May 2, 2003
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So for the first time in history, I watched a full episode of ‘Crossing Over,’ the show that demonstrates just how gullible people can be.
It’s called a ‘cold reading.’ Anyone with any wit and creativity about them can do it. Especially if they have a self-selecting roomfull of people who all want to ‘make contact.’ It’s really emotional judo, with people stepping up to be flipped by the master.
I think it would be instructive for people to watch that show and learn how it works. It’s the kind of sneakiness that you see all over the place, in advertising, in politics, in any situation where the crafty want control over the fuzzy-headed. It’s not that hard to understand.
First you make a selection statement. You just throw out something like, “I see a red rose and the letter S.” In a roomful of a hundred or so people, all desperately wanting to make the connection, it’s pretty likely you’re going to find someone who has a story about a rose and the letter S.
Then, after that, using the leverage of authority you get from your connection to the ‘spirit world,’ you make educated guesses about your target. If she’s a young woman, you talk about the dead grandmother. If he’s a crying middle-aged man, you talk about the dead mother or wife. If she’s a grandmother, you talk about the husband.
On and on like that. The target will fill in all the details for you when they verify that your shot-in-the-dark guess was actually a very specific message to them from someone who is dead. You only have to get them started and they’ll practically do the reading for you.
The medium gets props for putting on a good show, with his balance of ‘I’m a woo-woo psychic’ and ‘I’m just a guy who wouldn’t bullshit you.’ But he is a guy who would bullshit you.
Watch this show and think subversive thoughts. Please.
Comments (2)
I love the show. He’s awesome. He more often than not gives them the exact name of the person trying to communicate right from the beginning. If you’ve only watched one show, I implore you, watch 10. yes, TEN> after ten shows of genuine, unbiased viewing, I would like to know your opinion again. It will “waste” about 5 hours of your life. Luckily, it comes on twice in a row. So for 5 straight days..watch the double Crossing Over. I understand if its too much time to waste…but to live life with a judgement on not only John Edwards but all mediums due to one episode ….well, why live life with a judgement at all? I still havent passed judgement and I watch the show almost daily. I still have an eagle eye for what seems real and what seems “guessed”…but more often than not i’m pleasantly inspired.
Peace
Here’s what I want to do. I want to record the show and then freeze-frame the big, full-text disclaimer they flash either before or after the show (I can’t recall when, exactly). And then I want to read that sucker.
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