Thread: Sylvia browne ..true seer or a fraud?

oh, ahahaha

Originally posted by Browneisafraud+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Browneisafraud)</div>

<!--QuoteBegin-Kaniaz

I'm talking about Browneisafraud (you really need a username change )

I wanted to use the name\"Browne is a total fraud who preys on the weak and stupid people who will beleive absolutley any rediculous explanation for common events except for the reasonable scientific explanation just so she can make a fortune off their gullibility\" but it just wouldn't fit [/b]

I don't think I'd bother saying your name then
I would have chosen 'My psychic powers tell me that Browne is a greedy fraud'

Anyway, the problem is that the short form of your name is the very person you despise - 'Browne'

Originally posted by Placebo+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Placebo)</div>

Originally posted by Browneisafraud@
<!--QuoteBegin-Kaniaz

I'm talking about Browneisafraud (you really need a username change )

I wanted to use the name\"Browne is a total fraud who preys on the weak and stupid people who will beleive absolutley any rediculous explanation for common events except for the reasonable scientific explanation just so she can make a fortune off their gullibility\" but it just wouldn't fit

I don't think I'd bother saying your name then
I would have chosen 'My psychic powers tell me that Browne is a greedy fraud'

Anyway, the problem is that the short form of your name is the very person you despise - 'Browne' [/b]

The thing is, your username should reflect you not [be an attack on] someone else. Like, I would never have picked "Hughesisatotaldick" (Hughes = my ex's surname, btw) because of what Placebo said, but also, because the first impression other people would get is of [my] hatred, and not something positive about me; like "Rakkantekimusouka", I'm hopeful, and I'm a dreamer. Although dream/s/ing/er may be common in a lot of other names, "hopeful" I think says something good. I'm hopeful, for the future, for peace, etc.

Just my 200 sen.

Well, I don't actually hate Sylvia, it's more like jealousy, I suppose. I just wish I can think of a way to dupe thousands of people out of money by telling them things about themselves that they already know, or totally stupid things that people will beleive just because I say so, like those white flashes you may see when you sneeze are Angels or the ringing in your ears is your spirit guide or other such nonsense. Maybe I can tell people that the static "snow" on your TV is aliens trying to contact you, and you need to send me money to find out what they are saying. I'll be rich!

Hey, dumb luck doesn't happen to the smart, hence the name. Don't we all wish we could pull off a "get rich quick" scheme and make it work until we had racked up millions? Just think of struggling through life and working honestly as not stooping to her level. ^_~

do you guys even know what your talking about? have you read any of sylvias books? have you been to any of her lectures? do you know exactly what her beliefs are? Or are you just looking at her website and making stereotypical generalizations about psychics?

Originally posted by brumans
do you guys even know what your talking about? have you read any of sylvias books? have you been to any of her lectures? do you know exactly what her beliefs are? Or are you just looking at her website and making stereotypical generalizations about psychics?

Well, excuse us . We just believe that guessing is not 100% accurate. The highest it can go is 90%, & I am only at 75%, so I suck at this guessing business. Also, she only gets like 1/2 of her guesses right, so I am not at all impressed

Originally posted by brumans
do you guys even know what your talking about? have you read any of sylvias books? have you been to any of her lectures? do you know exactly what her beliefs are? Or are you just looking at her website and making stereotypical generalizations about psychics?

Well, excuse us . We just believe that guessing is not 100% accurate. The highest it can go is 90%, & I am only at 75%, so I suck at this guessing business. Also, she only gets like 1/2 of her guesses right, so I am not at all impressed

brumans, have you ever read her books, been to her lectures, know her exact beliefs and are sure you're not making steretoypical assumptions about the "misunderstood psyhic"?

Originally posted by Kaniaz
brumans, have you ever read her books, been to her lectures, know her exact beliefs and are sure you're not making steretoypical assumptions about the \"misunderstood psyhic\"?

Totally agree w/you there! Say, do any of you like guessing at all?

Sylvia Browne is a profoundly bang-on woman as far as her clairvoyant ability to see beyond life. Her intuitions are very keen. I think her only downfall, as is the downfall of any person with psychic powers, is that she has tried to make predicitions to the public for the sake of the public, and that gets one into having to guess more often then not, so that it's not always intuition at work.

I've read two of her books, and both of them were extremely impressive. Her conception of how things work conveys things to people in a very symbollic, bite-size fashion. I would put aside her inaccurate predictions and look to the core of what she has done. She is not a phony, or a fraud, because to give her that label would imply that she is sitting there behind her desk plotting trickery to make money and trick people. If anything, she is just over-using her ability because of demand, and its getting to the point, with some of her predictions, that it's not her ability at work, but a stressed-out guessing game because of the demand of an ever-growing audience.

And keep in mind her site is not run by her, it's run by an administrator for her church group. If predictions mysteriously disappear, I'm sure its the site administrator going, "oh crap"; actually I wouldn't even be surprised if some of the predictions are put there somewhat unofficially, by "insiders" who've heard things Sylvia has said, or who have pressed her to put up more predictions for the site.

