Fascinating article in Salon about John Edward, the “Crossing Over” TV psychic I’ve written about on this page before. The piece basically moves through the stages of (plausibly) debunking Edward as relying on a mixture of probability, reading people’s reactions, and the audience’s need to believe.
I think this is probably true.
But then it ends strangely, with the author acknowledging that if Edward provides some comfort to those grieving over a loss, maybe he’s earned his keep after all.
I think this is true as well.
John Edward postscript: On my walk today, I noticed that I had a small torn seam in my shorts, just below the crotch. (Yes, we’re not above revealing embarrassing personal details to entertain readers here at words mean things.) That made me think of the episode of “Friends” where Phoebe’s boyfriend was prone to unwittingly exposing himself with loose-fitting shorts. Then I went home, turned on the TV, and that exact episode was playing! I may just have to jump on this psychic bandwagon myself.
That’s not psychic stuff, that Jung stuff. Completely different. Sort of.
Adam, Adam, Adam,
My first posting here – how exciting!
As to your John Edwards comment, it put me to mind of a discussion I had recently with my friend Grace. A friend of hers recently became involved with a cultlike organization in San Diego, and she is very concerned. In discussing this with mutual friends, the point was raised that “Well, at least she’s happy.”
My response, of course (as you know, I always have a response) was “And a prefrontal lobotomy will also make you happy. I’m sure the Heaven’s Gate folks were ecstacic over their journey to the hereafter. Dotto for a good portion of the Jonestown gang. Having someone be ‘happy’ is a poor excuse to condone damaging behavior.”
And that, in a nutshell, is how I feel about Edwards. He’s a con artist, suckering these poor folks out of their money with a song and dance. He’s no better than Miss Cleo and her ilk, sponging money off those whose time and cash would be better spent in seeking professional and/or spiritual counseling.
As a side note, that reminds me of a recent conversation at my parents’ house. My mother was relating a recent dream in which her cousin, who passed away last year, was with her at their old house, dressed in a housedress and pincurls. My sister-in-law immediately commented “Well, she’s just trying to speak to you from the afterlife to tell you she’s OK.” My response was “OK… but don’t you think she would have taken the time to dress up a little bit? Put on a little makeup, a nice dress. And pin curls? Poor Aunt Mabel has got to do her own hair in the afterlife? I don’t think so.” Comments which, if you knew Aunt Mabel, were perfectly true. Unfortunately, Sally was less than thrilled with my thoughts. Oh well – at least she hasn’t held it against me.
Mom, by the way, agreed with me wholeheartedly. Aunt Mabel, she said, never did her own hair.
Lisa
Oops. Make that John Edward. Must be all those years of Little House books that promted my misspelling.