Email: More From Ex-fans of Sylvia Browne
Four recent examples of people for whom this site has made a difference.
Published: May 26 2008
Written by: Robert S. Lancaster
"When someone posted about your site I was reluctant to look at it; I have been a huge fan of Sylvia Browne for many years and I thought she was the real thing."
- One email author
Background
Occasionally, someone will tell me that, while they agree with my opinion of Sylvia Browne, they doubt that this web site ever makes a difference. That, if a Sylvia Browne fan read the site, it would not change their mind.
Every week I receive emails which tell me otherwise. Here are some I've received recently.
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Email #1
Subject: sylvia brown
From: "[]" <[]>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2008 10:26 pm
To: <[]>
IN DECEMBER 1st,. 2007 I decided to call Sylvia brown , only to tell me there is a long waiting period, but I could talk to her son Chris in about 6-7 months, so I left a message. on May 21,08 To my surprise I received a call for a reading with Chris. I was very exited but when the man asked me for my credit card I was about to give it to him, he then told me that Chris will call me Monday the following week for the reading. I told him I will call back to make the appointment. I had this very psychic feeling that something is wrong, and decided to do some research and that?s how I stumbled on your web site. I quickly changed my opinion of Sylvia Brown. I think I have more psychic power than both of them, I have proof of that , I am writing to you instead of giving [them] my credit card number.
Many thanks
[]
(You may print this letter)
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Email #2
Subject: Stopping Sylvia
From: "[]" <[]>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2008 10:37 pm
To: []
I have been a visitor to your website a number of times now, and I finally felt that I should write you. I was a "fan" of Sylvia, via the Montel Williams show, for quite awhile. I would make a point to be available to watch her on Wednesdays, and once I got a DVR, I set it to record the shows that she would be on. My husband would always roll his eyes at me and say that he didn't believe her, but I was persistent. I wanted to watch, to know. I even dreamed of being a guest on the show and asking Sylvia questions about my mother, who passed away when I was 18.
I wanted to write you to thank you. My grandfather recently passed away. In trying to console my grandmother, I mentioned these Wednesday Sylvia shows on Montel. I told her that there was a woman who could talk to people that had passed, and that perhaps someday we could both go and talk to her and get some answers. I was excited to bring this idea to her, and she was excited to hear it...as people who were grieving we both were eager to believe that she was the real thing. For whatever reason, she never actually got to see the show, and around that same time I became aware of your website. After reading several of your articles, my idea of Sylvia drastically changed. I no longer believed her to be the psychic she claimed to be. I kept watching the shows, and I noticed how rude and tasteless she was with people she was supposedly helping. She started to seem vile and insulting to people that were hurting! I was shocked that I never noticed this behavior in her before (even though my husband mentioned it to me on several occasions). I guess that I just wanted to believe so badly. I didn't mention her to my grandmother again. I am so glad that I learned what I believe to be the truth about her, and that my grandmother was never subjected to her lies.
Your website has been a great help to me, and I thank you for taking the time to write articles and investigate her further. You have my permission to use this email as you see fit, excluding my name and email address. Even if you don't find a use for it, thank you, thank you. My eyes are opened to this woman!
Sincerely,
[]
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Email #3
Subject: You're awesome! :)
From: Angie [] <[]>
Date: Fri, May 23, 2008 9:42 pm
To: []
Hi there,
I have been an avid follower of your site since it was fairly new and only had a handful of articles on it. I heard about it through the message boards on http://www.rickross.com -- Rick Ross is a "cult-buster" and has loads and loads of information regarding cults, mind-control, abusive situations, MLM, "awareness training" and the like. The best resource on the 'net for people breaking out of religion, and their families.
When someone posted about your site I was reluctant to look at it; I have been a huge fan of Sylvia Browne for many years and I thought she was the real thing. I read her books, discussed her "work" in-depth with my mom who was also a fan, and I had planned on saving money so I, too, could get a reading by this amazing woman.
Yeesh. After reading the few articles you had on there, my mind was changed. I like to think of myself as a fairly intelligent person and it's hard to change my mind; you have to have ironclad facts opposing my view before I'll even consider accepting another viewpoint as valid. And you've done it!
I showed the site to my mom, who is now "one of us". :) She is disgusted, as am I, at the fraudulent practices this woman engages in! I am utterly appalled at her behaviour and the way she takes advantage of suffering people.
Your website is an absolute gem. You have no idea what a service you have done to those of us who have had the veil lifted, so to speak. Instead of saving $ 750.00 for a phone reading, you have saved me $ 750.00, period.
In fact, my daughter-in-law-elect is STILL a huge fan of Browne's and refuses to read your site, despite my urging. She has told my son she wants to arrange a reading with Browne to see what she "forsees" in their relationship. SO!! *I* invoked your website in this affair (no pun intended); I told my son to tell her that I will pay half for that reading -- PROVIDED SHE READS YOUR ENTIRE WEBSITE FIRST, with me sitting nearby to make sure she IS reading it. I believe he has extended the offer to her, but I haven't heard back yet. I'm betting my money will be very safe.
I also wanted you to know that http://www.gosylviabrowne.com is utterly stagnant and hasn't changed since it was first put up. Do you think they might have trouble finding people to give positive tributes?...
And, you should also know your site is mentioned on James Randi's current Swift:
http://www.randi.org/joom/swift/swift/swift-may-23-2008.html
About halfway down the page, regarding Sylvia Browne's past predictions for President.
I cannot thank you enough for the service you offer to people who care to search for it. I have told many people of your site, and of the things I've learned thanks to you.
You are awesome. Thank you for your incredible hard work and public service.
Angie
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Email #4
Subject: just want to say Thanks
From: [] <[]>
Date: Sun, May 25, 2008 1:45 pm
To: <[]>
Dear Mr. Lancaster,
I was browsing at the library and saw a book by Sylvia Browne and checked it out because it looked like a fun read. I was familiar with Sylvia Browne through Montel Williams show but because I have been working full time and going to school I hardly ever watched the show (Montel was just too pompous for me also) or cared about Sylvia Browne.
I read her book and it was very well written and I wanted to read more of her work. I checked out another book , Life on the Other Side, and could not stop reading it. It was really great!
In the books she made reference to her organization that she founded so I thought I'd go online and see what it was about. Right under her website was a link to YOUR website and yours looked interesting so I clicked on it. For five days, everyday, I read every post and email on your site. Before I found your site, I thought Sylvia could be the real deal. But now after all of this information put forth, I no longer believe that. I have to say that before I entered your site, I thought it may be stupid opinions you put forth. But that is not the case. You planned out your website very well. Posed very interesting questions and have people, tapes, transcripts to back up your hunches.
I really just want to say "Thank you" and to keep up the good work.
By the way, I never did finish the book "Life on the Other Side", I was too disgusted.
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Analysis
It is sometimes joked in skeptical circles: "It is impossible to reason people out of an opinion which they did not reason themselves into." Meaning that, when a person has based an opinion or belief largely on emotion, rather than a careful examination of the evidence, it does no good to show them evidence which contradicts that opinion or belief.
It is a cynical thought, but there are certainly times when it is true. However, I think it is clear - from these and other, similar emails I receive every week - that clearly-presented evidence, when considered carefully, can and does change people's minds, even regarding a belief that they hold dear.
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Conclusion
My thanks to the authors of these four emails for allowing me to share them here on the site.
And thanks for sending them in the first place. It's emails such as these which let me know that the site is doing its job.
Emails like yours help to keep me going.
My apologies if this article looks like I am patting myself on the back. I just felt this article would be a good response to those who doubt that the site is helping anyone.
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