Coffey makes me happy too; I think he’s good and genuine. Naturally, skeptics don’t think so, going so far as to accuse him of child abuse, for his part in A&E’s Psychic kids program.
On the skeptoid blog the amateur scientist, blogger Brian Thompson has come up with the Operation Coffey Roast. You can guess what that’s about.
Here’s the opening paragraph, and note the use of language to fling about innuendos:
You've seen him on Paranormal State making bug eyes and waving his arms around as he pretends to be a psychic medium. Now A&E, your one stop shop for racist bounty hunters and Criss Angel's greasy sex appeal, brings us Psychic Kids, a new low in television history starring Chip Coffey. Psychic Kids takes the worst element of Paranormal State, Coffey's ridiculous attempts to "help" "psychic" children by telling them spirits invade their heads and demons attack their brains, and turns it into the whole goddamn show.
No need to make fun of his looks, isn’t that an ad hom? (“bug eyes”) And he isn’t pretending to be a “psychic medium” he is one. At best, if you must, say he thinks he is one. But unless you KNOW for a fact he’s a liar and committing fraud, you can’t make the accusation he’s “pretending.” Isn’t that libel or slander or something?
Notice too how the inclusions of “racist bounty hunters” to imply by association Coffey is racist, as well as perverted: “Criss Angel’s greasy sex appeal.”
Full disclosure: I don’t like Paranormal State. I think the lead guy is a bit weird and full of himself, I don’t like his inserting Christianity into everything they do, nor his arrogance. (The way they completely ignored the advice of the Native Elders and went on ahead and dug up a hole anyway. Gee, guess what happened?) I don’t like them because, except for Coffey, they’re a bunch of whipper snappers (sorry kid, you’re not an “expert” in anything; you’re what, twenty-two or something?)
So amateur scientist guy is all up in arms about Coffey abusing kids in this way and has an idea: Operation Coffey Roast. He’s very clear; he’s going to go after Coffey, and with a vengeance:
The prime ingredient for a good roast is a healthy pinch of lampooning, which will be an important part of OCR. In the weeks ahead, I'll be featuring interesting factoids about Chip Coffey on this site. First up? The question of Coffey's paranormal heritage. In his bio, he claims to be the great-grandson of famous Cherokee medicine woman and shaman Minnie Sue Morrow Foster. For someone so famous, it's curious that the only references to her that come up on Google are from Coffey's bio and from a message board for real-live Native Americans discussing how they've never heard of her. Also, "shaman" isn't a Native American term. I suppose InStyle magazine was right in describing Coffey as "a cross between John Edward and Dr. Phil." They're all giant douchebags.
Okay, so I have Native blood too and Coffey could be full of it here but then again, and I’m not defending this mind you, Hollywood shameless self promotion is shamefully shameless, full of crap, and full of lies. Exaggerations, at best. Shrug. But really, “shaman” isn’t a Native American term, sigh, can you split that hare any thinner? Jesus H. Christ allmighty, grapsing are we not?
Thompson goes on to urge others to join in at OCR at a local pub. Well, all this has Coffey extremely peeved, seeing all this as a threat:
So good, in fact, that Coffey considered the announcement of OCR to be a physical threat. Here's the email he sent me about the original OCR blog post I wrote at CHUD.com:
Yesterday, Brian Thompson posted a blog on CHUD.com with content including what certainly appears to be a personal threat against my safety that he is planning during Dragon*Con.
I have alerted the authorities regarding this threat.
-Chip Coffey-
Skeptics think nothing of doing their best to insult, harass and threaten people (it’s happened to me, a number of times) and they think it’s funny. Well, Coffey may or may not have a point, but the point is, if he or anyone feels threatened, then you have to treat it seriously. No, instead of taking responsibility, he responds with this, including more ad homs about his appearance:
How self-important can a fake psychic be? Why would anyone threaten physical harm against a guy when making fun of him is so much more fulfilling? For example: Is that a chin or is he trying to mate with a toad? See? So much better than physical harm.
