call-in phone psychics

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rusty Neon	23 Apr 2003
Hi all ... I was watching an infomercial on TV last night for a psychics phone line. There were a series of phone calls (likely, role play) handled by the tarot psychic reader that were quite interesting: (1) One caller was, to their evident surprise, told that they were going to be discharged from work due to their age. However, the psychic assured them that quickly thereafter they would hired by a new employer. (2) Another caller was told that they would not get the acting part that they were going to be auditioning for, and not succeed on the next two auditions after that. However, the caller was assured that they would succeed on a fourth audition. (3) Another caller was told that they would get a particular job. This degree of determinism in readings is quite surprising to me. There was no mention of free-will or that the predicted fortune/misfortune could be altered by behaviour on the caller's part. What are your thoughts on such specific and deterministic readings?

Silverlotus	23 Apr 2003
Perhaps such concrete answers were given as a selling tactic. It is likely that people will be more willing to call in if they expect to recieve a definate answer. Then if the outcome did not occur and the person were to call back, they could be told that free will has a part to play and that is why the event did not happen. I've never called a tarot reading or psychic line, so I'm not totally sure how it works, but I understand there are ways to get connected to the reader who spoke to you before. The sometimes vague answers that are given in a "normal" tarot reading probably won't make for a very good commerical either. Nor would a long explanation of free will. That would be better done at $4.99 a minute! :) I have been tempted to call these lines, just to see what sort of answers they give, and the meanings they apply to the cards. But I'm more happy doing readings for myself.

meatbox666	23 Apr 2003
I worked as a phone psychic for a major network and I thought that I was really giving them a sure reading. If I ever bull****ted anyone it was because I did not mean too but truly thought that I was giving them an honest reading.

Lee	23 Apr 2003
This doesn't specifically address the fatalism/free will question, but I would guess that the infomercial you saw was completely scripted, in other words fake, just like Miss Cleo's were. -- Lee

Athara	24 Apr 2003
The most scary part of the examples given is that they're easy self-fulfilling prophecies. Just believe in it bad enough, especially the actor thingy, and they'll come true. Maybe the actor'll unconsciously act less good than he usually does. That's why the callers always should be told that THEY're the ones, and the only ones, that can shape their future. Charlatans. That's what they call that kind of 'psychics', isn't it? Meatbox, I'm glad that there's still people like you around, who believe in honesty. Love and luck, Athara

Diana	24 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Rusty Neon This degree of determinism in readings is quite surprising to me. There was no mention of free-will or that the predicted fortune/misfortune could be altered by behaviour on the caller's part. What are your thoughts on such specific and deterministic readings? Well, I agree with Lee that these scripts were probably written in advance. But that doesn't remove the fact that some things in life cannot be changed. If yesterday, my boss wrote a letter to tell me that I had lost my job because the firm has been officially declared bankrupt, and let's say the postman was already on his way to put the letter in my letter-box. Five minutes before he arrives, I see in my cards that I'm going to lose my job. Well, no amount of behaviour on my part will change that. If the cards tell me that my unborn child will be born physically handicapped, there's nothing I can do about that either. Some readings are specific and deterministic. Others aren't. For good cheap publicity though, the deterministic ones sell much better on TV. Frozen pizzas are also very popular. And I suspect the people who phone these deterministic psychics are also those who eat lots of frozen pizzas.

firemaiden	24 Apr 2003
What I wanna know is, if they're so psychic, how come you need to call?

jmd	25 Apr 2003
Simple: like the frozen pizzas which first have to (I can only presume) be heated in an oven err.... microwave, the psychics have to be phoned. These respective acts release the active ingredients... (the artifical flavours in the former, and the art of the voice in the other), and permits consumption.

Two of Wands	26 Apr 2003
Personally I think it's scary and upsetting how many commercial offerrings there are now: pay per minute phone calls, internet readings/automated readings, TV mystics etc, giving a whole wrong impression to the world of Tarot, amongst other things, and more often than not simply taking people's money. I think true phychics are rare, and while they are out there, I think very few of them are on the end of a phone line, or a credit card number's click away on your PC. I wouldn't possibly dream of charging for doing a reading for anyone, I'm simply not special enough, although I do know a fair bit about the cards and enjoy working with them - with others occasionally (for free). I have never paid anyone to read for me either. BUT I WOULD pay (1) a real phychic, or (2) someone with a genuine intution of the needs of a person they read for, and a very definate approach to how they use the cards and how they advise upon them. It's just that how do you know who that person is? I'm sure one day, perhaps in Glastonbury, I'll meet the right person by word of mouth - and then I'll pay for a reading from then. Until then... no, no, no! Just to clarify, I am not getting at anyone here. I know that many of you do professional readings. And if you know that you fit one or both of the two criteria I mentioned above - then I am definately not getting at you, and I admire what you have to give.

