Is physical mediumship fraudulent?

[Ninshub]

The inhabitants of SpritualismLink are, for the most part, fundamentalist-Spiritualists (Modern Spiritualists aka), they have long ago decided what is "proper" mediumship and what is not. They represent one end of the PM spectrum, I and the large majority of actual PM attendees represent the other. So my advice would be to stand in a neutral space in between, and make your own decisions.

And go to seance and find out for yourself.

All of the PMs demonstrating today are very open to any questions whatsoever about their mediumship in person. If you get to know them, they respond to email and txt and to incoming phone calls. They just don't agree with the fundamentalists and have zero intention of paying any attention to their input (judgments).

Thanks. This provides context.

As I am not aloud to post on other parts of the forum about mediums, I will do it here only.

Chris  jkmac  Kamarling have defended Duncan or did not comment about these negative aspects of her career. What do you think about the above obvious fraudulent ectoplasm photographs depicting cheesecloth? Do you accept these photographs are evidence of fraud?

I also link again to the report and photographs of the famous investigation by Harry Price.

http://www.harrypricewebsite.co.uk/Seanc...-index.htm

Chris  jkmac  Kamarling have defended Duncan or did not comment about these negative aspects of her career.

Actually, I think my only comment on Helen Duncan was that the information in the Wikipedia articles on her and the HMS Barham was difficult to reconcile. You shouldn't interpret that as a defence of her, or any kind of implied positive comment about her.

True that Chris. Coincidentally (is there really any such thing?) I just posted about that fact in another thread. What you said is spot-on.

They should want to be considered legitimate,,,  and they should relish the chance to demonstrate that fact to the average person (they will never provide enough proof for an extreme skeptic,, but who cares?)

I'm right with you.  This is what got me into hot water with folks in a TK thread at Skeptiko.  All this theorizing regarding the myriad of possible rationales for why practitioners are unable/unwilling to demonstrate such phenome under scientific controls.  I hoped to hear a reasonable rationale, but never did and was instead derided for not, simply, taking it on faith.

Thanks for patiently dealing what may sound as criticism from me, but is really me just thinking out loud about how to open this up to a wider audience and reduce the obvious sources of skepticism. 

Of course anything I was suggesting would have to be managed and accepted and planned by the medium and/or spirit. I would never suggest doing this sort of thing surreptitiously. I have heard about a death back in the 30's I think, of a famous female PM. Can't remember her name.

I hope to gain more insight into this whole process when I visit a PM in the next few days. After that experience, I assume I will have a deeper insight into the process. 

Can't wait!

I'm interested to hear about your experience.

A question that would nag at me going into such an experience would be: How can I trust what I am going to experience?  Knowing how easily our own perceptions can be 'fooled' and all.  Curious as to your thoughts here.

I'm right with you.  This is what got me into hot water with folks in a TK thread at Skeptiko.  All this theorizing regarding the myriad of possible rationales for why practitioners are unable/unwilling to demonstrate such phenome under scientific controls.  I hoped to hear a reasonable rationale, but never did and was instead derided for not, simply, taking it on faith.

Faith just doesn't work for some of us... 

I'm going to a PM seance later this week, and I hope that what I see (even given that the medium is hidden behind a curtain for parts of the session) will be so impressive, and so compelling on it's own merit, that my concerns will be nitpicking in comparison. Fingers crossed.

I'm interested to hear about your experience.

A question that would nag at me going into such an experience would be: How can I trust what I am going to experience?  Knowing how easily our own perceptions can be 'fooled' and all.  Curious as to your thoughts here.

I'm going to give it a chance. I trust my ability to sort through the details.

I am not so afraid of being fooled, that I wont give myself a chance to see and decide.

I am not so afraid of being fooled, that I wont give myself a chance to see and decide.

I think that's about where I would fall out.  Again, will be very interested in getting your take after the event!

I think that's about where I would fall out.  Again, will be very interested in getting your take after the event!

I'll do a post on it when I get back. May not be until Monday.