[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I've been to Cassadaga; and I'm skeptical that a whole town is full of genuine psychics and mediums.
I've known Suzanne Giesemann for years, and I can only speak knowledgeably about her.
Suzanne is a retired US Military Commander and her husband is a retired Submarine Captain. I highly doubt she is seeking fame and fortune.
She found she had abilities as a medium after she retired, as a result of her pregnant step-daughter being killed by lightening.
I am convinced that Suzanne is genuine; but in no way am I trying to convince anyone to change their belief system.

From her web site:

"Due to the high number of requests I receive for readings, my waiting list currently has over 350 people with some who have been waiting over a year and a half. New people added to the list may likely have to wait up to two years.

The cost of a reading is $200."

Now, this $70,000 of potential income may not be "fortune," but it is not to be sniffed at since it is in addition to what she makes in personal appearances.

Then there are her "monthly webinars" at $25 per session, and who knows how many people are signed up.

Among her future bookings this year are:

Mediumship Class - Tacoma, WA $250 per person, 50 student limit. ($12,500)

Afterlife Communications Symposium (Workshop) - Phoenix, AZ $40 per person, limit 400 people. ($16,000)

Mediumship Class - Salt Lake City, UT $222 per person, 50 limit. ($11,100)

Adventures in Consciousness - Carbonville, CO - $25 per person, limit not given. (?)

That's about $100,000 (figuring that not every meeting fills up) plus the webinar income and income from the ten books she has written.

Of course this is "gravy" on top of the retirement income and benefits she receives as a Navy Commander, and her husband receives as a Navy Captain.

The meetings listed are just through the end of September 2017. She has bookings though November of 2018.

This is not an attack on the lady's entrepreneurship. It is to point out to Barefoot that the practice of being a Medium can be lucrative.

[manaboutown]

The medium business sounds like a winner to me - and I have yet to be struck by lightning!

Set your own schedule, no scholastic preparation/degree/certification required. Cash income. Where do I sign up?

[GeoGeo]

I would like to talk to a bunch of people who have been to a medium and see what they think. I watch that tv show that is on now.....can't think of the name of it.....Tyler is the guy's name and he reads famous Hollywood people. They act like there is no way he could have known the things he comes up with because they said it things that have never been published or they have never talked about to anyone. But if you haven't gone through it yourself, how you to say for sure if it is real or not. There are a lot of things we don't understand even though we have scientists, so maybe this is one of those things that could be real. And then again even if it is real there are always people who will pretend to be a medium just to get money. How many of you have been to a medium?

[biker1]

OK, so I was trained as a scientist so I will respond. Typically, if the results cannot be reproduced by others then there is a significant doubt. Also, without peer review, any results are suspect. I am not saying that new phenomenon cannot be discovered. It is just that the probability is remote without corroboration. As I stated before, there is a difference between faith and fact. Mediums fall into the category of faith. Scientists deal with facts.

Originally Posted by GeoGeo

I would like to talk to a bunch of people who have been to a medium and see what they think. I watch that tv show that is on now.....can't think of the name of it.....Tyler is the guy's name and he reads famous Hollywood people. They act like there is no way he could have known the things he comes up with because they said it things that have never been published or they have never talked about to anyone. But if you haven't gone through it yourself, how you to say for sure if it is real or not. There are a lot of things we don't understand even though we have scientists, so maybe this is one of those things that could be real. And then again even if it is real there are always people who will pretend to be a medium just to get money. How many of you have been to a medium?

[Allegiance]

Originally Posted by biker1

OK, so I was trained as a scientist so I will respond. Typically, if the results cannot be reproduced by others then there is a significant doubt. Also, without peer review, any results are suspect. I am not saying that new phenomenon cannot be discovered. It is just that the probability is remote. As I stated before, there is a difference between faith and fact.

In other words, those that believe are most likely tricking themselves into believing the absurd.

[biker1]

Probably. I choose that word carefully as I deal with probabilities because we don't know what new knowledge tomorrow will bring. However, if it brings them comfort then I don't see an issue - sort of like religion which is faith based (if case you are wondering I was raised Catholic). Just don't try to convince me without proof. But to someone who is hurting, what I, or anyone else thinks, doesn't really matter.

Originally Posted by Allegiance

In other words, those that believe are most likely tricking themselves into believing the absurd.

[Allegiance]

Originally Posted by biker1

Probably. I choose that word carefully as I deal with probabilities because we don't know what new knowledge tomorrow will bring. However, if it brings them comfort then I don't see an issue - sort of like religion which is faith based (if case you are wondering I was raised Catholic). Just don't try to convince me without proof. But to someone who is hurting, what I, or anyone else thinks, doesn't really matter.