Yeah, cute. Accusing someone of being a fake, of abusing children, of intentionally frightening them, insulting the person, and urging others to poke fun as well as trying to get a TV station to get rid of you, all sounds like threats to me. It also sounds like malicious assault, or harassment; something legal like that certainly.
Oh I know, don’t tell me. Skeptics like him are doing it for the children.
22 comments:
We'll take these one at a time.
1) You can't claim that my reference to Dog, the racist bounty hunter on A&E, is meant to imply Coffey is racist if you don't also claim that my reference to Criss Angel's creasy sex appeal is meant to imply that Coffey is greasily sexy. This is just poor reasoning--the same kind of poor reasoning that could lead anyone to believe that these references were anything other than an attack on the dubious quality of A&E programming in general.
2) Coffey is not a psychic medium, because such things don't exist. He uses the same stage tricks and profit schemes as cold readers like John Edward. He charges $400/hour to speak with your dead loved ones. Tell me, if you could bring healing and comfort to the bereaved, would you charge people to do so? Add this to the fact that he hasn't made one accurate prediction on his website or any of his television appearances. And if you're still not convinced, look at his faked (proven so on my website) testimonial. While you're at it, why not look into his "master's degree in counseling"?
3) It isn't splitting hairs to criticize Coffey's co-opting of the non-Native American word "shaman" when he's trading on the naive notion of the inherent mystical powers of his Native American heritage. He doesn't even understand the culture he so cynically claims for his own.
4) Yes, it's often very funny to insult people. Especially the ones who deserve it. Threats, however, are not funny, and none were made on my part. As far as harassment goes, how could my criticism of this charlatan be considered harassment when I've only contacted the man in response to the times he's contacted me?
5) Yes, I do engage in ad hominem attacks. Mostly because they're funny, and mine is a skeptical science comedy site. If you don't like them, please trot along somewhere else. But regardless of their presence, they are never used in place of reasoning and evidence, as I've laid out above.
I'll play, this one time.
1. Nope, I didn't say you said Coffey was a racist or a sex sleeze. I said you included those words and terms intentionally to add a flair, an aura, a "vibe" that parks itself in the psyche and beams the meme that Coffey and all psychics are sleezy sex pervs and racists into the subconscious.
2. Sorry, you do not know for a FACT that mediums, psychics, and the like do not exist. You may suspect they don't, think they don't, hold the strong opinion they don't, believe that they don't. but you don't KNOW FOR A FACT.
3. Yep, it is so splitting hares. Or hairs. Whatever. I'm not going to engage in a culture appropriation war. My point is, you and your kind will pick on any little thing ya can just to beef things up a bit.
4. Sure, sure. As long as you all don't whine "ad hom" every time someone says something you don't like. Yawn. You think they deserve, fine. Mature, nice, polite, good ta know.
5..Just as you see your job as making jokey ad homs, mine is exposing and mocking those who do. I shall "trot along" where I like; since you choose to have a public blog for any and all to view, that's the breaks kiddo. I'll continue to read the blogs of skeptibunkies everywhere; that's one of my jobs.
Thanks for stopping by!
I had deleted this but am putting it through; I'm curious about the "anonymous" handle instead of a real name; it is what it is.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Skeptics Attack Coffee!":
Mr. Thompson fails to mention, in his blogs about me, that when he phoned one of my agents, seeking info about me, he blatantly misrepresented himself.
Thompson claimed to be affiliated with one of the colleges I will be speaking at in the fall and even used a fake name when contacting the agency.
Perhaps the time has come to question Thompson's integrity, honesty, professionalism and motivations?
Posted by Anonymous to Snarly Skepticism . . . at July 20, 2008 9:31 AM
Brian Thompson's OCR stuff is hilarious. Media Psychics put themselves out into the public arena in order to rake in (or try to rake in) the big bucks, and said psychics are using questionable if not down right fraudulent practices.
