Detestable
September 29th, 2012 at 8:54 am by David FarrarStuff reports:
A celebrity psychic who wants to get in touch with earthquake and Pike River coalmine victims from beyond the grave says she only wants to help families heal, despite criticism by sceptics.
Australian Sensing Murder psychic Deb Webber will hold a free “private reading” on Monday for families of those killed in the February 2011 quake and another for Pike River mine disaster families in Greymouth next month.
NZ Skeptics spokeswoman Vicki Hyde said the sessions were “another sick example” of exploitation by the psychic industry, using vulnerable, grieving families as “a marketing drive” for free publicity.
“It’s as bad as any of those shonky finance companies putting up free investment evenings – and it’s about as useful,” she said. “No doubt at some point she will also be selling her services, which are very highly priced.”
Webber, who is on a “Hope and Heal” New Zealand tour, said she “can’t understand” the criticism.
“People need healing; I never want to cause anyone more grief,” she said.
No, you just want to use their suffering to boost your profile. What a contemptible human being.
And sceptic is not the correct term for those who don’t believe in psychics. That’s like claiming someone who doubts the Tooth Fairy is a sceptic.
She will also hold a free public meditation session and a sold-out public show that seats 150 and costs $70 a head in Christchurch tomorrow.
Webber said those who considered her work a money-making venture should “look at my bank account”. “I’m actually skint,” she said.
$10,500 from one show is pretty good money from the desperate and gullible. And she has 15 – 20 shows lined up in NZ.
If you are of the gullible persuasion, see this episode where she was fooled into claiming she was talking to a dead husband who never existed.
September 29th, 2012 at 8:58 am
What? She never saw it coming???
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Disaster capitalism.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Yea, let’s make this about capitalism, not about some fraud trying to use a disaster to push her own brand of hokey.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:08 am
The usual comments about Christian pastors claiming that God is looking after the victims.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:10 am
If I recall correctly she also was on Stuff a few months back announcing her visit to Christchurch.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:14 am
Why you don’t ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Reminds me of politics.
We line up to listen to what we know are lies and then fork out our taxes for the privelige.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:22 am
Psychic reading cancelled.Due to unforeseen circumstances.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:42 am
The difference is that they’re not purposely lying to grab fame or money. They’re just ignorant.
This woman is despicable. But sadly there’s a market for this. It’s not just stupid people, but people who never seemed to learn how to think critically about things.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:53 am
I’m getting a name…I’m sensing that it… ummm, it’s coming…it starts with ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:00 am
tristanb (911) Says:
September 29th, 2012 at 9:42 am
The usual comments about Christian pastors claiming that God is looking after the victims.
The difference is that they’re not purposely lying to grab fame or money. They’re just ignorant.
Never heard of Brian Tamaki? Crefflo A Dollar? Jim Bakker? The Pope? Never seen the signs offering “healing sessions” at christian churches?
The law should come down with full force on all these fakes and charlatans, every last one of the thieving, lying and manipulating arseholes. But if it was enforced against psychics, it would also have to be enforced against the far more powerful churches.
[DPF: Stop trolling. There is a huge difference between believing in the concept of life after death, and between someone claiming they can regularly talk to actual dead people]
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:07 am
How would you “word that law”?
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:16 am
niggly (591) Says:
September 29th, 2012 at 10:07 am
How would you “word that law”?
No need to create a new law, simply use the existing laws around false and misleading conduct in trade. Either they can prove their claims and carry on, or they cannot prove and must cease and desist making the claims or be fined. Just as any other business would be.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Do you think the politicians would enforce “existing laws” in that manner?
I mean what if some counter-legal challenge challenged the existing laws and the Supreme Court finally rules that the politicians must also abide by those same acts?
So how do we hold those politicians to account, like say Labour who change or ignore the law as it suits them?
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Jimmy Smits: The usual comments about Christian pastors claiming that God is looking after the victims.
If your pastor purports to be the intermediary between God and you, and to speak in his name, run.
