TJ guessed that a six-year-old likes animals. What are the odds?
October 5, 2021 6:46 PM Subscribe
Susan Gerbic, Mark Edward, and a volunteer cadre of
guerilla skeptics attempt to catch fraudulent psychics engaged in hot-reading, often in double-blinded stings such as Operation Onion Ring,
Operation Pizza Roll, and less successful
Operation Bumblebee and Operation Ice Cream Cone.
Those who prefer to listen can find two detailed
interviews at the Oh No Ross and Cary podcast. (previously)
(Arguably a two-year-old subject matter dupe, but mostly including recent events that happened after the the previous post was posted.)
(Arguably a two-year-old subject matter dupe, but mostly including recent events that happened after the the previous post was posted.)
Much as I hate Facebook, this is an actual good use of it: creating fake characters for a sting operation!
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:56 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:56 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
A medium recently guessed that my wife had a cat. My wife thought it was amazing until I pointed out we're both constantly covered in cat hair.
posted by krisjohn at 7:05 PM on October 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
posted by krisjohn at 7:05 PM on October 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Preying on the grief of children. Wow. You think that someone has hit the bottom of the barrel, and then someone else comes along and proves that it's just solidified crud and if you scrape hard enough...
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:28 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 7:28 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
Major props for the term "grief vampires", very apt description of these predators.
James Randi would be glad that at least some folks are carrying on with "investigating" these frauds.
posted by gtrwolf at 8:35 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
James Randi would be glad that at least some folks are carrying on with "investigating" these frauds.
posted by gtrwolf at 8:35 PM on October 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
'Grief vampire' is much more convenient than 'Biggest Douche in the Universe contender'.
posted by BiggerJ at 4:20 AM on October 6, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by BiggerJ at 4:20 AM on October 6, 2021 [4 favorites]
James Randi would be glad that at least some folks are carrying on with "investigating" these frauds.
One of Ross and Carrie (I think Ross) used to work for Randi, and his name and work comes up often in ONRAC. I don't listen regularly but dip in from time to time and he seems to be very much a guiding light for what they do on the show.
posted by Shepherd at 10:16 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
One of Ross and Carrie (I think Ross) used to work for Randi, and his name and work comes up often in ONRAC. I don't listen regularly but dip in from time to time and he seems to be very much a guiding light for what they do on the show.
posted by Shepherd at 10:16 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Although some of the URLs are, um, dead, the Southern Methodist University Physics Dept. has a nice collection of skeptical articles, examples, videos, methods, and other resources at Cold Reading, Talking to the Dead.
posted by cenoxo at 10:34 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by cenoxo at 10:34 AM on October 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
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That said, I really enjoyed the "Operation Onion Ring" episode of the podcast, so thanks for posting this!
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:51 PM on October 5, 2021 [3 favorites]