Randi & Fraud???

[Craig Browning]

I just got this in my eMail yesterday, thought it something appropriate for things here. . .

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-06-05/news/1993156046_1_byrd-magician-molester

More
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-05-23/news/1993143063_1_byrd-molestation-randi

Randi's supporters always scream about the "immorality" and "misrepresentation" waged by Psychics, but what about their gurus? Seems that in the real world people are judged by their character and this is just another example as to the negative and questionable character of the JREF's ring leader which has to reveal (indirectly) just how questionable the ethics are when it comes to other members who folks look the other way for. . . such as the other pervs that use Cold Reading as a way to bed down the gullible (for some reason Monday nights in NYC come to mind).

[Arouet]

Right - and on the same grounds you would be just as guilty as Randi for making the same kind of comments about him.

But from what I remember about this case, it really was about splitting hairs - the guy was just never convicted of child molestation so Randi was technically wrong. The damages were put at zero.

And again - you've made similar charges against Randi - so I guess we should discredit you by the same amount?

I'm not defending Randi's comments, I think he goes over the line a lot, but let's put it in its proper context here. This guy was charged with child molestation and plead guilty to child pornography. He's a pretty big creep and a person you would never want within 50 ft of a child any way you cut it. Mincing Randi's words doesn't really work here.

[ProfWag]

I think that by me not hanging out on the jref board is a pretty good clue that I'm not a big fan of the guy. I happen to agree with a lot of what he says, but certainly not everything.
If you've had bad experiences with the guy, then I can understand some resentment--just as I have had bad experiences with psychics.

[Jayhawker30]

Mentalising women into bed?

Man, that actually sounds kind of hot.

[Craig Browning]

Mentalising women into bed?

Man, that actually sounds kind of hot.

Of course you do, you're a PIG. . . as in a male animal that seems to loose all moral boundaries when it comes to exploiting young woman for sexual pleasure on your part.

Psychic's actually have a huge Taboo around such low, animal based antics. But hey, men will do whatever they can to justify whatever sins they want to enjoy while condemning those that won't consign their madness.

[NinjaPuppy]

Mentalising women into bed?

Man, that actually sounds kind of hot.

Of course you do, you're a PIG. . . as in a male animal that seems to loose all moral boundaries when it comes to exploiting young woman for sexual pleasure on your part.

Psychic's actually have a huge Taboo around such low, animal based antics. But hey, men will do whatever they can to justify whatever sins they want to enjoy while condemning those that won't consign their madness.

Craig- Please consider this a warning against name calling. You could have made your point without directing it directly at Jayhawker30.

[Arouet]

I read Craig as more tongue in cheek there - but maybe he was having a bad day?

[NinjaPuppy]

I read Craig as more tongue in cheek there - but maybe he was having a bad day?

That's why I gave him a verbal warning rather than the 'make my day', three day auto-ban.

[Craig Browning]

Half tongue-in-cheek. . . I actually loathe the attitudes of 99% of the male gender because all it seems to ever focus on is sex and thus, lust. While I understand it and may have a level of guilt around it from time to time, but my personal moral code makes such exhibitions and the consignment thereof, quite repulsive.

Many years ago I was at Magic Mountain just outside L.A. with a group of friend. We saw a straight couple attempting to choke one another with their tongues so my friend Gary and I decided we'd simply hold to one another. . . as we expected, the two making out took offense. What we didn't expect what the five or six others in line that saw our "cuddling" far more mature and tasteful than what they were doing. . . parents giving two gay guys just holding one another affectionately, credit for higher morals and character.

Ignoring the Public Display of Affection issue, just the act of harassing a younger person on a sexual bases is demeaning. . . maybe I'm sensitive to it because I was once seen as a piece of meat to be passed around (though I was far to particular to cooperate in such antics). I don't understand why people, especially young ladies, deliberately tolerate such impositions -- they are rude, disrespectful and on so many levels, cruel. But our horn-dog ways have become such a massive part of our "culture" with testosterone being made the legitimizer to all things "American" that we seem to fail miserably when it comes to our more humanitarian obligations -- how we treat and honor one another.

I learned the hard way how such advances & fantasy thinking hurts. I watched my step-daughter and youngest step-son go through the same kinds of unwanted attention through their teens and early adult life. I think maybe it's time for everyone to pause before making such lewd innuendo, put the shoe on their foot first and consider how youth & beauty are a curse at times.

. . . and yes, I know there are cases in which such advances are being invited. . . different story however.