The Bible actually contains a famous test to detect frauds. It’s in Deuteronomy 18:20-22:
But I expect you well know no pastor claims these things (with extremely few exceptions). Bereaved families often speak of God looking after them, and pastors may quote sections of the Bible where God promises to look after the widow and the orphan. But that’s a very different claim: we have persons who themselves experience God’s care, not someone who is claiming that for them and no way to check if it’s true, and making a tidy sum in the process.
Well, except the Roman Catholics of course. There you can pay money to the priest and they will make sure your loved ones spent less time in purgatory. No way to check, and some nice money made in the process.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:31 am
A new definition of shafting for the miners on the West Coast. Sigh….(then) kick.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Twenty meetings with 150 people at each, paying out $70 for the privilege?
Just goes to show there are still at least three thousand ove-paid dumbarses in New Zealand.
I wonder how many of their kids turn up at school with empty bellies?
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Many people derive comfort from some form of faith-based belief, and the spectrum of providers is vast, from psychics and ‘alternative healers’ of various sorts from the scurrilous through the semi-harmless to the mildly helpful. Conventional religion sits at the more ethical end of the spectrum.
For leeches like this one to function, she needs a willing, hopeful and gullible audience. It’s sad but she’ll have no trouble finding one and making money from their misfortune.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 11:35 am
First of all, what the fuck’s Deuteronomy and what relevance does it have to modern day living? Here’s another gem from it:
Secondly, here’s a test for you:
Please, less time preaching, more time drinking poison and being bitten by snakes. Oh yeah, and go do some healings such as raising the Pike River victims from the dead, as that is what Jesus says his followers can do:
Again, see above verse – Christians claiming that they can heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy. Equally as sick of a religion as any other superstition. Let us not forget that the Bible has no issue with talking to the dead:
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 11:40 am
The great thing about you DPF and the rest of the other atheists is that you don’t want to have anything to do with this psychic crap. That’s God’s gift to atheists as far as I’m concerned.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Aredhel777
….”That’s God’s gift to atheists as far as I’m concerned.”…..
Not really. It’s just that the perception that allows us to see what a load of horse shit one scenario based on intangible faith represents works just as well on all others.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
I think you’ll find its disaster socialism hambreath. After all, she is playing to the dull witted who believe that something other than hard work and facing facts will save the day.
If that’s not fucking socialism, I dont know what is.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
“….Webber said those who considered her work a money-making venture should “look at my bank account”. “I’m actually skint,” she said….’
Well that’s because it takes a fucken lot of money to fly first class dressed like Princess Kate to Switzerland to find out that your account balance is as fucken nil as your fucken feelings.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
UMM, Stop and think.
Now I know the GCSB, SIS and NZP plus amany assortred politicians would all love to control everyone everyday and everything they do,
BUT, last time I looked Kiwis were still free to choose their beliefs and the shows they go to, shows they watch amd most things they participate in.
Personally I can’t be stuffed watching the All Blacks but I dont tell all you heretics not to.
Vote:Mind your own fucking business.
Bunch of left wing control freak socialist tossers.
September 29th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
That’d be “Detestable” DPF (there’s a stray ‘s’ in there that had me spending several minutes wondering if you’d gone for a pun that went over my head, but that would have been “Debtestable”
).
And yes, it is. As a student of communication techniques in general and persuasive techniques in particular, I find “psychics” (the skilled ones anyway) a fascinating study. They can simultaneously interpret what a person is communicating and feed it back to them in such a way that the person sees it as a revelation, rather than a reflection of the information they’ve given.
If a “psychic” ever went into politics, they’d be unbeatable at public meetings. Every audience member, no matter what their political persuasion, would leave believing the candidate had said exactly what they were thinking
How’s it’s all done is explained very well here for those that are interested.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Easiest job in the world must be working as a Muslim psychic
“I’m getting an ‘M’…… Does the name ‘Mohammed’ mean anything to anyone in the room?”
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
niggly:How would you “word that law”?
