Protesting at Psychic Events?

[deithy]

Does anyone organise protests at psychic events?

I see Sally Morgan in touring the UK soon (although not quite filling arenas as she used to). I'm not too far from a few of the venues and I would be keen to show my displeasure (not quite sure what it would achieve though).

Has anyone got experience of this or know of any group/individual that does so?

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

May 4, 2019 10:22:28 GMT deithy said:

Does anyone organise protests at psychic events?

I see Sally Morgan in touring the UK soon (although not quite filling arenas as she used to). I'm not too far from a few of the venues and I would be keen to show my displeasure (not quite sure what it would achieve though).

Has anyone got experience of this or know of any group/individual that does so?

Mark Tilbrook famously would hand out leaflets outside of Sally Morgan gigs, well until her Husband and Son in Law started throwing homophobic abuse at him, used racist language, and threatened to kill him.

So keep in mind these people are criminals, and they will use whatever methods they can to try and put people off protesting.

Personally I see little point in protesting, you just make the fans more defensive and it allows the psychic to claim to be a victim being persecuted by the nasty skeptics.

If you want to do something, why not print out some basic posters and stick them on around the gig when no one is looking.

Feel free to use any advice from these links if you want
www.badpsychics.com/2018/03/a-start-in-how-to-expose-fake.html
www.badpsychics.com/2018/03/the-secrets-behind-spiritualist-church.html
www.badpsychics.com/2018/04/hot-reading-in-21st-century-how-modern.html

[deithy]

I saw the clips of Mark Tilbrook's confrontation and personally I found them to be laughable! They certainly wouldn't intimidate me, my biggest worry would getting arrested for something I did or said to them!

I get what you mean about there being little point. Most of the audience at these events seem to be regulars and often recent bereaved, so I don't think anything anyone says will change their minds. Likewise they seem to have someone in tow who in there with an 'open mind'. However, they have made the effort to attend and paid good money, so are they really objectively minded?

That said, it may fun though!

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Glad to hear you are not easily intimidated.
But you have to understand as i said previously these people are criminals.
I have had credible death threats over the years, pretty much non stop abuse for 16 years. I've had previous home addresses I lived out posted in public. My photo circulated amongst psychics so they could keep an eye out for me. I have been stalked a number of times.

I am clearly not an easy person to be intimidated, but these things do affect your family and loved ones.

As for being arrested, remember you have a legal right to protest.
My advice is to always be polite, even in the face of anger, stay calm, imagine every word and action you say and do is being recorded and could be used by the psychic to attack you.

You could print out this "bingo card" and hand it to people going into a show.
www.ncas.org/p/psychic-reading-bingo-psychic-reading.html

Make sure to remain on public property when doing so.

Record everything you do. And if you have a friend to keep an eye on you from afar, and even film too, that is good backup.

[deithy]

Thanks for that, but I've had a change of heart.

I watched few youtube clips including Prof Chris French talking about Sally (I think in was from the Merseyside Skeptics). I was left with the overall impression that overtly attempting to convert minds is hopeless and any protest is more likely to confirm their beliefs!

As a side issue I noted him saying that in his view most psychics weren't total liars, but actually believe they have psychic abilities who twist rules in order to fit their 'powers' (or something like that). I found that quite interesting and sort of confirms my very limited experience with them.

Even Sally might not be a 100% fraud, but merely delusional? In other words she would use an ear-piece to give her psychic powers a bit of a boost to confirm what she already knew?

Maybe we should show them some sympathy? (Did I reallly say that!!!)

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

Sally Morgan is 100% a fraud, all "celeb psychics" are.
There is no delusion excuse with them.

Chris French is often very careful in what he says, mainly due to the fact he earns a living from this and often has to work WITH psychics as part of his job.

I on the other hand have no such career issues stopping me from speaking the truth.

What you should try to understand better about is the "moment of justification" this is a term I coined, whereby every "honest" psychic will reach a point whereby they realise that their delusion is just that, and that by cheating they can "help things along"

At this point they often faced with a decision, stop what they are doing and accept they were never psychic at all, or justify the fraud under the false assumption they are helping people, and why not get paid along the way.

[adey67]

Usually the only people who protest psychic events are fundamentalist evangelical Christians.
I don't know if you have a belief system but you might not want to be associated with a bunch of woo merchants calling out another bunch of woo merchants using arguments that are woo based.

Back in the mid 90s there was a psychic fair and our local paper ran a story on the fair and on a woman in it who for a fee would put women who had abortions in contact with the spirits of their dead foetuses in order to provide healing and reconciliation between them. I considered that a step too far and wrote to the local paper who props to them published my letter in full, prompting a furious response from the woman herself, all her cronies and the fair organisers, clearly my letter had a significant effect of some sort so if you feel strongly motivated to protest these clowns then a fact based letter to the editor of your local paper could be a good starting point. Just be aware however that they will likely respond quite vigorously because they will perceive you as a threat to their income and they become quite wearing after a time (just ask Jon)

[deithy]

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful answers, but I've had a change of heart. I actually met a flat-earther and discussed the 'evidence' with them. After two minutes I gave up as it was glaringly obvious nothing I could do or say would make the slightest difference! I suspect Sally Morgan's fanbase are of a similar mindset!

On a sidenote I once went to a dinner party years ago the guest of someone who I thought I knew fairly well. During the evening, him and his wife spouted off about who their previous house being haunted and gave examples of various incidents, including being assaulted by spirits! I & others were fairly gobsmacked and being guests were polite (I think I may have even sympathised about the assault). Anyway, again I didn't confront as it seemed pointless!

Maybe a softer approach is needed?

[Mr. Jon Donnis]

I love flat earthers, they are my favourite people.

Best way to deal with them is not to argue, just ask them to prove to you the earth is flat using science.
As long as you understand the science they should always fail.

[adey67]

May 13, 2019 8:28:45 GMT deithy said:

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful answers, but I've had a change of heart. I actually met a flat-earther and discussed the 'evidence' with them. After two minutes I gave up as it was glaringly obvious nothing I could do or say would make the slightest difference! I suspect Sally Morgan's fanbase are of a similar mindset!

On a sidenote I once went to a dinner party years ago the guest of someone who I thought I knew fairly well. During the evening, him and his wife spouted off about who their previous house being haunted and gave examples of various incidents, including being assaulted by spirits! I & others were fairly gobsmacked and being guests were polite (I think I may have even sympathised about the assault). Anyway, again I didn't confront as it seemed pointless!

Maybe a softer approach is needed?

I do quite a lot of debating on online forums and you tube, usually debunking religion and quack health cures, you are right that the chances of convincing the person you are arguing with are usually very small especially if they are heavily invested and entrenched in their beliefs but its far from pointless. While you probably won't convince the individual you are engaging don't forget that there maybe many others silently following the discussion who might be either undecided or teetering on the edge of belief, those are your real target audience and so long as you know your stuff and are honest and use fact based arguments you can make a significant impact on them and sometimes change minds too.