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Medium Dreams

Allison DuBois on Oprah, Part Deux

by Sheila on February 17th, 2007

I just watched the Allison DuBois segment on Oprah again and several things jumped out at me. Perhaps it is because I have read both of her books, the book from the scientist in charge of her university testing, and the many blogs and forums of skeptics who think Allison DuBois is just a big old ghost-hag. (See my Psychic Smackdown post for a roundup.)

THE TEXAS CASE USED AS INSPIRATION FOR THE MEDIUM PILOT.

Similar to the Pilot, Allison says the information she faxed to the Texas authorities had never been released so that is why they contacted her. But the only other thing she says about the case is:

Allison: I was able to tell them when they would recover the child’s body.

Oprah: How did you know that?

Allison: Um, I just saw five years in my head and they found her at four years and nine months after she disappeared.

I do not see how this information, which does not help them actually locate the body, is even remotely helpful to the case. I also find it interesting that, in her book (see Ch. 4), she says the body was found three years later. Okay, I can see how it is possible she was brought into the case two years after the girl (btw, it was a girl victim, not a boy as was shown in the Pilot) went missing and that accounts for the date discrepancy, but she did not mention this five year prediction in the book. Why? Did she originally tell the police “within five years from when she went missing” or did she just say “I am seeing five years in my head,” thus leaving the door open in case she was found within five years after the date of Allison’s prediction? It is this sort of squishing of the actual event into the parameters of the initial vague prediction that makes me want to punch someone. Preferably someone with a skunk streak in her hair a lá Mrs. Munster.

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ALLISON PROFILES A CASE 

Allison let the camera’s follow her around as she profiles the case of a missing teen who was dropped off to meet a man she met a few weeks earlier and whose clothes were subsequently found in a dumpster with “bullet-like holes” in them. She visits the gas station where the girl disappeared and provides the following:

  • I get a city limit sign in the area of where she is now.
  • I do get she is no longer with us.
  • I believe she had been choked and had lost consciousness before the final impact, which is a little relief, a little solace knowing that she didn’t, uh, feel what was happening to her.
  • I was shown a funeral and Jackie being laid to rest so she will be found and her parents will have that.
  • Law enforcement needs to check for a bar-b-que or an object that looks like a bar-b-que almost like one of those little hibachi’s or something. I get some of the evidence being burned on it.
  • I believe the struggle started in the vehicle and ended on the ground and I can see the embankment where she would be rolled down.
  • I can’t let it bother me emotionally. Later I’ll be thinking of the family. Right now I’m just focusing on getting the information that they need to bring a conclusion to this.
  • And this is going out on a limb but I think it’s going to be within two weeks that they will find the body.

Going out on a limb, huh? In the follow-up, she says the perpetrator blames the victim for making him kill her because she did not cooperate in some way. “It was a date-rape gone wrong.” But first, Oprah asks the aunt, who is sitting in the audience, if she believes Allison’s reading. She says she does, but also adds “and we’re going to find out.” The truly vomitous part was how the aunt then says she is “so thankful” and starts to get choked up. (That part wasn’t vomitous. What came next was.) I guess Oprah takes that as her cue to move on to another question for Allison because she turns away and proceeds with the interview. The camera, however, does not move on. Showing real people having real emotions is good for ratings, apparently, even if the host is completely ignoring it and talking about a completely different thing in the background. Ick.

ALLISON’S SPIRIT GUIDES: WHERE WERE THEY?  

Allison did not mention where her information was coming from and, surprisingly, Oprah did not ask. Maybe she did not want her guest to verbalize she was getting the 411 from the dead. First rule of TV: don’t make your guest look like a freak. (Unless you are Jerry Springer.) Just let the vague “I do get” hang out there for people to interpret as they will. Then wait until the very end of the show to ask people to vote in your online poll asking if they believe in people like Allison and John Edward.

Oprah did ask about “head-tapping,” Allison’s term for how she can “connect through the victim to the perpetrator and get in their head.” Allison’s explanation was as “woo” as you might expect.