Lampooning them should be the least of their worries. It'll get interesting when/if laws are passed to more strictly regulate the psychic businesses out there.
Chip Coffey should answer the valid questions that have been raised about his own claims about his educational background and the supposedly false testimonials he uses to gain clients.
He should also answer concerns about how/why he is qualified to work with children in any capacity. Has he had a thorough background check?
Second anonymous comment:
I posted it, since I checked and saw that I hadn't set my blog settings to reject anonymous comments. From now on however, anonymous comments will not be allowed.
This time, I will not post anonymously.
I refuse to disclose personal or professional information that has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on the work that I do. No amount of petty badgering or harassment will make me choose to do otherwise.
What I will say is this: the testimonial posted on my personal website is valid. Does anyone REALLY believe that I would post the ACTUAL ADDRESS of one of my clients on the Internet? No, I would not. Other than the address, the testimonial is precisely as it was relayed to me by my client.
As I have stated previously, yes, I have undergone a background check. I am also up-to-date on all vaccinations and I had my teeth cleaned not long ago.
I came across all of this while writing an Article on Chip Coffey. I posted the Negative Side, and I posted this site right here!
Personally, I am a skeptic, but I happen to know that people fear what they do not understand. There are a LOT of people who do not understand Psychics and Mediums. Oddly enough, in private, I have scoffed at a good many so-called Psychics that I've seen. Chip Coffey does not happen to be one of them. My Article on Chip Coffey will be primarily a positive one, because I believe him to be genuine. Anyone with a sense of fairness and thinks rationally will see the good and the bad of every person or situation.
It seems to me that Mr. Thompson is the Rush Limbaugh of Psychic Skeptics.
What you've said about Paranormal State is completely your opinion. I agree with the fact that they seem to be using Christianity in everything, but somehow it makes sense that a haunted family are usually Christians. It works for them. If they use Christianity in the house of atheistic family. It won't work for them as the atheistic families never really experienced demon activity. I don't know how it works, but apparently it's true.
It is not so much of the religion that actually wards demons. It's just that it's the power of divinity itself that repels demons. So, you don't really need to say in the name of god in order to remove demons from your home. Just say or think the definition of "purity" to make it go away. That also works too.
Anyway what you've said about Ryan Buell about him being twenty-two or something... That's ageist. You shouldn't hold someone against their age number. In fact, I'm 17.
What you've said about Paranormal State is completely your opinion. I agree with the fact that they seem to be using Christianity in everything, but somehow it makes sense that a haunted family are usually Christians. It works for them. If they use Christianity in the house of atheistic family. It won't work for them as the atheistic families never really experienced demon activity. I don't know how it works, but apparently it's true.
It is not so much of the religion that actually wards demons. It's just that it's the power of divinity itself that repels demons. So, you don't really need to say in the name of god in order to remove demons from your home. Just say or think the definition of "purity" to make it go away. That also works too.
Anyway what you've said about Ryan Buell about him being twenty-two or something... That's ageist. You shouldn't hold someone against their age number. In fact, I'm 17.
I recently attended a Psychic's symposium which Chip Coffey was one of the presenters and mediums, November 6-8, 2009. My beliefs were very skeptical prior to his open forum readings. After spending a full weekend in a small group setting with him feet away and during breaks, I am fully confident this man is genuine. He's very approachable! just don't push your selfish needs on him, try to talk about normal every day things if you get the chance to talk. He took no shit from a couple of the audience members who would not listen to his words. Those members were complete morons, trying to gain personal attention while being oblivious to his readings. Every one of his readings were exceptionally exacting and jaw dropping. He gave a lot of informational background about himself, his beliefs and how he feels about his accusatory critics, but I thought it validated him as a medium. Though he never said he was gay, he definitely did not care for the gossip trash talk about that and pedophilia crap. I'm a Conservative Republican and don't care if anyone is gay. We are all equal citizens and none of us should receive special rights or recognition. Much of the Paranormal State and Psychic Kids filming is edited out. You see only what the producers want you to see on tv for dramatic effect (music, camera panning, etc). Yes he charges for his private services, but he also donates an enormous amount of his time to pet adoption and hospice care. The man has bills to pay like you and I. The man is human, with feelings, emotions and an honest heart who gives much more than he receives. I believe in his abilities. That is a lot more than I can say for the other 3 well known psychics at the weekend convention. I strongly urge you to see him before an audience. Otherwise pay the man for a reading if you are a disbeliever. Your views will change as it did mine.
