Sceptics wanted

[venta]

Having just read chrestomancy and leathellin's comments about horoscopes, I am reminded about an experiment I wanted to try.

Tarot cards. I have in the past had several very accurate tarot card readings done for me - however, they have been done by someone who knows me pretty well, and could quite probably have given me good advice without the use of 72 bits of coloured cardboard.

While in New Orleans[*], an acquaintance of kauket's, whom I'd never before met, did a tarot reading for me. It was pretty accurate, but I'm unconvinced... In general I'm quite happy to believe in the validity of Tarot cards and their ilk. However, I have a little bit of scientist in me which likes to pop up and challenge it. So, I found myself analysing everything that was said, and trying to work out how much could be intelligent guesswork, how much reaction to my reactions, how much was very generalised stuff, etc.

So. I need some people who don't believe in tarot cards to do tarot card readings for me. Basically, I want to see just how well people can bullshit.

Anyone offering to do this will be cooked for/bought drinks/both in return. Must provide own tarot cards, though, unless we can find someone willing to lend a set. I should mention that I have no idea what any of the tarot cards signify, so bluffing convincingly is far more important than getting that kind of thing right.

For obvious reasons, the less well the volunteer knows me, the better. Any offers?

[*]apologies to lathany (and anyone else who cares) for the failure in appearance of further holiday exploits. Life's been getting in the way.

Comments

[venta.livejournal.com]

I could, but that would test something slightly different...

I want to see how well someone can bullshit a tarot reading, and, although I think I don't give much away, it seems only fair to give them a chance to observe body language etc.

Incidentally, anyone who does think they can do tarot readings is welcome not to tell me, and offer a reading as well :)

[onebyone.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, anyone who does think they can do tarot readings is welcome not to tell me, and offer a reading as well :)

That's an essential part of a fair test. Your judgement of how accurate the reading is is subjective and unreliable (meaning that you'll have different opinions of the same data on different days, not that you're a total muppet). If you know whether or not the reader "believes in" tarot, your ability to judge fairly may well be shot all to hell.

I think this is part of what jigummy-thingummy was driving at with his "faking it" suggestion.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

jigummy-thingummy

:-)

Exactly what you said, sir.