John Edwards.. what do you think?

[RaciePSB]

I'm pinching myself here! I managed to buy the last ticket to tomorrow night's John Edward gallery here in Brisbane. I'm somewhat of a fan, but going with an entirely open mind. Hoping for an appearance from my grandmother, or even my friend David Spedding (for those who remember him from the old forums), but bearing in mind there will be 3,000 other people with similar hopes I'm not holding my breath.

..Has anyone here been to a JE show? What did you think?

[redsock]

John Edwards ?

He wowed the crowds a few years ago, but I'm not sure if he's capable of doing 18 meters anymore !

[Joemoz]

I gather you're not talking about the (ex) presidential candidate?

As for talking to the dead...if you believe it, then good for you To be perfectly honest, I find it sad that some frauds make money off people's losses and desperate hopes. John Edward is a good example, it seems.

A couple of articles that might interest people...

http://www.skeptic.com/newsworthy13.html
http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-11/i-files.html

Sorry to be such a spoilsport... I just think we need to look at the facts. And www.skeptic.com is a good place to start.

[Lush]

I gather you're not talking about the (ex) presidential candidate?

As for talking to the dead...if you believe it, then good for you To be perfectly honest, I find it sad that some frauds make money off people's losses and desperate hopes. John Edward is a good example, it seems.

Interestingly, this description also fits presidential candidate John Edwards, who has spent most of professional life chasing ambulances

[RaciePSB]

Oh great. Next you'll be trying to tell me there there is no Santa.

Seriously, I have read all the skeptic literature, as well as a few books written by both camps, and will be going along with a very open mind. Will report back here if anything noteworthy happens, assuming anyone's interested..

[Deschanel]

I'm awfully sorry Racie, but i think he's a hideous fraud.

I understand that he has sensitive microphones picking up conversations among the audience. And that these are used in his "miraculous" visions.

It's a fraud that was widespread in 19th century America- promising people reunion with loved ones, especially after the US Civil War- where a hundred thousand young men died in battle.

So many dead at the time led to the growth of "Spiritualism"- a hoax where bereaved families could communicate with the dead. But it was cruel hucksterism, taking advantage of people who wanted to believe.

I fear that this John Edwards is more of the same. Actually, I know it, and I can't stand to see him on TV.

And never trust anyone with two first names. Seriously!
"John Edwards". What a fraudulent pseudonym, what a grifter.

Honestly, he's a fraud and I feel he causes pain to well-meaning people.

[LittleBummerBoy]

Will report back here if anything noteworthy happens, assuming anyone's interested..

Can't wait.

[RaciePSB]

Okay. I went along with my big open mind, a full hour early. I watched everybody closely, and tried to spot 'scouts'. I rummaged around my row of seats for any signs of microphones, and I observed the film crew. Must say I don't think people were overly chatty with each other, it's almost as though they were all thinking what I was thinking and not wanting to give too much away.

First there were promos on huge tv. screens, and then after a brief introduction JE strided accross the stage. I was fairly close to the front, and couldn't see any sign of ear peices, or equipment on him - (which is not to say there weren't any). He was actually quite funny, and had a dirty sense of humour which seemed to tickle some of the oldies in the audience! After some niceties he launched straight into it, and I was amazed by his energy and forthrightness. I was expecting to see a much more drawn out, more boring version of what he does on television, but actually his live show was very much like his tv shows, and wouldn't have left a lot of room for any editing. He was AMAZINGLY spot on with his information, and came up with things he could NOT reasonably have known.

Much of the information he came out with was very personal and specific to the individual he was reading (such as that one woman who'd lost a pregnancy had actually had to terminate because of problems, and it was not a miscarraige as her family thought), - I mean how could he research that?? And if he were able to commit all of the info in those readings to memory, and know who was sitting where over a non-stop three hour period, he deserves a medal for having that ability!

Obviously I can't come away knowing 100% that he was for real, but I can honestly say I saw NOTHING that raised any alarm bells, and believe me I was looking hard. His readings were amazingly accurate, and he didn't mess around with lucky guesses or have multiple tries with names, he was usually pretty spot on with his initials or names, or the circumstances.

Another thing.. he preferred to come up a blank than have someone claim information that wasn't pertaining to them personally. For example he spoke of somebody who'd shot themselves, with a P initial, who was a father figure. Someone claimed an uncle who'd shot himself, and said they also had a nephew 'Pete'. Could have ended there, but JE insisted otherwise. Eventually, about an hour later (with other readings in between), someone in that section claimed a father, named Peter, had shot himself - at which point JE came through with more specific information for that person. Point being, he could have left it be at the first person who'd claimed an uncle, if he were a shonk, but apparently would rather have left it a blank if it wasn't the right person, if that makes any sense.

One woman was pretty upset because she'd raised her hand to ask a question, and he ended up reading her, and her dead father came through to acknowledge an issue of 'abuse', which was obviously something very personal and traumatic for her in relation to her father. They had to end that reading because she got too upset. JE was adament (although clearly uncomfortable) about the abuse, and I can't imagine this woman would have been mouthing off that her dead father had abused her, while standing in line. So where does this information come from?

I went to this thing about 60% convinced JE was for real, and came out 95%. I would only be 100% if I was read myself. There were far, far too many instances of him getting information that he couldn't realistically access by prior research, and far too many obvious 'hits' to leave much room for doubt.

Anyway, this is my account of last night's Brisbane show. I would highly recommend the skeptics among you to at least go and see a show for yourself before you form an opinion.

Sorry for the rant..

[Deschanel]

Racie, whether JEdwards is for real or not, I think you are awesome, you've got a strong voice and opinions and I'm glad you found this place!
sincerely, Desch.

[RaciePSB]

Why thanks!

Yes, I can be pretty mouthy when I'm on a roll!

[York Minster]

If he is for real, why can't he just rattle off really super specific info? Because the connection to the dead is cloudy? Put him in an actual scientific experiment with double blind, then you can really know what's going on. When you have a random audience, it's up for grabs, too much gonzo.

[Drico One]

More forum necrophilia. Will you please stop exhuming six-year-old thread cadavers from the cobwebbed crypt of long-forgotten history?

Drico.

[York Minster]

This then begs the question, when is a thread officially dead? 3 months? 6 months? a year? never if it's topical? Please let me know so I can enforce strict limits on myself.

[Drico One]

You don't need to enforce any strict limits on yourself. A little basic self-restraint mixed with a smidgin of common sense works for most people.

Drico.

[York Minster]

@Drico - I have philosophical difficulties with common sense - please see forum discussion between myself and whateverman42. Self restraint is obviously not my best characteristic, nore am I most people, but thanks for the nice comments in the other thread, I'll see what I can do.