I logically will doubt other things the believers say as truthful.

[goodtimesintv]

The Word of God is clear on the sorcery, divination, fortune telling, mediums.

See this chapter in the Book of Acts:

Acts 16 NABRE - Chapter 16 - Paul in Lycaonia: Timothy. - Bible Gateway


.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by biker1

Probably. I choose that word carefully as I deal with probabilities because we don't know what new knowledge tomorrow will bring. However, if it brings them comfort then I don't see an issue - sort of like religion which is faith based (if case you are wondering I was raised Catholic). Just don't try to convince me without proof. But to someone who is hurting, what I, or anyone else thinks, doesn't really matter.

I very much agree with your scientific, yet caring take on this.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by Allegiance

In other words, those that believe are most likely tricking themselves into believing the absurd.

Penn & Teller, famous for their career as magicians or illusionists, are very impatient with "Mediums."

It is their view that Mediums are frauds who manipulate their audiences' emotions and vulnerabilities. This outrages them, and has led them to make several disclosures regarding how the fraud is perpetuated.

One of these disclosures was made on a Showtime special, whose title I cannot write on this message board due to the filter for gross language.

NOTE also that Penn uses a lot of gross expletives in the video. If you find this offensive, you might want to skip the video. However, Penn explains that he does this partly for legal purposes. He says that if he calls a Medium a "liar" he will probably end up in court, so instead he calls the Medium an obscene name, which we are given to understand means that the Medium is a liar.

The video contains some tape of one case where "pre-show" contact is made between the Medium and her small audience in which critical information is obtained that will be used in the show. In another, after making a series of wrong guesses, the Medium totally reverses course.

If you watch this tape you will understand the basic techniques of "cold readings" as well as "hot readings."

In one case a man who is reduced to tears during the "contact" with his mother, begins suspecting he has been deceived as he drives home from the meeting.

Watching this video is worth your time.

Penn & Teller Bull****! - (1-01) - Talking to the Dead on Vimeo

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

It is to point out to Barefoot that the practice of being a Medium can be lucrative.

I realize the practice of being a medium can be lucrative.
I just trashed an email from Casino Rama telling me that Theresa Caputa, the Long Island Medium, will be performing there.
I merely stated what I personally know about Suzanne Gisemann.
Most mediums are not evidenced-based mediums, Suzanne is, and that is why I believe she is genuine.
Carl, you believe what you want, and I'll believe what I want.
I said it before, and I'll say it again --
I am convinced that Suzanne is genuine; but in no way am I trying to convince anyone to change their belief system.

[pqrstar]

Carl in Tampa wrote
"The cost of a reading is $200."
"Now, this $70,000 of potential income may not be a fortune . . ."

From her website Suzanne Giesemann | Messenger of Hope one can read all about her.

"EACH YEAR SUZANNE DONATES INCOME FROM HER READINGS TO CHARITY IN MEMORY OF HER STEP-DAUGHTER, SERGEANT SUSAN MARIE GIESEMANN "

[Carl in Tampa]

The title of this thread asks the question, " Can people really contact dead people's spirits?"

Penn & Teller, the professional magicians and illusionists, say No.

On youtube you can find their Showtime special in which they express this very forcibly. They use lots of obscenities to give emphasis to their position.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by pqrstar

Carl in Tampa wrote
"The cost of a reading is $200."
"Now, this $70,000 of potential income may not be a fortune . . ."

From her website Suzanne Giesemann | Messenger of Hope one can read all about her.

"EACH YEAR SUZANNE DONATES INCOME FROM HER READINGS TO CHARITY IN MEMORY OF HER STEP-DAUGHTER, SERGEANT SUSAN MARIE GIESEMANN "

........... which does wonders to offset the taxes in the tax bracket which she (retired Navy Commander) and her husband (retired Navy Captain) find themselves.

It does not say ALL income from her readings.

You neglected the additional income from person appearances, monthly webinars, and the ten books she has published.

Again, I don't criticize her entrepreneurship, I'm just pointing out that being a Medium can be very lucrative.

[Allegiance]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I believe but cannot show any evidence that would convince anyone. However, there any many people who do swindle people out of their hard earned money by offering them false hope. The book I linked describes a lot of them and how the ghost hunters would expose them as frauds. Ghost Hunters, by Deborah Blum | The Independent

It must be a great talent to tell the fraudulent mediums from the authentic ones. It is an even greater talent to choose the book that identifies the proper authorities than can do it.

The real fraudulent medium identifiers vs. The fake medium identifiers.