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claidheamhmorI wandered past the Gem and Mineral Fair at Cresta last week, and it was interesting, as always, to see all the different types of gems, semi-precious stones and minerals on show. Something that disturbed me was that almost every exhibitor had books or pamphlets or displays taking about the different magical properties of the various gems or crystals. Now, surely there are enough amazing things about these minerals without having all this absolute rubbish? Can't we be impressed about how good crystals look, and how they were formed, without having to see a book by some quack rambling on about how agate is good for the blood or whatever?
On the topic of quackery, while I was sick at home today, I was listening to prank calls made by Whackhead Simpson. For those who don't know, Darren "Whackhead" Simpson is the 94.7 Highveld Stereo radio station's resident prankster. He phones up random people, celebrities, or whomever, and plays pranks on them. (If you want to hear some of his stuff, do a search for "Whackhead" on YouTube - many of his better ones are there).
Anyway, here's one where he phones up a psychic/fortune-teller. Apart from the sheer pleasure of doing this to one of these people, it demonstrates, I think, how these scam-artists are either seriously deluded about their psychic abilities, or are greedy vampires preying on the credulity of other people.
And on the topic of gullible people, Whackhead here phones up not only a 419 scammer, but also one of the scammer's victims.
On the topic of quackery, while I was sick at home today, I was listening to prank calls made by Whackhead Simpson. For those who don't know, Darren "Whackhead" Simpson is the 94.7 Highveld Stereo radio station's resident prankster. He phones up random people, celebrities, or whomever, and plays pranks on them. (If you want to hear some of his stuff, do a search for "Whackhead" on YouTube - many of his better ones are there).
Anyway, here's one where he phones up a psychic/fortune-teller. Apart from the sheer pleasure of doing this to one of these people, it demonstrates, I think, how these scam-artists are either seriously deluded about their psychic abilities, or are greedy vampires preying on the credulity of other people.
And on the topic of gullible people, Whackhead here phones up not only a 419 scammer, but also one of the scammer's victims.
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Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 06:27 (UTC)??
How so? I mean, how certain can one be that the properties of the stones aren't enducing some sort of placebo effect on the person using them?
Mind you, if I'm having a major internal hemorrhage, I'd much rather go to the hospital than sit at home, clutching a bloodstone in the hopes that it's going to fix me right up.
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Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 06:34 (UTC)I prefer other methods, but crystals are a popular choice.
It has little to do with mystical effects, unless you count meditation as mystical.
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Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 06:53 (UTC)no subject
Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2008 07:10 (UTC)You might as well also get youself some Aventurine too, that's supposed to make you feel brave and at piece with yourself... or something like that :) heehee.