SPIN, SPIN, SPIN

  • “When I was interning in homicide to be a prosecuting attorney…” — Why, that makes her sound quite intelligent and legitimate, doesn’t it?
  • “I fall apart later. I’m a human being. It gets to you after a while and especially where you work a case where it’s children. I am a parent.” — And human. She is just like you and me.
  • “I did dedicate four years of my life to trying to help science find a reason for why people like me can do what we do.” — More credentials. If she had a dick, it would have been out on the table by now.
  • Oprah says, “Psychic medium Allison DuBois led investigators to the doorstep of a missing girl.” It turns out she told the private investigator hired by the family to look for somebody’s brother because, if she wasn’t found by the weekend, she would be sexually molested. The P.I. asked around, found out someone had a creepy brother, and discovered the girl at Creepy Brother’s apartment. — Do I really have to comment on this one? No, I think not.
  • A skeptic from the audience name Laura, who previously mentioned she is a scientist, asks Allison if she keeps track of how many times she is right and wrong. Allison interrupts with, “I know it’s important to you scientists to keep track,” and laughs dismissively. So first she shows disrespect for Laura by rudely interrupting her and then she belittles the question itself. Her answer is enlightening, don’t you think?

    Actually I spent four years in a laboratory being studied by scientists at a university in Arizona so they kept track of every hit and every miss, you better believe, and they published it in academic journals. So I spent four years putting it out there and after four years I realize there are some people that aren’t gonna get it, that aren’t going to believe, and I have to be okay with that. But I did dedicate four years of my life to trying to help science find a reason for why people like me can do what we do.

    So that would be a “no” - she has never keep track of how often she is right versus wrong. Some of those pesky scientists did, but that was back in 2001, and only for lab-controlled experiments. — Where was Oprah’s follow-up clarifying Allison’s answer ? She let it sit out there looking like a “yes” when it is really a “no.” Can you say obfuscation, boys and girls?

  • And my favoritest Allison DuBois quote of all time:

    Part of the reason it is hard for them to come through to people that are very pragmatic, that have trouble connecting emotionally with other people or with themself, are very hard for them to access from the other side. It is much easier for them to access people who are emotionally-based people who are open to it. So it’s not that they don’t love you, and it’s not that they’re not there, it’s just at this point in your life you’re not accessible for them. [Yes, I know the first sentence reads wonky, but that is what she said verbatim.]

    Translation: It is all your own fault your dead loved ones do not visit you. You are a closed off, emotionally unavailable person, you dried up, skeptic hag.

    Damn that Allison DuBois has character assassination down to a science, doesn’t she? Make that an art form. Let us not put Allison DuBois in the same sentence with the word science, shall we?

ALLISON DOES A READING

I will not get into the specifics of the reading except to say she took notes the whole time and kept saying “Does that make sense?” after she presented a piece of information, thereby getting feedback about her accuracy. Just look up cold reading, okay?

The people she read for (the reading had been taped) were in the audience and she had a gift for them. Apparently during the reading she had been getting “bug” and “beetle” but those were never nicknames of the deceased or her new baby and it was left as an open item, if you will, at the end of the reading. Allison said she walked into the hotel gift shop where she was staying for her Oprah appearance and saw the children’s storybook “Beetlebug’s Party.” She bought it so the deceased’s mother and husband could read it to the deceased’s toddler.

Hey look, yet another instance of squishing something random to fit the original reading and thereby provide instant just-add-water meaning.

WHERE OPRAH DROPPED THE BALL

The show is called “Do You Believe” and Oprah did say, “This is a show that lets you decide for yourself. All shows are really about that. We are not trying to tell you what to think about anything.” If that is true, why did she only present one side of this issue? I hope that means she plans to devote another show to skeptics and debunkers. You need information from both sides of the fence to make an informed decision.

I was amused to hear from Dean Radin, a research psychologist in psychic phenomena. He wrote a book called Entangled Minds and said this in response to Oprah’s question, “Does science prove that sixth-sense abilities are real?”