That's the problem when someone with a very powerful ability goes commercial. The threat is there for them to get overwhelmed and not meet the proper demand.

She is a phony, plain and simple. Let me get this straight: It is not her fault if her web site removes predictions that didn't come true? It's not her fault? That's just passing the buck. And no, I haven't read any of her stupid books, I wouldn't waste the time. I do read messages on her derranged fan club message board, and those that have read her books complain that she just keeps repeating the same things over again, since she has run out of material. But I have read numerous transcripts of her show on that worthless news channel CNN with that putz Larry King, and it is obvioius that she just reads from a script when someone calls in with a question. Example: CALLER: "My mother died last year. Is she OK?" SYLVIA: "She's just fine, Hon. She is behind you, and she misses you, everything is OK in heaven" That pretty much sums up what she does. Her "keen psychic ability" Yeh, right. And don't forget this "great psychic" predicted the next pope would be black.

If Sylvia is geniune, then she'll have no problem keeping to her word and getting tested by James Randi. She agreed to it, and has backed out with incredibly lame excuses. What are we to think?

Until she keeps her word ... Sylvia <---------------------------------->My respect

I would SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY recommend that you read her book: Life on the Other Side, because you are completely glossing over many important details about her. I refuse to argue any further unless you read her book, because until you do, I am afraid you don't know what you're talking about. You have formed a bias about her, perhaps out of jealousy, as earlier posts in this thread indicate. I'm going to honestly challenge you to read that one book of hers, and put aside your conviction that she is a fraud. Even if you don't believe it, at least you will have MORE DETAILS about her to consider.

This forum is a place for open-minded discussion, or so I like to hope. This means that anyone who wants to take a stand on one issue must be prepared, if they want to benefit from the qualities of forum-discussion, to consider the angle(s) which they might have overlooked.
For example, someone who has a theory about spiritual "energy" and goes off on their own tangent about quantum physics (though they are just going on what they've read in journals, etc), might be in for a shock when another member, who has a PhD in quantum physics, comes on and corrects several fallacies. The previous poster has two options: they can hold their ground, and stone-wall the other user because they are convinced of their own theory, or they can try to reconsider what they thought in light of what the other has said. The former choice is a choice that, sadly, is made by many people, and those people go through life feeling like they're at war with the world all the time. The latter choice is the wisest: people who can work together to see a truth higher than they might arrive at alone tend to metaphorically "move mountains".

So, the ball's in your court. You can either post and say something to argue with me further, in which case I am no longer willing to post on this thread, or you can take up my offer and offer an opinion that is based on being fully informed.

Sylvia Browne's gift lies not in her ability to tell the future, etc, but in her ability to reach out to a needing person and help them resolve psychological issues that even the best of psychiatrists can't. But, unless you read her book(s), I think you will fail to see that...

Originally posted by Anelior
I would SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY recommend that you read her book: Life on the Other Side, because you are completely glossing over many important details about her.

On the contrary, I think YOU are missing the important details here.
Regardless of her explanation on things, the fruit of her knowledge is that she has many claims, including the ability to contact the dead and to foresee the future.
She makes these claims as well as provides prophecy. She agreed to be tested in regards to her claims WHICH SHE MAKES MONEY FROM... and has not kept to her solemn word.
Most of her prophecies are dead off, and many are just questionable.

Regardless of what she presents herself as, her claims are NOT honest and have no evidence whatsoever. I don't care what her explanation is if the fruits are blatantly worthless and untrustworthy.

Why should I read her book. Actions speak louder than words

Unless you've read her book, you don't know her whole story. However, I do agree with what this argument is pointed at, and that is the problem that comes up as soon as someone with abilities starts making claims. Psychic abilities are best left as subtle expressions, and should never become commercial, on-demand things. Mrs. Browne's case, and most other "famous" psychics is an example of this tragedy. It is so sad to see such a wonderful, genuine woman misportrayed, and all rooted in her primary mistake: becoming a public spectacle. Some people just don't have it in them to look beyond and see into a person's true essence; its for this reason that this world is the way it is.

Anelior, so you think that Sylvia has some kind of psyschic gift? Are you refering to the time that a caller from Texas, who was asking Sylvia about her missing daughter? Sylvia told her that her daughter was sold into white slavery in Japan, she then gave a fictional town in Japan. The caller's daughter was eventually found dead in Texas, no thanks to Sylvia.--Or maybe you refer to the time that she told a caller that her mother is dead (Sylvia was positive of this), and the caller was just talking to her mother, that she couldn't be dead, and told Sylvia she was going to call her (mother) and get back to her (Sylvia)? This is psychic ability? Please let me know where and when Sylvia has made an actual, real prediction that came true, and I don't mean something obvious like predicting the pope would die or there will be a hurricane in Florida.---BTW your website is closed. Thanks for the useless link,

I have mixed feelings on her. I have read several of her books and I guess she is a psychic so to speak. But some of her predictions are kind of out there even for me. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't believe everything she says, as with all psychics it's with a grain of salt. But one thing did bother me about her, is the cost of her sessions, lectures ect ... Just a phone consultation is in the 400 $$ range. I have to say for someone who is hell bent on helping humanity, she sure is limiting the ones she's helping by chargeing that much. (Helping only those who can afford her!!)

