-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger
The Sheriff’s department of Liberty County Texas, about 70 miles northeast of Houston, received a tip about multiple bodies buried at a farmhouse near Hardin, Texas. The tip came from a psychic who goes by the nom-de-psyche of Angel. She also claims to be a prophetess and that her information came from Jesus and 32 angels.
Liberty County Sheriff’s Capt. Rex Evans said “[w]e have to take tips like this very seriously.” No you don’t. It’s bunk. It’s always been bunk and it will always be bunk. Only an idiot would take this kind of tip seriously.
Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies, the FBI, and the Texas Rangers converged on the farmhouse and found … wait for it … nothing. The public found out that these people are idiots for wasting taxpayer funds on nonsense. It is disgraceful that in a time of scientific enlightenment this kind of episode can still take place.
Angel will not be charged because she did not act with malice or criminal intent. Stupid is also not a crime in Texas.
Below is the Nova episode Secrets of the Psychics with James Randi.
“There is not a single example of a murder, or any other crime, being solved by “psychic powers.”
Les,
It’s Father’s Day so I’m not into heavy lifting, but I think you’re being a tad to extreme in that statement. The percentage of fraudulent people with ESP is certainly much higher than fraudulent medical personnel. However, I think Paric’s point is that both professions have their shoddy practicioners and as someone who has spent the last 30 years as a Patient, I believe he is correct.
Re: ESP, we don’t know what it is now, but there’s something out there.
“I suspect the world of forensic psychics is chock full of wackos.
I can guarantee the world of medicine is chock full of lab coat lunacy.
That isn’t to say there aren’t terrific examples of excellence in both.”
Patric,
A concise formulation with which I agree.
I suspect the world of forensic psychics is chock full of wackos. I can guarantee the world of medicine is chock full of lab coat lunacy. That isn’t to say there aren’t terrific examples of excellence in both.
There is not a single example of a murder, or any other crime, being solved by “psychic powers.” There are many, many examples of people being healed by evidence based medicine.
The same scientific methods that lead to things like an 80% survival rate for childhood leukemia and the eradication of polio clearly shows that, as of yet, there is zero evidence to support the notion of psychic powers.
“Cats are ‘psychic’, they know someone in a nursing home is going to die days before you do.”
That does not take psychic abilities.
I suspect the world of forensic psychics is chock full of wackos.
I can guarantee the world of medicine is chock full of lab coat lunacy.
That isn’t to say there aren’t terrific examples of excellence in both.
In a universe that contains something as exotic as entangled particles, dimensions we don’t have access to and ghosts (um, yea, lived in a haunted house, briefly) I’m not willing to dismiss psychics. If my kid were missing I’d want every lead followed up on no matter how weird it seemed, prioritized, but followed up on.
Why is it that it seems these crazy stories almost always come from Texas? While I agree that mass murder tips have to be considered, maybe they need to always be considered in Texas. Unless it is too hot outside to dig for evidence!
Dogs are ‘psychic’, they know you are coming home 10 minutes before you do.
Cats are ‘psychic’, they know someone in a nursing home is going to die days before you do.
Plants are ‘psychic’, they have measurable changes in their cells when their owner is thinkiing good or bad thoughts about them.
Trees are ‘psychic’, they know when the to bear fruit based on bird’s sounds.
The word psychic means breath, just like the term spirit.
Us people are ‘psychic’ too, just ask the military, they’ve done lots of research, and others have too.
A bit of religious conservatism and unethical capitalism has made it so there are “fake psychics” but alot of good psychics have done good too, like my friend that has helped police departments for 20 years.
Just thoughts. 😉
Nal,
I heard about this story on NPR.
‘Texas Bodies’ Nonstory Is Reminder To News Media: Slow Down
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/06/08/137056302/texas-bodies-non-story-is-reminder-to-news-media-slow-down
The money they wasted is more than made up by the fact that Rex Evans is paid in “magic beans.”
Buddha, Gyges & Blouise,
Yes.
Psychic insights from the pool:
Gyges is afflicted with common sense
Gyges,
Concise and to the point I was making in re there are reasons for response but that response should be reasonable and proportionate to the likely validity of the tip.
Hey, I have several side kicks sir.
Buddha,
How’s this: “We have to investigate any tips of multiple murders?”
They should have gotten a real psychic instead of this fake. I would recommend one James Randi, he is more accurate, more entertaining and makes no pretense of having paranormal powers.
“Liberty County Sheriff’s Capt. Rex Evans said “[w]e have to take tips like this very seriously.” No you don’t. It’s bunk. It’s always been bunk and it will always be bunk. Only an idiot would take this kind of tip seriously.”
Nal,
I’d like to say first of all that I agree, however, I’d also like to make a counter argument as to why such tips should be followed up.
What if the person making the tip has other non-psychic reasons to know details of a crime? Such as they actually know the criminal and are otherwise reluctant to come forward without their “shield” or are indeed part of the crime themselves? Do I think a massive manhunt should be started every time a psychic calls in a tip? No. But what I am saying is that prudence and psychology suggests these tips should at least be looked at before being dismissed outright.
“Stupid is also not a crime in Texas.”
True, but Texas was also against it being a defense.
Stupid is also not a crime in Texas.
Hmmm….so we just send them to Washington…..
“Stupid is also not a crime in Texas.”
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Wow! That’s a relief. You had me going there for a minute. I thought they would have to build the World’s Biggest Jail. Either that, or build the World’s Longest Security Fence.