Science has been looking at this issue for over a hundred years now. I think it’s very clear now that we have high confidence that some psychic abilities are true. And what they suggest is that experience is entangled, is interconnect among people. And the interesting thing is that for a long time we didn’t have any theory at all as to how that could possibly be. When you look at the history of physics over the past hundred years, this notion of entanglement, which is a deep form of connection at a physical level, is now well understood. So what it does is it’s taking what used to be considered a metaphysical concept, and it’s making it physical.

The fun part was Oprah’s response to that: “Okay, that is an answer I did not expect from you.” Perhaps because he provides no answer to the question. “Yes” with no explanation of the “how” is not a complete answer. The natural follow-up is, “So how does science prove that sixth-sense abilities are real?” but there was no follow-up. *sigh*

I also think it is pretty funny Oprah did not invite Gary E. Schwartz to be the resident research psychologist expert. After all, he is the researcher who performed the tests on Allison. I am betting it is because Allison refused to be on the same show with him, what with her cutting off all contact with him because he wrote a book about her and all.

Instead, Oprah turns to the audience skeptic and asks for her opinion, which was along the lines of “there is no proof.” Because, let’s face it, that is the bottom line. Either you believe because you choose to believe, or you are someone who does not believe in things until you have proof it is real. I do not see those two groups coming to a meeting of the minds. Ever.

But let us talk about the resident skeptic for a moment. Or rather, let me show you the subtitles that were displayed for each speaker:

  • Allison DuBois, Medium and Crime Profiler
  • Dean Radin, Research Psychologist
  • Laura McMahon, Says She Is Skeptical About Psychic Mediums

Ye-ah. So Oprah invited a professional medium to the show as well as a psychologist hawking his book about psychic research, and then just picked some random audience guest who answered “no” to the question “Do you believe” to be resident skeptic for the duration of the show. Not a one-sided show at all, no sirree.

And don’t forget the part where Oprah kept saying the show Medium is based on Allison’s life as a real medium, never mind the part where the network itself has backed off of that wording and will now only commit to the show being “inspired by” her life.

For more fun with Oprah, take Oprah’s ‘Do You Believe’ poll.

But I want to know what you think, dear reader. Do you believe and, if so, why do you believe?

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POSTED IN: Allison DuBois, Appearances

30 opinions for Allison DuBois on Oprah, Part Deux

  • Holly
    Feb 17, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    Okay, I’ll start out by agreeing with you, Oprah did not handle this show as well as she should have. She did only present one side of the story and did not ask the best questions of either Allison or John Edward. I did not, however, see anything that made me feel she was lying. As you pointed out above, she presented herself as a very normal, intelligent, and down-to-earth person. I read her first book, Don’t Kiss Them Good-Bye, and rather enjoyed it. Of course, again, she wrote the book so she is not going to say anything that would make her seem less creditable. On both Oprah and in the book she said how she has helped countless people. Yes, she may be wrong sometimes and not keep track, but, in my mind, it does not take away from all the good she has done. I am an “emotionally-based” person, as Allison put it in the quote above, and have always kind of believed in things that people say can’t be. Sometimes I feel that I am not alone when I am the only one in a room. So, I guess, even though logic and reason say that a sixth-sense or psychic ability can’t be possible, I believe.

  • JCW
    Feb 17, 2007 at 7:38 pm

    Sheila, I think you are being unduly harsh…
    Everyone knows the mark of a true gifted medium is
    having the distinctive “Psychic Skunk” streak in their hair. Why, I’ve been toying with getting one for YEARS!

    Geez…What? Do you live under a rock?

    Holly - I’m with you in terms that I actually DO believe in psychic phenomena and have experienced it in myself and others first hand. However, when it comes to those who not only make a living off of it, but grow outright rich as well, it pays to take them with a grain of salt. In Allison’s case, perhaps a whole shaker full….

  • Jeremy
    Feb 18, 2007 at 8:09 pm

    I, too, believe in psychic phenomena and am frankly fine with people offering their psychic services as a profession. A few psychics who are known for their quality readings have gotten quite a bit of attention and are in high demand- as a result they charge outrageous rates, sometimes over $500 per hour for their readings because they can. What frustrates me is that it is impossible for regular folks to afford John or some of the other popular readers. I recently ran across a site, however, that looks to solve this problem by having visitors rate the quality of the psychics they use. I have tried a few of the http://www.selectpsychics.com readers and have been satisfied.

