# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Lickety\_Split\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/67e7ee/32.png) [@Lickety\_Split\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lickety_Split_1)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/161 "2017-11-25T05:30:37Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > We got a similar warning from the septic tank inspector.This is a classic selling point of the confirmed wooist, who assures you he was _deeply skeptical_ before falling for ludicrous nonsense that wouldn’t fool an average third-grader. So, according to your logic, I should have not told you that I was a skeptic? And, BTW, still am in most matters of the paranormal and metaphysical. As far as ludicrous nonsense: you need to read my posts better. Her details of my brother were to the “t”. If you don’t want to believe me, fine, that’s your problem and not mine. But you would do well not to denigrate as nonsense perfect and detailed descriptions of events happening to somebody she had no knowledge of. To do so is to convey to me the fact that your comprehension skills are left wanting. ---
**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 25, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/162 "2017-11-25T05:46:55Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > Are you retarded? I am offended by the use of that word. I would go into detail, but it’s late and I’m tired. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/163 "2017-11-25T05:51:59Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I am offended by the use of that word. I would go into detail, but it’s late and I’m tired. But he’s one of the best writers and keenest minds on this whole esteemed forum! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/164 "2017-11-25T06:07:31Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > Robyn did attempt to convey to my former boss’s wife her feeling that she felt something bad might occur in their home. The woman thanked her for her concern and then apparently did nothing. Or maybe she did, I do not know. Here’s an idea. Get Robyn to talk to the dead lady. > [@](#): > > As far as telling law enforcement? Really? Are you retarded? What do you think the cops would do with a warning from a woman they don’t know from Eve who told them she had a premonition of impending mayhem? Exactly. Nothing. What? Your awesome persuasive and debating skills wouldn’t’ve convinced the fuzz? Color me shocked. Anyway, wouldn’t the ethical thing to have tried to convince the police. Without even an attempt to do so, that shows that both you and Robyn do not think she has the “gift”. > [@](#): > > Are you guys really all as juvenile and childish and, well, just plain imbecilic as you seem to be? If so…good job on conveying same. If not, you need to step up your games several notches. I just saw a bunch of childish and imbecilic insults from you–in more than one post, more than one thread. And you still aren’t even attempting to answer one question. Maybe your ex can discern that question for you. Look, your ex isn’t going to call you put of the blue and thank you for carrying water for her. Call the woman and let her know, then ask her the questions. But, of course, you won’t do that. And it doesn’t take a psychic to know why you won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/165 "2017-11-25T06:22:38Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > Yet…a million things did not happen, Einstein. Rather, they were murdered in a matter of days. What are the odds? After all, this is not as if my wife said “something will happen” and it was only a flooded basement or a tree branch falling through the roof from a storm, weeks later. Robyn perceived an event so dreadful that she became physically ill. A mere busted roof or a flooded basement would not have that effect. > > And there was nothing nebulous about her details about my brother. Or did you conveniently forget that part? [ul][li]Here’s the Occam’s Razor explanation:[/li][list][li]Your ex had a stomachache and you two left.[/li][li]Something horrible happened.[/li][li]You both conveniently recalled a warning she likely didn’t utter in the first place. After all, there’s a reason so-called recovered memories are not considered reliable.[/ul][/li][\*]See my earlier posts listing likely sources for “to the ‘t’” “predictions”.[/list] ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/166 "2017-11-25T06:37:07Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Look, your ex isn’t going to call you put of the blue and thank you for carrying water for her. A psychic would. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/167 "2017-11-25T06:54:22Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > A psychic would. My point exactly. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/168 "2017-11-25T07:03:10Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > And I think you are a peach. Very astute and entertaining. Showing a keen objectivity and eloquence, not too mention open-mindedness and ability to process and weigh opinions that differ from your own. > > “drooling idiot?” That’s pure gold, genius. > > Tell you what: read some of my other posts. You will find me to be one of the best writers and keenest minds on this whole esteemed forum. > > And after you DO read them, if you are honest with yourself, and maybe not quite so drunk…you and I will both know what’s what. And which of us possesses the higher intellect. > > Have a great weekend! You’re posting from the mothership, right? ---
**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 25, 2017, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/169 "2017-11-25T09:01:19Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > And I think you are a peach. Very astute and entertaining. Showing a keen objectivity and eloquence, not too mention open-mindedness and ability to process and weigh opinions that differ from your own. > > “drooling idiot?” That’s pure gold, genius. > > Tell you what: read some of my other posts. You will find me to be one of the best writers and keenest minds on this whole esteemed forum. > > And after you DO read them, if you are honest with yourself, and maybe not quite so drunk…you and I will both know what’s what. And which of us possesses the higher intellect. > > Have a great weekend! This is pure comedy pyrite. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/170 "2017-11-25T15:41:55Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This is pure comedy pyrite. :rolleyes: 😃 I am so stealing that. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/171 "2017-11-25T15:56:16Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > So, according to your logic, I should have not told you that I was a skeptic? It didn’t enhance your already shaky credibility. \*"A paper…published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology…is further confirmation of something skeptics of the paranormal and alt med treatments have noticed for a long time. It’s called the “avowal of prior skepticism”. This is a narrative device used by a person telling a story in which they will announce their previous skepticism (“I used to be skeptical”) before relating a conversion story about a product or event. I see this all the time regarding paranormal investigators and in infomercials for products. The ploy of stating prior skepticism makes the narrator look more credible and is intended to make the story more believable. That is, what I’m about to tell you even convinced ME so it must be true, believe me!"\* > **[doubtfulnews.com - contact with domain owner | Epik.com](https://doubtfulnews.com/2014/05/at-first-i-was-skeptical-is-a-convincing-ploy-unless-you-are-wise-to-it/)** > > Contact with an owner of doubtfulnews.com domain name. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/172 "2017-11-25T18:30:08Z")
**LinkedIn-y Spliff** - Did [Robyn](https://youtu.be/kzjqirfUcy4?t=7) drive the next SO bonkers too? Maybe my comprehension skills are left wanting, but I can’t help but conflate Robyn with one of those sexy _totally_ NSA Jewish Hieresses (who’s also good enough in the sack to earn a second charity). I could be off on that one. Have a \*wonderful \*week-end. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779/173 "2017-11-25T18:46:29Z")
> [@Lickety\_Split](#): > > Yet…a million things did not happen, Einstein. Rather, they were murdered in a matter of days. What are the odds? I’ll take the enormous leap in logic and assume everything happened the way you said. It is impossible to determine the odds because I doubt she accurately tracked every time she had a premonition and every time it didn’t come true. How many times did she forget about a feeling that didn’t come true? How many times did she shake off a feeling by deciding it wasn’t a real premonition therefore didn’t count? How many times did she shoehorn an event into a vague feeling and decide it was a true psychic event? In other words how do we know it’s just not random chance and confirmation bias? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psychics-are-phony-mr-police-officer-in-case-you-didnt-know/352779.md?page=8)