Talk:Sylvia Browne

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Archives
Up to October 1 2006

Contents 1 Self-proclaimed psychic 2 Predictions 3 NPOV ??? 4 Book Controversy 5 Article seems more like an anti-Sylvia page than anything else?? 6 Current image is copyrighted. Must be removed. 7 New Image for Sylvia? 7.1 Update on the new photo 7.2 Copyright info 8 Just a tip 9 Roma Gypsy

[edit] Self-proclaimed psychic

Can't we just say that she is a psychic and Medium? Why does it have to be "self-proclaimed?" After all Larry King, Montel Williams, and other have proclaimed it. Even WP says that she is a popular Medium. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.226.83.2 (talk • contribs).

I think to call her simply a "psychic" we need to have conclusive evidence. If only there were a test to ensure her abilities were real we could say. You have not provided any WP:RS on Montel or King's opinions about her. ---Arbusto 23:28, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

Sounds good. There is no evidence that she is other than a fraud, as there is no evidence for the existence of psychic phenomena — and a fraudster is certainly not evidence. Sheesh. The things I see New Agers submit. They criticise the Bush administration?

dino 03:40, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Predictions

Someone keeps including this sentence:

Brown has thrown out many "predictions," with a success rate no better than educated guesses (see external links, below)

Which is POV. Her popularity attests that many people believe her success rate is better than guessing. But more importantly it is unsourced, offering the vague 'see external links'. Which links? The Criticism section has a long rebuttal of her 'powers' and properly attributes sources and specifics to analysis of her ability to predict the future. Ashmoo 22:49, 10 October 2006 (UTC)

It must be cited per BLP. Arbusto 05:12, 11 October 2006 (UTC)

Facts are not POV. Qarnos 10:51, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Her success rate is not a POV, it is most widely accepted as "Fact" by most people.

I do recommend taking the quotations off from 'predictions' though. Some people may misinterpret it as being a POV. I will do that, if anyone objects, feel free to reply. :]
Cameron Erickson (camxx) 20:50, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] NPOV ???

I would like to comment that this article hardly promotes a NPOV on Mrs. Browne's abilities or lack thereof, not to mention the unflatering photo. Some edits are sorely needed which I will endeavor to do unless someone else beats me to it. In addition, the facts regarding Mrs. Browne's contribution to police investigations amounts hearsay, as the author quotes another reference and also quotes from a person qualified to offer a professional opinion about Mrs. Browne's contributions. 216.9.250.6 03:35, 14 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes it does need clean up. However, paranormal and psuedoscience is not treated as political beliefs on wikipedia. WP:NPOV requires wikipedia does not give undue weight to conspiracy or non-scientific beliefs. Arbusto 03:25, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

Agreed, however, this article seems more like an anti-Sylvia page than anything else. It's one thing to show both sides of the coin: ie: maybe psychics are real, maybe they're not. It's another thing to devote a full half the article to direct attacks against her credibility. Sayvandelay 12:46, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Book Controversy

The following needs to be sourced with page numbers or removed. Arbusto 01:33, 24 October 2006 (UTC)

Sylvia Browne contradicted one of her stories regarding totem animals, which appeared in two of her books. In "Visits From the Afterlife", the story involved an ex-husband and herself. "In Life On The Other Side", the same exact story, this time, involved a client unrelated to her.

[edit] Article seems more like an anti-Sylvia page than anything else??

I felt slightly concerned reading the above quote, "...article seems more like an anti-Sylvia page than anything else. ...," and checked the original article. Have us skeptics been too harsh on her?

Trouble, is, I think us skeptics have been too nice. When will the New Agers realize? She is a fraud. Her "psychic abilities" are no more than clever cold readings, often falling far off the mark. She couldn't predict her own criminal conviction. You want more credence to the psychic view? Find some evidence that she has psychic powers, beyond a few lucky guesses. If you find it, put it in the article.

