Sylvia Browne: Psychic or Fraud?

[DDM]

I'm posting about Sylvie Browne in the TV/Film thread because she is as much an entertainer who is dependent on The Montel Williams show, Larry King Live, & other television outlets such as the now cancelled Unsolved Mysteries & various ghost "documentaries."

Stop Sylvia Browne (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/home/) has documented several of Sylvia Browne's predictions & followed-up from their source or secondary sources to debunk Sylvia's so-called psychic powers comprehensively in its short time; in fact, Sylvia Browne's own organization has attempted & failed to shut the website down using intimidation. Therefore, I think Stop Sylvia Browne (http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/home/) is onto something.

Let me say, I believed in Sylvia's word--in part because Montel Williams support for her on his show; however, perhaps as a legal matter, he says himself that he does not believe in psychics. Yet he has Sylvia Browne on weekly to let her roll with her merchandise & books. I think Montel Williams is just as culpable as Sylvia Browne in supporting her fraudulent psychic "gifts."

Now, let me ask you, do you think Sylvia Browne is a true psychic or a fraud?

[Chase]

I think Browne exploits the hopeless who turn to her as their last resort.

[Jared]

I want to see her and John Edwards locked on a fake-psychic battle, South Park style.

[Sanagi]

Now there's a question that answers itself...

[DDM]

There's also the very public Shawn Hornbeck case in which Sylvia stated on The Montel Williams show that Sean was DEAD & abducted by a dark skinned man with dreadlocks; however, Sylvia was proven wrong when Shawn Hornbeck was found ALIVE & the man who abducted him is white with short brown hair.

I have always wondered why Montel never did any follow-up shows to Sylvia's predictions, but now I know why: His follow-up show would expose her as a fraud.

[Scorpion13]

Why are you even asking this question? Who is going to say she's genuine?

[DDM]

I want to see her and John Edwards locked on a fake-psychic battle, South Park style.

Sylvia Browne, John Edwards, James Van Praagh, & Rosemary Altea should all be locked up together.

[DDM]

Sylvia Brown: Exploring Psychic Powers (http://youtube.com/watch?v=fVsNsUBpPrw) (1989)

Note all her hits are misses with EVERYONE in the audience.

[DDM]

Why are you even asking this question? Who is going to say she's genuine?

Sylvia Browne has a devoted following. Alot of her predictions are so vague that the readers want to believe she is right.

[DDM]

I think Browne exploits the hopeless who turn to her as their last resort.

She also charges up to $700.00-$750.00 for one phone reading. I have read elsewhere a personal reading from Sylvia can be about $2000.00 per person!

Her son also charges $450.00 for one phone reading, although he is far more inept at cold reading than his mother.

[Scorpion13]

Sylvia Browne has a devoted following. Alot of her predictions are so vague that the readers want to believe she is right.

Well, we dont usually have those psycho's frequent the boards.

[DDM]

Well, we dont usually have those psycho's frequent the boards.

I don't think her followers are psychos; she just gets them at their weakest to prey on them instead of pray for them.

[Scorpion13]

I don't think her followers are psychos; she just gets them at their weakest to prey on them instead of pray for them.

Well, not all of them are crazy, but you can be there is a susbstinative portion of them that are.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

She like anyone who preys on the grieving. Its sad....and I'd love to see them meet a real spirit who isn't happy with these people using those who just wanna talk to their loved ones.

[Scorpion13]

She like anyone who preys on the grieving. Its sad....and I'd love to see them meet a real spirit who isn't happy with these people using those who just wanna talk to their loved ones.

And not like in Ghost, oh no, like that zombie from Creepshow.

"Its Father's day....I want my CAKE...."

[Armless Penguin]

Well, not all of them are crazy, but you can be there is a susbstinative portion of them that are.

That's a rather large and unsubstantiated, not to mention possibly insulting, generalization. Just because someone believes in supernatural phenomena doesn't mean they're crazy--no more so, at least, than anyone who believes in any kind of spirituality, including religion.

That said, I don't believe she's genuine. I've actually had this discussion with my mother before, who is really into New Age beliefs and has read some of Browne's books and tends to Tivo her Montel appearances, and even she admits that she doesn't really believe Browne's psychic. It's all just a form of entertainment for the viewer, which is sad as it's the victims who are being exploited.

[DDM]

I believe the well known, publicly known, television savvy so-called psychics or mediums such as Sylvia Browne, John Edwards, James Van Praagh, & Rosemary Altea are bonafide fakes. However, I believe psychics do exist.

[drwho]

I voted fraud although I do believe in psychics. I personally have not heard any of her predictions come true. Also I am skeptical when she says she sees spirits around everyone she reads.

[DDM]

I voted fraud although I do believe in psychics. I personally have not heard any of her predictions come true. Also I am skeptical when she says she sees spirits around everyone she reads.

Most of Sylvia's predictions don't come true. The difference is Sylvia is not held accountable for her misdeeds.

[Armless Penguin]

I believe the well known, publicly known, television savvy so-called psychics or mediums such as Sylvia Browne, John Edwards, James Van Praagh, & Rosemary Altea are bonafide fakes. However, I believe psychics do exist.