  • The Phoenix
    Feb 19, 2007 at 9:32 am

    It’s funny how the real life Allison is actually prettier than the actress that plays her. Normally, it the other way around (i.e. Ellen Brockovich)

  • Betty
    Feb 19, 2007 at 2:00 pm

    I do believe, however, that doesn’t mean I believe everyone who makes the claim they can. I happen to be a very intuitive person and often know whats going on before others figure it out.

    I seem to know when people are going to die - not an exact date and time, but within a short time. I remember as far back as 2nd grade, my grandfather was in the hospital, and I knew he was going to die, and it’s not because any of the adults around me were talking to me, I just knew it. (Things weren’t discussed with kids then) When I was a little older, I knew when my Aunt was going to die. I knew the last time I saw my Dad it would be the last time, and I knew when my mother and uncle were going to die.

    I have a ghost that visits my house from time to time - turns on the music box in the other room with no one around, knocked a picture frame off a shelf and it landed far too far away to have just fallen from vibration.

    My cousins believe when my uncle died, my aunt (already deceased) tapped on the hospital window - four floors up - when they looked out they saw this bunny on the ground. Later when they were at the cemetary, they believe they saw the same bunny there! We’ve always believed it was my aunt coming for my uncle - who at the time of death they believe they saw his spirit rising from his body.

    I believe it is Sylvia Brown who says loved ones spirits often come back as birds. I find comfort in that looking out my kitchen window where I will frequently see a male and female cardinal. You see, they were one of my Mom’s favorite birds, we even had a cardinal figurine (which I have now). To me that is my Mom and Dad coming for a visit.

    When my granddaughter accidently let her chihuahua out of the house and he ran away, I have a friend who is a psychic who kept telling me not to give up, keep looking. She said he was fine, at someone’s house, being fed, and was not far from home. It took 8 days - 8 days to find him, but sure enough, he was at a lady’s house (more or less) who had a bunch of pets and left her garage open with food and water, and he would come and go. It was less than a mile from my house - but I searched door to door for him for 8 days. I would have given up if it hadn’t been for my friend who kept telling me he was OK.

    If I had information that came to me that would help other people, I would give it away to them, I wouldn’t charge a fee. I believe that is what we are all supposed to do - help others.

  • Sheila
    Feb 19, 2007 at 7:48 pm

    Phoenix: That’s ERIN Brockovich, silly. But I have to disagree. I do not think Allison DuBois is prettier than Patricia Arquette. She did have about an inch of makeup on as well as false eyelashes on her Oprah appearance so she looked flawless. (Meow)

  • JCW
    Feb 19, 2007 at 9:50 pm

    Betty,

    Loved your comment. You hit the nail on the head
    when you referred to Sylvia Browne, the birds and comfort. That’s what she’s selling…comfort.

    Browne, DuBois, Edwards - they’re all in the professional “comfort” business. Even with a genuine gift, no one can be depended upon to have psychic intuition on call any time they desire it.

    That’s why these people “cold read” so often. Even if they have a gift, they have to be “on” all the time, and anyone who’s ever had a psychic flash knows it comes when it comes, it’s usually not at will. This is why I object to the above referenced people and the literally millions they are making off of their “gifts”.

    Notice none of them ever tell a client that their loved one is burning in Hell. Browne sidesteps this by claiming there is no Hell.

    It’s the Comfort Business, plain and simple. If they’re not actually “getting” anything, they follow the clues the client provides and make it up. If Edwards senses he’s with a skeptic who may give him a hard time, he tells them he’s not getting anything and can’t help them. That way he comes off as being “honest”, when in reality he’s only covering his ass.

    Now that’s out of the way I will say again that I know with certainty that indeed psychic phenomena DOES occur. You are spot on regarding the nature of using psychic intuition to help others if you possess it. The only really psychic people I ever met were’nt growing rich from it. They certainly have a right to make money from sharing their gift, but due to the fact that it is an uncontrolable factor, charging people hundreds of dollars for a partial hour is unconscionable. With that kind of money on the line, and tight bookings, of course they’ll make up whatever they need to.