Laurel	27 Apr 2003
In my time as a phone tarot reader/psychic back in 1997, very few people who called had much interest in tarot and were either skeptical/looking for entertainment or they were drunk,stoned,extremely depressed,desperate,suicidal and reaching out much like someone would to a "help line" with no real intention of paying the phone bill when it came. I was very sincere in my attempts to do the best reading I could, regardless of the intentions/attitudes of the callers, but too often, the questions asked, especially in that 'cold reading' format of no contact, no facial expressions, nothing.... it was very hard. Became extremely stressful, esp with constant pressure from boss to keep numbers "up" aka lengthening out the phone calls. I advise no one to use those 1-900 numbers or work for them. Phone sex is probably a better vocation- that way, everyone *knows* you are making it all up :P ~Laurel

WillieHewes	28 Apr 2003
My own answer to this question is simple: I just don't believe we can predict the future. Only read the present. I never use my cards to predict what's going to happen, if I don't know, how the hell would the cards? I do believe they can clarify things for you, or make you see things another way. But that works best if you read them yourself. I haven't read the cards for another in a long time, and wouldn't really know how to tell you the truth. Paying for someone to do it at the other end of a phoneline is... just silly. It's just the exploitation of people's anxieties and doubts, and I hate it. Sorry to anyone who works for one of those lines, but in my opinion, you've been used. There are better ways of making money and/or helping people.

Diana	28 Apr 2003
The future can be predicted. Chillingly so. By Tarot, clairvoyance, channeling, mediumship, astrology, etc. etc. I am seriously considering of opening up my own phone-line one day. Not to exploit people's anxieties. Good lord no. But to give them hope and to get a smile back on their faces. I would do it out of love. Earning money is not evil. Money is energy like anything else. And I can tell you, I am no capitalist. And exploitation of any kind I will fight until the day I die.

Two of Wands	28 Apr 2003
Do you have a gift for telling the future Diana?

Diana	28 Apr 2003
Two of Wands: If I opened a phone-line, or a consultancy for people who are able to consult physically, then I would carefully avoid talk of the future. I would do everything I could to give people hope and courage for today. Knowing the future prevents one from living today to the fullest. In most cases anyway. There are always exceptions to the rule. I didn't answer your question, did I? :laugh: I have no desire to develop that gift which all of us have inside us. It is a hard gift to handle. I know clairvoyants who have developed this and they are unable to sleep at night.

Str4Berryan9eL	28 Apr 2003
I don't know if I quite believe the psychics on infomercials (no affense to any pyschics out there).. I think it's just for publicity and to get money. Most (I think) are fake anyways. Take Ms. Chleo for example, she was a fraud. She wasn't even from Jamica or whever she claimed to be! Now this might not be the case for all psychics. Some could very well be true. Maybe it's just me... I don't know. Don't take the chance with those 1900 numbers! Like Laurel said, you're better off with phone sex! LOL. This is just my opinon...

Two of Wands	28 Apr 2003
I have to agree with you I'm afraid.

RingTheory	28 Apr 2003
All those psychic phone lines require the reader to average at least twenty minutes per call, or they'll fire you. I find this very disingenous, since there should be no quota like that. A yes or no question should be able to be answered in way less time, convincing me that these people are just interested in profits, not the callers' problems.

Str4Berryan9eL	28 Apr 2003
RingTheory, I agree with you that they are more interested in money than someone's problems. Now I know this might not be the case for all so PLEASE noone take this personally, it's just my opinion. People that have have jobs like psychics and do their job just for money aren't doing it for the right reason. Unfortantelly, we live in a world that does and acts like this. :( And I believe that people DO abuse pyschic calling. Well I have to go. I will check back on this thread because I'm interested in what you all think about this ;) Bye!

