Due to constant misunderstanding with my name I feel the need to change my intro. I am hateful, hateful of religion. I hate what religion does to people and that people use it as an excuse to not think. I have spent many years of my life as an Atheist and have learned to handle my emotions, but no other word quite describes how I feel towards religion short of hate. I am outspoken, open minded, and will share my opinion. If you're looking for someone who will always agree with you, that won't be me.
The Out Campaign: Scarlet Letter of Atheism
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9th May 2012

Question with 19 notes

Anonymous asked: I watch this show called 'Long Island Medium' and it's basically what it sounds like. She's a medium and she meets with people and she has spirits of their loved ones talk to her. The things she knows about these people, and the things she says is unreal. My friends have also have had experiences with mediums, so it's not fake, because mediums know mind blowing amounts. So basically this medium said Spirit said "heaven is for real." Opinion on how all of that is possible? I'm just confused.

I don’t know if this is the same person that asked about demon possession but these came in close together. Mediums are frauds, mediums are scam artists, and if you ever gave a cent of your money to one for anything other than a laugh you were duped. Mediums make use of an art that is called “cold reading” and very practiced individuals can do it with amazing and startling precision.

There are different tactics they use but most of them are fairly similar. Throwing out a vague line like “I feel that something is bothering you….” or “You’ve lost someone close to you…” always paying close attention to the emotions and reactions of the person. Once someone volunteers any small bit of information they hone in on it and exploit it to the fullest. They end it with some happy nonsense about “They don’t want you to worry” or “They want to tell you they love you” to give you a big happy smile to go home with. Usually when these stories are recounted to other people they are presented in a way that makes it seem as if the medium knew more than they did. Suddenly “Did someone close to you die recently?” becomes “She knew about my dead grandma and I didn’t even tell her!”

Some mediums even buy in to their own garbage so much they actually think that they are “helping” people cope instead of simply pilfering their hard earned money with a carnival trick. The fact that so many shows are dedicated to absolutely nutty garbage is only a sign that we have a long way to go in pushing rational though. If we truly embraced logic and reason we wouldn’t have shows like “Long Island Medium” or “Ancient Aliens” or “Ghost Hunters”. These shows only help spread misinformation, myth, and superstition. If you really believe that mediums are real find one, take them to Mr. James Randi and they will earn an easy million dollars by demonstrating their skills. It is a prize he has offered for years and no one has ever been able to complete the challenge. Until someone does, I have no qualms calling “mediums” a bunch of blood sucking scum.

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  1. davincisbarber said: Well said.
  2. p-y-r-e-f-l-i-e-s said: Ugh. My sisters buy into this garbage so bad. They honestly think our dead mother and grandpa talked to them through a medium. No. Just no.
  3. liamnicholson said: I suggest anyone interested in this sort of thing should watch some Derren Brown shows (if you can find them in the US), he basically explores every way these people can exploit you and convince you, with seemingly simply methods.
  4. life-science said: “Mediums are frauds, mediums are scam artists, and if you ever gave a cent of your money to one for anything other than a laugh you were duped.” My next facebook status. I’ll link you, don’t worry :)
  5. hatefulatheist posted this