Talk:Arthur Ford
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[edit] Fraud?
This sentence stands out: "Ford was exposed as a fraud shortly after his death (Alcock 1991:182)." Is there more to substantiate this? Canuckle 21:14, 2 May 2007 (UTC)
--I'm looking for the reason this article exists. It does not read objectively. --Art8641 20:08, 14 May 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Ford's Hidden Archives
After Arthur Ford's death, Ford's close friend and supporter William V. Rauscher and author Allen Spraggrett discovered Ford's collection of obituaries, newspaper clippings, Who's Who articles, etc. that Ford had hidden away. If I understand it correctly, they were disguised as being bound poetry books. Ford read his poetry before giving a reading. There was enough information to indicate that much of the famous Pike messages and others were fraudulent. There were many other things that Ford ordered his secretary to burn (after his death?) that are lost. Ford and his secretary parted company due to a falling out. Ford's secretary claimed Ford had no psychic abilities. The book Arthur Ford: The Man Who Talked with the Dead by Allen Spraggett with William V. Rauscher, New American Library, Inc.,1973 gives the whole story. This is the primary source used in Alcock's book. James Randi claimed Arthur Ford used to call his clients "suckers". My study of Ford (taking a break) strongly indicates he was a master "hot" and "cold reader" who took advantage of the bereaved. Some magicians who are readers say this, as is done by John Edward, (like to see him without the edited camera tricks), and others, is not morally wrong because their readings give the living hope. It also makes the "psychic reader" a lot of money, sometimes with gifts and certainly with mind expanding courses that increase the students irrationality and dependence. You can sell a lot of books, tapes, etc. User:Kazuba 15 May 2007
[edit] Category change
Categories have been changed in accordance with the recent Arbitration on the paranormal, specifically 6a) Adequate framing, and Cultural artefacts. Martinphi (Talk Ψ Contribs) 22:19, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
[edit] The Rest of the messages - confusing
Bess Houdini told reporters her husband planned to send messages to Arthur Conan Doyle and Remigius Weiss (Weiss had worked with Houdini to expose psychic fraud.) Both men denied this was true.
What does "this" refer to (I bolded it above). That Bess's husband planned to send messages, or that they had received any? Or something else? Did Bess claim that Harry had informed the two men of this, which might explain what the "this" is about? As an aside I found the preceeding section confusing - the three messages are not introduced in any comprehensible way. Could someone copyedit or improve it please? -84.223.120.228 (talk) 20:12, 13 April 2008 (UTC)
