Somebody tried to cold read me.

[immoderate]

I posted this first in Skeptics group, but figured it would get more traffic here.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=247x16636

I go to a weekly drum circle, which is an attraction for woo types. I consider it their turf so I'm not confrontational there. But last Saturday a few of us stopped into Applebee's for a beer afterward. In the conversation, I mentioned that my father died when I was twenty four, a long time ago. A little later a young fellow starts to talk about his beliefs and mentions an acquaintance with Sylvia Browne. I mention James Randi, offer to take him to one of JREF meetings.

A little while later, out of the blue, he starts to tell me that my father loved me very much. He said, "I see that he didn't always show it, but he really loved you a lot." So I know what's coming. I am determined not to give him any feedback. I was surprised at how difficult this was. There is a strong tendency to nod and give cues. It made me very self aware. I remain motionless and silent. He starts to cast about.

He says, "I see a wooden box that contains items." He pauses. Nothing from me. "It could have been made of something else." I allow myself to say, "Go on."

He says, "It may not have been a box, but something that you put things in." I'm silent but he flails around, asking me if there was something that I put things in. Finally, I say, "It's hard to imagine anybody that doesn't have something that they put things in." At this point, others interrupt this conversation. So I don't know where it was going. I guess he's trying to develop his cold reading skills, and decided to try them out on me. I could see how this could be very effective on people who don't know what is happening.

I may see him again on Saturday. I think I'll ask what he was trying to do if I get the chance. The drum circle is about jamming with no mysticism, and not much time for conversation. The lady who facilitates it, self describes as a pagan atheist, starts off each session with rhythms for the four elements, the male and female deity, and then says, "Let's jam!" And that's what we do. How utterly weird that this guy is trying to tell me he is in touch with my dead father.

--IMM