    DuBois may have a gift, but she’s also utilizing cold reading techniques in person, and stretching the truth in her books to make a buck.

    At least her stories provided inspiration for a good TV show.

  • JB
    Feb 20, 2007 at 8:49 am

    Allison is a very materalistic person. Look at her OLDER photos of her, and tell me if she hasn’t had a facelift ? So THAT Is where are the money is going… To fix HER FACE… Good GOD !
    She is uppity and snotty too ! Can you take that fame and money with you when you go Allison Dubois ?

    DOUBT IT ! But I am sure that you would try too.

  • Betty
    Feb 20, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    I was pretty horrified when I looked at Sylvia Brown’s web site and she charges $700 for reading! Wow! $700 for ONE reading.

    I’ve worked for a non-profit for many years and volunteer for a non-profit, so I’ve never had that mentality of making money off of what I do. Like a boss I once had would say, “I’m trying to make a living, not a killing.”

  • JCW
    Feb 20, 2007 at 3:15 pm

    You sound like a “Good Egg” to me, Betty.

  • icspirits2
    Feb 21, 2007 at 12:14 pm

    I believe whole-heartedly in psychic phenomena, and possess the gift of Clairvoyance and Clairsentience myself. With that said, I believe that most (not all) of the “psychics” and “mediums” we see on television are full of it. You can easily tell the fakes from the real deal…How? Let’s take a little test.

    Clue #1: Do they ask alot of questions? Shouldn’t the client be the one asking the questions? Shouldn’t the “psychic” have the answers to the sitter’s questions? Not the other way around? That’s clue #1…

    What about Clue #2?
    Do they ask for an exhorbant amount of money? Do they ask for triple digits for a half-hour or less? That is unusually cruel and immoral…hell, even my doctor only charges $60 dollars a visit, and my chiropractor $30. A reputable and genuine “psychic” or “medium” would never charge more than a traditional practitioner would for their time (if they would even charge anything at all). One of the finest readers I ever visited didn’t charge for readings, but took donations instead, for whatever you felt the reading was worth and if you didn’t have any money, that was okay. She lived in near-poverty, no indoor plumbing, no electricity, no telephone, for her it was real, genuine and totally spiritual (love you Suzi, I will always be grateful)…can you imagine Sylvia Browne doing that? Living in near-poverty for their “calling”? Working off of donations and love offerings? Instead of charging $700 dollars for a 20-30 minute reading?

    Clue #3?
    Do they attempt to pressure you into another reading, or try to get you to buy something? If it’s truly about helping people for them and not about money, they won’t try to get more money out of you. Their objective should be to help you, not hurt you by squeezing as much money as they can out of you.

    Clue #4?
    Do they fail to acknowledge that they might be wrong? If so…they are most likely a fraudulent “psychic medium”. Spirit is never wrong, but sometimes WE are wrong in what we’re visualizing and how we’re interpreting it. A genuine medium is not afraid to say “I was wrong” or “I interpreted that incorrectly” or “I’m totally off base”.

    Clue #5?
    Are they willing to be tested and studied? Genuine psychics would have no qualms about being scrutinized, and have nothing to hide. Granted, the most gifted Psychic in the world wouldn’t pass Randi’s Million Dollar challenge, it’s impossible to “pass”, it’s set up that way. But wouldn’t it be great to see Sylvia Browne or any others go through with it just to make that point? That the test is bogus, so we can all move on with our lives? If you have nothing to hide, you won’t be afraid to face scrutiny, even from the toughest of critics. Worst case scenario, you fail the test…and that proves (or disproves) nothing.

    Clue #6?
    Do they claim some sort of “one-upsmanship” over the rest of the Psychic/Medium community? Or claim to be able to “do it all?” For example, “I’m not just a Psychic but a Medium, as well as a Chakra Balancer, as well as an Aura Reader, as well as a Past-Life Regressor, as well as an Animal Communicator, as well as…” blah blah blah, you get the picture. No one, absolutely no one, can be everything to everyone…so let it go and just focus on what YOU can do well. Genuine Psychics/Mediums are not afraid or threatened to acknowledge the gifts of other readers. There should be room for everyone who is a genuine Psychic/Medium.