Better yet, find some evidence that SOMEONE, sometime in history, has demonstrated psychic powers. There is just no evidence. Sylvia Browne is not the one. Edgar Cayce is also a well-known fraud and was into silliness like Atlantis. Uri Geller is such a titanic fraud he is an embarassment to even the New Age community. What more evidence do the New Agers require? Now George Bush is an effective lame duck, us skeptics, freethinkers and scientific types are finally starting to take stands against frauds like intellegent design -- and Sylvia Browne.

dino 17:03, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Agree with you. Too many false things have been presented in a way as if they were true under the name of NPOV. Critical thinkers and faith-based folks will never have the same NPOV. --Roland 02:05, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

Agreed . This is an article promoting Randi instead. Randi is a fraud . This is biased and does not present that this psychic is popular, well loved and consistently validated in her live readings . User:Catherine Curran

"Catherine Curran" this page is very neutral as far as I can tell. You may believe James Randi is a "fraud" whatever that even means, But your opinion on that is totall irrelevant to this talk page. As much as I disagree with you would would love tearing your absurd logic down, This is not the place to do that. So please keep your opinions to yourself.Wikidudeman 16:59, 23 November 2006 (UTC)

This article is certainly biased and if that is "as far as you can tell" than that would explain to the reader about your lack of focus, lack of integrity and lack of editing. It is integral to Wikipedia to post without bias, without derision and in agreement with this community. By your inflammatory and disrespectful comments, you certainly display your lack of understanding of the basic standards of this community, Wikidudeman. Catherine Curran 01:33, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Hey guys, please refrain from making personal attacks. Catherine do you have any specific criticisms or suggested improvements to the article? Ashmoo 01:50, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Current image is copyrighted. Must be removed.

Adhering to the wikipedia policy on copyrighted images. The Motel Williams image currently on the page will be removed because the producer or the tv studio of Motel Williams holds the copyright of the image and permission was not given to reproduce the image. The image itself explains no licensing information either. The image “sylviabrowne1” however is free to proliferate and was released by it’s owner for such use. I will replace the image on copyright grounds. I have tagged [[1]] for speedy deletion by an admin for copyright violation. If you have added this image or believe the image should be kept up them go to the image page and discuss it with the admins.

Wikidudeman 18:20, 22 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] New Image for Sylvia?

I have found a new image that could possibly go on the Sylvia Browne's main page. You'll see it on there right now, It is okay to have it on the profile, because it has appeared on many of her books. Tell me what you think.

Cameron Erickson (camxx) 11:43, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Update on the new photo

The reasons for my choosing of this new photo, was because of feedback from previous comments that the old picture made sylvia look "Drunk/Tarted Up" and probably didn't depict the image most people are used to seeing of her.
Cameron Erickson (camxx) 11:49, 25 November 2006 (UTC)
And updated: 02:04, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Okay, I have before/after images so you can see the images for yoursef.
The new image is okay to have on Wikipedia because it has appeared on two of her books. (more...)

From the article Sylvia Browne:
BEFORE: AFTER:
Cameron Erickson (camxx) 02:47, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

Do you have the copyright info for this image?Wikidudeman 05:02, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright info

All rights too the image belong to the Louise Hay Foundation/Hay House Publishers. The picture is of Sylvia Browne. (hayhouse.com) (sylvia.org) This picture of her, appears on the covor of two of Sylvia Browne's book's. "Secret's and Mysteries of the world" and "Mother God" Which can be viewed at the following Link: http://www.hayhouse.com/combined.php?format=1&keyword=Sylvia+Browne&n=1

Books:

• Browne, Sylvia; (2004). Mother God: The Feminine Principle to Our Creator Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0309-6
• Browne, Sylvia; (2006). Secrets & Mysteries of the World Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, Inc. ISBN 1-4019-0458-0

For more info, click on the new image of Sylvia Browne
Cameron Erickson (Camxx) 18:04, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

That's a great picture be her, especially since we hve a premission for using it. Smith Jones 02:18, 12 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Just a tip

Some interesting documents from the court case mentioned just went online at http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/articles/peoplevsbrown.shtml if someone wants to do something with them.

[edit] Roma Gypsy

She is of Roma Heritage. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 198.187.154.33 (talk) 21:33, 14 December 2006 (UTC).