Help me convince a friend that John Edward doesnt talk to dead people!

[Beatlelennon65]

One of my "friends" believes all that B.S. about John Edwards talking to dead people. How do I convince her otherwise? Common sense tells me he doesnt talk to dead people, and if he did, he wouldnt do it on tv. Why would any dead people want to talk to him anyway? Of course, my friend also believes in Tarot card readings, so there is probably no helping her. I would believe in Tarot cards before I would believe John Edwards talks to the recently departed. Oh ya, I think Tarot cards are unbelievable.

[Michael]

I agree, Tell him it's all ENTERTAINMENT! pure and simple...we just wanna believe...sad ain't it? :(

[MikePh]

I guess I'm with you, but can we be 100% sure of anything? Assuming it's not doing any harm, why not consider leaving your friend on their own with this ? As long as she's not racking up thousand$ calling "psychics" like a friend of mine did lol.

[Mark]

First, I think his claim is that he communicates or channels with the dead, not talking to them. Second, maybe he does have some kind of ability in that area. Who knows? I'd suggest telling the friend to watch the show a few times, read up on the subject and make up his own mind.

[Beatlelennon65]

My only problem is that I think he is giving false hope to people who are grieving over the loss of a loved one. This guy is saying that vague things like the deceased had regrets at the end of his life. Well, who wouldnt? I think he is just putting people on it's just wrong to toy with peoples emotions like that.

[Michael]

First, I think his claim is that he communicates or channels with the dead, not talking to them. Second, maybe he does have some kind of ability in that area. Who knows? I'd suggest telling the friend to watch the show a few times, read up on the subject and make up his own mind.

...what a perfect business, claiming the dead...who can challenge it? (IMO), I feel it isn't an area obtainable by anyone...and those claiming other world connections are preying upon the hopeful loving people want it at all costs.

[thegage]

Go rent him the Penn & Teller DVD "Bulls**t". I believe one of the segments in it is on John Edwards and similar types.

John K.

[CardinalFang]

Oh, not JOHN EDWARDS, but JOHN EDWARD. This guy:

http://www.scifi.com/johnedward/

Not this guy:

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/home.asp

Right?

[jeendicott]

You could tape her the episode of South Park that dealt with this subject. Stan tries to convince the other kids that it's a crock by reading up on the subject and doing "channeling" himself. It backfires when everyone thinks HE has special powers, too. Sometimes you just can't win.

[Ron Stone]

You could show her the movie, LEAP OF FAITH, starring Steve Martin, which details the methods of faith healers. Different label for the same cold- and hot-reading hustles.

Here's CSICOP's essay on John Edward: http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/i-files.html

[Drew]

Or give her a copy of the Carl Sagan book "The Demon Haunted World"

[John Oteri]

I guess I'm with you, but can we be 100% sure of anything? Assuming it's not doing any harm, why not consider leaving your friend on their own with this ? As long as she's not racking up thousand$ calling "psychics" like a friend of mine did lol.

My question about calling a psychic has always been...if the person on the other end of the phone was REALLY a psychic---wouldn't they know who you are and were going to call? :confused:
As far as watching other shows or moives to understand this:1) Ghost also dealt with this subject, but favorably, and 2) THEY ARE ONLY MOIVES.
If this guy could actually channel the dead, don't you think he'd be on PRIME TIME! :)

[SamS]

Oh, not JOHN EDWARDS, but JOHN EDWARD. This guy:

http://www.scifi.com/johnedward/

Not this guy:

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/home.asp

Right?

Thanks for clarifying. I thought possibly I missed a serious candidate, ahem, "position" for Election 2004. ;)

[Casemeister]

I read one of Edward's books a while ago. It was pretty interesting, actually. Not sure I "believe," but it was interesting to read his story.

[Ron Stone]

. . . those claiming other world connections are preying upon the hopeful loving people [who] want it at all costs.

That's the key to success for John Edward, or any other paranormal or religious hustler. He performs for people who desperately want these things to be true. It's not exactly a critical audience; they're pretty much self-selected believers.

In their rush to contact their dearly departed, they ignore and forget Edward's misses as he fishes for responses, and then when he eventually hones in on the desired result, they credit him with knowing things he couldn't have without speaking with their deceased relatives and spouses. Then the television studio edits these interactions down to an even more impressive highlights show, filtering more misses from the most successful exchanges.

Eventually all the viewer witnesses is a relatively quick dialogue with a grieving daughter who will swear on a stack of bibles that John Edward couldn't have possibly known that her mother died of a stroke in the kitchen, but now looks over her grandchildren, Cody and Kyle, from a warm and safe place.

[Michael St. Clair]

but it was interesting to read his story.


His true story, or his version of it?

The true story of John Edward is that of a man who has made millions on exploiting the gullible and the emotionally vulnerable. The former doesn't bother me much, but the last one does. Scumbag.

[John Oteri]

His true story, or his version of it?

The true story of John Edward is that of a man who has made millions on exploiting the gullible and the emotionally vulnerable. The former doesn't bother me much, but the last one does. Scumbag.

Of course...it doesn't say much about our society when he and Jerry Springer have top-rated TV shows! :eek:

[Michael]

That's the key to success for John Edward, or any other paranormal or religious hustler. He performs for people who desperately want these things to be true.

They want to believe...Why isn't he stopped? What he is doing is an emotional crime in my book! I can't use the words I'm thinking!

[Ed Bishop]

On the other hand, some dead people talking from the great beyond might have more to impart than some of the clueless sorts that are still breathing our precious air....so I kinda wish some dead people would talk to me!

:ed:

[Michael]

Of course...it doesn't say much about our society when he and Jerry Springer have top-rated TV shows! :eek:

...little different Jerry is...Most people believe Jerry's show is a Joke!, surreal entertainment...how many people have you met in your lifetime like JERRY'S GUESTS?

[Ed Bishop]

...how many people have you met in your lifetime like JERRY'S GUESTS?
Thankfully, precious few! :laugh:...and those I have ran into I try to keep a safe distance from, not easy in a small town....:eek:


:ed:

[Michael]

On the other hand, some dead people talking from the great beyond might have more to impart than some of the clueless sorts that are still breathing our precious air....so I kinda wish some dead people would talk to me!

:ed:

...They can't They're Dead...;)

[Michael]

Thankfully, precious few! :laugh:...and those I have ran into I try to keep a safe distance from, not easy in a small town....:eek:


:ed:

They must run ads...:laugh:

[pdenny]

Debunked, with mathematical precision:

http://www.re-quest.net/entertainment/movies-and-tv/tv/john-edward/index.htm

http://www.salon.com/people/feature/2002/06/13/probability/

http://www.tv-now.com/vikireed/nov2000.htm

[Beatlelennon65]

I knew I would get a few jokes about the presidential candidate! I wasnt sure of the exact name of the "talks to dead people guy", so I just winged it.