How about like this:
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
Again, see above verse – Christians claiming that they can heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy. Equally as sick of a religion as any other superstition. Let us not forget that the Bible has no issue with talking to the dead:
1. The son of God claimed he could heal the sick and raise the dead – not christians. No one today claims that they can raise the dead. Some people do claim that they can heal, and other christians will quite happily point to them as frauds. I recommend the book “Charismatic Chaos”.
2. The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a parable. It’s purpose is to point out that once you’re dead, that’s it. It involves dead people talking to spiritual beings – not living people.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Unintentionally ironic comment of the day. Most superstitions are exploitative in one way or another.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 6:25 pm
I have a reading disabilty. When I see the word “psychic” I read it as “pissed chic”
Vote:There aint a lot of males that do this psychic stuff – why is that?
September 29th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
It should be renamed Sensing BS.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 7:15 pm
There’s that Kelvin chap…sounds like what we used to call “a pansy”…not now we have all been thoroughly educated of course…completely off topic…but where’s the phool? does anyone know what happened to it?
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
The worst thing is the way that TV panders to these people.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Phil u, if that’s who you are referring to DG, appears to have chosen to not post here any more, although it looks like he may still be reading kiwiblog. So if you keep going on about him he might come back.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Dear Mr Garrett
Please don’t.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 7:45 pm
@David Garret – I am ambivalent about your various misdemeanors committed years ago but I would never forgive you for resurrecting He who should not be named.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Sadly, a good deal of the grieving have already fallen for this crap and are eagerly awaiting her arrival in town. I really wanted to say something to the people I know, but I think I would be perceived as being insensitive.
As the old saying goes, if you don’t believe in God you will believe in just about anything else.
Vote:September 29th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
It’s based on a belief in an after life (and plausibly one including God), not atheism. And sure exploiting that faith in others by those who are performing an act.
Believing in extras, like the bible being written by those who can channel the word of God, being born again and awaiting rapture, or intercessionary prayer to the dead (saints etc), is not based on not believing in God. The bible says a certain King Saul consulted with mediums – not that the bible writing commends him for it.
The whole field of faith is one full of opportunity for the con man. Once authoritarian religion of the tradition of patriarchy is removed, women have equal opportunity. If we have freedom of belief and faith, then we must suffer American evangelists and local imitators on our TV (and we know they live lives full of material blessing) and mediums as well.
The idea that those not guilty of blasphemy against God (our religious traditions) are allowed by God to channel the dead, because they are innocent of false religion, is not without credibility. In here lies the credibility for those disillusioned with organised religion.
And if the reassurance to those who believe provides comfort, is not the money as well spent by them as a visit to a therapist or to a motivational speaker? Thus the reason why people do this, quite apart from the fact it is a field of faith not dominated by men and some women find this empowering.
Vote:September 30th, 2012 at 12:49 am
“[DPF: Stop trolling. There is a huge difference between believing in the concept of life after death, and between someone claiming they can regularly talk to actual dead people]”
Oh really DPF? The main solace of a belief in life after death is that you can continue contact with your loved ones, passed or yet to pass, directly or with some “help”. What I’m missing here?
Vote:September 30th, 2012 at 7:42 am
I get the impression that politics is no less detestable. Some are no less eager to capitalise on death if it helps score points over the opposition. And some are equally publicity hungry.
Vote:September 30th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10710402
Of course Deb Webber knew the quakes were coming all along (though why she didn’t actually warn anybody isn’t quite clear…)
This person is a disgusting piece of excrement.
Vote:September 30th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
“and says it won’t be the last of the devastation.” [March 2011]
Perhaps she was referring to decades, centuries or eons, rather than the ‘imminent’ sense the quote carried
Vote:October 1st, 2012 at 9:02 am
Unfortunately, I suspect that the psychics in question would probably cite the relevant sections of the Bill of Rights to do with religious freedom, and would probably be right. Unlike some other, more predatory religious organisations, most of the self-styled ‘psychics’ that I’ve met are usually Spiritualists, and that’s an otherwise benign and quite likeable religious minority, so they might have a point. Perhaps use consumer protection legislation if some are genuinely claiming that they have these imaginary capabilities?
Vote: