# Psychics are phony, Mr. Police Officer, in case you didn't know. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779 "2006-04-15T13:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/81 "2017-11-21T19:06:21Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Not if you are a smart psychic, and using your powers to earn way more money than that. Stock market and/or sports betting comes immediately to mind. And if you also want to use your powers for good, you can call the various anonymous tips hotlines to help the police solve crimes. And the same is true if you cast spells, correct? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/82 "2017-11-21T19:08:41Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Not if you are a smart psychic, and using your powers to earn way more money than that. Stock market and/or sports betting comes immediately to mind. And if you also want to use your powers for good, you can call the various anonymous tips hotlines to help the police solve crimes. Oh wait, or maybe all the real psychics that have come forward have been grabbed up by a secret ops hidden department of the CIA/NSA and the truth is being kept secret. And of course their command center is on the moon. Give it a break, psychics are phony. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/83 "2017-11-21T19:27:45Z")
> [@Ohioman](#): > > I’ll move on, I can plainly see there is no intelligence in your responces, there is only ignorance. See the upper left corner? Where it says “Fighting Ignorance Since 1973”? To accuse us of ignorance would be to assume we know nothing about psychics. We DO know about them. We know that their claims are easily debunked and not reproducible under laboratory conditions. We know James Randi, a stage magician who exposes all the tricks psychic hoaxers use to deceive their marks. Go to the Art Bell forums if you want a more receptive audience. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/84 "2017-11-21T19:38:35Z")
> [@Ohioman](#): > > I think I made it clear that I don’t know anything \ ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/85 "2017-11-21T19:44:57Z")
> [@Ohioman](#): > > The thought of becoming a suspect keeps me quiet, but I can tell you the time line or progression of events that I did that eventually produced the ability in me. Go on… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/86 "2017-11-21T19:49:59Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Go on… …and he did. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/87 "2017-11-21T19:54:47Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It doesn’t take a psychic to know it’s because you didn’t pay them. And what if it did take a psychic to know that? Mmmm? Now I suspecting you. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/88 "2017-11-21T20:04:55Z")
So. No dragons then? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/89 "2017-11-21T20:22:23Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > So. No dragons then? I have seen at least one. They are experts at camouflage and other means of hiding. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/90 "2017-11-21T20:23:57Z")
> **[Daryl Bem Proved ESP Is Real. Which Means Science Is Broken.](https://slate.com/health-and-science/2017/06/daryl-bem-proved-esp-is-real-showed-science-is-broken.html)** > > The scientist couldn't have foreseen the crisis his research would touch off. No, this long and fascinating article does not prove that ESP is real. Although some academics believe it is and are conducting research into it. It does show that there is enough evidence to merit further study. What this article proved is that peer reviewed studies aren’t nearly as reliable as once believed. Methodology can be sloppy and in a few instances there has been outright fraud. This article set off a long and difficult period of self examination and today research is being conducted in a more open and honest manner. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/91 "2017-11-21T20:40:12Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > So. No dragons then? And no fucking ziti either, I’m guessing. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/92 "2017-11-21T20:48:53Z")
Look, say what you want to about the Stupendous Yappi, but Clyde Bruckman was the real deal if his ability had been cultivated following the death of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper in that plane crash . . . well things would have been different. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/93 "2017-11-21T23:45:58Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Not if you are a smart psychic, and using your powers to earn way more money than that. Stock market and/or sports betting comes immediately to mind. And if you also want to use your powers for good, you can call the various anonymous tips hotlines to help the police solve crimes. Methinks a smart psychic would wield these powers AND grab the easy million . . . ---
**Author:** ![BobBitchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@BobBitchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobBitchin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/94 "2017-11-22T02:01:00Z")
If Ohioman is psychic, why didn’t he see in advance how poorly joining this discussion would go for him? Better question, if he’s psychic, why was he 11 years late to this thread? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/95 "2017-11-22T02:56:25Z")
> [@BobBitchin](#): > > Better question, if he’s psychic, why was he 11 years late to this thread? He’s cognizant of posts. He’s a psychic with postcognitive abilities. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/96 "2017-11-22T03:44:57Z")
> [@Ohioman](#): > > The only thing I know about current psychics is their response to my emails in which I asked " How do you protect yourself legally from becoming a suspect". Smartass answer: Only offer to become involved with cases in which your psychic powers foresee that you will not become a suspect. Not so smartass answer: Only offer to become involved with cases for which you have an alibi for the time of the crime. Possibly slightly clever answer: Start establishing an unshakable alibi so you can get involved with future cases with no danger to yourself. Start going to a bank, newsstand, or even a police station every day and take your picture. Make sure there’s something in the picture that establishes where and when it was taken. Or meet with some trustworthy person every day. Once you start doing this, if a crime is committed on the other side of the country you can offer to help solve it with no fear that your gift will make you a suspect. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/97 "2017-11-22T04:37:14Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Look, say what you want to about the Stupendous Yappi, but Clyde Bruckman was the real deal if his ability had been cultivated following the death of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper in that plane crash . . . well things would have been different. I’ve been away from this board too long. Also, I think I love you. ---
**Author:** ![Pippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5a626/32.png) [@Pippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pippers)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/98 "2017-11-22T04:52:49Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > [Daryl Bem proved ESP is real. Which means science is broken.](https://slate.com/health-and-science/2017/06/daryl-bem-proved-esp-is-real-showed-science-is-broken.html) > > No, this long and fascinating article does not prove that ESP is real. Although some academics believe it is and are conducting research into it. It does show that there is enough evidence to merit further study. > > What this article proved is that peer reviewed studies aren’t nearly as reliable as once believed. Methodology can be sloppy and in a few instances there has been outright fraud. This article set off a long and difficult period of self examination and today research is being conducted in a more open and honest manner. Good link, thanks. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dealt of in your philosophy. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/99 "2017-11-22T05:45:39Z")
> [@Pippers](#): > > Good link, thanks. > > There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dealt of in your philosophy. Next up - do highway traffic signs give good relationship advice? Can they play the bagpipes? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/100 "2017-11-22T06:34:01Z")
> [@Pippers](#): > > There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dealt of in your philosophy. Quoting a fictional psycho who took advice from dead folk, and ruined his life following said advice? No, thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779.md?page=6)