Thoughts on Colin Fry

[eleanswers]

Does anyone watch the Colin Fry programme, where he apparently communicates with people 'passed over'...
What strikes me is how much tradgedy there is and how people suffer. But my question is:
1. Do people believe in this stuff ???
The first few times I watched, it looked quite convincing, even though I'm already familiar with 'cold reading' and other techniques used. But the more I see it, the more fake he looks.
2. Does anyone agree with me???
And 3. Has the programme influenced any beliefs of religion/afterlife etc??

[Theland]

I don't watch programmes like the one you mention, but I do believe that such people are a mix of charlatans, and some, who do indeed tap into a supernatural power, but an evil deceitful power, and they are best avoided.

[Theland]

fender62 - I suppose I can't argue with the fact that those mediums who truly do have a spiritual contact, are in the main, out to help people, although money must motivate some I guess.
But, I do believe that they are deceived into thinking that their contact is the spirit of a long lost loved one. My only reason for believing this is what is written about such matters in the Bible.

[naomi24]

Hello everyone, Some are genuine - but many aren't - and the people at the spiritualist churches don't take money. These are usually devout Christians (although Theland probably wouldn't call them Christians, would you Theland?).

Ele, I've seen Colin Fry on television and he's very impressive, but I don't know how much of the film ends up on the cutting room floor. It would be interesting to see him live on stage to see whether his live performance matches the TV performance.

[Theland]

Naomi - Indeed, I would not call their beliefs Christian, as they do not derive their authority from the Bible, but are relying on experience as well as the scriptures.

[naomi24]

Theland, Not even if they believe in salvation through Christ, which they do? Surely the way to salvation is through Christ?

[Theland]

Well there you go. I've learned something.
I've not been in the habit of frequenting spiritualist churches, and I admit to only knowing that they practice necromancy.
If they think about it though, they have a decision to make, as necromancy is unscriptural.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Jesus is in serious do do then; what about Lazarus?

Anyway, it's all utter rubbish. Not one medium is genuine.

[Theland]

Hiya Waldo - Maybe you are right and none of them are genuine, but if that's the case, then there must be some pretty convincing showmen amongst them, as so many people are utterly convinced by them.

[eleanswers]

you too can be one of those showmen it's called 'cold reading' here's how to... http://theskepticexpress.com/the_art_of_cold_r eading.php it's pretty obvious once you know.
And as you rightly mentioned naomi, the cutting room floor of the programme, yes I agree editing plays a major part in this art of deception.

[chakka35]

Call me a pedant if you like ( I am one, I suppose) but, as a film-maker, I object to the term "on the cutting-room floor". We do not treat out-takes so cavalierly. They get neatly wound up, marked with chinagraph, secured with elastic bands and put into a can labelled OUTS. Today's out-take might be tomorrow's life-saver if you later need a bit of extra footage.

[naomi24]

Chakka, you're a pedant. :o)

[eleanswers]

As a film-maker you should be familiar with where the term 'cutting room floor' derived. As indeed: film was originally spliced and left on the floor to be swept up by the janitor who in those days was Honk-Kong Fooey.

Nowadays the floor has been replaced by the recycle bin on the desktop, in non-linear editing. The outtakes you speak of would indeed be binned if they showed Colin Fry, his stooges, his researchers etc in the audience cue for the studio listening & chatting to the audience "I'm hoping he can give me a message from my son, he was only 31 when he died, terrible car crash" etc etc.. "Are you hoping to get a message today from Colin" this reveals a lot about that persons circumstances without them even realising they are disclosing this information to Colins team. And the bits he gets totally wrong obviously arn't shown.

[tompaine]

Hello Theland, I hope you are feeling better.

You're all going to have to move past this idea that truth is a numbers game. Millions of people once worshiped Thor or Zeus; Millions of people bought into the idea that Milli Vanilli could sing. The thousands of conflicting religious claims around the world should put to bed any notion that if enough people believe it must be true. Colin fry tried to convince people he could levitate a trumpet with ectoplasm! it was going so well until someone turned the lights on.

http://www.tonyyouens.com/psychic_news.htm

[eleanswers]

I think Tompaine summs up the whole thing with his excellent link.

Colin Fry previously known as Lincoln (not in another life but this one), is what's known in the industry as a 'Mentalist' ... Darren Brown is also one, the best. This is no supernatural gift but a lot of study, research & practice. Colin Fry is a fake. Anyone who believes in him should research Mentalism and discover the gadgets & the techniques used in this kind of deception. Even Darren Brown decieves us with his explanations of hypnosis etc, that's not true either. I have a 'Mentalist' friend and you wouldn't believe what they can get away with on the unsuspecting persons, it's blatent.

I can see why people choose to believe in Colin Fry, he provides enormous comfort for those with lost ones, reason enough. But it's still a con at the end of the day and as always the motivation being money. Thanks for all your contributions to this thread.

[tompaine]

Thanks eleanswers for giving me my first (and probably last) good review.

three stars to you.

[naomi24]

Oh I would have loved to have seen the trumpet incident - how funny - but not so funny for those he was trying to dupe!!

[Theland]

Hello Tompaine - Sadly, I believe that there are at least some mediums that are genuine, but their power source is wicked.

[joko]

hang on... you think all mediums etc are charlatans and frauds - yet you believe that one bloke turned water into wine, actually parted the red sea, and came back from the dead, amongst other unbelievable things, in an age when there could have been no technological trickery used???

why is that any more believable than psychic powers?