You feel the same way I do, then. :cool:

[drwho]

I'm really big on psychics cus I do believe that people can sense the energy from other people. I consider myself empathic because a lot of times I can sense the different energies that an environment and people may give off. I have also had readings where some of the things were right some weren't.

[Scorpion13]

That's a rather large and unsubstantiated, not to mention possibly insulting, generalization. Just because someone believes in supernatural phenomena doesn't mean they're crazy--no more so, at least, than anyone who believes in any kind of spirituality, including religion.

That said, I don't believe she's genuine. I've actually had this discussion with my mother before, who is really into New Age beliefs and has read some of Browne's books and tends to Tivo her Montel appearances, and even she admits that she doesn't really believe Browne's psychic. It's all just a form of entertainment for the viewer, which is sad as it's the victims who are being exploited.


I dont think Ive ever said that theyre crazy because they believe in the supernatural. You just assumed.

[Armless Penguin]

I dont think Ive ever said that theyre crazy because they believe in the supernatural. You just assumed.

No, you implied, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You said that a generic group of people were crazy. What do these people have in common? What's their sole defining characteristic? A belief in Browne's "powers," and thus a belief in the supernatural. I don't think that's a terrible stretch. If you don't want people to assume something like that, please express your thoughts more clearly.

[The Zapper]

The real psychics aren't on TV.

[Scorpion13]

No, you implied, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You said that a generic group of people were crazy. What do these people have in common? What's their sole defining characteristic? A belief in Browne's "powers," and thus a belief in the supernatural. I don't think that's a terrible stretch. If you don't want people to assume something like that, please express your thoughts more clearly.

I will express my opinions however I wish.

If you want to construct a scenario in which you can pretend to have been victimized, please feel free to do so without my involvment.

[marshal99]

Paying so much money for a fraud ? I would rather pay it to someone like psychic whacko Joan Ocean , at least she would take you on an undersea exploration adventure with some so-called "telepathic" communications with dolphins and whales and sometimes underwater aliens to boot.

http://www.joanocean.com/index.html

[The Zapper]

I will express my opinions however I wish.

If you want to construct a scenario in which you can pretend to have been victimized, please feel free to do so without my involvment.

You've jumped all over people for less. What comes around goes around dude.

[Scorpion13]

You've jumped all over people for less. What comes around goes around dude.

Bullshit. Show me when.

[The Zapper]

Bullshit. Show me when.

Go look at how you call me "pastor" for no reason in the
Bubba Nosferatu......cancelled thread. Bullshit indeed.

[Scorpion13]

Go look at how you call me "pastor" for no reason in the
Bubba Nosferatu......cancelled thread. Bullshit indeed.

Really? You felt you had to condescend to me like a stupid child because I thought that Bruce Campbell choosing not to do the movie because of creative differences was odd, seeing as how he has been in awful movies lately.

You responded with a pompous sermon about how he has the right to choose what he wants to do with his career. Yes, I understand that, but the point of the whole thing is that this is a discussion.

And then, you behave like I said the most awful thing possible to you.

But lets not get bogged down here, huh? You said I have a history of this, right? What other incidents are there? Id say one incident hardly counts as a "history", wouldnt you agree?

[The Zapper]

Really? You felt you had to condescend to me like a stupid child because I thought that Bruce Campbell choosing not to do the movie because of creative differences was odd, seeing as how he has been in awful movies lately.

You responded with a pompous sermon about how he has the right to choose what he wants to do with his career. Yes, I understand that, but the point of the whole thing is that this is a discussion.
I still don't see how anything I said was condescending to you at all.

And then, you behave like I said the most awful thing possible to you.
That's quite the exaggeration.

But lets not get bogged down here, huh? You said I have a history of this, right? What other incidents are there? Id say one incident hardly counts as a "history", wouldnt you agree?

I just said I've seen you jump all over people before. I didn't say you had a "history". So in a way, I agree with you on that. I also agree with you that Sylvia Browne is a big huge fake.

[Scorpion13]

I still don't see how anything I said was condescending to you at all.


That's quite the exaggeration.



I just said I've seen you jump all over people before. I didn't say you had a "history". So in a way, I agree with you on that. I also agree with you that Sylvia Browne is a big huge fake.


Well then why are we fighting here? Ive never had a problem with you.

[The Zapper]

Well then why are we fighting here? Ive never had a problem with you.

Yeah. This is stupid. I'm taking the blame on this one. Write it off as everyone's a huge dick head (I'm the huge dick head in this case) from time to time.

[Toku King]

She's a leech. She steals the energies of people that are wishing for hope.
"Do you have a deceased friend? Well, that friend is happy in the afterlife."

[DDM]

The worst is when Montel Williams attempts to turn Sylvia's miss into a hit. Sylvia refuses to believe she is wrong even when she's wrong. It's supreme arrogance on her part & even Montel Williams who helps this leech spread her lies.

I hope the Sylvia Browne Corporation & Montel Williams show is sued for fraud. He has to be in on Sylvia's fraud given how much he protects her....