only needs to take a look at the New Age fads of chakras, past lives, spiritual essences, and paranormal phenomenon to understand that nearly anyone can be sucked into believing, especially when there's rarely someone around to debunk it for them.

LOL...

Okay...

1. He said at one time his IQ was tested to be over 140...on some scales...that is genius.

2. I wasn't meaning that literally a High IQ should be directly correlated to the ability to discern reality from crafty con-artists. I was saying that he isn't an idiot and not to fall for these types of things...you know, the old "appeal to their abilities" so that they are more open to your suggestions.

3. A high IQ can still be used for sociological discernment and indeed, you can observe that those with higher IQs are more resourceful...on average, with those whose IQs are average to below average...so yes, despite the pitfalls of human spirituality, a high IQ can help.

Originally posted by chillmeistergen
Watch 'The Biggest Douche in the Universe' South Park episode.

P.S:- dadudemon, how's my I.Q? We don't get told here and tests are arduous.

Your IQ is 87-90.

I wonder what my IQ is.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?
Well, what was the big decision?

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.

I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

Was it the decision whether you should continue to be with your 18 year old internet girlfriend?

Here we go again.

Originally posted by bongo18
Was it the decision whether you should continue to be with your 18 year old internet girlfriend?

You sure know alot for being here a whole day.

I'm sure you're not a sock or anything.

Originally posted by McLovin
You sure know alot for being here a whole day.

I'm sure you're not a sock or anything. Of course I am a sock

Originally posted by Disturbed Angel
Well, what was the big decision? damn, I forgot all about this. lets see, today is the 11th, the 8th was on Friday......the only decision I made that day was whether or not to super size my Mcdonalds value meal. haermm

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
damn, I forgot all about this. lets see, today is the 11th, the 8th was on Friday......the only decision I made that day was whether or not to super size my Mcdonalds value meal. haermm


That such a major decision! shock

how did you manage?!!!

Originally posted by Piggle Humsy
That such a major decision! shock

how did you manage?!!! I super sized.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
damn, I forgot all about this. lets see, today is the 11th, the 8th was on Friday......the only decision I made that day was whether or not to super size my Mcdonalds value meal. haermm


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! awesome...I wish I could have been there because I could really go for some McDonald's right now.

get your ass to H town and I'll buy.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
get your ass to H town and I'll buy.

cool beans...I order off the dollar menu so ain't like I'd be stealin' all yo money...but then there's the problem of actually making it down there.

Originally posted by dadudemon
cool beans...I order off the dollar menu so ain't like I'd be stealin' all yo money...but then there's the problem of actually making it down there. I'll spring for the super sized happy meal.

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
I'll spring for the super sized happy meal.

like this girl does?

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z238/dadudemon/fatty.jpg

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Or whatever those fortune telling gypsies are called. She didn't give me a formal reading, she just shook my hand, and told me that something important is gonna happen on 02-08-08 for me, that I will have a big decision to make.

Naturally I asked her what the decision is, but she wasn't too specific. She said it involved either money and/or romance, that I will have a big decision to make, that there will be a lot of risk involved.
I dont believe in this crap, but I cant help but wonder, you know?

What a lying, underhanded *****. You should sew her mouth shut so she can no longer spout lies from her whore mouth for profit (if you had to pay that is).

Originally posted by dadudemon
like this girl does?

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z238/dadudemon/fatty.jpg

She looks like she swallowed a Asian chick that wasn't as fat as her.

Originally posted by Grinning Goku
What a lying, underhanded *****. You should sew her mouth shut so she can no longer spout lies from her whore mouth for profit (if you had to pay that is).

I don't really believe in this kind of thing. Mainly b/c this fortune teller lady told me i would be very important one day.and I thought to myself "B!tch I'm ALREADY important laughcry"


These ppl that "see" our future are just bull. I can anyone what she told me. sly

I see brokeback buttsex in your future.

With lost of money doing it. vin

*bends you over and gags you* shut up and open wide. crylaugh

Ew no. nuts

fap fap....bang.

Gross, i don't even think the guys i know would like this. nuts

bang, right in his mouth?

Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
damn, I forgot all about this. lets see, today is the 11th, the 8th was on Friday......the only decision I made that day was whether or not to super size my Mcdonalds value meal. haermm
shocklaugh

It was YUMZ.