MELBOURNE
SUN ARTICLE transcript
PART
ONE - OCTOBER 8, 2002
CYNICS
WARY OF PSYCHIC
SCEPTICS
have questioned the supposed paranormal powers of US psychic John Edward
before his sold-out Australian tour.
The
popular psychic claims to contact the dead and to deliver messages to
their relatives in his audience. Critics
say he is a "cold reader" who throws general statements to the
audience and builds revelations on their feedback. But followers believe
he has made contact with loved ones on the other side.
Edward,
whose TV show, "Crossing Over" is seen on channel 10 and pay
television, is used to the criticism. "I really don't care what the
cynics may think," he told the Herald Sun recently. "What I
know is that what I do helps people and that's more important."
About
20,000 people have paid $75 each for tickets to Edward's January tour of
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Australian Skeptics Association
spokesman Barry Williams said Edward's "cold reading" method
ignored the details he got wrong. "Obviously nobody's going to go
along unless they've got a personal bereavement or grief." Mr
Williams said. "They have a strong disposition to believe, are
uncritical and (not) skeptical."
A
disclaimer at the end of Crossing Over explains the show is for
entertainment. "If people took it in that spirit, it's
entertainment," Mr Williams said. "But that's not what you see
on the show. They are in tears and they get false hope."
Victorian
University psychology lecturer Heather Gridley said the strong following
of psychic mediums could indicate people's need for a quick fix to their
problems. But she said psychologists worked towards long-term
solutions.
Edward
will appear at Rod Laver arena on January 31.
PART
TWO - OCTOBER 9, 2002
Grabbing
Gold from Grief
There's
a man making his name on television in this country who is best viewed
with your eyes closed. His name is John Edward and he claims to speak to
dead people.
While it is impossible to say that he does not, he will never convince a
sensible person that he does.
John Edward is collecting healthy ratings figures on CH 10 on Saturday
nights and he has a strong following on pay-TV as well. He is coming to
Australia for several live performances with the dead early next year,
and has already built a business in the US.
Sad and desperate people want to believe John Edward is making contact
with their dead relatives, and that is where his act moves from
showmanship into cruelty.
Vulnerable people willingly submit themselves to his games and when he
visits this country, many will pay for the privilege. But grief perverts
logic, which is why it is cruel to take money from people who are
desperate for a word from lost loved ones.
As
a test remove the visual influence and concentrate on the words. Turn
off the picture or turn your back, but just once "view" John
Edward with your eyes closed.
You will hear a TV presenter who speaks too fast. You will hear a man
who throws several rapid-fire possibilities at a person, and when they
embrace one, he will repeat it several times in different forms to get
continued agreement from his "subject", which gives the appearances
he has unearthed several facts.
It is called cold reading, and it is cold hearted.
Some critics claim John Edward has also organised electronic
eavesdropping on his audience before he meets them. It is claimed they
sit in the studio with cameras and microphones working and naturally
discuss what they hope to discover and which dead people they hope to
contact.
If it is true it is simple trickery.
If you must watch John Edward, watch him as a magician, not as a messiah
in touch with the dead. His act insults intelligence and exploits the
vulnerable.