    Clue #7?
    Are they mysterious about their “gifts”? Or claim that no one else can do what they do? Genuine Psychics/Mediums use practical, teachable techniques to read clients, and aren’t afraid to share what they know and explain how they do what they do…any genuine Psychic/Medium has nothing to hide and isn’t afraid to share their knowledge. Anyone who IS afraid most likely relies on cold reading, hot reading, and mentalist techniques to give a completely unspiritual, and fraudulent, reading.

    Clue #8?
    Last, but certainly not least…trust your gut! You have instincts too you know…and should use them. If you don’t feel “right” about someone…don’t have them read you.

  • Betty
    Feb 21, 2007 at 1:21 pm

    Thanks JCW!

  • JCW
    Feb 21, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    icspirits2,

    Thank you for a really great and informative comment. I’d say I’m at least 98% in agreement with you.

    When I write here attempting to debunk these TV psychics ripping everybody off, I in no way wish to turn people off to the possibility that real psychic phenomena exists. As I’ve stated before, I know it does.

    You’ve stated a few good rules to live by where this is concerned and I think you’ve done Medium Dreams readers a real service in doing so.

    Trust your gut indeed, people. If all you want is comforting information and you don’t care to question the validty of that information, by all means go ahead and pay a few hundred to these phonies. But I’ll tell you this - the two real psychics I ever met came into my life by accident, as if I were meant to meet them. They didn’t advertise, they didn’t seek out fame and they didn’t attempt to bilk me of my life’s savings. They did, however, provide me with some insight which genuinely helped me along the way.

    Let your common sense be your guide folks.

  • chola
    Feb 27, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    boy, am i sorry i missed the oprah/allison/john episode and it’s nowhere on youtube. i love patricia arquette as allison dubois. i kind of loathe allison dubois as herself. i believe psychic phenomena exists. i believe it is far more subtle and entireley less exciting than very special effects television. i have had experiences and do not consider myself special. i think everyone is born with intuitive thinking and can expand it or push it back as they choose. on ellen degeneres’ halloween episode patricia arquette appeared. when ellen asked her if she believed in psychics her response was if you want to talk to your dead relatives you just talk you don’t have to pay somebody to say johnny sees you and loves you. what i find interesting is that this segment is no longer on youtube but patricia arquette’s first medium interview on ellen affirming sort of allison dubois’ “gifts” are. television is meant to appeal to our imaginative senses and people especially in less hopeful times such as the ones we currently live in are nearly desperate to literally translate what’s on tv into real life. i do a lot of yoga and meditation. i was recently involved in a religion that was really a cult that takes advantage of people’s vulnerability, emotional capitalism at its best. i find when meditating after awhile i experience what carl jung calls synchronicity with personal symbols and the external world. but i am also a writer, which means artist and i am always in conflict between my writer mind and my logical mind. i find solace in watching shows/movies such as medium with intelligent plots, witty writing and examples for myself to create smart psychic fiction. most “phenomena” i experience goes into my journal. on the rare occasion i do share it with friends they do look at me a little odd and i feel silly. i think the world is full of invisible possibility. what i dislike are people like sylvia browne who i think snorts blow with montel backstage before coming on the show, john edwards, and allison dubois who tout their “abilities” as higher callings and unavailable to the common 9 to 5 man or woman. if one decides to take psychic work seriously there are all kinds of books that help you work it out. i’ve read many. most are crocks. a couple have been useful though i sit on the train hiding the cover. very few offer insightful philosophical guidance. i have to say i’ve read the skeptic sites and those people just sound pissed off that they’re not making bank. that randi guy sounds a little crazy. individual experience is in the imagination and as long as you’re not harming people by taking advantage of their emotions or taking their money, talking to the dead, making predictions is cool. But to end this random long ass flow i think it’s great on patricia arquette hence the emmmy. thanks for reading and posting the topic. chola

  • Carolyn Stern
    Mar 4, 2007 at 2:34 pm

    I was best friend’s with Allison from the time she was 16 years old. I wonder if anyone wants to know what I know.

