Psychics /mediums - How Genuine?

[mizfiesta]

I guess most of us know of a Psychic, locally, who does readings in peoples homes. Whether they've been to one themselves or know someone who has.
I've always wondered if the majority of Psychics truly believe themselves to have some sort of gift - whether they actually have or not. Or do they know fine well they don't? Are they out and out charlatans? Or have they convinced themselves they have a special gift?
I guess there's a lot in this world that we don't understand. As Shakespeare wrote, "There are more things in heaven and Earth...", and maybe there are a few special people in the world who definitely have some sort of 'gift'. But for the majority? The ones that sit in peoples houses and charge upwards of £40, do they?
I guess my point would be that if they're giving a 'reading' but they truly believe they have a gift and are helping someone, I wouldn't mind parting with cash. But for someone to sit opposite you and know they're talking rubbish - possibly speaking about people we have loved and lost - is that just not SO wrong?

[whiskeryron]

I would love to be psychic I would give my services freely.

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps they know fine well they do ?
Perhaps it is do wrong to condemn folk based on one's own cynicism ?

[douglas9401]

There are indeed many charlatans out there.
My rule of thumb is to only engage the services of those who own unicorns.

[Togo]

I once booked a reading for someone as a surprise, and the psychic cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

[yogi-bear]

The one we saw getting some sun rays, whilst not busy, on Brighton Pier, looked a bit dodgy.

Years ago whilst at a medi-evilnight at The Shakespeare's Feast in London, my mate and his girlfriend, who were together for six years and planning to marry in August that year, went into see a psychic and was told she couldn't see a future with both of them in it.......they came out shrugging it off....and split up two months later, three weeks before the wedding!......Spooky eh?

[Cloverjo]

There are loads of charlatans out there.
A friend of mine claimed to be psychic and invited me to her Spirualists' meeting at their church and at her house,

I think she did believe that she had a "gift" for it. Everyone else? I'm not sure.
You only have to look at videos of James Randi and similar to know it's a load of pike.

[Arksided]

My Uncle once bumped into a fortune teller in Blackpool on the front. He accidentally spilled her coffee all over her garb. After her cursing had stopped... he said "if you you were any good you'd have seen that coming."

[andy-hughes]

I always think of Derek Acorah, who I find really creepy.

I have never been to a medium, but I did something once as a young man (nothing illegal!) that I never told anyone about, and if a medium told me about that, then I would believe in him or her because no-one else except the other person involved knows about it, and they would never tell anyone either.

[Ellipsis]

It's all absolute BS, cruel, heartless, cynical manipulation ...

[mikey4444]

The vast majority of these so-called mediums are nothing more than charlatans, cynically exploiting the credulous for financial gain.

The few that really believe that they have some kind of "gift" are dafter than the ones that are being exploited.

School for idiots IMHO !

[Cloverjo]

Haha, yogi. :)
My spiritualist friend once said that she knew she'd get married soon - even though she wasn't with anyone at the time - because her ring finger was itching! She got married 20 years later.

She also had a reading from someone who said she'd be married by September, but didn't know which September. We can all do that! Jeez!

[mikey4444]

I am reminded of the real story of how the "medium" and astrologer was sacked many years ago, by the then Editor of The Sun, Larry Lamb. He sent her a letter, starting :::::

" As you will already know by now......."!

[jourdain2]

Yes, it's wrong. There are a few people who can 'tune in', but they don't tend to charge anything. At the risk of being howled down, I sometimes know things which are impossible to know - and which happen. I have told people things which have since transpired. I DO NOT CHARGE. It's a special feeling of certainty which I can't control. When I get it (very rare) I now know that I can rely on it and tell whoever whatever. It's strange - can happen anytime out of the blue.

[mikey4444]

Jourdain...take more tonic with it, if I were you.

[douglas9401]

Being sacked from Most Haunted for being a fraud is surely the very definition of irony.

[jourdain2]

Honestly, mikey, it has happened sometimes - quite disturbing in fact.

[Cloverjo]

Jourdain, I think you might be forgetting the times you were wrong in your predictions and knowing impossible things. Of course you will remember the times you were right. There are countless books on things like this.

[jourdain2]

:o) I'll rethink - it has been disturbing.