LEKATT - I can’t speak for all the “so called skeptics” (which I am one), but to me, it’s less about whether these phychics are for real, but rather the fact that they get paid alot of money for it. That’s where it gets hairy for me. If they are doing it for the good of helping people, then just do it as a free service. And if they really can communicate with the spiritual world, have the spirits tell them what the lottery #'s will be so they can make a ton of money and continue to help people for FREE. Or at very least, make it a show, like Penn & Teller. They make tons of money but don’t dupe people into thinking they are helping them. I was absolutely bowled over how Penn & Teller had the final score of the Superbowl in a glass bottle hanging over time square the entire game…but as impressed as I am, I was never lead to believe that it was more than a magic trick…so no harm done. It’s when people told that something is true, when it might or might not be…and is done for profit, when it becomes wrong. Even major coorporations selling products on TV are subject to scrutinizing legal details of making false claims.
If you admit you don’t know, how can you claim that cold reading doesn’t exist? Surely you can admit it’s possible, but simply something outside of your experience?
I found it sillier that I found that the research exists (before you denied it existed); yet only because you cannot afford to get it, you deny it exists. Look carefully, those cites are synopsis of research ALREADY made, the conclusions are in the synopsis. You are really sounding desperate there.
OK, then ignore the vulgar title, and for the sake of argument take my word that a man with no claim to supernatural abilities perfectly simulated John Edwards’ abilities, and claimed to use the perfectly natural cold-reading technique.
What do you think is the most likely explanation for this?
Vulgar because of the name? If you didn’t see it, you certainly couldn’t have decided that based on the content. That’s no way to learn things.
The difference between a skeptical mind and a closed mind is that the skeptical mind is open to possibilities, but demands proof before acknowledging certainties. A closed mind has no room for possibilities,particularly if they oppose what it already believes to be a certainty.
Most of us are skeptics. You have demonstrated a very closed mind.
Are you some sort of politician?
Does this count as Godwinization?
I would like to apologize to Leroy for implying that he may be some sort of a politician. That behavior was beyond the acceptable standards in Great Debates and I regret it.
So you don’t know if they’re using some method other than cold reading. And in corelation, you don’t know if they’re using cold reading. Thank you. It only took a couple pages to get an answer from you, this time…
I’m sorry, but I’ve read for pages and pages and I still don’t know what Cold Reading means. Can someone explain.
Join the crowd, I have been waiting the entire thread for a definition of cold reading, and I have gotten many different ones.
Does anyone really know?
I have been waiting the entire thread for a definition of psychic powers, and I have gotten many different ones. Does anyone really know?
Well this is turning interesting! what about a definition from a psychic dictionary then? Even phychic Steven has a definition!:
http://www.psychicsteven.com/index.htm
Of course if a psychic knows about this, it doesn’t take a skeptic to see how ignorant you are of even what other psychics already know. Incidentally, there is a pattern in all the definitions so far but this one is good also if short since there is other things cold readers do.
If you want to really know what cold reading really is go to James Randi’s site.
Yes, but if you want a professional’s website, check out John Edward.
BTW here is the link to the quote:
http://www.psychicsteven.com/html/glossary/Cold-Reading-81.asp
I must add that it amazes me how the paranormal phenomenon sites have the info to burn their own in discussions like this. And be happy I did not post the Atheistic definition one! Once again, the pattern of “an attempt to gather information about people without their realizing that this is going on” is clear and obvious for many, even to psychics themselves.
Thank you Meatros
You have furnished no proof, proof consists of controlled studies.
Just because you found talk about research doesn’t mean it exists.
I am never desperate, I have the rest of my life to look for proof.
Sorry you furnished no proof and no where to find the proof.
No banana today.
Go ahead and post it, we have four definitions already.
Randi’s
the skilled cold reader
something called the Barnum effect
and not a definition from the glossary
one more wouldn’t hurt any.
What I see is confusion and lack of conherence.
Read a few posts back, even a psychic is telling you that I got it today. 
And I am younger than you so I have more time.
And the proof is there for you to order! Sorry, but your denial is just pathetic.