Two of Wands	29 Apr 2003
The silly thing is that the marketing of most of these phone-ins doesn't even hide how crude it all is. I think it's really wrong, but then again, anyone stupid enough to call such a number to pay to speak to someone who could be anyone, maybe doesn't really care what they're getting. The way I see it, is that there are free advice lines if people just want some form of counceling over the phone, and there are mystics out there who you can seek out meet, and choose for yourself whether want to entrust them to do a reading for you. Surely that's far more personal and more satisfying both for the mystic and the medium.

Major Tom	29 Apr 2003
Not all phone in services are created equal. I work through a website that offers clients a choice of having a reading via email, on line chat or telephone. I am under no pressure to keep clients on line for any amount of time. I like to think I'm helping the people who come to me for readings and I know that the others who work through the site feel the same. It is an expensive service, but for most of the clients money isn't really a problem. (Rich people have problems too) Although, there have been occasions when I've actually told clients to get off line! But then this site doesn't do any television advertising. :laugh: The only restriction I operate under through this website is that I'm not allowed to poach clients. I've signed an agreement that I won't give any client I met through the site a reading outside the site - even once I leave the job. The agreement remains in force for one year after I've left. Seems fair to me - my clients at this website could get my services a lot cheaper through my personal website. :laugh: Its a win - win situation really. The website's owner has a steady income stream. I get regular work and income. The clients get a quality reading. Most of the clients who come to me become regular clients. })

Two of Wands	29 Apr 2003
Hi Major Tom, Yep I can see that if done by someone with the interest, expertise and passion for this area, which I know you have from watching you on this forum, that clients may be getting something good from these type of "virtual places". But... I only know that from seeing you here. I wouldn't have known if I'd just applied randomly to a site that you happened to be on. I think that's the part that worries me. But that's just me, and it obviously doesn't worry the people that apply for online readings. One thing I have to ask is: what do you actually feel when doing an online reading? It seems so impersonal to me - I can only imagine reading for someone who is with me. I actually thought about joining the reading thread here - offering and receiving a reading for free - but in the end I couldn't do it because I just can't imagine reading for someone I've never seen - and simply typing an answer back to them. How do you prime yourself to do it, and do you believe that you are as affective online as you are face to face - or is it a different type of reading with a different purpose? A.

Major Tom	29 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Two of Wands I actually thought about joining the reading thread here - offering and receiving a reading for free - but in the end I couldn't do it because I just can't imagine reading for someone I've never seen - and simply typing an answer back to them. How do you prime yourself to do it, and do you believe that you are as affective online as you are face to face - or is it a different type of reading with a different purpose? For some reason this made me think of the television advert, you know, the one for the cough drop (Fisherman's Friend?) that went, "suck it and see". ;) I'd highly recommend you try reading for someone on-line for yourself and the reading exchange is an excellent place to start. I prepare myself for reading on-line or by telephone in precisely the same manner as for face-to-face. I'm practically positive I'm just as effective. The only difference is I tend to get straight to the point for 'distant' readings - the clock is ticking and clients want their answers, but this doesn't apply someplace like the reading exchange (or through my website) where there isn't a per minute charge.

WillieHewes	29 Apr 2003
*nods thoughtfully* Your replies have got me thinking Major Tom. Perhaps not all pay-for-tarot services are evil. Will ponder this some more...

DeLani	29 Apr 2003
Hi Major Tom, So, is this service hiring? :) I could use the money, and they sound like they're pretty ethical. I've been recruited by countless 1-900 lines, but always refused on the same grounds as everyone else here seems to know too. Keep it up!

Str4Berryan9eL	01 May 2003
[font=tahoma] I don't think ALL tarot services are bad it's just kind of ovbious (to me) when I see some of them that they fake. I think people just use these 1900 numbers as a way of telling people how the feel because they can't tell anyone else and they know they can trust the person they are talking to (because they don't know who they are, so it doesn't matter if they tell sum1.) And to the people who DO call: Do you *REALLY* believe they know what they are talking about? I can think of A LOT more ways to spend money than talking to some person who is just listening to me pour my heart out just to get some money. If this affends you in any way I'm sorry, it's just MY opinion (we're all entitled to our own opinion right as long as we don't abuse it!?) ;) I agree with MajorTom, people who actually do call only do it because they can (they have the money to waste!) }) *Str4BerryAn9eL* [/font]

paradoxx	02 May 2003
I belive that the evil of 900 numbers negates any useful prospect out of this kind of entertainment

The call-in phone psychics thread was originally posted on 23 Apr 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.