A little follow-up to my piece concerning Grzelka et al. I received an email from Cassandra Traill concerning Anthony Grzelka, reproduce below in full:
I dare you to have a reading with Anthony Grzelka. I think you’d do a Lisa Wilkinson.
“Don’t criticise what you don’t understand - the times they are a changin’ ” ~ Bob Dylan.
I’ve looked for some footage of Grzelka doing one of his readings with Australian breakfast television personality Lisa Wilkinson but have been unable to locate anything. The only references to his appearance on Channel 7’s Sunday Sunrise in March 2006 are on Grzelka’s own website. I assume from Ms.Traill’s reference to the “reading” that Grzelka was able to use cold and hot reading techniques to provide Wilkinson with some information that she found outstanding. It is not hard to imagine where one could gather all sorts of information about a television presenter, some of which the presenter may not be aware is in the public domain.
Ms.Traill confuses me with someone who is undecided about the “beyond” and who might be satisfied with vague statements and suddenly see the light. Until there is verifiable, repeatable evidence collected in a controlled, scientific environment that psychic powers exist I will not believe. I would be happy to have a reading with Mr.Grzelka but I certainly will not pay the $200 he asks for a “reading” and since he is booked out for the next 18 months it would most probably not be convenient to him. A fool and his money are easily parted.
I don’t believe that in his 1963 political protest song Bob Dylan was referring to conjuring tricks and parlour games. Rather it is commonly accepted that he is critiquing the divide between children and their parents, old and new orders. Although Dylan himself, perhaps, considered the meaning less important than those for whom it encapsulated the feeling of that era in the United States.
This is, of course, irrelevant as I do understand quite clearly the methods used by psychics and mediums and would argue that it is believers, like Ms.Traill who are under the thrall of misapprehension.
I appreciate all feedback so please, feel free to comment or email me with your ideas, insights or suggestions.
Posted under Atomac, Renovations, Skeptic
This post was written by Atomac on October 25, 2008
I’ve heard Grzelka on morning radio occasionally and I’d put him up there with contestants on The One. It’s the same old “I’m getting a J” type stuff. Nothing Earth-shattering, nothing new. As usual, the sitter fills in the blanks and offers the real information.
If he is genuine, I haven’t witnessed it in these readings. If he is genuine, then the Nobel Prize staff remain surprisingly unaware of him. If he is genuine, then the Australian Skeptics will give him far more than his usual $200 fee and after that he could get Randi’s million. None of this proves he isn’t genuine of course. He just might not be interested in money or fame.
In regards to the “try it before you knock it” argument, I don’t need to stand in front of a fast-moving bus to know it will hurt when it hits. Some things do not require direct, personal experience to understand. Evidence abounds as to how “psychics” work so it takes some very special evidence to prove that any given “psychic” is different from the rest.
So, has the Claremont Serial Killer been arrested yet? Of course not. Cassandra should ask herself why that is when the police were supposedly given a name and address (and a bunch of information that is completely useless when you already have the name and address).