I for one can not and will not pay 400 dollars for her to tell me I'm going to die of a brain tumor. I'd rather wait and find out from a doctor who my insurence will pay for.

Originally posted by Blue_Dreams0012
I have mixed feelings on her. I have read several of her books and I guess she is a psychic so to speak. But some of her predictions are kind of out there even for me. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't believe everything she says, as with all psychics it's with a grain of salt. But one thing did bother me about her, is the cost of her sessions, lectures ect ... Just a phone consultation is in the 400 $$ range. I have to say for someone who is hell bent on helping humanity, she sure is limiting the ones she's helping by chargeing that much. (Helping only those who can afford her!!)

I for one can not and will not pay 400 dollars for her to tell me I'm going to die of a brain tumor. I'd rather wait and find out from a doctor who my insurence will pay for.

Yeah! She is totally fake, b/c no one is 100% accurate. On the other hand, my friend gets 90% of her guesses right, & I am following in her footsteps w/75%. That Sylvia barely even gets 50% right! What does that have to say about her?

My website is not closed, or else it would say on there: "this site is closed". It is being developed. The main purpose of the site is to advertise my writing, and right now, as I have a book I am trying to sell, it tells you about it and how to buy it. I could have completely closed the site, in which case, yes, the link would have been useless. However, I have left it open, serving its basic function for the time being, while the extra parts are being developed.

I am not going to argue with you anymore on Sylvia Browne. I agree that her predicting abilities are not the best, never disputed that for a minute. All I have been trying to say is that her ability to predict is not what I feel creates her value as a psychic. In fact, I would be more impressed with someone who understands the fundamental truths of existence but had crap abilities to predict the future than with someone who had amazing predicting abilities but had no clue what the Higher Truths are.

Anyway, I've had enough of this issue, I've said all I want to say, and am going to move my energy elsewhere.

By the way, Blue Dreams, Sylvia charges $700.00 for a phone reading. (check her web site if you don't beleive me,:sylvia.org/home/readings.cfm) Her son charges only $400.00. Which of course means he is only 57% as correct as she is, and if she is right only half the time, then he is right only about 28% of the time. Just thought I'd let you know. Oh, if you go to one of her seminars, you can have her answer a question for the blue-light special price of $100.00. Here is an example - Audience member ($100 poorer):"Sylvia, is my missing brother dead?" Sylvia -"Yes, now cough up the Franklin, sucker" -well, maybe not exactly like that, but close

Anelior, I see what you're trying to say.
Don't you feel that if she had accurate knowledge of higher truths, this would have some positive impact on her abilities? Or at least on her pureness of heart?(charging $700 is not pure of heart IMO)

How am I supposed to take her higher truth seriously if she shows herself up as both entirely inaccurate and greedy?
No matter how wonderful her theories may be, they seem to have done her no good.

I imagine she may have started out, in her own mind, with a purely spiritual motive, but, as is usually the case when the "demon" of fame comes along, her services have been corrupted. It's unfortunate, really, she has a profound ability to reach out and touch people, at least she once did. From the sounds of it, she has lost that a great deal, if she's behaving the way she is now, i.e. on talk shows, etc. That's not the Sylvia Browne I remember.

As to the very high prices for phone readings, I would moreso see that as a deterrant....otherwise everyone and their dog would be phoning her and trying to get her to do something. She has a lot of money from her writing, so I doubt that she has a need to be making load on her phone readings.

What you guys are talking about here is how one person (and many others I'm sure) has been corrupted by money/the media. I hold my ground regarding my belief that Sylvia is genuine, not someone who set out from the get-go to mislead and make money. There are certain people, who even she warns about, who try to steal your personal power and make you wholly dependant on their "signt" to guide you....and then they take your money, disappear, and you're back where you started. She is not like that, from what I have seen. There is a side of her that has developed, over the years, which has corrupted the purity of her gift, but that aside, I'm sure when she goes to bed at night she's not thinking, "haha, suckers, got you".

Would somebody who has had one-on-one experience with Sylivia please step up? Or even somebody who's read her book and sees where I'm coming from regarding her way of wording things to help people resolve their issues regarding life/death.

In my opinion Sylivia Browne used to be um... how do you say this....legit to a point. She had empathy and that made a lot of people trust her and I don't deny that she was able to reach people (now it seems like reaching people means only their wallets) As far as her physic abilities go I have no comment, as someone said before actions (I guess in her case it would be foretellings) speak louder than words. But in recent years she has definitely become obsessed with money making and the media attention.
Anyways thats just my two cents.....