  • Sheila
    Mar 4, 2007 at 7:27 pm

    We would LOVE to know what you know. Don’t be coy. Do share.

  • JCW
    Mar 5, 2007 at 10:09 pm

    By all means Carolyn, please DO share.

    If I have been off the mark in my reading of Allison - or for that matter, on the mark - I would very much appreciate reading what you have to say on the matter.

    Sheila, you’ve read the books….surely as Allison
    described her life growing up she would have mentioned a “Best” friend? Any mention you can recall? I’m dying to hear what Carolyn has to share!

  • Sheila
    Mar 5, 2007 at 11:09 pm

    JCW: Why no, no I do not believe she did but then my memory could be faulty. Maybe she mentioned an “S” or was there a “C”?

    But seriously, bring on the Allison DuBois information! I especially want to know if she has had a nose job. I read that on a forum somewhere from someone who said they went to the same high school. Hey, maybe it was Carolyn!

  • Danielle
    Mar 6, 2007 at 1:44 pm

    Say what you want about Allison DuBois, but the body of Jackie Hartman (the Phoenix case featured on Oprah) was found February 18, three days after Oprah aired…I think this is just a few days over the “2 weeks” estimate given by DuBois.

  • JCW
    Mar 6, 2007 at 10:29 pm

    Danielle,

    Any idea of the National average of how long it takes to find the body of a missing person?

    Did Allison tell them where to find the body? Has Allison provided the identity of the murderer? If she knew where the body was, why didn’t she simply tell the authorities? Then she would have beat her two week deadline!

    Only two days beyond her estimate, heh?

    Guess she got lucky this time. Of course, maybe she knows the National average….

  • Danielle
    Mar 7, 2007 at 5:49 pm

    I don’t know the national average…I’m guessing you don’t either or you probably would have told me. I do know that most “missing” people are found within four hours. I think it is harder to get statistics on bodies since no one really knows if they are dead yet or how much time passed between them disappearing and dying. Some bodies are never found.

    If you had listened to the show, Allison explained that she just gets a feeling of how the person died and only sees objects around the person…she doesn’t hear a voice that says “Jackie is approximately .147 miles east of AZ-87 near mile-marker 109.”

    Also, I think everyone that lives in Phoenix knows who the murderer is…obviously the guy that they have in custody who last saw her, had sex with her, made cell phone calls from the area where she was found and had her bloody clothes in a dumpster near his house.

    I don’t really believe one way or another in mediums, because like you, Oprah and most other people, I have never experienced it and I cannot imagine it. I guess all of Allison’s cases are just coincidental, but she has saved lives with her “guesses” so since she’s helping people and not hurting anyone with her “premonitions”–real or fake–why does anyone care? She’s not spending all of her time and energy on the internet talking about how she completely hates people that she doesn’t even know…maybe you should spend more energy on something productive, too.

    Don’t plan on any more responses from me because unlike you, I don’t plan to keep discussing this for the next three weeks. I’ve said what I have to say…except this: Jimmy Hoffa has been missing for 32 years…does this skew the “National Average”?

  • JCW
    Mar 7, 2007 at 9:07 pm

    Danielle,

    Perhaps Allison can locate Hoffa? Shouldn’t be that hard as I doubt he’s moved around much in the last several decades.

    I do not “Hate” the woman as you imply, and I’m sorry you feel disinclined towards further discussion of her talents, though I do suspect you’ll check back in to see this reply.

    “She’s not spending all of her time and energy on the internet talking about how she completely hates people that she doesn’t even know…maybe you should spend more energy on something productive, too.”

    Wow - such hostility! Honestly, you’re projecting something personal into this discussion that is, well, inappropriate. For the record, much of my “energy” goes into housekeeping, cooking, keeping up with friends and family and taking care of my husband. In addition, I am working on a screenplay and am in talks to write movie reviews for an upcoming review website. I think the majority of my time is spent productively.

    I object to Allison and her kind bilking people out of their hard earned money. You are off the mark when you say;

    “I don’t really believe one way or another in mediums, because like you, Oprah and most other people, I have never experienced it and I cannot imagine it.”

