Sensing Murder

(See also: Sensing Nothing (SM Review), Murders and Clairvoyants, Fake psychics use Cold Reading, Win $110,000 Paranormal Prize Money!)

The Australian Skeptics are saddened to see that Channel 10 has decided to screen “Sensing Murder“, a series in which self-proclaimed psychics attempt to solve unsolved murders. This is an insult as psychics have never solved a crime and families of victims have reported the stress of being pestered by useless “psychics” with a fountain of false leads. (See article Murders and Clairvoyants)
http://www.keypoint.com.au/~skeptics/skepbits/sensingmurder.jpg On the show, the psychics veer between “discovering” commonly known details, and providing useless “leads” for details that can never be checked on. It’s clear the “Sensing Murder” crew also provides them with some details, although we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they don’t tell everything. When the psychics “find” crime scenes, it’s not hidden that the crew drives them there and then guides them to the precise location.
Much is made of the psychics’ useless ability to relate already known facts about the case without being told them. Sure, this could look good at a carnival, but the show’s supposed to be about discovering new information! Fake psychics can use their common sense and Cold Reading to find already-known information. They might also View More Sensing Murder

Calendar 2006

To receive notification of upcoming Victorian Skeptics events, send an email to vic_skeptics_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com All events are open to the general public. Most of our events are based in and around Melbourne. (Events will get added to this list through the year as we organise them.)

2006

(!!OTHERS!! = events organised by or with other groups)

10 January !!OTHERS!! Atheist Get together
16 January Skeptics Cafe
14 February !!OTHERS!!Can Psychics Solve Murders?” (Atheist Soc)
20 February Skeptics Cafe – The Soapbox
20 March Skeptics Cafe – Trivia Night
17 April Skeptics Cafe – Social Evening
15 May Talk: Steve Roberts UFOs – An Unusual Ally
19 June Skeptics Cafe
17 July Skeptics Cafe Dr John Perkins Is there too much religion in politics?
12,13,19 and 20 August Australian Skeptics at ScienceWorks
21 August Talk: Mark Mayer – A Magician vs TV show Medium
18 September Skeptics Cafe Bob Aikenhead, President Science Teachers Association of Victoria: Initiatives for Improving Science Education in the State of Victoria
16 October Skeptics Cafe Dr Neil Thomason, History & Philosophy of Science, Melbourne Uni; Should We Be Skeptical About Scientists?
30 October Science Talent Search Exhibition and Awards Day, Latrobe University
18-19 November Australian Skeptics 2006 Convention – Melbourne
18 November Inaugural Skeptics Awards Dinner, Windsor Hotel, Melbourne
19 November Free TalkThe Fossil Record – What Gaps?” Dr John Long – see Convention Program
20 November Skeptics Cafe – “Towards a Nuclear FutureDr Colin Keay
18 December Skeptics Cafe Social Night

There are other Victorian organisations of interest that regularly have Public Events (Other) Previous events: Calendar 2005, Calendar 2004 Extra keywords: sceptics