-Wesley
Actually YOU CAN say "Chip is NOT a psychic" because never in a million years could he ever prove it.
c,
Nope, doesn't work that way.
He's proved it to several, including me.
As PT Barnum said more tha 100 years ago;'There is a sucker born every minute.' There is absolutely zero evidence that psychics are real. Its a money making scam. What next? Are we going to believe in witches? Vampires??
As PT Barnum said more tha 100 years ago;'There is a sucker born every minute.' There is absolutely zero evidence that psychics are real. Its a money making scam. What next? Are we going to believe in witches? Vampires??
madsircool,
Well, you convinced me! Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you Regan Lee for defending a genuinely good man. The one person who stands out in Paranormal State and Psychic Kids is Chip Coffey. He has shown time and again that he is a legitimately exceptional psychic. He has a valuable talent that he uses to help people, and in the case of psychic kids, empower them to help themselves. His goodness shines through and is obvious to anyone who cares to see it. Who is Brian Thompson going to belittle and debase next, Mother Teresa?
Regan Lee, you are a brilliant writer. I enjoyed reading all of your posts defending Chip Coffey.
--CMB
Can anyone really be "scientific" when they say things like: "Coffey is not a psychic medium, because such things don't exist."...?
Here, you see that Thompson makes a flat statement of an unprovable negative, as though it were unquestioned fact - and seems quite unaware of the irony of doing so. Tsk. It is a real shame that people like this set themselves up as "defenders of Science" when the real meaning and purpose (and limits) of the Scientific Method is so clearly over their heads.
Notice how he's even unwilling to qualify his statements in a simple way. Why, if he had written something more like: "I don't agree that Coffee is a psychic medium, because I don't believe such things exist," I'd have nary an argument with it. And then, if he was REALLY interested in a rational worldview (and posessed even a modicum of courtesy), he could go on to add: "However, if by 'psychic medium,' you mean 'person who sincerely believes they have access to non-physical means of perception,' then I can agree that such things exist - certainly, some psychics DO sincerely believe in their own 'powers.'" Thompson could then proceed to critique Chip Coffey's work as to whether he thinks it indicates sincerity, or contains evidence of conscious fraud, without sounding quite so much like a fanatic, knee-jerk acolyte of the Church of Unbelief.
But I suppose that's too much to expect from someone who practices "comedy skepticism." In which case, I'd say "comedy skepticism" is about as useless as bathroom graffitti, and requires just about as much intellect to produce.
ShinyAeon,
Thanks for the comments -- I love "comedy skepticism" good term! I'm stealing that, just so you know :)
From a Native Americans perspective, I have to point out that the term "shaman" misrepresents the practices of individual tribes, therefore is deemed as being culturally inappropriate. It is also categorized as being in line with terms like "noble savage". In that sense, it is significant to point out the difference. Just out of curuousity, I wonder just how much Native American history people who posted know. Not often that I meet skeptics, Native Americans, or the most rare skeptics' who are Native Americans.
http://nativeskeptic.blogspot.com/
Just for the record, I grew up psychic and I think Chip is a godsend to the kids he is helping. No one should say that something doesn't exist unless they have proof. And sorry, it has NOT been proven that there is no such thing as a psychic medium. It's interesting how the ignorant can spout off about something they know nothing of. Same as the message in the popular song "Until you've seen a Kiss Concert" you can't comment. Chip, keep up the good work and I know you will. Your concern for others outweighs the sneering opinions that attack you. GG
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