    Indeed, if you were to read some of my other comments you’d know that I HAVE indeed experienced psychic phenomena. This is precisely why I object to those who would exploit it at the expense of individuals in pain.

    I do hope that you continue to respond to this and other comments on Medium Dreams, as it is a forum for fans of the show and everyone is entitled to their opinion. The very nature of the show and the person it’s based upon makes for lively discussion, and I would hope that people of all beliefs are welcome.

    If you think Allison is the second coming - good for you! If I think otherwise, so be it. No need for people here to get nasty with one another.

  • icspirits2
    Apr 4, 2007 at 3:13 pm

    Thanks JCW for the positive feedback.

    Would love to read about your own psychic experiences.

    I would also like to mention one other thing…no one NEEDS to see a medium/psychic. Why? Because it’s not some mysterious, untouchable thing that Hollywood and fraudulent readers would have you believe.

    Everytime you pray, you are talking to Spirit, and that is an act of Mediumship.

    Everytime you visit the grave of a love one and talk to them…that is an act of Mediumship.

    Everytime you see a mundane thing, like a leaf blowing in the breeze, or children’s laughter, or anything that triggers the memory of a loved one who’s passed…that is an act of Mediumship.

    Everytime you attend a religious ceremony or church service and actively worship through song or ritual or communion…that is an act of Mediumship.

    No Medium can give you confirmation of the afterlife that you can’t already get for yourself…

    Anyone of faith who opens themselves up to Spirit, to communicate with God/Spirit/Saints/Angels/or loved ones who’ve passed on is a Medium.

    We are all mediums…

    Hope this helps,
    Chris

  • Betty
    Apr 4, 2007 at 4:10 pm

    Very nicely put Chris. Thanks!

  • Rhonda
    Apr 8, 2007 at 9:04 am

    What happened to Erin Dubois on the “Medium” series?

  • Patrícia Castro
    May 20, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    I’m a portuguese girl and I am trying to send an e-mail to Alison hoping that she can do something for Madeleine wich disapeared in Portugal, 16 days ago, but her website is unreachable. Can someone send me her email address?

    See more about this case in http://news.sky.com/skynews/madeleine

  • wendy wellman
    Jul 17, 2007 at 4:35 am

    I have just read Syliva Browne`s Biography which she wrote twenty years ago and you think yes she sounds wonderful and you get a sense of peace about the world you live in. You think every thing has its place. Then you read Allison Dubois, look up on the internet and see the words fraud or scam about these people and you get very angry because you think well i may have just wasted time reading the books and you question yet again the truth. If you have a gift it should be proved beyond a measure of a doubt that the life we leave leads onto another. To prey on peoples pain and loss and make lots of money and then claim they are only on a salary of 33,000 a year like Syliva Browne,then have the nerve to ask 750 for a phone reading is disgraceful. If she is so good why did she not go on Oprah!

  • Jaz
    Jul 23, 2007 at 11:46 am

    Translation: It is all your own fault your dead loved ones do not visit you. You are a closed off, emotionally unavailable person, you dried up, skeptic hag.

    lol - obviously that is not what Allison said, especially not the insulting part. But it’s true and sometimes people can’t handle the truth :o) and usually people waste all their time and energy being skeptic about someone like Allison DuBois because they’re angry or worked up over something in their own life that they can’t seem to deal with :/

  • wendy wellman
    Jul 24, 2007 at 6:08 am

    I am no Skeptic Hag. But your angry response makes me question your objectiveness. I do believe yet i question Domini`s sisters answers to many viewers concerns about Allison Dubois`s integrity as a medium. Why would they say such things about some they knew for so long? Your aggressive response makes me wonder what kind of spirit filled person you are Jaz. Its human nature to question. Please insult somebody else next time.

  • Katelyn
    Jul 24, 2007 at 12:01 pm

    Some people believe Allison DuBois is a true medium and that belief helps them get through the day. Others don’t believe in her abilities and they get through the day some other way. I guess what I’m trying to say is I love a good discussion, but please be respectful of other people as you debate. Attack the argument, not the person. Thanks.

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